The sun was high in the sky when they ventured out, the vibrant colors of late afternoon wrapping around them like a warm blanket. Dae-jung drove Ananya to a scenic cliff just outside the city – a place famous for its sunsets.
As they continued the hike, Dae-jung's phone continued to buzz with messages and calls, most of which he ignored. He finally paused,-glancing at his phone, noting a series of notifications that he seemed to be in no mood to respond to. "Ugh, just some annoying work stuff," he muttered, shutting the phone down altogether, slipping it into his pocket without another thought.
"This is all so beautiful," Ananya whispered, taking it all in as she looked around as he led her up the way, a little breathless – not just because of breathtaking views, but also her sheer lack of stamina.
The golden light bathed the area in a warm glow as they approached the edge. Ananya sprang to a bench at the farthest end of the cliff and sat there, watching the horizon stretch endlessly across the sprawling landscape, the colors shifting and dancing in the warm dusky goodness. The air was still, almost peaceful, and for a moment, she felt like everything was calm and right in the world.
Dae-jung's steps were rather slow, a little hesitant as he finally settled beside her, the wind tousling his hair. "I haven't been here in years," he finally admitted, his expression contemplative. "I used to come here a lot as a kid. I remember feeling so free, just watching the waves crash against the rocks."
She turned to him. His usual playful demeanor seemed distant, replaced by something more somber. "What's wrong?" she asked softly.
Dae-jung hesitated, staring out at the horizon. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"This place..." His voice trailed off, his voice soft, almost hesitant. "This is where it happened."
Ananya stayed silent, reaching out and gently placing her hand over his, giving him a little nod so he could go ahead.
"This is where my mother..." His voice cracked, and he had to swallow hard before continuing. "She jumped off this cliff. Right in front of me."
Ananya's breath got caught in her throat, the sudden revelation making her heartache. "Oh..." was all that could escape from her throat at the moment as she watched the pain flicker across his face.
Dae-jung continued, his voice low, almost a whisper. "I didn't understand. One moment she was there, and the next... she was gone. And I couldn't do anything." His hands clenched into fists, his eyes glistening with seemingly long-restrained tears. "I still see her sometimes. In my dreams. Falling. And I... I couldn't save her."
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice soft but steady. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around him as he rested his head on top of hers, his body shaking with silent sobs.
"I was so angry, confused. I didn't know how to feel. For years, I avoided this place, but something about it kept calling me back. Today... I thought maybe it was time to face it. I needed someone, and I could only think of you."
"Thank you for sharing it with me, Dae-jung," she murmured, holding him tighter as he let the weight of his sorrow flow out. "No, thank you," he whispered, his voice still shaky. "She was my everything."
"You did nothing wrong. It happened so suddenly and you were so young." Ananya pulled him closer, stroking his hair gently, "She loved you, and she would want you to be happy. You've turned into such a wonderful man despite everything."
Dae-jung leaned into her embrace, allowing himself to break down. They stayed like that for a while, huddled close together. "It's okay," she spoke again after a long pause, her voice soothing. "You couldn't have known. You were just a child. It was not your fault."
Dae-jung sniffed, pulling back slightly to look at her. His eyes were red, but there was a small, grateful smile on his lips. "Thank you so much Ananya," he held her cheek, "You... you're the first person I have ever brought here and really talked to about this."
Ananya smiled softly, squeezing his hand. "I'm proud of you, Dae-jung. You've been through so much, but look at you now. You are strong. You have survived. You truly shine at whatever you do. And you go out of your way to be there for others, whenever and however you can. I have not known you for long but I am proud of the man you have become, and I am 100% sure your mom would have been too."
"I'm not all that," he chuckled, patting her cheek as he finally tore off from the embrace, "You flatter me so." "All facts," she laughed along, feeling relieved at the shift in tone as well as his eventual release of emotions.
For a long while, they sat there in silence, watching the sun sink lower in the sky. The dusky hues bathed the cliffside, casting long shadows as they found comfort in the quiet. As they finally made their way down, she noticed a quaint little café nestled between the trees. Its lights twinkled invitingly, casting a warm glow against the twilight.
"Let's check that out!" Ananya grabbed Dae-jung's arm, pointing towards it with enthusiasm. "Are you sure? It's already pretty late." he asked hesitantly.
"Absolutely sure! We need to celebrate your little milestone," she declared, playfully nudging him.
As they stepped inside, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped them like a soft embrace. The walls were adorned with vintage photographs and art pieces, giving the place an inviting charm. And in one bright corner was a chaotic collage of little polaroids of customers from all time. She noticed a worn out little photobooth right next to that collage, the perfect idea for a distraction sparking in her mind.
"I could really use some hot chocolate right now," Dae-jung broke her reverie, scanning the menu rather pensively. "Me too!" Ananya chirped. "It gets pretty chilly in the dark."
As Dae-jung placed the order and began settling down again, she tugged at his sleeve playfully and dragged him away to the booth. "Let's take some pictures while we wait!" "What? Here?" His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Why not? We're making memories! Come on!"
Dae-jung finally relented, a hint of a smile breaking through his earlier somberness. They squeezed into the tiny booth together, laughing at how cramped it was.
"Okay! On three!" Ananya said excitedly as they prepared for their first shot. "One… two… three!" They grinned widely for the camera as it flashed brightly, capturing their joy amidst everything else swirling around them.
"Let's do another one! This time serious faces!" she declared, trying to suppress her laughter.
Dae-jung complied with mock seriousness and furrowed brows while Ananya feigned an exaggerated pout. The flash went off again and they both erupted into laughter once more.
Once done with their session, they stepped out with two sets of photos – one for each of them – crinkled around the edges from where they'd pressed against each other. "See? This is what I'm talking about," she beamed at him as he admired their silly expressions captured forever on film.
"You have no idea how much I needed this," he said softly, gazing at her with gratitude shimmering in his eyes. She smiled back warmly before taking his hand and leading him back outside into the crisp evening air. "Let's go."
As they reached her doorstep, Dae-jung turned to face her, an unreadable expression shining on his features. But before he could speak, the phone that he had just turned on began buzzing with numerous notifications, making him retreat.
"Goodnight, Ananya," he said softly, taking a step back.
"Goodnight, Dae," she replied, watching him leave, her heart heavy with the unspoken words hanging between them, her mind swirling with thoughts of the day. Dae-jung's heartbreaking story weighed heavily on her, tugging at her heartstrings.
As she walked upstairs, her eyes unconsciously wandered off, looking for that familiar figure. And sure enough, there he was, leaning on the railing and looking at her walk up from the open space in the corridor. "You're here." She smiled as she took slow, heavy steps towards him.
"I told you." He smiled, turning his body to face her while still leaning on the railing. She walked over, resting her head on his shoulder. "Tired much?" He chuckled softly, running his fingers through her hair.
"Mhm, it was a long day." She hummed, closing her eyes and heaving a sigh, "But I'm glad to be home."