PROLOGUE

“Jessica, hurry up.” Tae Woo oppa’s hoarse voice resonated in the night.

My heart felt heavier than my luggage. Each step was a struggle. The farther the distance, the greater the force that pulled me back. Even though my wobbly knees were about to give out and even how inconvenient it was, I looked up the sky, now blurred by the tears, and asked myself for the thousandth time. 

Can I do this? Is this right?

Doubts flooded my soul in an instant.

 “Oppa, I think~” My voice trembled as I spoke but Tae Woo oppa already had enough of my second thoughts and began pulling me by the arm.

“Jessica, we already talked about this. I told you that once everything was set on play, you can’t back out. Now hurry-up before anyone notice you’re gone.”

“Oppa, why do you think he managed to know about this? I mean, we didn’t tell anyone else about this.” My eyes stared aimlessly as I thought of the possibilities. “He was not supposed to see this. And I’m not supposed to see him and… and.. this should have been done much better. I could have handled this better but~” My voice drifted as I began to sob.

“Stop crying and stop thinking about it. Whatever the reason he was there tonight, it won’t affect anything anymore. It won’t affect you anymore.”

Tae Woo’s words were true. It was a fact that reveals a part of the future I was to face now that I was to leave this place.

And it was painful.

To know that his existence won’t be able to have any effect on me and mine’s to his. That after all of this, we won’t have any connection at all.

That had been my biggest fear.

But not anymore.

I hung my head low, helping the sprouts of my sadness make its way down. I bit my lower lips as I stared at the ground.

This is it. I should really leave him now. 

As we managed to arrive at the car unnoticed, as Tae Woo gave me an envelope full of documents, as I caressed my now necklace-less neck, the only question that ran on my mind was, ‘In a life without him, could I survive?’

I let my tears gush without thinking of ever wiping them away.

I thought maybe it’ll help the pain fade away. Maybe, it’ll help me bear to stay away.