Chapter 3: Chapter 3 (2019)

 

An awkward silence filled the air. Suddenly the ten years they spent apart seemed so real. They were nineteen when they separated, their last year as a teenager; the peak of their youth and a time they were supposed to fill with memories to treasure together. Now they were both twenty-nine, one year away from entering their thirties; a time when they were no longer young adults trying to figure out their lives, but mature adults with an idea of where their life was going. 

 

Jihoon was no longer the carefree, trouble maker he was during his teenage years. But what of Minhee? How had she changed? Just as she knew nothing about his current life, Jihoon knew nothing about the life she had lived in the years they spent apart. 

 

“Ten years,” Minhee broke the silence and nodded slightly as if agreeing with Jihoon’s words. “You’ve matured. You’re no longer in high school,” the corners of her mouth turned up into a slight smile. 

 

The anger Jihoon had felt just a moment ago disappeared in an instant. His heart thumped loudly in his ears. He tried to draw Sumin’s face in his head, she always grounded him and had a calming effect on him, but all he could see was Minhee in front of him. 

 

Was he still in love with her? No, that was impossible. So much time had passed, so much pain and hurt had taken place, how could he still possibly love her? Did he ever stop loving her? Maybe his love for her was like seeds, hidden during the cold winter, but in full bloom during spring.

 

“The cherry blossoms are in bloom again,” Minhee glanced out the window and smiled a little bigger this time. “The blossoms in the city aren’t as beautiful though. Maybe it’s because there isn’t enough room for the trees to breathe here.” 

 

“Is there where you’ve been the last ten years? In the city?” Jihoon asked. The questions poured out of his mouth. He wanted to know, where had she been this whole time, how had she been living her life, if she ever thought of him.

 

“Yes, this is where I came,” Minhee trailed off while continuing to stare out the window. 

 

“Did you ever go back?” Jihoon looked down and wrapped his hands around his warm drink. 

 

“Yes. I did,” Minhee turned back to him. “I still do. Every year.” 

You are reading story Hello, Bye, My Love (안녕, 내 사랑) at novel35.com

 

At that, Jihoon looked up in surprise. How was that possible? In the last ten years, he had not seen her once. How could she have returned to their hometown without him realizing? 

 

“How did we never meet then?” He questioned her. 

 

Minhee shrugged, “Probably because we were never meant to meet again.” 

 

The words were like a slap to Jihoon. The memory of his desperate teenage self searching for Minhee, after discovering she had left town, came flashing back.

 

“If you had never left, then we wouldn’t have to meet again,” Jihoon pointed out accusingly. His voice came out sharper than he expected. “You left me. No goodbyes. No explanation.” Suddenly Jihoon felt like he was nineteen again. The memory of Minhee in her school uniform became vivid. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes. “How could you do that to me? We loved each other. But in the last ten years not once did you contact me. Not even an apology. You-”

 

“I’m not sorry,” Minhee cut him off. “I’m not sorry I left. I don’t owe you an apology or an explanation. It’s been ten years now. You should have moved on. I have.” The look in her eyes was stone cold. The memory of her still hurt him after ten years, yet she seemed to not feel a thing. He hadn’t even been a thought to her. She stood up then and grabbed her bag ready to leave. 

 

“Then why,” Jihoon also stood up; his voice came out desperate. “Why did you follow me here then? You could have just continued on your way.” 

 

The cold look in Minhee’s eyes faltered. “You looked like you were about to collapse. I didn’t want you to get hurt.” She turned and walked out of the cafe. 

 

Jihoon stared at her back through the window until she was no longer visible. Then his legs gave out and he fell onto the floor knocking the chair behind him back.

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