One step to you

Carried

Seoyeon ran out of the alley at a speed close to sprinting.

At the mere mention of him, my mind was already racing and my heart was pounding heavily.

Although it was close to my house, the park was in a quiet corner at night, so it was a quiet place that no one visited at this time.

이서연

“Huh… Huh…”

Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing was ragged.

But Seoyeon's eyes wandered around looking for him.

And— far away, beneath the streetlights

A familiar silhouette stood there, wearing a hat pulled down over a windbreaker.

It was Jeonghan.

His face was half-hidden by his hat, but Seoyeon could tell immediately who he was.

His presence was already familiar, and dazzling. Sensing the presence, Jeonghan turned.

정한

“Hey… Junior?! Don’t run, don’t run—!”

He walked quickly towards Seoyeon and extended his hand.

But Seoyeon didn't stop even after hearing those words.

I wanted to run. I wanted to reach him, as quickly as possible.

Then, all of a sudden, I accidentally tripped over a rock that was out of sight.

이서연

“Ugh…!”

His body was thrown forward, and he fell to the ground, his hands on the ground.

The sensation of my knees being scraped against the ground spread.

정한

"..Seoyeon!!"

Jeonghan, startled, ran over. The guilt of not being able to catch him in time was evident on his face.

정한

“Are you okay…? Oh, really… I told you not to run…”

He carefully helped her up and carried her to a nearby bench.

Under the streetlight, a dim light illuminated the two people.

정한

“Just look at this for a moment.”

Jeonghan slightly rolled up Seoyeon's pants. Her knee was scraped open, and blood was seeping out.

He exhaled slowly.

He sat down slightly, looked at the wound, and spoke softly.

정한

“…You’re bleeding from the wound, Seoyeon…”

Seoyeon forced a smile, enduring the pain. Then she quietly bowed her head.

이서연

“…That… I missed you so much, without even realizing it…”

At those words, Jeonghan's hand stopped. A quiet smile spread across his eyes as he looked up at Seoyeon.

정한

"…so do i."

He gently raised his hand and smoothed her hair.

A warmth lingered where his fingertips had passed. But soon his gaze returned to his knees.

정한

“…I don’t feel like leaving you here alone. Can you walk? Let’s go to the pharmacy. We need to get some treatment, even if it’s just a little.”

이서연

“…It’s okay…”

정한

“I’m not okay. Listen to me, junior.”

Jeonghan said that, stood up, and held out his hand. Seoyeon smiled slightly and took his hand.

But the moment I tried to get up, a throbbing pain came from my ankle below my knee.

이서연

“…Ugh… Ouch…”

Seeing her slump back down on the bench, Jeonghan looked at his knees again with worried eyes.

Then he shifted his gaze down and touched his ankle. When he confirmed that it was slightly swollen, he quietly clicked his tongue.

정한

“…I think my ankle is a little sprained. Let’s go to the hospital, Seoyeon.”

이서연

“…Ah, no… I’ll be fine until I get to the hospital… I’ll go to the pharmacy, really…”

정한

“…Ugh, really… Are you going to be stubborn?”

Jeonghan paused for a moment, as if thinking, then turned his back on Seoyeon and sat down.

정한

“Get up quickly. I’ll carry you.”

이서연

"…yes?!"

정한

“If you walk, you might get hurt. Get on your back quickly.”

Seoyeon was momentarily taken aback by his firm and short speech.

His face flushed red and his fingertips moved clumsily.

But in the end, he was sincere. Seoyeon gently wrapped her arms around his neck.

And then I carefully climbed onto his back and hugged him. My heart started beating like crazy again.

A quiet night. Carried on his back, amidst the rhythmic swaying, Seoyeon wrapped her heart tightly around him.

I hope this isn't a dream—

Even though it was painful, I desperately hoped for it.