21

I sit there, taken aback by the words that just came out of her mouth. My body went cold and I felt so nervous. I chuckle nervously.

"No, you're lying; that's not funny." I say, trying to play it off.

I notice Jugyeong looking at me with a confused and worried expression. Jisoo just stands there, biting her lip. I look at the others and see them also unsure of what to do in this situation. I look back at Haeun, she's crying harshly now.

"Why would you lie about something like this?" I ask, still trying to deny her statement.

My grip on Seojun's hand becomes tighter with each second of silence that passes.

"Why!" I yell.

"Yusoi, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just didn't know ho-"

"No, no, you're lying." I say, shaking my head, feeling tears roll down my cheeks.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I open my eyes and see her trying to walk closer.

"No, don't come near me. I-I... why are you lying to me?"

"I'm not lying to you. I am really your mom." She pleads.

I look at her, more tears escape my eyes. My mouth falls open at a loss for words. I look down and sob a little to myself.

"Yusoi..." I hear Jugyeong whisper as she places a hand on my shoulder.

I look back up at Haeun, the feeling of anger beginning to spread throughout my body.

"You're not my mom. I know this because you wouldn't go six years without telling me, right?"

"Yusoi I-"

"You wouldn't come into my room everyday and act like you didn't know me, right?"

She stands there, her sobs becoming more apparent.

"You wouldn't look at me, smile at me and laugh with me like I wasn't a person that you left behind to live with my dad in poverty while you're here with a well paying job, right?"

"Yusoi-" She sobs.

"You wouldn't watch your own daughter start to die and take that kind of secret to your grave, letting her live without ever knowing who her mother is, right? You wouldn't be able to live with that kind of guilt, right?" My voice becomes louder.

She opens her mouth to speak, but I don't let her.

"You wouldn't sit with me in the hallway after I just found out that my dad died on the operation table, letting me cry my eyes out while you hold me, and not tell me then, right!" My voice breaks.

I take deep breaths, trying my hardest to stay as calm as possible. She looks at me, shame in her eyes.

"You wouldn't do all that and still not tell me, right? So tell me you're lying, right now!" I demand.

Jugyeong jumps a little from my sudden outburst. I feel Seojun starting to rub his thumb on the back of my hand, making little circles.

"I-I wanted to, but I just wanted to get to know you first, see how you were-"

"I was fucking dying, Haeun! That's how I was! You wanted to get to know me? How about you not abandon me at the age of three! How about you stay and watch me grow up!" I yell.

I cover my mouth, trying to soften my whimpers. I begin to cry harder. I feel someone hug me, smelling sweet perfume; it was Jugyeong. I use my other arm to hug her back.

"I think you should go." Jugyeong says.

I continue to cry into her arm, hearing my door open and footsteps leaving. I open my eyes and notice Suho and Gowoon were no longer at the foot of my bed.

"Is she gone?" I whisper through my tears.

Jugyeong lets go of me and turns to look.

"Yeah. They're all gone."

I close my eyes harshly, trying to suppress more tears. I hear a phone ding from a notification.

"It's my mom, I'll just tell her I'm staying with you tonight, okay?" She says.

I shake my head and turn to her.

"No, you should go home. I just kind of want to be alone right now." I say, finally a little bit more calm.

She looks at me, making sure it's what I wanted. I nodded my head to her. She softly smiles and begins to gather her things. She waves to me before she leaves my room. I watch her as she leaves. I hear someone stand up and I turn next to me, remembering Seojun was here.

"Sorry." I mumble to him.

"For what?" He says, looking at me.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, I guess." I say, now feeling a little embarrassed.

I expected him to just say some snide remark and then be on his way, but I was taken by surprise when he let go of my hand and hugged me instead. Without a second thought, I hugged him back, tightly. I felt tears begin to well up in my eyes again and I let out a shaky breath.

"Please stay with me." I say, unexpectedly.

He hums softly.

"Okay."

-

Seojun and I walk over to the bench I usually sit at, hand in hand. I held onto his arm lightly with my other hand, still feeling a little shaky from either the surgery or because of what only happened an hour ago. We take a seat, still holding hands.

"Are you feeling any better?" He asks nicely, breaking the silence.

I sit there for a second, not really sure how to answer that question.

"I don't know." I say honestly.

He lets go of his hand and reaches his arm to place my head on his shoulder. I close my eyes, feeling somewhat at peace. He keeps his hand on my head, softly playing with my hair. I smile a little.

"Better." I say.

I hear him let out a small chuckle.

"Can you sing another song for me?" I ask, opening my eyes.

He stops playing with my hair and I look up at him, he looks back at me. His hand falls from my head to my shoulder.

"Do you really want me to?" He asks.

I nod my head.

"I like when you sing." I say, resting my head on his shoulder again.

He smiles at me, a feeling of butterflies erupting in his stomach just by my one simple sentence. He clears his throat.

"Any requests?" He asks.

I think for a second, genuinely trying to come up with an answer.

"I like the one you sang last time." I say.

He laughs a little.

"You still remember that song?"

I look back up at him.

"Of course I do!" I say, defensively.

All he does is smile in return.

"Now sing." I say, once again laying my head on his shoulder.

He scoffs.

"Someone's pushy." He mumbles.

I smile at his comment.

"Even if this repeats

You should know that

I'm always on your side-"

My eyes begin to slowly flutter shut, feeling comfort as he sings.

"Please remember

My answer is you

Even if we have to go around a long way

I will still feel the same-"

He pauses, my eyes opening due to me feeling him sit up. I lift my head off of his shoulder and turn to him, not having to very much since we were already so close. He looks at me, his eyes look gentle and full of love. I look back, feeling mesmerized.

"We'll be alright

I want to try again-"

He sings softly, placing his other hand gently on my cheek. I feel my breath hitch, not wanting this feeling of excitement fade away.

"We'll be alright

Please try again."

He says, his eyes closing slowly as he leans in. I close my eyes in return feeling anxious for what's about to happen next. I feel his breath lightly scatter across my lips just before he places his onto mine. I felt my heart melt in this moment. His lips were gently placed onto mine, soon becoming less more like just being set on my lips, but more like he was actually kissing me. His hand makes is way to the back of my neck, pulling me in for a deeper kiss. I kiss him back, feeling nothing but passion coming from him. I loved it. I loved how it made me feel. I felt safe and loved and the way each time our lips connected with each others shortly after we let go for not even half of a second, sent waves of electricity down my spine. It was addicting.

He stops, brushing his thumb across my cheek. We open our eyes slowly, returning to each other's gaze. He moves his hand from the back of my neck back onto my cheek. He continues to look at me the same way he did before he kissed me.

"Did I sing better this time?" He whispers.