When Your Pain Becomes Mine

"Hey, Cheonsun!"

Gyeonhui called out to her. However, Sun kept on pretending she didn't hear.

"Choensun!"

Gyeonhui started to reach for her wrist but hesitated. He walked toward her and blocked her.

"Do you still have more to say?"

Sun asked in a sinking voice.

"Drive with me one more time."

"Where? The hospital? Why should I do that?"

"There may be some abnormalities elsewhere. Let's go tomorrow and check it out again."

"Why are you doing this?"

She asked while biting her lower lip slightly.

"What?"

"You never cared if I was sick or not. Why are you doing this now?"

"So now I'm doing it! Is it bad to be examined?"

"Leave tomorrow, and get checked. Got it?"

With his coercive words, Sun looked up and stared straight into his eyes.

"What are you to me? We're already... It's over. Please... please don't do this to me..."

Sun struggled to hold back the tears welling up her eyes.

"Tomorrow. I'm not repeating it."

He looked straight down at her and said,

'What will I look like to him now?'

She looked up at him, and Labong's eyes came to mind.

Labong's whimpering came to mind as he barked low in fear. She could no longer be dragged around like this.

"Do you still think that I'm your pet?"

He slowly opened his mouth.

"Why? Are you not?"

"... No, I'm not anymore.

"Lies."

He said as he approached her. As he walked closer towards her, Sun stepped back.

"... I said, I'm not.

"So?"

He laughed again.

"Stay there."

"What?"

"Stand still."

He looked at her as he approached. She could instinctively recognize the thoughts in his eyes.

'... I have to avoid it.'

However, her body did not listen. She looked straight at him, and her head did not move.

Meanwhile, he gradually approached.

She turned her head with all her might. That was all she could do.

He raised her head and made her look at him. Then he approached slower than before.

He slowly approached her as If she might suddenly make a break for it.

Eventually, she closed her eyes.

After a while, his lips gently touched her, making her remember his familiar touch.

He soon kissed her forcefully.

She was paralyzed with doubt.

Maybe she had waited, and she looked up unknowingly.

At that moment, he moved his head back and looked down at her.

"See. I told you."

His face showed a confident smile.

Sun was shocked and gave no answer. Rather than shame, she was heartbroken because her expectations had fallen once again.

"Tell me again that you are not my pet."

Sun eventually pushed him away and made a run for it.

***

She bumped into people, stumbled over stones, and repeatedly tripped, but Sun did not stop.

She walked for what seemed like an eternity.

A playground caught her eye.

Sun, sitting on a bench with a soulless expression, breathed a long sigh.

She walked for a while, but the kiss wouldn't leave her head.

"In the meantime... What did I ever want?"

She walked through Santiago with a thousand times more determination, but she could not stop him. No, it could not stop her feelings for him.

'... You shouldn't get sick.'

Those were the first words to show that he could not sympathize with her pain.

'Has he changed? '

It was also true that his words shook her at the moment. However, the shock of the disappointment was even more significant as her expectations were high.

He did not change.

Nevertheless, she recalled herself looking up at him.

"Stupid..."

Her head shouted told her to push him away, but her body was moving toward him regardless of her will.

'How much more time is needed... for me to forget him.'

She had no choice but to ask herself the same questions as she did before on her trip.

Then, a text arrived on her cell phone.

'When are you going to pick up Labong?'

It was the veterinary hospital.

She remembered when the puppy was in the hallabong box and got his name Labong.

"Ha."

A chuckle erupted. Once she started, she erupted in laughter.

"Ha ha ha."

She wiped the tears off her forearm from her outrage.

"Ah."

Sun exhaled deeply to calm her heart. After some time, her emotions barely subsided, but she had to go now. That was the best she could do. She headed out slowly toward the veterinary clinic.

***

Eunwoo sat at his desk and eagerly wrote something down.

"Does this look a little awkward?"

This time, he turned around a little bit and settled more naturally.

"Yes. I don't even have to sit in a static position."

With an awkward smile, Eunwoo looked up and looked out of the window.

The darkened street, however, did not show the person he was waiting for.

The anxiety-ridden Eunwoo rose from his seat and examined Labong.

He followed Labong's gaze as he leaned down and headed toward the doorway.

"Are you waiting for Sun too?"

Eunwoo stroked Labong with a peculiar smile.

"By the way, when do you think our owner will come?"

The doorbell rang as he complained to himself.

Giddy Eunwoo rose and slammed his back against his desk.

"Ouch."

"Are you okay?"

Son asked, surprised.

"Oh, yes, of course... well, it hurts."

Eunwoo smiled as he struggled with the pain.

Sun smiled awkwardly and approached Labong.

"Was Labong good today?"

Sun asked, stroking Labong.

"Yes, he was good while I changed his bandages, and he waited for Miss. Sun all day."

"Really?"

"Yes, and it seems that he recognizes you when he sees you."

Eunwoo's words brought a slight smile on Sun's face.

She reached out and gently stroked Labong.

"Oh..."

Her injured finger was revealed as she petted him.

"Are you injured?"

Eunwoo, who saw her finger, asked.

"Well, it's okay. It's no big deal."

Sun quickly hid her hands behind her back, seemingly awkward.

"It's okay. The wound is pretty deep. I'll take a look."

Eunwoo reached out with a sincere expression.

"It's a great place to stay."

After refusing several times, Sun reluctantly raised her finger.

Eunwoo carefully cleaned her finger as if she were sick.

"How did it happen?"

"At work... It's was my mistake."

"What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a character designer."

"Oh."

His natural question was answered without awkwardness.

"It looks painful."

Eunwoo frowned and asked, looking at Sun's expression. At that moment, Sun recalled a few years prior.

She was enthusiastically making lunches in the morning, and she had accidentally cut her hand.

"Why are you injured?"

Looking at the finger with the band, he asked.

"Oh, this. I got up in the morning and made a lunchbox, but it's okay."

It seemed that she didn't want to worry him. However, his voice sank coldly.

"So, you've put a band on it on purpose?"

"Sorry?"

"Because you have tried to do something since the morning, so you want me to know?"

She hid her hand behind her back without saying anything. She removed the bandage while her hands were hidden behind her back.

She had never once put a bandage in front of anyone before.

No, she tried not to let anyone notice her injury.

"Well, it's all done."

Eunwoo's affectionate voice returned her to reality.

A cute character bandage was attached to her finger. As she gazed at the bandage, Sun slowly bowed her head.

"That's the only bandage I have."

He smiled awkwardly because of its childishness. Nevertheless, Sun still couldn't lift her head.

"... Does it hurt a lot?"

Eunwoo asked carefully.

She shook her head silently.

"The wound is pretty serious..."

"... No. I'm really okay."

Her voice trembled thinly.

"Miss Sun?"

A little surprised, Eunwoo asked carefully.

"Now... I feel like it's all better. I feel like I'm not really sick at all."

Based on her voice, it seemed that she was struggling to act like everything was okay.

However, her head was bowed as her tears dripped. Her slender shoulders convulsed slightly. She started to cry.

Eunwoo, who was watching with a concerned expression, reached out slowly and caringly patted her shoulder.

'Tap, tap.'

'Huk...'

She couldn't hold back her tears.

Eunwoo gave her an empathetic look and comforted her with an endless warm touch.

Then he spoke in a subdued voice.

"Go. You can."

"...?"

Sun, surprised by the familiar words, stopped crying as she looked up at Eunwoo.

Eunwoo looked at her with a consistent smile and said,

"Do you remember me now?"

16. She's Dangerous

In the Santa Maria Cathedral, Sun's memories came to mind.

He was the man who put out a handkerchief during her tears of unbearable loneliness, the man who encouraged her to go a little farther when she stopped in front of a real-life challenge.

'Once you're up, don't stop. You're going to feel a little revived.'

His kind voice overlapped over Eunwoo.

"... Then you..."

Amazed, Sun remembered now.

Blinking her eyes without saying anything, she was cute. Eunwoo smiled at her.

"I've remembered you all at once."

"Oh, well…"

"No, it's rather strange to remember."

Eunwoo spoke candidly.

It was rather strange to remember their brief encounter in a strange land. Nevertheless, Eunwoo could not forget her face.

"In fact, I thought you recognized me too."

After contemplating, Sun opened her mouth.

"Really?"

"I'm sorry, I can't remember where I saw you clearly."

"Don't be sorry."

"... Because I got a lot of help from you."

"Really? Did you make it to the top?"

She smiled and nodded upon hearing Eunwoo's question.

"Wow, that's great."

"If it wasn't for your help. I would definitely surrender."

She remembered the moment when she couldn't even take a step forward.

"But you still made it."

Eunwoo looked at her with a warm smile.

His eyes and his words had the power to encourage people.

'... Okay. I made it. I had walked all the way to the end with my legs.'

It's hard right now, but walking continuously could make a difference.

She closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled for a long time. She felt calm.

"Now, are you okay?"

"Yes!"

Sun answered; she suddenly caught her eyes as she caught a glimpse of her reflection at the window.

Her frantic walk-through, sporadic hair, tears, and pale makeup were smeared on her face.

"Here it is."

Eunwoo pulled out the tissue beside him and gave it out to her.

"... Thank you."

She turned around and slightly wiped off her makeup.

"Actually, I cry often. You've seen it already."

She continued to drift away. Eunwoo, who was smiling and watching, opened his mouth.

"I know you do. I've seen it twice already. Isn't this a special relationship?"

"Yes?"

"It's hard to see anyone crying even if you've known someone your whole life."

"Are you teasing me now?"

"Can you tell?"

Eunwoo smiled and asked.

"Ha, yes."

Sun smiled outrageously.

Her two wet pupils smiled cutely as well.

Her white skin turned a bit red since she cried a little while ago.

As she laughed, Eunwoo's face lit up.

"It's nice to see you laughing."

"Well, can I now take Labong?"

"Are you running away from here?"

"Oh, no, I think Labong wants to go home..."

"I think, as a vet, Labong thinks, 'what are you two doing here?"

"Do you think?"

Sun smiled as if she had relaxed her mind.

The smiling Eunwoo hugged Labong in the cage.

"Well, here he is."

"Thank you."

Sun smiled awkwardly and received the cage from Eunwoo.

"I'm really going to go now."

Sun departed from him a little awkwardly, and he stepped back.

"I really appreciate what you did for me today, and the last time too..."

"Hey, watch out for the door..."

"Ouch!"

Before Eunwoo could speak, Sun hit the door behind her.

"Are you okay?"

"Haha. I'm so embarrassed. I should really go."

Sun rushed out of the hospital.

Eunwoo watched her cute clumsiness with a smile on his face.

After leaving the hospital, Sun took each step carefully to ensure that she wasn't shaking Labong's cage.

This allowed Eunwoo to watch her leave for quite some time.