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“It’s okay to be scared. You have to be strong.” she replies. As cliché as it may sound, it’s the one thing she’s learnt after loss after loss. It’s how she’s still here — with her unlucky life, up until she had met Yeong-gi, who had showed her both happiness and friendship.
And relentlessness, she added in her mind.
But this was not Yeong-gi. This was Nol. A new character. Same body, same face, but eyes that were thunder. This was Nol, a person who didn’t hold back, who smirked at her when hugging Dieter and Soushi (making her blush, but she wouldn’t admit that in a thousand years). A person who was still struggling to show his true self, but was willing to try.
“How am I supposed to stay strong when I have no-one? Yoo, this isn’t as easy as you think.” he says hopelessly, face now hidden by a curtain of hair. His hands fall back to his lap.
“This isn’t as easy as I think? What about me? I’ve gone through suffering too! I’ve been bullied and even pushed off a building! I even have the scars to show it!” Shin Ae tugs her hair aside and shows him her scar, stretched across her head. She breathes heavily and closes her eyes, trying to compose herself.
She hadn’t realised that she was crying until she feels a thumb tenderly brushing her tears away.
“I’m sorry. That was stupid. You’ve gone through so much, Yoo. I’ve gone through a lot too. Our situations are different,” Nol whispers against her skin, which prickes, but not unpleasantly.
“It’s okay.” she whispers back. When she looks up, Nol is gazing into her eyes, his irises fiery, blazing and aglow. Shin Ae is taken aback. What could have happened?
“Yoo. I’m going to tell you my story.” he says, taking her hands in his. Her face heats up and she looks down at the sheets.
“Every bit?” Nol slowly lifts her chin with his finger, willing her to face him. He leans in.
“Every bit.” he murmurs against her ear.