Chapter 75
As we pulled away from the hug, Hyun Min's piercing gaze locked onto mine, and he suggested, "Let's take a stroll." The words hung in the air like a whispered promise, filled with an unspoken intimacy. I glanced at my phone, the screen glowing softly in the fading light, and saw it was already past eight. We had time before curfew, so I nodded in agreement, my heart beating slightly faster at the prospect of being alone with him again.
The rooftop of the school beckoned, its breathtaking view of the city a siren's call that seemed to whisper secrets only known to the night.
The wind whipped through my hair as we stepped onto the rooftop, the chill biting and unforgiving. I shivered slightly, wrapping my arms around myself, but my eyes remained fixed on Hyun Min's profile, his features illuminated by the soft glow of the city lights. We walked to the edge, the city spread out before us like a twinkling canvas of lights, each one a story waiting to be told. The sound of the wind and the hum of the city below created a soothing melody that seemed to match the rhythm of my heart.
There was a long bench there and hyun min sat,I remained standing "what is causing your depression?" My voice was barely above a whisper. Hyun Min's eyes drifted to the painkillers in my hand, and he asked instead, "What happened? Why do you need painkillers?" His voice was low and husky, a gentle counterpoint to the biting wind that seemed to hold a deep concern.
I replied, my voice steady, "It's just a minor stuff, but I'd rather not talk about it. You're avoiding my question, Hyun Min. Are you suffering from depression and why?" The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning, like a challenge waiting to be met. Hyun Min's gaze drifted back to mine, his eyes searching, as if trying to uncover the truth behind my words.
Hyun Min signaled for me to sit beside him, and I did, our thighs touching slightly as we sat on the narrow ledge. The proximity sent a spark of electricity through me, and I felt my heart flutter.
"Besides," I pressed on, my voice gentle but insistent, "what's making you unhappy? Is it the pressure from your family, the expectations, or something deeper?" My words were a gentle probe, but I knew I was venturing into sensitive territory, one that required care and understanding.
Hyun Min's eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if searching for something, and then he looked away, his gaze drifting out to the cityscape. "It's complicated," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You can talk to me," I said, my voice infused with a gentle warmth. "I know when we first met, it was complicated, but now that I understand what you're going through... it makes sense why you asked me to room with you at the camp." I said, trying to connect the dots between his past and present.
Hyun Min's eyes clouded over, and he let out a deep sigh, as if the weight of his emotions was almost too much to bear. "To be honest, it's hard for me to forget the last conversation I had with my mom," he said, his voice laced with a mix of pain and vulnerability. "She called me a mistake, plain and simple. Even though she was going around the conners, she felt i was a mistake,Like my existence was an error, a blip on her radar that she'd rather forget."
I felt a lump form in my throat as I listened to his words, the sting of his mother's rejection evident in his tone. "Why would she say that?" I asked, my curiosity and concern intertwined.
Hyun Min's gaze drifted out to the cityscape, his eyes unfocused. "She always wanted a certain life, a certain path, and I... I didn't fit into that plan," he said, his voice tinged with a deep-seated sadness. "According to her, I was an unexpected surprise, an unplanned addition to the family. And because of that, I owe her. I owe her for disrupting her life, for being a burden."
The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his emotional pain. "That's not fair," I said softly, my heart going out to him.
Hyun Min's eyes snapped back to mine, a hint of defiance in their depths. "It's not about fairness," he said, his voice firm. "It's about reality. And the reality is, I don't see her as a mother anymore. I don't want to be bound by her expectations, her guilt trips. I want to be free."
The pain and vulnerability in his eyes told a different story, one of deep-seated wounds and unresolved emotions. I reached out, my hand brushing against his, a silent offer of support and understanding.
"I'm deeply sorry, I had no idea you were carrying this burden," I said, my voice infused with genuine empathy. "When we first met, I thought you were just being aloof, even rude, but now I understand it was a facade, a way to shield yourself from the world...please don't kill yourself"
Hyun Min's eyes locked onto mine, a hint of wry amusement dancing in their depths. "What led you to believe I was grappling with suicidal thoughts?" he asked, his voice low and measured, the words hanging in the air like an unspoken question.
I hesitated, my mind racing to connect the dots. "It's just... in South Korea, depression can be overwhelming, and sometimes people feel like they have no way out," I said finally, choosing my words with care. "I didn't mean to assume...." I added, the words tumbling out in a rush, my concern for him evident.
Hyun Min's gaze met mine, a faint smile playing on his lips, like the gentle caress of a summer breeze.
"Well, I don't plan on killing myself" he said, his voice steady, yet laced with a hint of resolve. "But instead, I have a multitude of dreams I want to chase," he added, his eyes sparkling with a sense of purpose, like the vibrant hues of a sunset.
My curiosity was piqued, like a flame that had been ignited. "Like what?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, the words hanging in the air like an invitation.
Hyun Min's smile grew wider, and he leaned in closer, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "So many things that are none of your business," he said, emphasizing the secrecy with a mischievous glint in his eye, like a whispered secret in a crowded room.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his enigmatic response, like a puzzle waiting to be deciphered. What could he possibly have planned that he wouldn't want me to know? The mystery surrounding him only seemed to deepen, like the layers of a complex novel, each one revealing a new truth, a new revelation.