STUBBORN HEARTS<3 (complete)

Another Clash

I waited. I waited for him to insist talking but he didn’t. he remained silent. Tears threatened to

fall again. I looked away, hididng my face as I fought my tears back. But I was unsuccessful.

They fell uncontrollably down my cheeks. I bit my lower lip down, trying to stop making any

sounds. But when I inhaled, it came raspy, jagged, broken.

“Are you crying?” he asked. I didn’t answer. He then went kneeling in front of me and looked at

me closely. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“I hate you!” I cried. To my surprise, he chuckled. He sat beside me, gathered me in his arms and

placed me across his lap. He hugged and stroked my back.

I finally broke down. My mind gave in, so I started crying really hard.

“I’m. . . s-so t-t-tired already” I started, unable to control myself anymore. “I’m tired of always

running, of hiding, of everything! I want this to end. I want to go back to how my life was bbefore”

He tucked my head under his chin and pulled me closer to his chest.

“It’ll be over soon” he whispered grimly. “You’ll be safe again”

I let him comfort me. I let myself be comforted by him. I let him hold me close to him. Yes, I

know I made a promise not to get close to him like this because I’m betraying Wooyoung oppa.

But I’m just human, I’m not that strong. I can’t carry everything on my own. I also need

someone to lean on. Surely, oppa won’t begrudge me of this?

And it’s no point how much I depend on the pest to survive this. I’ll just see to my promise once

this is over, and if I make it out alive. So for now, I let myself cry, not minding how I’m

drenching his front shirt with my tears. Then, I grabbed his sleeve and wipe my nose.

“Eww. That’s just so disgusting” the pest said, imitating my voice. “Tsk, you’re such a crybaby”

“No, I’m not!” I denied. He chuckled lightly and pressed his head closer to my head. I felt for the

second time, tingling warmth from a tiny point in my hair spreading down through my system.

“Did you just kiss my hair?!”

“Don’t be too assuming” he said. “Do you know how bad you smell right now?”

“Ya!” I burst out and pulled away, but not totally separating myself from him. When I looked up

at his face, I saw that gleam of playfulness again.

How can he do that? I mean, after all this time, he acts like nothing’s wrong; that what, where

and why we’re here in the middle of wilderness is just a normal thing to him. And why am I

feeling this way? I should be angry with all the things he said to me. But I don’t feel any

negative thing towards him right now.

“Are you two done with your moment now? Can we start moving already? Jeez” an impatient

Seohyun said.

“You’re awake” the pest noticed.

“Oh, so now you finally noticed. I’ve been awake for quite some time now” she rolled her eyes.