With a slight change in expression, she continued,
"Tell me what weren't we able to do? To teach her a lesson. I and my daughter gave an extremely hard time to her."
When Mrs. Kwon said 'hard time' then, anybody could predict the consequences of it. And how it feels to be in their care! And newmoon knew it too, their hard time doesn't even come near to the average household bullying. As per their family's status goes, so does their way of bullying too!
Newmoon could only imagine the tolerance level his noona had to bear.
"Apply whatever method we could hand upon."
Her eyes slightly darkened with disappointment, "However, who knew she would have the one hell of the tolerance level."
"-I guess, Maybe she felt humiliated from returning?"
"Humiliated? I don't think so. More like her ego and pride coming in between!"
Indeed they acknowledged that point of her.
"And to add more, you do know, right? How my little angel couldn't even continue her middle school studies..she is already sad and regretful about it and guess what?..the audacity of that bitch to the dug out and pointed the dirt from her weakness-
Mrs. Kwon swallowed the rest of the sentences with the alcohol.
While Mrs.song only stared at her silently. And only after a moment, did she speak out firmly.
"Too bad! Indeed she has cleared out of high school! And surprisingly to look at the statics she has surpassed not only your daughter but also your dearest son as well."
Sighing out loudly, Mrs. Song thought pitifully as she poured out the alcohol in her glass, "Hmm, somehow all of sudden, I have a bad feeling about your daughter-in-law-
Out of blue, a loud 'thud' startled both of them.
"??"
The sound echoed from the entrance of the door. Immediately afterward, both of their expression froze on the spot. Before Mrs. Kwon could open her drunken mouth, Aiden on the other side quickly apologized, "Sorry Mrs. Kwon and grandma. I just accidentally closed-
"Oh, it's you? I thought..!"
Mrs. Kwon swept the huge bucket of sweat from her forehead. For a moment she had a quick reality check on her thoughts thinking it was newmoon instead!
"-I wasn't aware..it would make such a big sound and disturb your peaceful conversation!"
Aiden sounded worried.
Hearing him out, Mrs. Song's forehead wrinkled as it had never before, "Where are you roaming around now?"
"Oh! Nothing grandma. Anyway, Mrs. Kwon please continue with your stuff. Don't mind me. I'm just gonna head outside for some fresh air and sightseeing!"
"What-?"
Turning a deaf ear to Mrs.Song, Aiden instantly headed out.
"..."
Clenching her teeth, Mrs. Song mumbled underneath her breath, "That brat--!"
~~~
Meanwhile, Aiden rushed out of the house and only halted when he reached the streets.
Looking around in a panic expression, both left and the right of the road he cursed to himself, "Shit! Shit! I knew it would happen sooner or later...but not expected this early too!"
He knitted his eyebrows as he mumbled in a worried tone, "Noona?"
Earlier, just when Aiden got out of his room and headed to the kitchen he saw newmoon plopping down in the dark corner helplessly and miserably. At a first glance, he knocked it out thinking he must be doing something with his stuff but his soul left his body the moment he heard the voices of grandma and Mrs. Song.
In a half second, he realized the whole scenario. And as if newmoon too acknowledged his presence of him and at the same time if he could no longer stand the bullshit, he gathered all of his strength to stand up and left with a large 'thud'.
Aiden clenched his fists as he glanced at the downtown road, " Newmoon. Where are you ?"
~TAP~TAP~
Whereas on the other side, as if newmoon had lost his absolute consciousness he ran like a madman losing a track of time and way. After a long while, he unconsciously halted at a side of the highway and found himself at the Han-river bridge. His whole body was drenched in sweat.
"Huff.Huff"
Along with gasping and sweating, he was uncontrollably shaking too! Before he could collect and calm the stability of his breath, all of sudden a weird sensation swirled up from his stomach.
Immediately afterward he lost his balance and he instantly threw up!
"Bleghhh!"
He hastily wiped the corner of his mouth with his long sleeves.
Thousands and thousands of thoughts spiraled around his tiny head. Feelings collided and tangled up with the recent incident. All of his belief systems were shaken up.
No matter how much he came up with the assumptions or at least tried to cover up the words of Mrs. Kwon and Mrs. Song, still, it wasn't enough to answer their behaviors. Until earlier, he was silently hoping it was..all a misunderstanding things or misheard kind of thing. But with all the conversation they talked about his noona was unbearable and shocking too. At this point, he was helpless and doesn't even know what he was expecting them to be or for himself too. A miserable? Pity? Ranged? Shocked? Betrayal? Deception? Lies?..there were several emotions highlighted and crisscrossing over each other.
On top of it, Anxiety was kicking in at its own pace..resulting in the situation being worn out.
Not being able to hold the weight much longer, he eventually plopped down on his knees and stared above into the dusk sky with those lifeless eyes.
"How can one talk shit about their daughter-in-law..? Call her bitch..all behind her back?"
He questioned himself in a lowly tone.
"How can one bring a daughter-in-law into their household just for the sake of manipulating and controlling her?"
"How can one pull up such nasty evil things like torturing her.. all because things didn't go right as they planned?"
"Just how can one?"
"I mean- I-
It wasn't new for him to witness such talks regarding that topic. Ever since a child he had grown up hearing thousands- No- millions of times about it in news circulating on social platforms. To be more precise, it was common. However, little did he know about the huge difference between hearing from others and experiencing things on his own.
Unless and until one experiences the pain, it's all nothing but talk. It was similar in newmoon's case too.
"Mom. Why don't I drop this university thing and open a small business from scratch?"
Out of blue, a voice hit his mind. And the reasons for it.., Even he was unaware of it.
"I don't have any interest in pursuing graduation once a..gain."
"I won't even ask for money to start. Just give me some time..!"
"I promise I'll pay back really-
"- Newmoon I think you're forgetting something important here!"
" This dream is of your elder noona, Jina!"
"The fact your noona has only studied over high school due to extreme financial conditions, only she knew the consequences of being illiterate. Do you know how much from school, You're always bragging about how you're going to pursue higher studies no matter what? and yelled at us about taking a loan or doing something about money for university. and finally, now that she eventually got married and has more than enough money, why are you stepping into her dreams, hope, and your own life as well?"
Upon realizing it, newmoon flinched for unknown reasons as he lowered his back and laid his head down while maintaining his balance with his hands, facing directly towards the ground.
"…"
Suddenly, Jina's cold and stern tone intersects with mom's long lecture,
"You probably aren't thinking about dropping the uni even before joining right??"
"…"
"Like all this time she has been telling you and john to study harder, and become independent. She must have encountered several experiences to realize that."
Hearing the last part, his whole dilemma expression got faltered at once. A sense of realization came to shore. He buried his face even lower than before.
"Even she is covering all of your expenses regarding college, your allowances, and your living accommodations as well. Everything has been all-well occupied what do you need more?"
Amid the chaos roaring inside his mind, he wrapped his head in his trembling arms in a way that he wanted the voices to be gone! Unfortunately, it still made its way to his ears. And instead got sharper and louder.
"Back then when you're desperate about money for joining college, by then none of us had a single cent of money...of which Jina talked to this day that how she felt regret and truly helplessness back then."
"Now when everything is on your table, you are turning your head huh? It is for your own life moreover!"
The more he heard it the more he unconsciously clenched his arms. An indescribable feeling got sucked into his heart and he didn't know what emotions he was feeling at that moment. But one thing was for sure. A regret!
"You probably aren't thinking about dropping the uni even before joining right??"
Finally, as though the regret inside his chest broke a wall, it instantly poured out. In seconds, his eyes got blurred by the pool of water. Unable to hold onto it, the tears eventually find their way to escape.
....
~Drip~ Drip~!
The droplets of tears split through his cheeks to the ground.
"So, Did you mean this..noona?"
Although it was late, he still managed to acknowledge the hidden meaning behind those words of her and his mother. Squeezing hard his arms, he heartbrokenly whimpers in pain.
"Wh..y didn't you tell me noona?"
He shutters as he sobs his balls out.
"Is it b-because I look like a child to you? Do I still look like one?"
~HIC~ HIC~
It's been a long while since his cheeks and heart had felt such wrenching sensations and overwhelming emotions. After bottling up feelings for more than 2 years the patience to hold within..got splattered down heavily. Triggering his buried emotions too! That's why he broke down even more miserably. The hiccups were making it difficult to speak out the full formation of words.
"Wh..y didn't you share with me?"
Slamming his hands on the ground. He gritted his teeth, looking way too hurt and pitiful.
"Y..you're already in pain..and yet you still acted..strong as hell!"
"W..hy..noona? this isn't like you?"
In the past, Jina would always speak and say whatever was in her mind regardless of the situation and circumstances. Whether it was in a high police station or the public..No matter how bad the environment was…, she never let herself be carried away by others' judgment. She was the type to let the consequences to handle later and speak of them first.
Knowing her personality, not even in his wildest dream had he thought of..this scenario. That 'one day' his own dearest noona 'Jina' would lie to him. If the time shifted to that one certain day where everyone would come to betray each other still, he had expected Jina would be the last person he would come to put his doubt and suspicion on.
~Drip~ Drip~
All of sudden it started to rain. There were no signs beforehand about the rain in the dusk but surprisingly it happened. However, newmoon didn't even hesitate to move his muscles a bit. It was the first time he remained untouched by rain internally. At worst, In agony, he even cried his whole heart out. As time went by, the rain fell more heavily not even naming to slow down and so were newmoon's tears too!
…
…..
A few moments later, a hand carrying an umbrella slightly overshadowed the scrunched newmoon. As if he felt the presence of a second person and the sensation of not getting hit by the hard rainfall over his body made him lift his head upwards unconsciously.
Before he could get the chance to look up the umbrellas with his swollen and red, wet teary eyes, a mixed- expression of a worried and perplexed face appeared right away. Eyes timidly staring down.
"?"
That face was non-other than of April han.
"…"
For a split second, due to the blurred image of a person..newmoon thoughts he had mistaken her for somebody else. So, he swiftly lowered his chin without giving him another second to think over it and realized it.
But who would have thought, he would snap instantly? Immediately he wiped his bucket of tears blurring his vision out of his sight and looked up again!
Indeed it was April han!
"What the-"
Newmoon tripled over from startled. Followed by the sharp electricity caused by the numbness of his leg portion. He had spent way too much time squeezing himself.
A terror filled his eyes. At that moment, he knew he royally was fucked up.
"Out of all. It has to be today?"
A voice in his mind better out.
"And in this s..state?"
To talk about it, if he ever got caught up in such miserable and pitiful conditions like this then, he would be okay to let himself shown in front of others except for April han and Haemin lee!
But guess what? Heaven knows what type of stars were transiting on the universe on his birthday causing him to face every bad luck..maybe of his entire life..in that one single day.
Meantime, April titled her umbrella more towards the left side of her..where newmoon had fallen over.
"Y…YOU?"
Newmoon still was stumbling over his words. Seeing her out of blue, he had long forgotten about the pain, hurt and agony he was first in.
His whole face was washed up by the rain. Even his tears too! Anyone could get mistaken about whether he was weeping over or it was the traces of the drops of fallen rain. But at the same time, it was way too obvious too.
If stared more closely and concentrate..then tears were hiding in each corner of the swollen, red eyes. Several red threads of veins were visible inside his eyes too! Not only it, but his voice was also undoubtedly hoarse and low too. Sound somewhat like a common cold sort of. However, April could neither see nor heard his tone clearly on that night and in such a noisy environment.
"W-What are you doing here?"
"Exactly that's my question. What are YOU doing here?"
April was way more surprised than he was. Looking around she further interrogated, "On top of that, at this hour..in this heavy rainfall?"
"Wha-? I-"
As though she recalled the reasons, he lowered his face in embarrassment and so was his tone too!
Immediately afterward, A bright light was shed towards them from one of the vehicles on the opposite highway and passed through them at a high speed. It only lasted for a quick few spilt seconds but both of them noticed something within the moment. April finally saw his wet, red, and swollen eyes of him, below down from his nose, nasal discharge was leaking..which even raindrops couldn't sweep away.
By that time, Night had already evolved outside the environment. And if it wasn't for that flash then she would never know the miserable condition he was in.
While on the other side, at the same moment as though Newmoon realized something his face instantly froze.
"Wait, I think I've seen the figure somewhere else before!"
For some unknown reason, a voice popped out of his mind.
Then, A powerful wind flew through them!
The figure, the long fluttering hair being flown by an instant strong force of the wind, Nighttime, bridge, a mysterious person with a majestic glimpse….
It was the exact silhouette of that person that he had seen and encountered before on a windy day. The day where he almost lost his life while interfering in somebody's life playing as a hero.
How in the world could he forget such a day? If someone had asked him 'what changes would he make if he was meant to give a chance to time travel back?' then he would happily answer 'that day!
"H..ey!"
"H..ey!"
Out of nowhere, both started pointing out to each other in quivering hands.
"-W-Wait!! Are you-!"
"-W-Wait!! Are you-!"
Surprisingly, Not only did they speak out at the same moment but also their word were synchronized.
Newmoon gasped and continued first, "H-Hold on!! Are you- No I mean.
In a wave of nervousness and shock, he stumbles the words continuously.
"-Is that you?"
Finally, there he said it!
April, "…"
Newmoon, "?"
Having not received any reply from her as well as not seeing any possible changes in her expression too, he silently gulped down his further words and mumbled under his breath, "The one whom I met back then at-"
The more he goes into explaining, the more his words faded away.
In other words, he was engulfed in pitiful!
Thoughts began to swirl up inside his head, "Don't tell me she isn't?"
"But..it indeed looked like her though! I can't be mistaken."
He hesitantly gazes up at her. Her front hair was swaying back and forth right in front of her eyes. Somehow he couldn't get to reach her expression.
Just when he lowered his chin, he heard the 'Sfx' sound!
April plopped down too!
"And here all this time I was wondering why aren't you recognizing me?"
The corner of her lips curved into a gentle smile.
"Took you a long while!"
Hearing it, all of his doubts were gone as if it never was there. And the truth got crystal clear.
"See? I was right!"
He rests assured of his heart. Somewhere deep inside he was secretly relieved too.
"She is..that particular girl! Whom I save-??—Save? What? Somehow it doesn't sound..-
While his brows raised in confusion, on the other hand, April added in a low tone.
"I assumed you forgot me!"
Newmoon, "?"
Pouting her mouth she protested, "However, I indeed tried to get closer to you!"
Just as she finished speaking, he was left open-mouthed. As he had expected from her weird and clingy attitude, No wonder it was like that. Ever since the classes started, he had noticed how she was approaching him all the way, annoyingly.
Little did she knows…what he had been thinking of her this whole time instead. By Getting on his nerve.., she had been low-key cursed several times, bad assumptions about her and scolded at or used her as someone to rant his anger at, and many more! All these things flew away from his mind when it was time to face the reality.