Part 2
His tears sway in the lonely autumn wind.
Written by Malranggong.
*The material for this article was gloriously provided by Chureushup.
Unlike yesterday, when warmth filled the air, today the autumn breeze is filled with loneliness. The orange leaves had all fallen yesterday, leaving scattered leaves on the branches. But these scattered leaves don't matter to me. Namjoon, who promised to come yesterday, who always came at this time. My mind is filled with thoughts of Namjoon. And that's no wonder, because at his usual time, neither the fluttering beige coat nor the sound of his footsteps trudging along in the chilling autumn breeze can be heard.
Today, too, I wait for him, sweeping the orange leaves. I wonder when he'll come, looking around. Then, the boss comes out and scolds me, telling me to hurry up and sweep, to stop doing other things. I nod my head in response to his words, repeatedly apologizing. And yet, a thought crosses my mind: When will Namjoon come?
Closing time is approaching, but Namjoon is nowhere to be seen. I'm just sitting in the empty bookstore. I've placed a chair in front of the counter, right next to the window. I wait for Namjoon as I look out the window. Even the fluttering orange leaves remind me of his beige coat, and I'm about to leave when the owner comes and says I can go now. There are no customers today, and closing time is approaching. I ask if I can stay a little longer. Instead, the owner tells me to just lock the door and leave. I'm left alone in the bookstore, waiting for Namjoon.
The deadline has passed, but Namjoon is nowhere to be seen. I guess he won't be coming today. What a shame. As I'm about to walk away, I see a beige coat fluttering in the distance. Thinking it might just be fallen leaves again, I don't hold out much hope. However, upon closer inspection, it's Namjoon. The Namjoon I've been waiting for so long. I approach Namjoon, who stands tall outside, happily.
“Mr. Namjoon!”
By the time I reached him, he had spotted me and was bursting into tears, as if he had been holding them back. His lips were bloodied, as if he had bitten them so many times, and his eyes were bloodshot with tears. Startled, I wiped his tears away with a handkerchief and told him to come inside the bookstore first.
A chilly autumn breeze blows past the window. Inside the bookstore, only his sobs echo. His face, once warm and dimple-filled, always giving me a gentle smile, looks lonely today. It's like today's chilly autumn breeze. The autumn wind blows even more chillingly, as if to reflect his feelings.
“……Aren’t you going to ask what happened?”
“I don’t want to ask you before you speak first. And I’m afraid that asking you a question might further hurt you.”
“…You seem really affectionate, Dahee.”
“Me? I think Namjoon is much more affectionate.”
“……You know, Dahee.”
“Yes, Namjoon.”
“Can I talk to you for a moment? I have nowhere else to talk…”
“Of course. You can do as much as you want.”
“Um… Where should I start…”
“…”
A deep silence for him. He takes a moment to reflect on my silence, then begins to speak.
“I grew up in a normal family. When I did something wrong, I got scolded, and when I did something right, I got praised. I grew up under a mother and father who were sometimes affectionate and sometimes strict. Then one day, my father's business failed and he started to become an alcoholic. He neglected his family and even became violent towards my mother and me. The next day, he cried and apologized, saying he was too drunk… But… The strange thing is, even though he was clearly angry and couldn't believe his apology, he forgave me when he saw me. He told me it's okay to make mistakes once in a while. Why… I don't know. As a result, my father's violence grew worse, and my mother…
He stops speaking and starts to cry. He must say something, but he holds back his tears as he speaks, his sadness welling up.
“He passed away last night after battling an illness…”
“…So something like that happened to Namjoon.”
“…”
Namjoon just bows his head without saying anything, shoulders shaking and sobbing. Tears flow as if he will suffocate at any moment. Even so, he keeps saying that he will be considerate of others, that he will be considerate of me, that he is sorry. That he is sorry, that he brought up these feelings for no reason. I just pat him on the back and tell him that it is okay. Because in this situation, no matter what I say, it could hurt him, and he might not hear well, and more than anything, what he needs right now is not words of comfort, but a single word that it is okay, and a warm pat.
Engrave our page in the book_Finally.