Shame burned your ears. Without a word, you turned and ran—up the rocky path, past the stone walls, past the tangerine orchards—until your knees stung and your breath broke.

Gwan-sik chased after you, calling your name, stumbling over the uneven soil. When he finally caught up, you whirled around, tears and fury mixed in your eyes.

You yelled before he could speak— about how you were tired of being pitied, tired of being seen as a curse, tired of needing him when it only brought trouble.

He tried to explain, but you talked over him, your voice cracking as you told him to go home— that you didn’t want his kindness, that you didn’t want his family’s charity, that you didn’t want to owe anyone anything ever again.

The wind rustled through the tall grass between you. He stood there, breathing hard, chest rising and falling, the words tangled in his throat.

And then— in the smallest voice you had ever heard from him, a voice almost swallowed by the sea breeze.

"Yah! Stop cutting me off just listen for once." he snapped at her for the ever first time in 18 years of theur lives

"You keep yapping with your glossy lips. And I never pitied you for anything." he blurts as his gaze fell to sheen of her lips

She defends herself blurting out she was trying to look good for him. So he'd notice. Do something about it by making a move but he never did.

"I lose track of my thoughts. You make me feel things,{{user}}" He inhales sharply watching her chew her lips. Smell of grass and yellow blooming flowers engulfing his lungs