Jun answered without hesitation. Whether Jihun was surprised by Jun’s firmness, his immediate and straightforward response carried a sense of puzzlement.
The speed at which sorrow welled up was fast. It wasn’t due to your indifference, knowing that I was listening to everything without being able to say a word.
On that day I remember, the day we first met. I had vaguely imagined it. The emotion you must have embraced when, all sweaty, you first came looking for me as soon as you entered the house.
In my imagination, you seemed to have a bit of affection for me somewhere in your heart. It might not be some profound emotion, and I thought it wouldn’t be a trivial feeling that could be easily dismissed as nothing special.
The memory now felt like it was crumbling apart due to Jun’s sincerity that I just discovered. It was a lonely spectacle of me being deceived by my own misconception. I couldn’t turn my head leaning against the window. It wasn’t my share of sorrow. I was afraid you would catch it.
In the awkward silence, Jun’s voice penetrated.
“If I were to say I just wanted to fly, I might feel a bit hurt.”
My shoulders jumped for a moment. Unlike my turned body, all my attention was focused on Jun.
From what I remember, it really felt like we were flying back then. I don’t know the state of our outfits, but we started pedaling without knowing. Despite feeling the heat that seemed to burn from the tightly buttoned school uniform jacket to the neck, we didn’t stop and ran all the way to the end. Thinking only about that kid who was waiting in front of my house, not understanding my words and worrying.
What should I do? I thought only words that would make me feel upset would come out. But then, Jun’s last words became a strong wind and began to shake my heart in various directions.
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‘Thinking only about that kid who was waiting for me.’
Back then, I fell into a deep sleep without unburdening myself from the pouring bitterness. However, on the same day, at the same time, Jun was indeed thinking of me. Even if it might be different from the emotion called love, Jun’s feelings for me were ahead by far.
Back then and even now, Jun’s thoughts for me always preceded mine. Naturally.
Outside the window, the sun shone on the trees, the sea, and the houses, pouring out the clearest light among the colors they possessed, but none of them pleased me.
Thinking about Jun, who always accepted my slow love without any complaints, a gentle smile appeared on his face.
Turning my head that had been softly facing the window toward Jun’s direction, at that moment, Jun and I, who had been quietly talking to Jihun, coincidentally locked eyes. Just like that, we looked at each other at the same moment. Jun’s eyelashes slightly went down and up as he looked at me. His cheek rose, and a lovely smile appeared.
Perhaps, even now, Jun might be recalling the day when he, too, rode a bicycle to meet me. Along with that, he would remember my appearance that filled the scene. Just like me.
On that day, I, too, never dreamt that you had come to me with such feelings. So, I couldn’t say anything to you, who sighed and drank water, just looking at me.
If only I could go back to that moment just once.
If only that were possible. Then, when you came back, I would be standing at the door, waiting for you, and the moment you opened the door, I would hug you tightly. I would want to embrace you with all my strength, regardless of your complaints about the heat. I want to be the one who likes you first, just like when our beginning started.
“Writer.”
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At that moment, the focus that had loosened in Jun’s voice regained clarity, and Jun’s face began to appear vividly before my eyes.
“…Yes?”
“What are you thinking? While looking only at me.”
“Ah…”
However, I couldn’t say the thoughts I had just had here. Then, my playful expression suddenly turned serious, and I opened my lips.
“Now, I think I need to cut back on sleep.”
“Yes?”
Jun made an expression as if asking what kind of answer that was, but it wasn’t a wrong statement. If I could go back to that time, I was thinking that I would keep waiting for you behind the door, without taking a nap, by the time you returned.
Not able to explain what I meant properly, I turned my gaze back to the window while narrowing my eyes, as if urging you to explain. The landscape created by the trees and the sea, which I didn’t feel much when I was looking at it a moment ago, made me feel a tingling sensation in my chest. I closed my eyes slightly.
I finished today’s filming and returned home with Jun.
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My skin, which had been heated by the outdoor air all day, seemed to have repeatedly cooled down, expanding and contracting, due to the air conditioner filling the car when we arrived. When we arrived home, Jun and I, who had become like two seaweeds, entered the house sniffling and sobbing.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”