Emotional limits

Chapter 15: Is Leaving the right choice?

The hesitancy, the heaviness in the air between Jun Seo and Jina was inseparable. Jun Seo stood there, his body tense, his eyes avoiding her as if there was an invisible wall separating them. A vast void suddenly appeared between them, even though in reality, they were only a few steps apart. He couldn't face her any longer, couldn't bear the determined look in her eyes.

Jina had hoped, really hoped that this time, things would be different. But the hardness in him, the hesitation, overwhelmed everything. She took a step closer, but Jun Seo immediately stepped back, as if afraid that she would do something, afraid that she would drag him into the emotions he had tried to suppress for so long.

"Jun Seo..." Her voice was soft, but there was an undeniable determination in it.

He looked at her, this time his eyes were no longer cold like before. There was something in him, a tiredness, a pain, but also a hardness. “Jina,” Jun Seo said, his voice hoarse. “You don’t understand. I can’t let you go into this world. You can’t take it. I can’t let you die again.”

This time, Jina was surprised, not responding immediately. She just stood there, facing Jun Seo, feeling every word he said, as if he knew something. But she couldn’t let him live in that fear, couldn’t let him isolate himself out of concern for her. “Jun Seo, I can’t just stand by and watch you destroy yourself,” she said, her voice firm, unwavering. “You need to understand, I’m not afraid. I won’t leave you.”

Jun Seo closed his eyes, his hands clenched, as if to restrain his emotions. He didn’t want to look at her, but his heart was aching. “Jina, you don’t understand. I can’t… I can’t let you go in there. If you knew the truth... you would never want to be with me again.”

These words were like a knife cutting into Jina’s heart. She understood that Jun Seo was talking about her past, about the losses he had suffered. But that couldn’t stop her. She couldn’t let him continue to live in that loneliness and pain.

“Jun Seo,” she took another step, but immediately, he turned his back and walked quickly outside. Before Jina could say anything, he left, without turning back, without looking at her one last time.

Jina’s heart tightened, feeling like a big hole had appeared in her chest. He was leaving. She couldn’t stop him. But she couldn’t give up either. Jun Seo always did that, always retreated, always pushed her away, because he didn’t want her to endure the things he had gone through. But she couldn’t allow him to live alone like that. Not anymore.

Jina stood there, watching his back disappear into the night, her heart filled with unanswered questions. She knew he wouldn't come back, he wouldn't let her into his world. But perhaps, she would still wait. Because no matter if Jun Seo left, no matter what he did, she wouldn't give up.

Jun Seo's every step seemed to cut through the silence in the space, as if he was taking away a part of the world that Jina had tried to rebuild. She stood there, in the darkness of the night, watching his back fade away. Every emotion in her was blocked. The feeling of being abandoned wasn't new, but this time, it was different. It was much more painful.

The door had closed, and Jun Seo had left.

He didn't turn back, didn't hesitate, didn't say another word. Not even a look, a single look, he didn't give her. There was only silence, a cold void that she didn't know how to fill.

Jina felt trapped in despair, in the feeling of being left behind for no apparent reason. At first, she didn't understand him. But now, she sensed the deep fear in him, the hesitation that couldn't be erased, and the unspoken worry.

Jun Seo was afraid that she would die. She knew that. And she also knew that it was that fear that kept him from getting closer, from accepting her into his world.

She walked towards the door, feeling helpless. Jun Seo had left, but would he come back? Or would she be alone in this empty room again?