Love is better than pain

27. The moment we met again

A quiet hospital room.

In the empty white space, only the rhythmic sound of the oxygen machine resonated.

In the middle of the bed, Siyeon sat with her knees bent, covered with a blanket.

The silence of the empty hospital room made her even more depressed.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand and opened YouTube for no reason.

‘The 8 Fancam.’

The name of Myeongho. That name alone made my heart ache.

Myung-ho, dazzling on stage and on screen. He always sparkled.

Siyeon let out a silent laugh.

강시연

“Hehehe… cool… handsome… ugh… ugh… handsome…”

Then, I swallowed a painkiller and clutched the blanket as the pain surged.

강시연

“You’re handsome… I hope you’re doing well…?”

Old moment.

디에잇(명호)

“…I’m going to be okay?”

강시연

".....!!!!!"

Siyeon was so startled that she dropped her phone. When she raised her head at the sound—

Through the crack in the hospital room door, Myungho's red eyes were quietly coming in.

강시연

“…Uh…How…”

Siyeon was so shocked that she couldn't even speak properly, and she quickly lowered her head at her own haggard appearance.

강시연

“Hey… why are you here…”

Myeongho quietly approached me and picked up the dropped cell phone, saying:

디에잇(명호)

“They said he was handsome.”

His tone was more hurtful than playful.

디에잇(명호)

“…But why did you break up?”

강시연

"that..."

Siyeon swallowed a heavy breath and tried to avoid eye contact.

She said with her head bowed.

강시연

“I… have nothing to say. Please go back.”

디에잇(명호)

“… …”

강시연

"Seeing this... if you came here to feel pity..."

I tried to speak coldly— but every word felt like a knife cutting into me.

At that moment, Myeongho hugged Siyeon.

강시연

"...oh...!"

Siyeon, held in both arms, froze.

디에잇(명호)

“How… how hard it was…”

His voice was trembling, and his breathing was so weak it felt like it was going to stop.

디에잇(명호)

"I couldn't tell my family, or even myself... I was in so much pain..."

Myeongho stroked Siyeon's head and, silently and very slowly, comforted her.

In her arms—Shiyeon's tears flowed slowly, but without stopping.

The moment my suppressed sobs reached his embrace, I collapsed without end.

She buried her face in Myeongho's chest and sobbed quietly, but deeply.

Those cries were not words, they were love.

At this very moment, all the distance and time that had been between the two of them was quietly disappearing.