I was stunned for a moment as I kept hearing Daehyun say the same words over and over again. I wondered why he forbade me to go, but thinking that if I asked about it was a waste of time. I immediately shook my head and said hoarsely, "Daehyun, I don't want to argue with you. If you don't want to take me there, then never mind. I don't want to force you either. After all, neither of us has anything to do with you. So, I'll go alone."

After my words, I could feel his hands tightening around my body. He confirmed, "You don't understand. Chunghee, you don't understand at all. It's not that I don't want to take you there, but I can't take you there."

With sadness suppressed in my heart, I tried to maintain my composure and impatience as I said, "Then, let me go now. I'll go alone if you can't do it. I won't be mad at you. So, now, please, let me go."

Waiting for a few seconds, he was like a living statue that entangled me so tightly and didn't give me any response. It was like I couldn't breathe.

He didn't move an inch or loosen his arms a bit. So, because it seemed like time was running out and I was pressured by circumstances, I couldn't stay patient anymore.

"Daehyun! Let me go!" I yelled.

By yelling like that, Daehyun finally loosened his arms, then let go of me slowly.

I turned around, and started to sneer, "Yunhee was right. You never let him meet me, and are you going to keep doing that, even if today is his ... mourning day?!"

The tears that had begun to recede in my eyes, now rolling down my face again more and more, as this worry made me more confused than ever. I didn't know if this was sadness or it was me who couldn't be at peace with myself.

However, what was clear now was that the news had hit me right in the heart with great force, causing excruciating pain all over my body, and there wasn't even a part of my body that didn't feel that agony.

But, Daehyun surprised me even more. A cold expression instantly appeared in his two black eyes. He looked at me with deep seriousness and his gaze was as sharp as a knife.

Daehyun was seen clenching his jaw tightly, then asked flatly, "Do you know why I can't take you there?"

In the pause of silence, his face slowly softened but still revealed an undisguised ferocity for a long time. Until finally, his sharp eyes gradually turned red and it seemed as if there was an endless sadness in them.

Staring at that expression on his face, I kept yelling inwardly, 'Don't say anything! Don't show that face to me!', but I couldn't say it directly, and just kept my mouth close while sobbing.

I didn't know what he wanted to say? What kind of reason would he give? However, one thing was clear and it was seen in his eyes that his words would make me feel more guilty than having to argue with him.

I knew that Daehyun was feeling pain in his heart and confusion in his mind, but I could no longer respond to his feelings right now. Even if he cried not with tears, there was no pity left in my heart for now.

That's cruel.

I knew it more than anyone and knew the regrets would be more torturous than anything else.

However, right now there was only one thing that filled my heart and mind that made me cry, which couldn't make me think anything other than: 'Donghwa is gone for good, and I have to come back for one last meeting before I regret not seeing him one last time!'

If I didn't, it was like I stabbed myself right in the heart with both hands consciously, but I didn't die and kept repeating over and over again with no end.

I would carry the pain to death.

I would curse myself with that!

After all, we had been together for a long time; going through many difficult things together; and enjoying happiness together. So, there was no reason for me to be silent and not grieve. Plus, I couldn't lie to myself that I still loved him more than anyone deep down even though I couldn't be with him until the end. In fact, the world knew it quite well no matter how I avoided my own feelings. And now, the world seemed to be laughing at us both, that 'these two fools who still loved each other had to cry for each other in the end'.

Although the truth of the news left me swayed in doubt, proving it directly was the only option. I wondered if this was real or if it was a lie that Yunhee conveyed.

"Chunghee ...."

Daehyun's voice was hoarse, and it was like a sob pressed deep in his dry throat. "If I go there, I'm afraid, I won't be able to see you again."

With misty eyes, I looked at him in confusion without saying a word.

"If my father finds out that I'm back in the city, he'll drag me and lock me up, or even break my legs. During this time, I've always caused a lot of trouble with him, he won't let me off the hook this time," he explained, "But, that's not what made me fear. I'm that I won't be able to see you again. That's the thing that worries me the most."

"What if that happens? Can you guarantee that you will be fine if you are alone? Can you guarantee that I will calm down? I hope you can understand what I mean. Why didn't I let you go there, it was because I was afraid and worried about our situation."

I was taken aback for a moment. My eyes widened without me noticing. I looked at him with a complicated feeling that I couldn't explain.

I shook my head as if what I had just heard was a joke. "What did you just say? 'Our'? You mean 'us'? You and me?"

What does 'our' mean here?