65

I just want all this to finish, all of this and rest easily in these loving arms of Youngwoo, will I ever get to that day? Will he survive? Will I survive?

I slowly drifted off to sleep, as I dreamt about the past days of that day in the village,

"It's, it's all my fault, I shouldn't have let them go, I shouldn't have, What are we going to do Shiwoo? Youngwoo has no one now, no one at all"

"I will protect him, dad, until the day I die I promise to look after him"

"Thank you, I'm sorry for forcing this upon you"

"d-dad...."

*shake*

"Wake up!!"

Youngwoo trembled as he shook Shiwoo to wake up

"Are you ok? Seemed like you were having a nightmare, I was really worried"

"I-I'm fine, just dreamt about the past"

"You were calling out to your dad"

"Oh yes"

"Now that I think about it, I haven't met your dad"

"Ah, he-he locked himself up in guilt in the house and now he is basically a hikikomori"

"I-I didn't know he blamed himself so much, is he doing ok though? I mean health-vice?"

"No, he barely eats, and refuses anyone to visit him"

"I...I want to visit him, once"

"Didn't you hear wha~"

"Just once, maybe he would change his mind if he saw me alive and doing well?"

"fine, but what if he feels more guilty after seeing you? what would I do if...if he decided to~"

"Stop! stop thinking like that, nothing would happen, I promise, trust me"

"fine, I trust you, let's pick a date"

"I'm good with any time of the day, you need to be free"

"Let's see, Friday afternoon I am free"

"Great! let's do it then"

*after meeting his father, I will go and talk to my stepfather*

We walked a bit after parking the car outside since it was not allowed to park inside. I felt kind of excited that I was going to finally meet his father, I wanted to pay my respects to him since was going to marry his son after all and also tell him that it wasn't his fault for my parent's death.

We walked into the building as we stopped right in front of a room, 'Kim Chan-Hyeok'

'Chan-Hyeok?'

Shiwoo opened the door and I saw a short petite person's back.

"Hello, I'm Youngwoo..."

The old person turned back and looked at me, his face at first was filled with despair and then lightened up...he got up from his chair and knelt down in front of me surprising me

"I'm sorry, i'm really sorry...I coudnt protect Lady Yuki and..."

"Please don't kneel to me...it was not your fault what had happened to my parents"

He got up and looked at me as he looked at me and then gave me a warm hug,

"You look just like your father, and you have personality, kind and gentle"

I looked at Shiwoo who was in tears, his father after a long time had accepted someone to visit him and now his face had brightened.

We left the building and walked towards the car...we held hands as Shiwoo was still in tears.

"You big baby, stop crying"

"I, I'm just happy thhat it didn't turn worse and i'm also happy that you are te person who visited him after all this time"

"Come here"

I hugged him gently as tears fell on my shoulder from his eyes, it's warm...will i feel these again? After what I do?