Chapter 107: Facing the Truth

It was two days after I moved here that I first noticed Hyun Taewoon’s wavelength.

Why did his presence, which I always found repulsive, feel so pitiful now?

The only people who knew I had moved were Sehyun, Wonjae, and Jinseok.

It was unlikely that Sehyun or Wonjae had told him, and when I contacted Jinseok, it seemed he hadn’t either.

The most realistic guess was that he had followed my wavelength.

Just as I could feel his, he could surely feel mine.

I thought Hyun Taewoon would come looking for me right away, but I only felt his wavelength, with no sign of him trying to make contact.

I had just finished dinner and was leaning against the window, watching a flock of birds fly away with the sunset.

Hyun Taewoon’s wavelength, which had been lingering around me since lunchtime, began to feel closer.

I had been expecting him to show up soon.

Sure enough, a cautious knock sounded at the door.

I could feel Hyun Taewoon’s wavelength strongly from behind the door.

He seemed to be waiting for me to call him in, not making a move.

I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to speak, and finally, even though I knew it was him, I asked.

“Who is it?”

“…It’s me. Hyun Taewoon.”

His voice was low and weak, unlike him.

His tone drained the energy from me as well.

“Come in.”

When I asked who it was, I had already steeled myself for a confrontation with Hyun Taewoon.

I didn’t want to hide like a coward anymore.

Besides, there were things we needed to sort out.

The door opened cautiously, and Hyun Taewoon entered, his complexion as pale as his voice.

“You moved here…?”

“Yeah, it’s been a few days.”

“I heard you’re going through the resignation process with the Association.”

I wanted to resign quietly, but the news had reached a reporter’s ears and spread to the public.

Since it was going to be announced to the world anyway, I didn’t make a big deal of it.

“Can’t you not resign?”

“Are you saying that even though you know what the Association did to me?”

“I know. I’ll stop it from happening again.”

“It’s too late. I don’t want your help, and I’ve been thinking about resigning for a long time.”

The resignation process would be finished within the week.

My plan to move to the Awakened protection zone that Sehyun recommended remained unchanged.

“If you resign… what will you do then?”

“I don’t want to tell you.”

I knew that if Hyun Taewoon found out I was going abroad, he would surely stop me, so I didn’t say anything.

“I don’t intend to bother you. Just… let me atone by your side.”

I knew, just as he said, that he had no intention of bothering me.

On the contrary, isn’t he still treating me cautiously, trying to win my heart?

I didn’t understand why Hyun Taewoon wouldn’t give up, even when I rejected him and cursed at him.

“Why are you so devoted to me?”

“…I foolishly realized it after you died. That you were more precious to me than I thought. No, I felt your importance even before that, but I ignored it.”

“Even though I was so harsh to you?”

“Those are all things I have to bear.”

Even if Hyun Taewoon said that, our relationship was already crushed beyond recognition.

I didn’t know how to return it to its original state, or if it was even possible to go back.

“Don’t you think it’s too late…?”

“It’s not late. You and I are both alive like this.”

Hyun Taewoon’s face became peaceful, albeit for a moment, as if he was just thankful that I was alive.

But the problem was that the chasm between us was too deep.

“I’m leaving Korea.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“Why do you think I’m leaving? It’s because of you.”

Even if I had misunderstood Hyun Taewoon, I felt it would be difficult to bridge the gap that had formed between us.

After all, there were others who had been hurt because of us.

“Just go. Don’t come looking for me anymore.”

“I’ll keep waiting.”

I didn’t say anything more.

Hyun Taewoon looked at me for a moment before leaving.

His wavelength still lingered around me, but at some point, it disappeared.

I had felt some affection for Sehyun, but it wasn’t the special kind of emotion that lovers have.

During our time together, he hadn’t initiated the kind of physical contact that couples share.

I vaguely felt that he was waiting for me, but I knew I would never be the one to make the first move.

Sehyun was undoubtedly a good person, but I didn’t want any more victims because of Taewoon and me.

I had to apologize to Sehyun now and set our relationship back on the right course.

I regretted my past actions of using Sehyun to get revenge on Taewoon.

I was also keenly aware of how painful it was to use someone for my own personal vendetta.

I knew Sehyun would understand my mistake, but because the situation was born from my own selfishness, I was afraid to face him.

Sehyun had said he would come as soon as he got off work today, so I sat in the chair by the window and waited for him.

Through the window, I saw his car entering the underground parking lot.

Feeling my hands grow cold, I waited for him with the anxious and fearful heart of a child awaiting punishment.

I quietly sensed his wavelength.

As it drew closer, my heart began to beat louder and more ominously.

Soon, a knock sounded, and the door opened, and Sehyun walked in.

“Shinui, I’m here.”

“You’re here.”

“What did you do today?”

Sehyun asked about my day as usual, placing his bag on the table where I was sitting and taking out some documents.

“I met with Siyun for a bit and took a walk around the building.”

“I was worried you might have just stayed in your room, so that’s a relief. Shinui, I have good news. Your resignation has finally been approved.”

“Really?”

I knew my resignation would be approved within the week, but I didn’t know it would be today.

“Yes. I just received the resignation papers a little while ago. All you have to do is sign here, and it’s done.”

I carefully read the documents Sehyun handed me.

It stated that the Association acknowledged their negligence and approved my resignation.

At the bottom was the seal of the Association’s president, approving the resignation.

Below that was a space for my name and signature.

Sehyun handed me a pen.

“Now, just sign, and it’s completely over.”

I took the pen from Sehyun and signed.

To think that this one piece of paper could finalize the resignation I had longed for and struggled so much to achieve.

It felt both anticlimactic and, at the same time, liberating.

“Now, the procedures for moving to the overseas protection zone will begin. I’ll be staying there with you for a month as well.”

Sehyun was helping me as if it were his own business.

Seeing that, the guilt in my heart grew even larger.

I shouldn’t have started dating him from the beginning.

It was a relationship that would only leave scars in the end.

I tried to tell Sehyun that we should end this relationship, but the words wouldn’t come out.

My lips just trembled, and I couldn’t even breathe properly.

I had never imagined I would suffer under such pressure.

If I had known, I would not have used his feelings.

It was my karma for taking someone’s heart and goodwill so lightly.

I thought it was shameless to break up with him in this situation, but hearing him say he would move overseas with me, I had no choice but to bring it up before it was too late.

“Sehyun, I’m sorry to say this in this situation, but… I think it’s time for us to end our relationship.”

At my words, Sehyun, who had been looking at me, averted his gaze.

Before he looked away, his eyes held a poignant sadness.

That emotion was transmitted to me, darkening my heart, but I suppressed my feelings as much as I could.

“I expected to hear these words someday. That you don’t have feelings for me… and that I can’t change your mind, no matter how hard I try.”

Sehyun said, holding the signed resignation papers.

I couldn’t see his face as he looked down, but his voice sounded endlessly low and lonely.

“I’ve done something terrible to you. You must have been in pain because of my reckless request. I’m sorry.”

“You look more pained than I do, Shinui. I understand how you feel. I just hope you don’t feel uncomfortable around me because of this.”

“……”

At his still-gentle words, my throat tightened, and I couldn’t speak anymore.

“I just hope our relationship doesn’t end because of this. I want to know you for a long time, Shinui.”

“……”

“Do you never want to see me again, Shinui?”

“…No.”

“Then stop with the guilty face and treat me like you usually do.”

Sehyun was smiling, but I knew it was his way of trying not to make the situation awkward.

“Sehyun, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. And if you ever change your mind, let me know anytime.”

Sehyun said playfully, then put the resignation papers back in the envelope and prepared to leave.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

“Get home safely.”

I wanted to apologize to him more, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop him as he put on a brave face, his lips sealed shut.

Even though Sehyun and I had broken up, a sense of guilt still weighed heavily on my chest.

It was the price for toying with someone’s heart.