Invisible String

Forgive Me

Before Jun-woong could answer, Joong-Gil teleported away.

Carefully, he approached the couch in his office, placing Si-eun on it slowly and resting her head on a pillow.

He watched her, brow furrowed slightly.

Looking away, Joong-Gil tried to contain his irritation when he saw that Jung-woong and Koo Ryeon had followed him.

— She probably fainted from exhaustion. - Koo Ryeon said. - She has been working hard the past few days and I don't think she is sleeping well.

— I'll go to the world of the living to buy food and some medicine, then. - Jun-woong said.

Koo Ryeon held him by the shoulder, preventing him from leaving the office.

— I'll go.

— Are you sure?

The reaper ignored him, snapping her fingers and disappearing.

Joong-Gil and Jun-woong looked at each other, clearly uncomfortable with each other's presence.

Joong-Gil watched Jun-woong approach Si-eun, leaning forward and extending his hand.

He frowned, acting without thinking, holding Jun-woong's wrist tightly.

— What do you think you are doing? - he asked.

Jun-woong looked at him in surprise, stood up straight and huffed.

— Hm, I was just going to remove the locks of hair that are on her face.

Joong-Gil released him, crossing his arms.

— There's no need for that.

Seeing Jun-woong squinting, he arched an eyebrow.

— Do you like Si-eun? – Jun-woong asked.

Joong-Gil glared at him, hoping that his glare was enough to make it clear that the question was ridiculous.

Jun-woong scratched his head, beginning to regret what he had said, and turned away, trying to distract himself by looking around the office.

Joong-Gil rolled his eyes, returning to watching Si-eun. Getting closer, he leaned forward and held out one hand, stopping inches away from her face, hesitating, and then moved the strands of hair that were on Si-eun's face.

He continued in the same position, just watching her, until he heard a gasp.

Walking away, Joong-Gil turned around, and before Jung-woong could say anything, Joong-Gil spoke up:

— Don't you dare speak a single word.

The human stared at him, raising his arms in redemption.

That was when Joong-Gil heard a noise and looked back, noticing that Si-eun was beginning to regain consciousness.

He walked over to see her open her eyes and slowly sit up.

— What happened? - she asked confused.

— You fainted. Are you all right?

Si-eun groaned, putting one hand on her head.

Joong-Gil gave her a worried look. He stretched out his arm, wanting to touch her, but held back, crossing his arms.

— I'm glad you're awake now. - Koo Ryeon's voice echoed through the room. He hadn't realized she had returned.  —  How are you feeling?

— Tired.

— I brought you some medicine and something to eat. – Koo Ryeon came over, propping a plastic bag on the sofa next to Si-eun. — Have you been eating and sleeping properly?

Si-eun denied.

She looked around, realizing where she was.

— Why are we in your office? - she asked Joong-Gil.

— He brought you here, because according to him, it's more comfortable. - Jung-woong answered before Joong-Gil could say anything, moving closer to Si-eun. — Actually, we didn't even have time to stop him or do anything. As soon as he noticed that you had fainted, he picked you up and carried you over here.

Joong-Gil stared at Jun-woong in irritation. If looks could kill...

Si-eun felt her cheeks flush and glared at Joong-Gil.

— You what?

Frowning, he changed the subject.

— You... should eat something. - he said.

— He's right, Si-eun. - Koo Ryeon said, walking toward the exit, motioning with her hand for Jun-woong to follow. — We'll leave you two alone. If you need anything, call us.

Jun-woong pouted, sitting down next to Si-eun on the sofa.

— I want to stay.

Si-eun laughed, hugging him briefly.

— I'm fine, go ahead. I won't stay long.

Joong-Gil watched the scene, feeling a slight twinge of jealousy.

As soon as Jun-woong left them alone, silence filled the office.

Si-eun avoided looking him in the eye, distracting herself with the things Koo Ryeon had bought, picking up a chocolate bar to eat.

Joong-Gil leaned back on the desk, not knowing what to say. It seemed that whenever he was with Si-eun his mind simply went blank, as if it had stopped working.

— So – Si-eun began, panting. — what do you want to talk to me about?

— I think you know.

— No, I don't. - She retorted, looking at him.

Joong-Gil sighed.

— I already know about our past.

Si-eun continued to stare indifferently at him, popping a piece of chocolate into her mouth and arching her eyebrow.

— And? - she said.

He hated how unable he felt to articulate words in front of her. How he was always unsure of how to act when he was with her.

— Don't you think we need to talk about this? About... how this might have changed something between us? –

— Oh, you want to know what changed? – Si-eun stood up, walking toward him. — Me finding out about our past only made me realize that maybe I never meant anything to you. Because I died trying to save you, and you repay me by erasing me from your memories. – She put her hands on her waist, standing in front of him.

Joong-Gil blinked, remaining silent for a while, just watching her.

He felt an inexplicable urge to kiss her. 

— Well? Aren't you going to say anything? - she asked.

— Forgive me.

Si-eun looked at him in surprise.

— Forgive me for everything. - He stepped forward. — I was a terrible husband. I don't know why I acted that way with you, but I didn't deserve you.

Si-eun's expression softened.

— I... I don't know what to say.

— You don't have to forgive me. I deserve to live with the guilt of all the times I pushed you away or treated you badly. – He swallowed hard.

Si-eun bit her lower lip and stepped closer, touching him lightly on the arm.

— I forgive you.

They stood in silence, both unable to look away, silently wishing the other would do something to end the distance between them.

And it was Joong-Gil who did it, hugging her tightly. She returned the hug.

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A/N:

I love them so much 😭😭😭😭

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