Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Don't Go (Viewpoint 1)

Fahami's POV:

"Taesung, wait. Listen to me." I ran after him. He was walking on the road and didn't give me any attention.

"Taesung. Wait, please." I was pleading.

"Taesung."

"What?" All of a sudden, he turned towards me and screamed. I flinched. I was shocked to see his angry face.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to follow me? Don't you understand? I don't want you nearby." He gritted his teeth as he said his speech.

I was not that kind of woman who cried a lot. I wasn't that much emotional. But I was sure my eyes watered. He didn't care about my tears because he stared at me like a heartless person. When I didn't reply, he turned and walked away.

"My brother committed suicide." I blurted out without realizing what I was doing.

Taesung stopped.

"If he were alive, he would be like you now."

Taesung turned toward me and came to me. "I am sorry. I didn't know." He looked at me sympathetically.

I slowly raised my head and our eyes met. I didn't realize that I was crying until Taesung wiped my tears.

I gradually walked to the footpath and sat there. Taesung followed me and did the same thing.

"He was my best buddy. He was five years younger than I, but we got along like friends." I sniffled. "He was a little introvert and didn't express his feelings to everyone. But he used to share his every thought with me." I exhaled deeply, "At least, that's what I thought until he committed suicide."

Taesung sighed.

I looked at him and asked, "Taesung, did you ever wonder why I always helped you? Even though you didn't like me in the beginning and always kept at arm's length, I always tried to be with you."

Taesung was looking at the ground. He shook his head without looking at me.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" I asked.

Taesung nodded, "We bumped into each other."

"Yes, right then you caught my attention. When I looked at you, I was beyond amazed. How was it possible? You were a reflection of Nabil. You looked alike except for the eyes." I chuckled, "As if you are the East Asian version of Nabil." But my chuckling turned into sobbing.

I didn't know how long I sobbed. I tried to control myself but couldn't. Nabil was gone. No matter how many years had passed since his death, it's still fucking hurtful to think he was gone. Finally, I could control myself. I asked while sobbing mildly, "Do you remember how you looked at me that evening when the owner threatened you for the payment?"

Taesung replied, "I don't know."

"You looked like Nabil at that moment. Nabil used to look at me like that if he was sad and vulnerable."

Taesung looked at me, eyes searching for answers.

"I understood that you were going through hardships. Later when we met at the restaurant, I tried to help you. Even after you rejected my offer, I couldn't stop myself. I didn't realize when and how I became this much protective of you."

We both sat in silence.

"I felt the same for you." I looked at Taesung when he said this. He was avoiding eye contact and said, "I am also protective of you. I once had a younger sister. She didn't look like you but your care always reminded me of my family. Sometimes it feels like you are a reflection of my mother and sister. Always loving me, trying to protect me. After I lost my family, I didn't know I could feel like this for any other person. At first, I didn't like you because you felt pity for me. I never wanted anyone's pity. But as soon as I realized that you don't pity me, I started liking you."

I was shocked to realize that Taesung was opening up to me. He wasn't exactly quite like Nabil, but he also had a tendency to not saying anything personal. But I didn't miss a thing he said and that made me ask the next question.

"If that's true, then why didn't you talk to me in last two months?" I wasn't angry. I was hurt and that was noticeable in my tone.

Taesung looked like he was in pain. "Noona." My eyes watered when he called me that. The last time, he called me Fahami-shi. It was stupid to be hurt because it was my name, but he never called me that. I was so used to hear Noona from him and it was bewildering to hear Fahami-shi.

"Look, I am not a good person. Noona, I don't want to hurt you. I am not good for you. That's why I kept distance."

I shook my head as I didn't want to hear or believe what he said.

"Taesung, what you did that day be a bit brutal, I agree with that. But, you are harmful, I don't believe it and I will never believe it. I had questions to ask but I wasn't mad at you. I didn't question about your goodness for once."

Taesung looked into my eyes as if he wanted to believe what I said. As if he had doubt in himself.

"What? Do you think I didn't notice how you treat others? How kind you are to the children and to elders? The way you feed restaurant's leftovers to cats, do you think I haven't noticed these?"

Taesung looked at me in adoration. Of course, I paid enough attention to him.

"You are a good person Taesung. Whatever you believe is wrong. I have seen it with my own eyes. Is this why you didn't talk to me? That you believe you are a bad guy?"

Taesung nodded.

"That's absolutely bullshit. Do I look like I kid to you? Do you think I can't take care of myself and incapable of deciding my companionship?" I raised my voice.

Taesung was still looking at the ground.

"Answer me." I screamed as I was angry. No, I thought angry was not the exact term to describe how I felt.

Taesung closed his eyes and sighed. "I am sorry, Noona. I am too much protective of you. And when I thought that I am harmful for you, I kept my distance. I tried to protect you even if it meant that I was the one who would have to hurt you."

I didn't know how to react. How could I be angry with this boy when I knew it was hard for him too? This boy loved me without realizing how much. So I did the thing that felt right to me. I hugged him. He stiffened in my embrace.

"Taesung, don't go. Please. I have already lost Nabil. I don't wanna lose you too."

Taesung gently gave in my embrace and hugged me too. He chuckled and said, "Noona, I am homeless now. How can I stay here with you?"

There wasn't any problem that couldn't be solved. I had the solution too. "Who said you don't have a home? Move in with me. We will live in my flat." Taesung, once again stiffened. Well, I wasn't thinking about his reaction before I blurted out.

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