Love is better than pain
20. Pusher, Grabber
Early morning.
The office wasn't crowded yet. Siyeon sat quietly at her desk and opened the resignation letter file she had prepared on her computer.
Resignation Letter - Kang Si-yeon
Each letter in the document sank down heavily like a period.
강시연
‘I think I really need to submit this within a few days.’
My body was deteriorating faster than I thought, and now my mind was following suit.
at that time -
Ding. A text message arrived on my phone.
디에잇(명호)
[I'm in the basement cafe. Can I see you for a moment?]
The character of Myeongho.
Siyeon bit her lips as she looked at the screen and slowly got up from her seat.
Basement cafe. A quiet space. Cozy seating separated by partitions.
Myungho arrived first, and as soon as he saw her, he smiled brightly and waved.
Siyeon's eyes lit up for a moment at that bright smile.
강시연
"Why are you still so pretty... Why do you make me love you even more..."
디에잇(명호)
“Siyeon, over here.”
Siyeon forced a smile and sat down in front of him.
디에잇(명호)
“You like it, right? I ordered it.”
A warm drink was placed before her. Siyeon nodded quietly and spoke.
강시연
"thank you..."
A moment of silence passed. In that silence, Myeongho spoke first.
디에잇(명호)
“…Yesterday.”
강시연
"... ..."
디에잇(명호)
“Siyeon, I went to work because I missed you so much… Working overtime…
디에잇(명호)
“I didn’t do it. Did something happen…?”
At those words, Siyeon's eyes shook. She slowly lowered her head.
강시연
"It's now. If not now... I'll never let this person go..."
Memories of the past flashed through my mind.
The evenings we spent together, the kisses, the hugs, the laughter, and even the tears under the fireworks.
It was all fleeting, yet it held eternity within. Siyeon consciously formed a cool expression and opened her mouth.
강시연
"Oh, I'm sorry."
A short, truncated answer. Myeongho stared blankly at her for a moment, then cautiously continued.
디에잇(명호)
“…Siyeon. Okay.
디에잇(명호)
I think you might want to be alone. But… I'm just so worried. I wonder if something happened—"
At that moment, Siyeon stood up and spoke quietly.
강시연
“…I’m really sorry. It’s true that I wanted to be alone.”
디에잇(명호)
"...Uh, ah...yeah...that"
강시연
“I’ll just get up.”
Myungho's eyes grew wide.
As she turned away so coldly and indifferently, he instantly reached out and grabbed Siyeon's wrist.
디에잇(명호)
“...What are you doing now?”
A low, firm voice.
Not anger, not despair— but a feeling of unbelievable shock. Those words pierced Siyeon's heart.
And at that moment, all emotions began to move.
Myungho's hand was tightly holding Siyeon's wrist.
The tone was low, but it contained surprise, anger, and a sense of collapse.
Siyeon swallowed her breath. Those words pierced her heart.
디에잇(명호)
“…Are you… trying to leave me?”
His voice trembled.
디에잇(명호)
“Why… why are you speaking so coldly?”
Siyeon couldn't answer. If she spoke, she'd cry. She felt like everything would fall apart.
Myeongho held her wrist, unable to continue speaking.
The demonstration had to keep pushing away that hand. That way, she could protect him.
강시연
"I'm sorry... but if you don't let go now, I'll want to stay by your side forever..."
***
Siyeon sat down quietly again. She suppressed her trembling heart and tried to keep her expression composed.
Myungho still held her wrist. His fingertips were trembling ever so slightly.
강시연
‘Why do I make such a beautiful person suffer so much…’
Siyeon opened her mouth quietly.
강시연
“…I’m an idol. It’s burdensome.”
Myungho opened his eyes wide, as if he couldn't believe it.
디에잇(명호)
“…What? You knew that before you started…”
강시연
“I thought it would be okay… but I feel anxious every moment.
강시연
“I’m worried that someone might find out, that something might happen… and if I get busy… I can’t stand not seeing you for even a month.”
디에잇(명호)
“………”
강시연
“I know…
강시연
“I just like someone who can be by my side.”
Myungho's face distorted.
디에잇(명호)
“…I… I will try.
디에잇(명호)
"I'll make it on time somehow... I'll be close somehow. Let's stay together, Siyeon... Please."
Siyeon pursed her lips and swallowed a gasp. But her eyes were already red.
강시연
"...Stop kidding us..."
디에잇(명호)
"……joke…?"
Myeongho slowly raised his head.
디에잇(명호)
“…I saved you.
디에잇(명호)
"That day, you... said I was your benefactor. And you didn't even pay it all back... Where are you going now..."
With those words—tears flowed silently from Myungho's eyes, one drop at a time, then another.
디에잇(명호)
".....Do you think this is a joke?"
강시연
"....!"
At that sight, Siyeon drew another line on her already torn heart.