Chapter 7

Yunho threw his car keys & wallet to his bedside desk in frustration. He pulled out his computer chair & the computer. His fingers were resting lightly on his computer desk while his eyes were staring at his shadow blankly on the screen as it flashed across the monitor. He massaged his head as he felt like a big rock had just hit him.

He recalled his meeting with Yuri just now. He groaned. He muttered under his breath, hit a key & the screen went blank again.

His bedroom door opened after a light knock came. Yunho turned his head & saw his mother standing at the door.

“Come in, mom.”

Mrs. Jung walked in, watching him tenderly & sighed inward. The color of his face, his mother noticed with a lurch of anxiety, wasn’t good. She sat down on his bed.

“Where have you been? Almost everyday you would go out & come back home with a gloomy face.”

Yunho looked at his computer again, avoiding his mother’s gaze.

“You went to see her, am I right?”

He turned his head, looking to his mother’s eyes. He nodded weakly.

Mrs. Jung felt her stomach clenched as she watched her beloved son’s desperate look. Yunho was always a confident, bright & optimistic man but now, she could only see him as a hopeless & desperate young man. His face was white with tension; his eyes were drowned of exhaustion. Her heart winched in pain. She cleared when suddenly she felt hard to speak, “What happened?”

“She won’t forgive me.” It was his short answer, before he buried his head in his hands.

His mother swallowed the lump in . She gathered her strength & emotion. She had to get him out of this misery, otherwise, he would destroy his own life & she couldn’t let him do that.

“Yunho, you can’t force someone to accept you. You have to respect what she wants. Maybe it’s the best way for both of you. Just try to forget her & move on with your life.” She said tenderly, hoping her stubborn son would listen to her this time.

“I can’t, mom. Before I get her forgiveness, I can’t move on with my life.”

“Give her time. Maybe time would heal her wounds. After that, you can come back to ask for her forgiveness but you can’t live like that. You are killing yourself slowly.”

Yunho lifted his head up. He looked at his mother again, desperately “What should I do?” Yunho’s expression was pleading.

“Go back to America. Finish your study & after that, come back here & see her again. By that time, I’m sure she will forgive you. Trust me, time will heal the wounds. Don’t force her. Please take my advice.”

Yunho knew his mother was right. There was no use forcing her right now. He should give her time. Time to forget the past & he could come back & ask for her forgiveness. However, he was afraid that by the time he came back, she wouldn’t be here anymore.

“I think you’re right, mom. I should give her some time. Time to heal her wounds. I’ll go back to America, get my degree & come back here to see her. I hope that by that time, she will see me as a different person. I want to be worthy in her eyes. I can’t ruin my youth with a dreadful state like this. I have to move on.” He muttered.

Mrs. Jung nodded firmly. Her eyes were getting hot as tears were ready to flow down her cheeks, “That’s my Yunho. I’m glad you will do that.”

She hugged him tightly & patted his back lovingly.

“Thanks, mom.”

“I’ll tell your father about your decision. He must be pleased. Just prepare your papers & then you can go as soon as possible.”

Yunho nodded weakly, hesitating. His mind was still wandering about Yuri, ‘I have to see her before I go to America. I can’t go without seeing her for the last time.’ He muttered, under his breath.

“Yunho.”

His mother was calling him. He could see doubt creeping into her eyes. He knew what she was going to say & he didn’t want to disappoint her this time.

“Don’t worry, mom.”

She stared at him, eyes watchful, “I trust you.”

She walked out from his bedroom. Before she closed the door she said, “By the way, Park Jiyeon called you. It has been several days since you got out from jail. Did you call her back yet?”

Jiyeon? How he forgot her completely? He sighed, “I will call her, mom. Thanks.”

Yuri was walking slowly to her campus when she heard someone calling her name. She stopped & turned her head to the direction of the voice. Her eyes widened with a red face, ‘It’s him again. He’s really a stalker.’ She muttered, under her breath.

Yunho moved closer to her. He tried to smile even though his heart winched looking at her cold expression, “I just want to say something. Just give me a little more time.”

“Say it.” The look she shot him was filled with fury.

He swallowed hard, hating himself for what he was doing, yet praying it would do the job.

“I’m going to America next month.”

‘That’s good news!’ Yuri’s heart shrieked out. She still kept quiet.

Yunho watched