[January 2012]

I looked down when I heard Jihyun’s father words, sick to my stomach. My head hurt, feeling the tension in both of my eyes. I knew he was a little drunk but his words of expectation were enough to make my heart shrivel so badly.

Night slowly crept, engulfing me into the feeling of its darkness. After we bid goodnight, I slowly headed towards Jihyun’s room with such heavy feet and burden carried onto my back. With much care, I slid the wooden door open and there I was, standing right before my love’s small space where she had spent all her life in.

It was dark but the windows were still opened, allowing the chilly winds to brush in that I hurriedly walked towards them and silently closed the windows shut.

My attention was then shifted to the room as I eyed the place. Simple, like any other girl’s room, books on the shelves were not the many. Guess I already knew that Jihyun’s not the type who liked to read and I could also see posters of her favourite group, Shinhwa stuck proudly against the wall that I chuckled softly at her cute obsession.

And after a while, I turned to her desk. Empty but the sight of picture frames on the wooden desk, pictures of her, her family and friends. She seemed to be so happy here and much plumper compared to she was now. Was it my fault as well? Suddenly, a rush of guilt went inside me when I thought of it.

But while I was busy checking her photos, I suddenly stopped at a picture of her with a very familiar man, the one whom I truly hated since I saw him taking away my wife a few nights before.

It’s Park Hyungsik, putting his arms around Jihyun’s shoulders.

My hands automatically slammed down the picture frame. My heart started to beat faster as anger rushed into my head. Didn’t want to think any further, I walked hastily towards the bed where Jihyun was and pulled the thin blanket, lying down beside her on the same pillow, holding her close to me. It’s a single bed but who cared?

I spent that night trying to shake Park Hyungsik off of my mind by securing Jihyun close.

I didn’t want to think further.

I just-just didn’t want to get hurt again.

***/***

‘Do you know where he’s gone to?’

‘No. Nobody knows. I heard that the president himself also doesn’t know where his son has gone to for his vacation.’

‘Oh, okay. Thanks.’

I forced a smile but clenching my fists tight. At first, I almost collapsed when I heard the news where that rotten piece of human was taking a long break, taking Soyu with him to somewhere only they knew. I