Autumn Story Chapter 23
It was 6 pm on October the Ninth.
In 12 hours at any other year, they would start the celebration of their anniversary.
But that night, he was sure that he would mourn the anniversary instead.
*****
“Joohyun-ah”.
“Unnie.”
Joohyun was preparing to bow when Sooyoung caught her hand and shook her own head.
“Don’t bow. As I said before I am not really into all of that.”
“Sorry Unnie.”
Sooyoung sighed. “No, I should be the one who say Sorry.”
Joohyun smiled sadly. “It’s not your fault.”
“But I was participating in it!”
Joohyun sighed.
“Uh, I meant. Well, you know, who can’t resist him, the boy who got all girls lining for a smile from him” Sooyoung looked at Joohyun with apologetic eyes. “I was not much different.”
Sooyoung walked to the window, clearly trying to shove a not so nice memory away.
“I was lucky than most of the girls, though.” She smiled. “I have a full first-hand information on why no girl would able to drag him into a date. I am sorry, Hyun-ah.”
Joohyun rose too and walked to where Sooyoung stood. “Unnie, why Oppa was drunk?”
“I don’t know, really. He is not really a drunker. I only saw him drink here and there and rarely got into that kind of state. But that night, he was really drunk. “ She laughed sadly. “Or he might not think I was You.”
Joohyun startled. “Me?”
“Have no one tell you what he actually said when he kissed me?”
“No.”
“ ‘What would I do without you Joohyun?’ “
The younger girl suddenly felt weak. She leaned her body to the nearest wall and slouched herself down.
Sooyoung ran to her side immediately. Worry was clearly reflected in her eyes.
“Hyun-ah, are you okay?”
“I am fine.” Joohyun looked at the older girl with weak smile. “I just... I just...”
Sooyoung nodded. “Don’t worry, I get it.”
“By the way, thank you for telling me the truth, Unnie, I am very much appreciating it.”
Sooyoung shrugged. “It’s nothing, really. But I still thought he should tell you himself.”
“Yeah, you right, I wonder why he didn't.” Joohyun softly whispered.
*****
“Yoong! Let me see her, please?”
Yoona stood firmly in front of Kyuhyun.
“No Oppa. She does not want to see you.”
Kyuhyun let out a frustration sigh and looked at the two boys besides him for help. Minho was looking at him with apologetic eyes while Changmin just shrugged.
“Please Yoong, she needs to understand why I did that.”
“Isn’t that a little bit late, Kyu?”
A female voice echoed from the door that Yoona currently guiding to.
“What are you doing here?”
Sooyoung shrugged. “I just finished talking to Joohyun. “
Kyuhyun looked at her in disbelieve.
“You’re talking to her? I can’t even see her and you’re just finished talking to her?”
Yoona intercepted the angry Oppa.
“It’s not her fault anyway that you kissed her!”
Kyuhyun stunned. That’s true. He was the one that initiated the kiss. He was the one who fell into a trap of the drinking game.
He leaned his body back to the wall and slouched. Sooyoung felt a dejavu.
They are really sharing many commonalities.
“I know. I am so sorry. I deserve all of this cold shoulder. I do. “ His eyes were brimming with tears. Not really care that everyone saw him crying, he wiped the teardrops that fallen over. “All I want is a chance for her to listen on why I did that.” He put his face between his knees.
Changmin’s eyes were also full with tears. Knowing Kyuhyun for almost eight years, he never saw the other boy crying like that. Not even when his old friend bullied the boy when he was a new boy in school.
Minho looked at Yoona as to pledge on her. Growing up as an only child, he had found a hyung in Kyuhyun. It was really funny to think how close this two were, since there was time when they were rivals for Joohyun’s attentions.
Yoona actually was hurt to see Kyuhyun like that too. But her loyalty went to Joohyun. Unconditionally. And if she said she did not want to see him, that she would make sure that he would not see her.
Sooyoung shook her head. This was hard for her. But she knew that it was about time that Kyuhyun learned a lesson. That love was not all about happiness and cheerful times. It also about how to accept your partner as they were. But most importantly, to accept yourself as you were. While she was sure that Joohyun would forgive him at the end, but it would be good for the girl to have a stance.
“Maybe you should just go home now, Kyu.” Changmin finally intercepted. He sat next to his best friend. “Give her some times. You both need it anyway. “
Kyuhyun nodded, and then added with a very sad voice, “Tomorrow is our anniversary.”
Changmin looked at Yoona who at the same time shifted her gaze to Kyuhyun upon hearing his pledge.
Minho rose from his chair and suddenly went out of the room. The scene was too painful for his heart to see.
Yoona walked to the boys and then sat on her knees. “I am sorry, Oppa. Min-Oppa was right. Go home now. I’ll talk to her. “
Kyuhyun lifted his head and locked his gaze to his girlfriend’s best friend and nodded. “Thanks Yoong. Tell her I would take any punishment she wants me to have. But don’t leave me out of her life. I can’t live without her.”
‘I will, Oppa.”
Then he lifted his body from the floor. Changmin followed.
“Take care for her will you, Yoong? “ And then he shifted his eyes to Sooyoung, “You too, Youngie. “
Sooyoung, who still stood against the door to Yoona’s roomwhere Joohyun was, nodded. “I will.”
Kyuhyun walked to her and silently asked a permission to lay his hand on the door. She stepped a little bit but still near.
Kyuhyun leaned his body to the door and whispered, “Baby, I know you hate me now. I deserve that.But please, don’t make it forever? I love you.”.
He stood there for few minutes and then smiled sadly.
“Thanks Youngie.”
He walked to the front door where Changmin was waiting for him.
“Ready?”
He nodded and the boys went out.
Yoona leaned her body to the wall, wiped her own tears.
Sooyoung moved to the window, looking at the boys with sad eyes.
And inside the room, Joohyun leaned on the door. Her hands were still laid on the door.
“I love you too, Oppa. I always will. But I don’t know if I can trust you anymore.” Tears were in both of her cheeks. “Fight for me, Oppa. Make me trust you again. Please.”
There were never a day as gloomy as this one. And Autumn was just started.