“I’m sorry, Naeun.”

Upon Wujin’s words, Naeun covered her mouth with both hands.

“I know you’ve been good to me. I know you’ve been there for me when it was tough. Thanks to you, I can read and write even though I can’t see. Thank you. And… I’m sorry.”

These were words that should have been said earlier. He couldn’t say them earlier because of his damn pride. Since high school, he knew he was her idol.

Even though he stuttered in front, he knew she kept looking at him from behind. So…

When it came to this, his pride was hurt too much.

Showing a broken appearance in front of her was more difficult than not being able to see.

But showing that was too difficult.

Naeun didn’t leave his side. Just a little…, just give her a little space.

She urged him to get used to the situation where he couldn’t see, whether it was a cane, a braille book, or an audiobook.

She forced him to adapt to a new life as if the appearance of high school Wujin never existed.

So he got angry. So he expressed his anger. He got angry as if it were all this child’s fault and expressed his anger again.

Only after Naeun left did he read the audiobook she brought and felt the braille book she brought with his hands.

Then, one day, he developed a spirit of challenge.

He decided to conquer these characters. When there was something to do, he got up from his seat and wrestled with braille books all day long.

Finally, he ate without getting an injection, and slept without medicine.

When she came back, he was grateful at that time, and he should have apologized for not understanding, but he got angry again.

Like a habit.

Now, even though he apologized, his heart felt relieved.

Sooyoung told him to apologize if he felt sorry,… but why did he keep being stubborn.

“Why… are you apologizing?”

However, Naeun asked with a trembling voice.

Wujin’s pupils dilated.

“Why are you apologizing? Why are you apologizing? Are you trying not to see me anymore? Because of that girl, are you trying not to see me? So, are you trying to clean up?”

However, Wujin still remained silent.

Say no! Say it’s not like that! You’re not the type to apologize!

“You… that watch, I didn’t buy it for you, did I? I thought you were wearing that watch, so even though our bodies are separated, my heart is with you. Right?”

When she sent a watch for visually impaired people from the United States, Wujin came to mind.

She wanted to let him know that there was such a watch, even if it would be discarded.

Seeing Wujin’s eyes reddening as he heard his own words, Naeun tried not to cry and continued speaking.

“Even if you want to clean up with me, we can’t. We’re tied to this work. And… how far do you think you’ll go with that girl Sooyoung? Do you know you can’t see at her house? Is it okay for her daughter to date a blind person?”
Observing Wujin’s trembling lips, Naeun felt a sharp pain.

“You, do you know you’re handsome enough to catch someone’s eye? That girl thought so too. She likes you because you’re handsome. Plus, since you can’t see, there’s probably curiosity too. Yeah, she can be by your side for about a year. I was the same. But do you think she’ll be with you for a lifetime?”

“…….”

“I came prepared to be by your side for a lifetime. Our mom knows about your condition. She knows and allowed it. From the beginning, it’s different with that child. Don’t you see?”

Listening quietly to Naeun’s words, Wujin finally managed to part his lips after a long while.

“Your words are right. It’s different.”

“If you know it’s different…”

“It’s different from the beginning. I started with you as friends, but with that child… I started with love.”

At Wujin’s words, a groan-like sound escaped from Naeun’s lips.

“I really like that child… As you said, I don’t know how long that child will be by my side, and her mom might oppose. Maybe that child will be tormented by guilt again because of me. But still…”

To hide her reddened eyes, Seolwoojin covered his eyes with his large hands. He covered his eyes, but the trembling voice couldn’t be concealed.

“But still… right now…”

Watching Seolwoojin’s broad shoulders shake slightly, Naeun felt as if she could sense his agony.

However, knowing that the cause of his suffering was not herself but another woman, she didn’t feel sorry for him at all.

After Naeun left, Wujin came into the room, opened the drawer under the bookshelf, and took out a small parcel stuck underneath.

It was a parcel she sent around six or seven years ago, or whenever Naeun went to the United States. He hadn’t opened the box. Since he didn’t open it, he didn’t know what was inside. He learned today that it was a watch.

Thinking of apologizing and organizing her relationship with her, Wujin’s thoughts only became more complicated.

Lying on the bed, Sooyoung held her phone and diligently learned how to use the cane through YouTube.

How to hold the cane, how to tap it left and right, why there are straight and round braille blocks on the road, and so on.