13

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Yeorin was frozen in her place, staring at Gyujin with wide eyes, filled with unshed tears, threatening to spill.

There he was, staring at her like she was a newly found treasure which he lost decades ago.

Gosh, he looked so handsome as always.

It almost pained Yeorin to look into his eyes, that have been begging for one single look from her.

Suddenly Seongjun's words started replaying in her head making panic start growing inside of her chest, fearing whether Seongjun saw them or not.

"Why?" Gyujin asked, confusing the girl. "Why are you running from me?"

She lowered her head in shame, not daring to look into his eyes, knowing she would start crying the minute she does.

"Don't do that. Don't walk past me like we had nothing between us." His words made her heart ache, but those horrible words terrified her so deeply to the core, she just couldn't risk being caught by Seongjun.

"Please.... Don't run from me." Gyujin pleaded, not caring who heard them.

He couldn't care less about how pathetic and ridiculous he looked pleading for her attention. He just wanted her to acknowledge him like she used to.

He missed that sweet, genuine smile whenever she talked to him or held his hand.

"I-I..... can't." She stammered, her gaze never leaving the ground.

"Why? Because of what Seongjun said?" He asked, growing more and more agitated at the mention of the bully.

She stayed quiet, a normal response from her, which was a clear answer for him. He only watched as she nodded hesitantly, her true reasoning finally coming to the surface.

Realisation struck him like a brick on the head, his chest tightened with despair.

"I don't care what Seongjun said. I-I can't bear you not even looking at me. I don't care if he hurts me, I just need you to stop running away." His voice was filled with raw desperation, quite literally begging her.

"You don't have to speak, you don't have to talk to me. Just touch my sleeve, bump into me..... just let me know you still see me." The last sentence made Yeorin spill her tears.

She started crying quietly, listening to him.

"I can survive whatever they do to me. But I can't survive being nothing to you." His own eyes glossed over as he watched her slowly break down.

"I-I'm sorry..... I'm s-so sorry." She cried softly, shocking the boy for a moment.

He was quick to regain his breath, her simple apology made his heart sink. He took small and steady steps forward, slowly approaching her shaking body.

"I know you're doing this because you think this would keep me safe, but Seongjun is a bully who would never stop picking on me, not even if you felt me alone. I can take his beatings, his insults, but I can't take being ignored by the only person who saw me from the beginning." He whispered the last part as he stood over a feet away, hesitant to touch her but close enough to feel her warmth.

"I-I thought, if I d-disappeared, you would stop c-caring and he wouldn't h-hurt you anymore." She hiccuped, finally looking up into his eyes.

Gyujin felt like he could drown himself into her beautiful eyes, so he could escape the harsh reality and keep himself safe in her arms.

"B-but you never stopped. You came back e-even after I tried to avoid you." She muttered, gazing at his unbelievably handsome face.

"I would never stop caring about you, Yeorin. I realised that long ago." He said softly.

"I missed you..... this one week was so unbearable. I missed you so much." She cried, finally making a move and leaned her head against his chest, her small hands clutching his shirt, fearing he was going to disappear from her sight.

"I missed you too." He pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tightly.

"Whenever I saw something cute of funny, I wanted to run and tell you, but then a remembered I wasn't allowed to be near you. I just wanted-.... I wanted-...." She stammered timidly, muffling her words into his chest, making him unable to hear her.

"You wanted what?" He asked tenderly, waiting patiently for her to gather the courage to explain her feelings.

"I wanted...... you." Her confession made him unable to breathe.

Was he hearing things? Or was Moon Yeorin, the girl he fallen for long ago telling her she wanted him?

"Say it again." He pleaded desperately wanting to hear her words, while his head still wrapping around the fact of what she said.

She shook her head shyly, hiding her burning cheeks from his view.

"Please. I need to hear you again." He begged, voice low and steady.

She hesitated, then with a barely audible voice she whispered. "I wanted you, Park Gyujin."

She sweetly spoken words brought a beautiful smile onto his face, brightening the gloomy mood between the two teens.

"You have no idea how many times I've prayed you would say that to me." He leaned his forehead against hers.

He looked more at ease, his eyes clouded with something between relief and ache. Yeorin wasn't any different, she was very happy with how the situation came out to be.

Of course, she was still afraid Seongjun would hurt Gyujin but his words made her feel more relaxed and less anxious to be near the boy she loved.

"I thought I was the only one going mad with my feelings towards you." He let out a breathy laugh.

"I-I'm still very scared. What if-" Yeorin couldn't finish her sentence.

Gyujin just took the chance to silence her with the only way he could think of. He leaned forward and crashed his lips on hers.

Yeorin eyes widened in surprise, she let out a small squeaky voice, which was swallowed by Gyujin as he deepened the kiss. She slowly closed her eyes and began to kiss him back, reciprocating the passion and desire of his kiss.

The kiss was messy and desperate but it still brought butterflies into both of their stomachs in delight.

When they ran out of air, they parted, gazing into each other's eyes deeply.

"If you still want me...... you already got me." Gyujin whispered, forehead against hers.

She gazed at him, almost like she couldn't believe this was happening. Her breath was shaky, her hands trembled while holding onto him, overwhelmed by everything that happened, but her mind was keen on one thing.

"I never stopped."