The Reason? - Yoon Jeonghan

Chapter 37

Ophely let their intertwined hands fall in the small space between their beds that night. She realised that he was awake when he gently brushed his thumb over her knuckles. Always comforting, that's what Jeonghan did with every member of the group, even without realising so. She could see how it drained him, or at least she was sure that the tiredness in his eyes came from being the adult in this situation. Even if she was also of age, she didn't feel like it. Ophely felt like a child in the middle of all those working men.

"My parents called earlier today, after seeing the articles online." Ophely hummed in response, turning her body to face him, her second hand pulling the duvet over her shoulder where it had fallen from. "They wanted to make sure that you were alright."

"What did you tell them?"

"That you weren't." He said truthfully. "Which is why they proposed for you to join them back home, and maybe go to my grandparents further away from Seoul. If you need to get some air; now, or in a few days."

"That's nice of them." She sighed on her pillow, tightening her grip on his hand. "Though I know with the stress of the situation I can force us back in the wrong body at any time. I don't want to hinder you." Jeonghan didn't comment on her silent tears, "Though I don't want to leave, the offer is welcome."

Jeonghan knew he would never be able to understand her pain, he could only speculate on the aching of her heart. There were so many things to take into account.

I just don't want to leave. It will be like, to me, I am taking the easy way out - leaving." The room was dark but Jeonghan could clearly see her face, and the lines of worry etched on it. "I don't feel comfortable doing that. I don't feel comfortable doing much these days.

I called my friend but couldn't really talk to her, it felt like I was lying to her about my time here. And I tried calling my parents, just to talk. But I couldn't even type their name on my phone, I have been ignoring their calls too.

I'm afraid it's going to scare more. As I'm scared to communicate with your group mates. I just get this feeling of emptiness when in front of them. Just hollow inside, and water just wants to run out of my eyes."

Jeonghan couldn't take it anymore. Only holding onto her by the hand, a trembling one at that.

He never dropped her hand as he pushed his cover away, stood up, and joined her in her bed. He pulled his sheets with him. But mostly, he pulled her tight into him. Gentle hands brushing against her back, against her head. His fingers weaved themselves in between her hair, massaging her scalp, as she cried into his top.

"I jus-" She took a shaky breath, "I just - I don't know..."

"It's okay, you don't have to understand."

Ophely fell asleep in that position. Curled up with her face pressed against his t-shirt, balled between her hands. Jeonghan would never tell her, but he had fallen asleep crying as well, her aching truly having pained him. He wished he could have done more.

-

"Opely, wake up." A voice pulled her away from her dream. Wonwoo was standing in front of her, his hand on her shoulder, and Jeonghan nowhere to be found. "We're leaving in half an hour."

"What?" She wasn't sure if she had understood the right thing. She rubbed her swollen eyes with her hand, immediately regretting it after. The skin was still tender from the previous evening.

"We're all leaving in half an hour, you have to get ready." She pûshed herself up from the bed, looking questioningly at the man.

"Just wear comfy clothes." Another voice piped up from behind him, Joshua sent her a small smile as he went on his way to the kitchen.