You're divorced, what else can you add?

24. Don't die even if I tell you to.

I arrived at the funeral. For a while after arriving at the funeral, I had questions. Who had Junmyeon's photo? How did they know his name? And why wasn't he there? So I went to the person who had called me and asked.

이지은

"I have something to ask you..."

전화를 준 사람

"Huh? What is it?"

이지은

"How do you know that person's name?"

전화를 준 사람

"Oh, someone said they saw a note and a wallet by the river, and they saw someone jumping into the river, so they jumped right in, but it wasn't there. They're still looking for it in the river, but it seems like it's not there."

이지은

"No, how can we have a funeral when Junmyeon oppa isn't here?! We don't even know if he's alive or dead!!! Are you doing this because you think my oppa is dead!!!!"

변백현

"Ji-eun, wake up!"

I was about to hit that man, but Baekhyun blocked my path and sent the man away. I was so angry that I said to Baekhyun,

이지은

"Baekhyun Byun! What are you doing? Why are you stopping me!! Why? Junmyeon oppa isn't dead yet. You know that too, if someone says he's dead, if someone says they saw him, does that mean it's all true? We need to find out why we're doing this and where Junmyeon oppa is!!"

변백현

"Ji-eun, calm down. I know, it's natural for you to be angry. But... it's not because of that man."

이지은

"I knew it too. That man was just someone who worked here... I was angry at that man who did nothing wrong."

After that, I looked at Junmyeon's photo without blinking and had many thoughts.

이지은

'If he really committed suicide, was the goodbye he said when he left Baekhyun's house that day really a farewell?'

김준면

"How are you, Lee Ji-eun?"

이지은

'Whenever I had worries... whenever I had worries that I couldn't even tell Baekhyun... you always gave me your all... how am I supposed to live without you...'

The author, who was holding his forehead, seemed to be in a lot of pain.

'If the author had really wanted to tell me that he was coming back that day, he could have left a text message... Since he came in person, did he really come that day to say goodbye?... Hyung, did you really come... to say goodbye?'

Three days have passed. Today is the last day I'll be with my brother. I've decided that I must live without him, and I've decided to let him go.

이지은

"Baekhyun, is it right to let you go now?"

변백현

"Yeah. Let's send him off now. If we keep crying, he'll get worried."

이지은

"huh.."

I spent three days wondering if Junmyeon had become unhappy because he was with me. If that were the case, I'd feel resentful of myself for having decided to live again.

I was looking at Junmyeon's photo when I heard Baekhyun's voice and turned my head. When I turned my head, there was the kid I hated the most.

변백현

"Park Chanyeol!"

이지은

"How did you get here?..."

It was a mystery. How did they find out when no one, really, had contacted them?

Park Chanyeol's eyes were fixed on me. It seemed like he was trying to tell me something with those eyes.

박찬열

"Okay, let's see who wins, Lee Ji-eun."

I remembered what Chanyeol had said last time, how he threatened Baekhyun, and how he set fire to the company warehouse. What if... if it was Chanyeol, if it was the culprit behind this incident... I can't forgive him.

이지은

"Is it you?"

박찬열

"Imagination is free. So, Sweet dreams."

He left right away. Did he come to tell me that he did it, that Baekhyun could end up like that too?... Really, Park Chanyeol? Because of a company? Just because of that one thing... I can't forgive him... I can't forgive him...-

But, there's no way I would attack Park Chanyeol... If it's really because of Park Chanyeol that my brother became like that, then it's also possible that I was in the middle of it and that's why my brother became like that.

이지은

"I am indeed a cursed child."

Back then, when Baekhyun told me not to die, I should have known. And even after that, because of me, because I was alive in this world, someone could die...

이지은

'Okay, Park Chanyeol, you win.'

이지은

"Baekhyun, I have something to say.."

이지은

"If I stay with you any longer, you'll only become more unhappy. Let's break up."

Again I decided, and I came to the same conclusion.

이지은

"I'm uncomfortable being with you now. I feel like you're becoming unhappy because of me... I'm afraid you'll get hurt... I'm so, so anxious."

I tried to get away from him so that he wouldn't get hurt because of me anymore.

변백현

"No, I'm absolutely not going. I've decided not to leave your side from now on. I've thought about it a lot. I thought I could divorce you and live without thinking about you, but even when I'm walking down the street,

변백현

Even if I lie down to sleep, even if I can't see your face, I want to hear your voice, and even though I just saw you, I want to see you again, so how can I break up with you?"

He is someone I want to protect even when my life is in danger, so losing him again is unbearable.

이지은

"Me too, me too... When you're next to me, it feels like you'll keep getting hurt... It feels like you'll keep getting hurt."

Who knows what Chanyeol might do to Baekhyun's life again, or what Baekhyun might end up like this at some point... No one can judge hastily. Because of me... Because I was by his side, he could die. That's why I have to stop loving him now so that the person I love can live.

변백현

"I don't care. What's most important to me is that you're by my side, and I made a promise to you. The moment I saved you, I'd take responsibility for your life. More than anything, I want you by my side."

이지은

"I want to do that too. But if you can live, I won't regret my choice."

At that moment, Junmyeon oppa's words came to mind.

김준면

"Do whatever you want now."

Those words that had solved my worries back then, have once again brought me to a point where I can't even begin to grasp the implications. But now, I can't even open up about my worries.

이지은

'Oppa, I don't know what I want anymore... Oppa, help me...'

I couldn't tell if I cried because I couldn't solve it or because I wanted to see it.

변백현

"Ji-eun, don't be shaken anymore. Even if I die, I will protect you."

이지은

'I'm scared, you might die because of me..'

변백현

"Okay, I'll stick by your side. Even if you tell me to die, I won't."

이지은

"Really?"

변백현

"Yeah^^"

I made one promise. Even if you tell me to die, I won't die.