The Best of Tomorrow [ 내일의 으뜸]

Chapter 42

"Imsol."

Seonjae calls my name. As if that was some kind of signal, tears fell.

"Have you been drinking?"

He lowered his head and nodded slowly back and forth. The movement made her hair fall forward and half block her vision. hate. Me, who keeps being put in these situations, me who can't get out of these situations, and me who bursts into tears every time.

Seonjae's fingers wormed their way through the hair covering his face. Then she pulled back her hair as if she were pulling back her curtains. She lowered her eyelids and tears fell down. When Seonjae, who had been maintaining a still posture, withdrew his hand, his hair returned to its original position without any force.

"Give it to me."

I didn't know what to give him, so I carefully lifted my face, which was covered in tears. Seonjae held out her palm up.

"The handle you took off. "What if I take it away?"

I looked down and saw the handle sticking out of the pocket. He placed the handle on Seonjae's flat palm. The wire holding the handle aligned the hole and pushed the handle in. The handle clicked into place. Seonjae will probably open this door and take the emergency stairs. Then I would just stay still, unable to go here or there.

He played with his empty hands and lowered his head. I really don't know why I always have to lower my head like I'm a sinner.

Seonjae turned the handle, opened the door, and took steps. I waited for the door to close, but there was no sound. Lifted her head. Seonjae was standing holding his handle and looking at me. My wet eyes and Seonjae's eyes, filled with unknown emotions, gently meet.

"Why are you crying?"

I tried to stop crying, but it wasn't working. Her protruding lips trembled. I wiped my tears with my sleeve and lowered my gaze. I wanted Seon-jae to think that I was crying because the door handle I pulled while drunk fell off.

"The handle... ... Falling in... ... ."

Seonjae, who was standing in front of the door holding the handle, suddenly walked inside and closed the door.

"Lift your head."

I roughly rubbed my face and raised my head. Seonjae, who was quietly staring into my eyes, lowered his face. Then he made eye contact with me again. Seeing him face to face this close makes his heart beat as if it would explode.

"You know me."

"... ... ."

"But why do you pretend not to know me?"

"... ... "I thought you didn't remember."

My throat feels tight. As I look into Seon-jae's burning black eyes, the images of the past that I saw face-to-face in a snowy landscape overlap. Seonjae smiled with an unpleasant expression on his face.

"If I didn't call your name first, you would have remained a stranger forever."

"... ... ."

"If you cry like that now, I don't know what you want me to do."

I had nothing to say so I dug my teeth deep into my lips. There was something I wanted to say, but it was something I shouldn't have said. I can't explain anything to Seonjae. Seonjae, who was making eye contact as if he was digging deeply, spoke after him.

"I had high expectations."

"... ... ."

"If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have hated you so much."