breathing ¦ mark lee

ch ; 10

─── ･જ⁀➴ 10 જ⁀➴･ ───

Owing Ourselves Forgiveness

The days passed slowly for Mark, each one filled with a longing to mend the rift between him and Yeojung. He couldn't shake the guilt that gnawed at him, nor could he ignore the ache in his heart that yearned for her forgiveness. Despite his best efforts to reach out, Yeojung remained elusive, her presence haunting him like a distant memory.

Determined to make amends, Mark set out in search of Yeojung, his steps guided by a sense of purpose that burned within him. He wandered the familiar streets of Yangpyeong, his eyes scanning the bustling crowds for any sign of her. It took him a while, but eventually, he spotted her at a local eatery, her figure moving gracefully amidst the chaos of the busy establishment.

Mark stood outside the eatery, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched Yeojung from afar. She seemed occupied, engrossed in her duties as she assisted the customers with a warm smile. He hesitated, unsure of how to approach her after their last encounter, but the longing to make things right spurred him forward.

With a deep breath, Mark pushed open the door and stepped inside, the scent of delicious food enveloping him as he scanned the room for Yeojung. She was there, amidst the hustle and bustle of the eatery, her presence both comforting and intimidating at the same time.

For a moment, their eyes met across the room, and Mark felt a flicker of hope ignite within him. But before he could utter a word, Yeojung turned away, her attention drawn back to her tasks as if he were nothing more than a fleeting thought.

Hurt and frustration welled up inside him, but Mark refused to be deterred. He approached Yeojung, his footsteps echoing in the din of the eatery as he drew nearer to her. "Yeojung," he called out softly, his voice barely audible above the chatter of the crowd.

Yeojung glanced up briefly, her expression guarded as she acknowledged his presence. But before Mark could say another word, she turned away once again, her focus returning to her duties as if he were nothing more than a passing stranger.

Mark's heart sank at her feigned ignorance, the sting of rejection cutting deeper than he had anticipated. He tried to muster the courage to speak up, to plead for her forgiveness, but the words caught in his throat, suffocated by the weight of his own insecurities.

Desperate for her attention, Mark persisted, his voice growing more insistent as he tried to break through the barrier that separated them. "Yeojung, please," he implored, his words tinged with desperation as he reached out to touch her arm.

But Yeojung recoiled at his touch, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and hurt as she pulled away from him. "Leave me alone, Mark," she snapped, her tone sharp and unforgiving as she turned her back on him once again.

Mark felt his heart shatter at her rejection, the pain of her words cutting deep into his soul. He had hoped for forgiveness, for understanding, but all he found was rejection and indifference.

Defeated, Mark withdrew, his shoulders slumped in defeat as he retreated from the eatery, his footsteps heavy with the weight of his own remorse. He had tried to make things right, to bridge the gap between them, but it seemed that his efforts had been in vain.

As he walked away, Mark couldn't help but wonder if things would ever be the same between him and Yeojung. But for now, all he could do was nurse his wounded pride and hope for a chance at redemption in the days to come.

-

Weeks passed, but the tension between Mark and Yeojung remained perceptible. Despite his attempts to reach out to her, she continued to keep her distance, her icy demeanor a constant reminder of his past mistakes. Mark couldn't shake the feeling of regret that gnawed at him, nor could he ignore the longing that still lingered in his heart.

One afternoon, as Mark wandered the streets of Yangpyeong, lost in thought, he stumbled upon a quaint bookstore tucked away in a quiet corner of the town. Intrigued, he pushed open the door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of old books washing over him like a wave of nostalgia.

As he browsed the shelves, running his fingers over the worn spines of the books, Mark's mind wandered back to Yeojung. He couldn't shake the memory of her, nor could he understand why she continued to haunt his thoughts despite their strained relationship.

Lost in his reverie, Mark was startled when a voice broke through the silence of the bookstore. "Can I help you find something?"

He turned to see an elderly man standing behind the counter, a warm smile playing on his lips. Mark returned the smile, grateful for the distraction. "I'm just browsing, thank you," he replied politely.

The old man nodded understandingly, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Looking for anything in particular?"

Mark hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the turmoil that raged within him. "I suppose I'm searching for answers," he admitted finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

The old man's smile widened, as if he had been expecting such a response. "Ah, the search for answers," he mused, gesturing towards the shelves of books that surrounded them. "You'll find plenty of those here."

With a nod of thanks, Mark turned back to the shelves, his eyes scanning the titles in search of something that might offer him solace. As he reached for a book, his hand brushed against another, dislodging it from its place on the shelf and sending it tumbling to the floor.

Mark bent down to retrieve the fallen book, his fingers trailing over the cover as he read the title aloud. "Forgiveness," he murmured, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the bookstore.

The old man's eyes lit up with recognition as he approached, his expression thoughtful. "Ah, forgiveness," he repeated, his voice filled with wisdom. "A powerful concept indeed."

Mark glanced up at him, curiosity piqued. "Do you believe in forgiveness?" he asked, unable to suppress the longing in his voice.

The old man nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the book in Mark's hands. "I believe that forgiveness is not only a gift we give to others, but also a gift we give to ourselves," he explained gently. "It is a journey of healing, of letting go of the past and embracing the future with an open heart."

Mark listened intently, the words resonating deep within his soul. For the first time in weeks, he felt a glimmer of hope stirring within him, a sense of possibility that he had thought lost.

"A gift we give to ourselves...." Mark mutters to himself, going back to browsing the bookshelves.

-

a/n: That's such a nice statement, honestly :0

Continued.