Due to the pain in her ankle her pace was much slower than usual. Unable to find him, she grew anxious every passing second. There was always a team of bodyguards trailing behind her wherever she goes. Without much thought she ferociously ordered them "you bunch of fools!! If you don't find him within 10 more minutes I will fire each one of you" immediately all the guards scattered in different directions to search Jonghyun while Kim Yerin desperately looked around.
she caught a glimpse of Jonghyun's back leaning against his luggage. she breathed in relief.
"sunbae" she screamed attracting the attention of a few people on her way.
Jonghyun lowered his eyes in shame when he saw her coming towards him. He will never forgive himself for what he did last night. No matter what, it was unreasonable for him to lost his temper and when he saw her limping with her injured ankle, remorse washed through him burning his soul in deep regret. That's when he realised the importance of the saying "Think before you act."
ughhh!! it will take him a lifetime now to recover from his remorse. "should I run away he thought?"
"No he have to face her one last time" and he decided to wait a bit more. Kim yerin halted in front of him and threw a few light punches in his chest "How can you be so unreasonable sunbae!! have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea at all how worried I was?"
He kept staring at her until "she can't be yours" hit his mind.
"I am sorry but I don't deserve your kindness Yerin please leave me alone."
Kim Yerin was desperate to put some sense into his brain but at the same time she was tired of his stubbornness so she spoke in a very calm voice "what's wrong with you sunbae? why are you acting all wrong? it's ruining everything."
Kim yerin directly looked into his eyes. Jeon Jonghyun immediately looked away. Her gaze was too dominating and powerful. It was hard to resist her "Yerin what's done is done. we can't change it. I have accepted my fate and I am moving away from you."
Yerin was on the verge of tears "sunbae is it that important for you to go away? can't we continue to be friends like before?"
what? Continue to be friends? love was as easy as it could be to say it out loud but as hard as it could be to understand. Even if he continues to be her best friend how long would he be able to suppress his affections? sooner or later he would have to leave her side when someone more capable then him enters her life. It's better to leave sooner than later. He has decided what he thought was best for them and now he shall continue to work according his thoughts.
"No matter how hard we try Yerin, we can't go back to what we used to be before. You don't understand love neither the pain it brings, if I stay with you I will continue to love you. Doesn't matter how hard I try, I can't stop loving you. It's just one look of yours that melts my heart making me weak and fall for you again."
Tears rolled down her eyes "please don't abandon me like this." she cried.
"I am sorry I don't have any choice. Take care. don't forget to smile often. Remember to visit grandma's store. send her my last goodbye."
Yerin was broken at his words. If only she knew how to console her heart. Jeon Jonghyun's flight was announced. "Yerin go back home. I shall leave now. If I am able to mend my heart I shall return someday but for now good bye." He turned to leave. unable to bear the sight of his back turned towards her she clung to him hugging him tightly "sunbae I will date you. I will love you. I am ready to do anything for you to stay. Please don't go."
Jonghyun stared at her with shock. "stop making this difficult for me" he thought.
Yerin could do anything for the happiness of her loved ones. It was her strength and weakness at the same time. The fear of loosing her friendship was making her weaker. "This brave little girl" Jonghyun wondered. she was ready to sacrifice her choices just to make him happy, make him stay but this time he would not repeat his mistakes again.
"Yerin" Jonghyun patted the back of her head while hugging her firmly. "People are often weak and bounded by their own prejudices to accept the truth that lies in front of their eyes. don't be like them. I have accepted the truth and now you should do the same. let's part our ways with happy vibes."
"No!!" Yerin screamed and hugged him tighter. He was there whenever she needed him. He understood her better than anyone else. The thought of not being able to see him when she wants hit her hard. The reason why Yerin was so fond of him was that he loved and cared for her and continued to be with her not because she was an heiress. He treated her for who she really was. He saw her as Yerin. The real she. He accepted and supported all her simple ways of having happiness even if it was visiting the noodle shop of an old lady or dreaming to live like an ordinary girl with her own sense of freedom in this world. He was her only true friend who was capable to give her a sense of security that no one else gave her. how can she let him go when she had never parted ways with him for even a week in her life. The fear of abandonment and loneliness gripped her heart.
"I really mean it. I will love you, even marry you but I can't let you go."
Kim Yerin has always been a stubborn child but now she must realise her fate and learn to let things go.
"Forgive me for this but I must hurt you today so that you can smile tommorow." Jonghyun whispered under his breath.
"Kim Yerin you are utterly shameless." Jonghyun said in a fierce voice. "Stop playing with my feelings and with yours too. You are just not good enough for me. Get lost."
he pushed her away and left. Yerin cried and begged him to stay but he never looked back at her. She tried to run but her ankle gave up making her trip on her feet.
Waiting at a distance Kim Yumi and Heo yun-ji had witnessed the entire scene. They came to her aid and took her back to the mansion.
"Mom said father is waiting for you so you shall prepare yourself." Kim yumi informed.
Kim Yerin nodded and silently answered "okay"
on the entire ride back home it was the only word she uttered from her mouth.