I was stunned for a moment, thinking he was talking too much. I used to scold him all the time for this, but now I could understand him.

Sunyeon was indeed a kid who talked a lot since I first met him. However, as I wanted him to act like Chunghee, I always demanded him to do things that were contrary to how he really was.

That was unfair. I knew that clearly.

Still hugging me, he cried quite loudly and kept repeating words, "I'm so happy".

I knew that it was a cry of joy from all the pain he had been holding in for so long. I completely understood him and simply ignored the truth by continuing to reveal a cold and indifferent attitude, and taking my anger out on him when he contacted me.

It was cruel and I knew it pretty well. It's just that because I felt that letting him stay by my side all this time was the biggest mistake I had ever done, every time I saw him I got angry and hated him so much.

However, lately, I had been thinking that I shouldn't hate this kid. I left him with me because I wanted to. The one I deserved to hate was myself. If there was someone that I had to blame, then it was myself, not this kid.

He liked me but I instead took advantage of him without caring if he would get hurt or not.

It was heartless.

"Sunyeon, don't cry anymore, okay?" I patted his head gently as I said, "Now, let go of your hands. I can't stay here for long. I need to rest."

Sunyeon was a kid who was obedient to my words. He then let go of his hands and wiped his tear-filled eyes as soon as I said that. He lowered his head, hiding his crying face, and continued to clean his eyes from the tears that kept flowing non-stop.

Feeling sorry for him, I slowly lifted his face and smiled gently. Seeing the deep sadness in his eyes, pity and guilt flashed through my mind like the warmth of summer. I wiped his tears with my thumbs and said gently, "Stop crying, okay? That's enough. Don't cry anymore."

However, instead of stopping, he hugged me again and said something that made me realize that I had hurt him too many times.

"After so long, it's the first time you've said such gentle words to me. I can't stop crying. I'm so happy tonight."

I could only wail without being able to say a word.

Until Sunyeon slowly let go of his embrace while wiping his tears. As soon as his tears stopped, he asked with a smile, "Brother Lee, why didn't you call me before coming here?"

"Because I know you're not going anywhere tonight. So I think that I don't need to call you first."

Sunyeon looked sullen. He then said, "Brother Lee, may I complain something? Just one more time."

Taking a deep breath in silence, I said, "Say it."

"Why don't you ever pick up my call? I just wanted to know how you've been doing all this time."

"I'm sorry. I've got a lot of trouble lately. You know that, right? So I don't have time to talk to you. I'm sorry, okay?" I said sincerely.

"Hoonsik said that you never go to the hospital to check your cardiac anymore, why? You are an old man. You should care more about your condition."

I just smiled without responding with a word.

There was a long silence before I said in a deep voice, "Last month was your birthday, wasn't it? I have something for you." While saying that, I showed a red box with a ribbon, and smiled.

He was surprised but didn't react for a moment before a happy smile slowly grew wider on his face. His eyes filled with tears of happiness again.

He reached for the box carefully, watched it silently, and then lifted his head to reveal the tears welling up in his puffy eyes.

"Sunyeon, happy birthday to you."

This was the first time I gave him a birthday present. Back then, if it weren't for him asking for a gift from me, I would never have cared this much for him. But, since lately, I had been reflecting on my mistakes a lot, I thought that I needed to fix what I could fix while it wasn't over yet.

As soon as Sunyeon heard the words, his eyes immediately widened open. He looked at me with disbelief on his rosy face.

He grabbed the box, looked at it happily, then said, "You're so sweet tonight. I'm so happy. Thank you."

He opened the box and smiled as he continued to stare at a watch in it with teary eyes.

However, it was clear, the gleam of joy in his eyes from the start was slowly dimming, replaced by a faint sadness and then clearer. He then smiled once more that didn't reach his eyes. "Brother Lee, come on in. I know you're in a hurry, but it's so cold out here. We'd better talk inside."

Stunned for a moment, I stepped inside, then sat on the sofa followed by Sunyeon. Leaning lazily against the sofa, suddenly my brows furrowed when I saw the suitcase and a few things that had been packed. I straightened my back and asked in surprise, "Where are you going?"

At first, Sunyeon seemed reluctant to answer, but with a sincere smile he finally replied, "That's ... I ... I'll be going the day after tomorrow ...."

"Going where? How long?" Hearing his answer made me frown, confused.

He was stunned for a moment before replying, "I ... will move ...."

"What the hell do you mean?"

He looked at me meaningfully and breathed silently. "Brother Lee, I will move to France. I'm not going back to this country. I've already taken care of my transfer papers and my other papers."

Hearing that explanation, my good mood previously suddenly turned mixed. There was a feeling of anger slowly crawling and unbearable in my chest. I asked in surprise, "What?! Did Yunhee let you go?!"

"Sure. He's already agreed."

I paused, surprised. Hearing that, I laughed stupidly.

"Heh, so you're going too, huh?!" I yelled at him angrily, then stood up.

I didn't know why I was angry. I just felt that everyone I knew seemed to be leaving me as if they hated me or they did?

Sunyeon's eyes started to redden. He stood up and yelled, "What do you mean?! Haven't you wanted me to go all along?! Now I'll do what you want!" Paused for a moment, he continued with a gentle tone, "Brother Lee, you want me to leave and not bother you anymore, right? I will. I will also delete your number after you leave this place."

I clenched my fists tightly and kept trying to suppress my urge to break the glass table beside me.

"I've thought this through. If I continue to be in this country, I will definitely only continue to be a nuisance to you. So, I decided to leave. Being here too, I will only keep wishing for things that will never happen to you." He smiled, but there was a look of ridicule on his face. "Brother Lee, you such a jerk. Fuck you for—"

"Slap!"

My hand that I had been holding back from hitting anything slapped his face leaving a clear red trail on his cheek before he could finish those words.

He didn't continue his words and just cry. Seeing him in pain, I regretted hitting him and immediately hugged him to my chest. "I'm sorry. It was my fault. Please don't hate me."

While crying, he spoke, "I asked you to come here just to invite you to have dinner together before I go. But, why are you scolding me instead? You always scold me ...."

"I'm sorry. I've had tough days." With a pause, I lifted his face. "It's your decision ... I won't forbid you."

"Brother Lee, I know you will never forbid me ... because I'm not him ...."

Not him?

Without mentioning his name, the person he meant was pretty clear.

Those words were like a knife that sliced ​​through my heart mercilessly. Sunyeon had become a cruel person just by saying that.

Suppressing my anger, I tried to smile and quickly changed the subject, "You want to have dinner together, don't you? I hope you've prepared it because I don't have much time to wait for you to prepare everything."

Sunyeon wiped his tears immediately, then nodded excitedly. "Sure. I've prepared it." He walked over to the table, followed by me.

There was some food on the dining table. Not anything special, but not bad taste for one bite.

"Brother Lee, I was watching TV ...."

"Then?"

He put down his spoon, then spoke quietly, "Why did you convey that to the reporters. Mr. Kim Myungdae has tried so hard to cover up our relationship ... won't he get angry for this?"

"Hopefully. But, Kim has spoken to him in a family manner. I think everything will be fine." The words sounded indifferent, but I was the one who really worried about that.

Sunyeon was silent, without giving any response. The look on his face showed the understanding of my words.