Chapter 432: Goodbye and Promise - The Story of Three People (1)

I already knew very well how much the Elated members cared for me. Joo-Han was speaking in an urgent manner, but I still couldn't quite grasp that we only had about two hours left. In two hours, we would be saying our final goodbyes.

We were talking face-to-face at the moment, though. It wasn't me who was feeling the reality of the farewell, but those who were leaving. Joo-Han kept talking nonstop about small things like reminding me to eat well, and asking me not to dismiss Elated as a thing of the past.

It felt like he was pouring out things he hadn't said over ten years, and each word was sincere. I could only nod without even thinking of opening my mouth. Joo-Han read my thoughts and smiled.

"I’m glad you’re alive, man."

"Hyung."

"You've had a tough time. Now live proudly, kiddo. You deserve to be happy." Joo-Han thumped my arm painfully. "Even though I kept saying that we needed to talk, I didn't intend to have such grand conversations with you."

"..."

"I just wanted to have ordinary conversations with you from time to time... But the situation didn't really allow it, which is a bit regrettable."

Hearing Joo-Han's words and feeling Goh Yoo-Joon's gaze on me, I recalled the moment of my death. The moments just before dying flashed in my mind, and memories filled with wounds and pain emerged.

But having returned to the past, the members and my family had helped me overcome the pain, so now I was not hurting at all. It didn’t bother me anymore to the point I wondered why I only thought of such things in the moment of death.

Now that the scars have healed and the pain had faded, the thoughts that flashed through my mind like a strobe light were only memories.

Those were memories of my trainee days with Elated, the fun times we shared, the days I provided comfort to them and received comfort in return, the awkward first meetings where we exchanged greetings or were on guard, and how Goh Yoo-Joon and I would fight just from making eye contact, yet ride the bus to school side by side the next day.

There were also times when Jin-Sung would cry after throwing a tantrum and getting scolded, and all the trainees would console him. I had so many memories with the people I was parting with...

Goh Yoo-Joon stepped closer with a surprised look. "Are you crying?"

Tears flowed uncontrollably. My heart hurt so much that I couldn't listen to their desperate goodbyes. Ultimately, I wanted to return to the past only to experience the joy of those times once again.

I looked at Goh Yoo-Joon and Joo-Han’s faces. Wiping away my tears, I wanted to clearly see the faces of Elated members who had grown older than me. Only at the time of parting did I realize that people who understood my pain had been so close by.

I would miss them a lot. Sometimes, I would miss them a terrible amount. How did time pass so quickly?

Now, we only had about five minutes left. Joo-Han was already holding both my and Goh Yoo-Joon's hands tightly. There was too little time to express my feelings, so the words I conveyed were very brief.

"Thank you."

Thank you for always thinking of me, for still considering me family even when I stubbornly refused to talk to you.

"I really appreciate it."

Now, I hoped they would be happy too. It wasn't until I expressed my gratitude that the separation felt real. We were about to say goodbye forever.

"Why are you crying?" they asked, as if they were insulted.

Eventually, tears fell from their eyes[1]. We hugged each other as if to comfort one another and stayed like that for a long time.

"Let's part in a cool manner. Take care, Hyun-Woo."

"I will miss you so freaking much. Be happy no matter what."

The two left with kind words. The warmth that had enveloped me from their embrace disappeared. Through my blurry vision, I saw Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon, who seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber.

[The scenario is ending.]

[A final event took place! The complete resurrection of the regressor Suh Hyun-Woo is in progress.]

[New memories are granted to the comrades of the returnee Kang Joo-Han, Goh Yoo-Joon, Lee Jin-Sung.]

***

Kang Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon simultaneously opened their eyes. Stiff muscles, headaches, and aching backs made them frown.

"Ow, ouch."

‘My back hurts. Yes, my back...’

Kang Joo-Han felt the persistent pain from a lumbar disc issue in his back as he sat up and looked around. Goh Yoo-Joon was lying face down with only his eyes open. Other than that, the scene was no different from what they had seen just before we left for the world where Suh Hyun-Woo was.

"...Hyung, we've returned," Goh Yoo-Joon said in a muffled voice.

"That's right. My back was definitely better in my younger days. I need to get it treated."

"We came back without Suh Hyun-Woo."

Although Kang Joo-Han tried to steer the conversation to other topics by mentioning his chronic illness, Goh Yoo-Joon fell into severe depression.

"Hey..."

Goh Yoo-Joon covered his eyes with his hand and choked. Just moments before, Suh Hyun-Woo had been right in front of him. He had definitely been alive, but now he was dead again.

There truly was no hope of seeing Suh Hyun-Woo ever again. Even though the choice was made for his happiness, the sadness was unavoidable.

Kang Joo-Han was unable to say anything, so he just stroked Goh Yoo-Joon's back. It was the first time he had seen Goh Yoo-Joon cry like this since he became an adult.

"You managed to make the choice to come back even though it made you so sad."

Touched by Kang Joo-Han's gentle words, Goh Yoo-Joon rubbed away his tears and nodded. "Suh Hyun-Woo convinced me. I can't say no to him."

After Suh Hyun-Woo quit being a trainee, Goh Yoo-Joon had lived his life feeling sorry for him.

Was that why, when Suh Hyun-Woo sincerely told him he wanted him to go back, Goh Yoo-Joon's resolve to stay easily crumbled? This happened only because Suh Hyun-Woo wanted it.

Goh Yoo-Joon wished nothing but for Suh Hyun-Woo to be happy. He had always hoped for Suh Hyun-Woo’s dreams to come true. In the end, he made the choice to return to his world and leave Suh Hyun-Woo behind.

"Do you regret it?" Kang Joo-Han asked.

Goh Yoo-Joon nodded. "A little."

"Me too," Kang Joo-Han said softly. He tried to be stoic, but it was difficult.

The feeling of having sent Suh Hyun-Woo away again brought a pain that felt like a part of his heart was being wrung out. "But it was inevitable."

This was a choice that had to be made for the sake of everyone’s happiness. The grief of losing friends, colleagues, and family again would be tough to overcome, but they would be able to do it one day. Knowing that Suh Hyun-Woo was alive in another timeline might make it a bit easier. As Suh Hyun-Woo himself said, they surely had each other to care for, even if he was not here.

A few days later, the three men gathered at Kang Joo-Han's house.

"Is this enough booze?"

"It's just us drinking, so this should be enough."

"True. I contacted Yoon-Chan hyung earlier to ask if he wanted to join us since we’re hanging out."

"What did he say?"

"He said he'd come after he’s done filming."

Goh Yoo-Joon sighed at Lee Jin-Sung's words. "The drinking will probably be over by the time he arrives."

Considering that the three of them were not good at handling alcohol, everyone would likely pass out from drinking by the time Park Yoon-Chan arrived. It seemed like Park Yoon-Chan was coming not to hang out, but to clean up after members who would drink themselves into oblivion.

"Yoon-Chan is such a nice guy. How can he be such an angel?"

"If he wasn't an angel, he would have left the group a long time ago."

"Why? What was wrong with Elated?" Kang Joo-Han asked, and Lee Jin-Sung looked at him as if asking if he really didn't know.

"Elated was such a depressing group. You know that."

The fact that Park Yoon-Chan, who was interested in acting, had stayed until the end of the contract period with the Elated members, who were often depressed, was proof enough of his angelic nature.

"Anyway, let's grill the meat."

They busily grilled the meat they had brought and poured drinks.

"Cheers."

"Cheers~"

The three clinked glasses and downed a shot, then they picked up some food. Surprisingly, the conversation dwindled.

The only sound was the sizzle of meat being cooked.

After a while of savoring the flavors, Kang Joo-Han asked Lee Jin-Sung, "Did the shooting go well? You were filming

Pick We Up

today, right?"

"Oh? Ah, yeah. Well, it was nothing special," Lee Jin-Sung said and then chuckled lightly. "The

Pick We Up Two

I saw in the other world was much more worth watching."

He started to spill the details of what happened during the shooting to Kang Joo-Han. Goh Yoo-Joon watched their conversation, and suddenly remarked, "Your eyes look a bit swollen."

"Ah, yeah. I haven't been sleeping well lately."

"Feels like sending off Suh Hyun-Woo again, right? I haven’t been sleeping well either."

Lee Jin-Sung smiled bitterly. After making the choice to return to his world, he had to dive right back into his career without a moment to reflect on his feelings. Right after Lee Jin-Sung returned, neither Kang Joo-Han nor Goh Yoo-Joon were contactable, and he had to suppress his emotions alone. This had been torturous. He had almost spent several nights without sleep.

As the atmosphere turned somber once again, Lee Jin-Sung quickly said, "But I was surprised. I never thought you would call me first, Yoo-Joon hyung."

"I was surprised too that Yoo-Joon called you."

"Ah, why are you guys making this awkward?" Goh Yoo-Joon laughed sheepishly.

In fact, this gathering was Goh Yoo-Joon's idea. Why would he do such a thing when he had never even contacted Lee Jin-Sung or arranged an occasion to meet before?

Like the unresolved misunderstandings between Suh Hyun-Woo and the Elated members, there had been deep emotional rifts among them. Now that they realized how precious they were to each other, Goh Yoo-Joon had something he needed to say.

He looked at Lee Jin-Sung. "I want to apologize to you."

1. Oh my gosh, this is so freaking sad. I’m on the verge of crying waaaaaah. ☜