PROMISE ♡약속 ♡

제 27 장 " The Memory "

Don't go.

Those two words ignite the hollow gap of darkness inside my mind.

I will come back, Taehyung, I promise.

Promise.

It's just a word.

But why.. why does it feel like a glass shard with thorn-like edges piercing through every single burning artery in my heart?

But why.. the deeper the shard digs into, the clearer the blotches of memories start to come to me.

Tears stream down silently on my cheeks as the word "Promise" starts to have its full effect on me.

I promise him.

I promise him I will come back to find him.

To be with him.

But back then, I know myself. It's only an empty promise I made for him.

I gave him hope that fate will bring us back together.

As seconds pass by, the tears sting my eyes so bad, that I can't even make what's before me anymore.

Still, this stinging sensation feels so good.

It feels so good to remember all the pain.

The pain that acts like a beautiful mark carved deep inside the pit of my soul.

Being back as Vivian has struck me mindless.

It has erased all the memories I've made as Younghee in the other world.

"You remember, don't you?", Hyerin's voice has brought me back to the reality that I'm not alone. I'm in the apartment with her.

None of the words come out of my trembling lips. I'm trying to focus on her face. But I can't. The next droplets of tears form before I get to blink them away.

Still, she knows.

"Younghee...." She closes the distance between us as she hugs me with all her might.

I can't help, but cry on her shoulder blade after wrapping my arms around her.

After a few minutes, I hold her at an arm length and stare straight into her dark pupils.

"You were safe there. You and your dad. I surrendered, so that you can come back along with him. Why did you come back here. Hyerin, you're such a ... "

"I'm not a Pabo. And I'm already here. Nothing can change. Cuz the new change awaits us. And it depends on you and I", she says.

A wave of hope lights up in me. I am mad at her now for what she has done to herself. But I can't feel that any longer. Any regrets, any remorse, there's no time for that.

"We can't weep over this, can we?  I need to be strong. Maybe.. maybe.. that promise I kept with Taehyung is not empty after all. This is my life. I have the rights to decide what I wanna do with it"
My voice is still far from being audible, but Hyerin understands all of what I've said.

"A legit plan. That's what we need. We are both stuck here. And only God knows what kind of things that indescribable demon girl has upon her sleeves in tricking Taehyung"

What..

"Hyerin. What do you mean? What has Min-ah done to Taehyung??? The last time I saw him... He wasn't conscious enough to witness everything"