I Only Like You

Chapter 13: My Armor and Weakness

~ 1 ~

Taehyung has a friend who recently discovered that he was suffering from the latest stages of cancer. Although this friend had attended our wedding, I wasn't able to interact much with him as I was simply too busy that day. That said, I do remember him as a cute fellow hailing from Busan, and when he smiled, his eyes would crinkle up and form a line. When he was toasting us, his other friends even joked that he had such a cute smile that makes his eyes crinkle up so much that it is not easy to locate his eyes.

During the weekend, I accompanied Taehyung on a visit to the hospital. Both of us knew in our hearts that this could very well be the last time we saw him. Before we left the house, Taehyung reminded me to remain composed. Although I understood what Taehyung meant, I couldn't help but feel terrible when I saw the 62 kg healthy man of the past reduced to becoming a bag of bones lying on the bed, trying his best to smile and welcome us despite having difficulty breathing. Conversely, Taehyung chatted with him as normal.

As we didn't want to disturb the patient's rest, we didn't stay long and chose to leave soon after. After exiting the ward, I accompanied Taehyung to the stairway where he could relax. There, the two of us sat side by side on the staircase, both of us choosing not to speak a single word.

There are occasions when I would think about death. When I was a teenager, I wasn't afraid of death in the slightest, simply accepting that it was something everybody had to experience one day. However, nowadays, I'm truly afraid of such a day arriving. It's not because I'm afraid of pain and suffering; rather, I fear that I would no longer be able to enjoy the things I presently cherish. I fear that I would no longer be able to hug the people I love. I fear that I would no longer be able to accompany my children when they're growing up. More importantly, Taehyung and I have already become such an integral part of each other – we're connected to each other by all our little, mundane experiences – and I'm afraid because the one who suffers most isn't the one who leaves, but the one who is left behind. I can't bear for him to be unhappy, not even the slightest bit. Every time I think about these, I'm extremely, extremely afraid.

He says that I'm being too sentimental, but he doesn't know; he doesn't realize that in actuality, the person who made me this way is him, and him alone.

Although Love arms one with armor, it simultaneously causes one to have a weakness.

~ 2 ~

One day, I was buying fruits at a market near our place. Just as I was focused on selecting some yellow peaches for Taehyung who really loves them, the guy standing next to me suddenly spoke up, "What are these called?"

I surveyed the surroundings in an attempt to confirm that he was asking me (and not the boss of the fruit stall) before replying, "Yellow peaches."

He nodded his head before asking again, "Are they delicious?"

"Um...... It depends on personal preference."

"Do you like them?"

"They're alright."

After purchasing my fruits, I left the fruit stall. Just then, the guy caught up to me with a bag of yellow peaches in his hand.

"By the way, I'm Lee Jong-Suk, Can I have your mobile number? Kakao is fine too, I just hope that we can be friends."

Is this an actual pick-up line which I thought only existed in legends and myths? I never ever thought that I would actually experience such a situation in my life! I tried my best to repress my delight and answered apologetically, "But...... my husband won't be too happy about it."