Downstairs, I sat on the worn sofa in the living room. I was still dazed in this place alone, in the shadows of gloom; wondering inwardly, why Daehyun became like this today. Usually, he would never do anything without my consent but now, he didn't seem to care anything about my feelings. I was confused about why he suddenly gave this ring to me of a sudden.

In the silence, a flash of white glint was caught my eyes. I squinted my eyes, then raised my hand slowly, spreading my fingers under the light. A white lamplight suddenly crept between my fingers, reflecting a rainbow of colors on this ring.

A few moments later, I clenched my fists tightly as if grasping the light that had become gloomy in my heart, then lowered my hand, placing it in front of my body.

I opened my other fist, looked at the ring that had tied around my finger for many years. Throughout the years of our relationship, I had never removed this ring from my finger no matter how angry, disappointed, hurt I was at that time.

However, one day, I once felt distraught but it wasn't as bad as now so I took it off. But, it's only in a few days. The feeling of love that had grown rapidly over the years didn't allow me to do it for too long.

This ring was like a bridge between our hearts. So, once this thing was gone, then it was like the red string that bound our hearts was also broken, and would be difficult to tie them back as before.

Now, I didn't know what to do with this. I couldn't possibly throw it away as I threw myself away like now. I could isolate myself and my feelings, but not with this thing.

As I said, Daehyun shouldn't give it back to me and just hide it or throw it away so that I could learn to forget my past. He should have let me suffer in forgetting someone and learn to get used to it.

'I feel that I need to show it to you.'

Daehyun's words suddenly flashed through my mind. I smiled weakly as I remembered the words, feeling that such simple words carried something like: 'Look at your ring one last time.'

I had a bad feeling about this ...

I shouldn't have to hang on to my feelings for this outdated ring. My feelings were my feelings and this ring was just an ignorant thing that was considered sacred to two young men in the past until they had to separate.

Then, why do I have to keep hanging my feelings on inanimate objects like this?

No matter how much I dug deeper into the crumbling of my feelings, I would never find the answer, even turning this world upside down.

I shook my head lightly and put the ring in my pocket, then tried to convince myself that the past relationship was delusional. No matter how much it hurt me, I would have to endure it for some time to come.

Yeah, a little more ...

This suffering wouldn't be long ...

One day, I would truly get free of all these difficulties.

I took a deep breath, leaning back against the back of the sofa. Although I often spent my time doing nothing and well-rested, I kept feeling tired.

I'm so tired ...

"Chunghee."

Daehyun called me from the second floor. Looking up near the stairs, Daehyun was talking up there, "Don't you want to walk around here?"

I shook my head quietly in response to refuse.

"Hmm, alright then," Daehyun said, as he walked down the stairs.

Once he was downstairs, he sat beside me, showing his usual smile. He asked, "Do you want to eat something?"

I shook my head again slowly in response.

"Then, what do you want to eat?" he asked again.

Hearing many questions he kept asking, I turned my head sideways without saying anything.

He frowned, and asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, I asked what I should have asked in the first place. "Why did you give this ring?"

However, after waiting for a while, Daehyun didn't even say anything. He only showed a face that revealed he deserved to do it without regretting anything.

From the start I couldn't accept this completely, so I couldn't help but convince him by explaining, "Daehyun, look, I can't accept anything from you yet. I ... I'm still hurt by someone."

"But, it's me!" Daehyun tried to convince me, "I would never do something like that. Never! If you think that I will leave you one day, then you are wrong."

"How do you know? Nobody knows what will happen in the future."

"Because I've seen you suffer and I can't let you feel like that all the time," he answered confidently.

Hearing his words, I smiled bitterly. Looking at him for a moment, I asked, "Then, how many people have you slept with out there?"

Daehyun's face suddenly turned confused. He was stunned to hear the question that might sound weird to him. He then asked in surprise, "Why do you ask that?"

"Just answer my question."

Silent for a few seconds, he answered in a low voice that sounded doubtful, "Not many."

The answer amazed me a little. I thought that he would reply by words that he never slept with anyone but me, and apparently, he could be more honest than Donghwa.

But, still, showing a bitter smile, I asked again, "Really? Can you guarantee that I will be the one for you?"

"Yes! I'll never look for another person." With a pause, he added, "I've wanted you all this time. Then, how can I look for someone else after finding someone I love? That's no way!"

I shook my head slowly. "Daehyun, look, he also said the same and promised me a lot. But, you can see now, right? I've passed five years in ten years of our relationship to love each other; for two years I felt the change of him gradually; and for three years, I used the years to endure and kept hoping that our relationship could still be maintained. But, what do I gain? I can't possibly end up here with you if I get good things out of it."

"...."

Taking a breath in silence, I continued, "Now, I'm sick from being hurt too many times. I can't waste another ten years on the same result. I want to be alone — to spend the rest of my life alone — you shouldn't be here either."

As soon as I finished my words, he immediately hugged me tightly. "The results won't be the same. trust me." He paused for a moment before continuing, "It's okay if you can't accept me yet. But, I'll never leave you alone — never."

Hearing that, I slowly returned his hug. I said in a hushed voice, "I want to be free where there is no love that presses me in a relationship. I ended my relationship with Donghwa because I was tired of a love affair. I want to be alone. That's all."

Unfortunately, Daehyun didn't want to hear what I said and keep trying to convince me that the way I chose was wrong. "No. Being alone isn't the best way to solve your problem. I also didn't say that with me you will recover from the pain. But, I just want you to slowly forget what you should have forgotten. What about this offer?"

"Daehyun, why are you so stubborn?"

"Because if I didn't act like that, I would have left you a long time ago."

After his words, we fell into a long silence.

Until he let go of his embrace and said to change the subject, "I'm going to go out to buy rice and make porridge for you. I won't be long, okay?"

Finishing his sentence, he immediately stood up, then headed to the second floor to pick up something.

As soon as Daehyun went up to the second floor, suddenly the sound of the knocking door could be heard from outside. My attention was immediately drawn to the door, which was knocked, with a frown. I stared at the door for a moment before getting up to open the door.

However, who I saw surprised me twice as much as Daehyun's words just now. I was immediately shocked and froze without a word as if my whole body went numb, even my blood seemed to stop flowing all of a sudden.

After the door was half-opened, there was a man I had not seen for a month. The man who was once an important person in my life was standing straight and looking surprised in front of me. Like a dream, he was here without me preparing myself!

I never expected to see him one more time and I never wanted this moment to happen at all. After all, what happened today wasn't something that I ever thought about previously.

However, God's plan was absolute and unexpected!

What should I do ...