Chapter 433: Goodbye and Promise - The Story of Three People (2)

"What?"

Although it was a question, Lee Jin-Sung already knew what Goh Yoo-Joon was about to apologize for.

‘He probably called me here to apologize for that day.'

That incident had made things awkward between them for almost ten years. In Chronos’ timeline, they had merely skirted around the issue to focus instead on their relationships and choices with Suh Hyun-Woo.

But now they understood that there was nothing to gain by delaying reconciliation. It wasn’t as if they were going to see each other as strangers. It was just that the incident had left too big a mark in the members' hearts, and they had lacked the courage to face it. Now was the time to confront their mistakes.

Goh Yoo-Joon said, "On the day Suh Hyun-Woo quit being a trainee, I said some harsh things to you."

After all, Lee Jin-Sung was invaluable to Goh Yoo-Joon, and those who would cherish him were the Elated members. Lee Jin-Sung's expression darkened as that day still stood out vividly in his memory. They had been young then, swept up in their emotions, and they had hurt each other amidst experiencing great pain for the first time.

"I don’t want to look at you right now."

Even then, Goh Yoo-Joon had clearly known that Lee Jin-Sung wasn’t to blame for the incident.

Nevertheless, he felt helpless. Seeing the inaction of the adults around them, the blame unjustly shifted toward the much younger man who just happened to be there at the scene of the accident.

Goh Yoo-Joon's cold expression, the gloom-filled dorm, the competition program schedule going on as if nothing had happened to Suh Hyun-Woo, and the members acting as if they had never formed any bonds with him, like they were strangers to Suh Hyun-Woo, were all too painful.

‘It was unbearable.'

The estrangement had somewhat healed over time. By cutting down on sleep to keep up with schedules and make concerts successful, they had gradually become closer than they were during their trainee days. They became significantly tighter-knit.

But Goh Yoo-Joon and Lee Jin-Sung subconsciously realized that their relationship wouldn’t improve unless they revisited that day, apologized, and accepted those apologies. Years had passed, and they still remained distant.

Even while living under the same roof, they avoided eye contact, so much so that even the fans could tell it was extremely awkward when the two of them were alone. But they thought it was too late to improve the friendship. Too much time had passed, and they felt as if they had always been this distant.

That was why Lee Jin-Sung hadn’t expected an apology from Goh Yoo-Joon. What had changed Goh Yoo-Joon’s mind after meeting Suh Hyun-Woo in that world?

As Lee Jin-Sung stared at him speechlessly, Goh Yoo-Joon bowed his head. "I’m sorry. I knew it wasn’t your fault, but I lashed out at you anyway."

"No, why are you bringing this up..."

"I know I hurt you badly. I’m sorry I haven’t apologized until now. You might still feel uncomfortable with me, but I still wanted to say it."

"No, hyung... I’m fi—" Lee Jin-Sung was startled by Goh Yoo-Joon bowing his head, so he shut his mouth.

‘Am I really fine? If I dismiss this situation as just awkward, will we become strangers again?’

Lee Jin-Sung recalled Chronos' Lee Jin-Sung and Goh Yoo-Joon. He still had access to those memories. Chronos' Lee Jin-Sung joked around carelessly, was naturally adored by other members, and leaned on Goh Yoo-Joon for comfort.

Surely, even the two from Elated had once had such a relationship. Despite the distance between them, had he not held onto the connection with Goh Yoo-Joon because he missed the affection from those days? Perhaps Goh Yoo-Joon had found the courage to apologize after seeing a reflection of himself in Chronos.

Lee Jin-Sung put down his hand, which he had been waving dismissively. Calmly, he said, "That day, I was really hurt."

‘Maybe our relationship could improve a little.’

Like the soil firmed up after rain, maybe they could become close again like Chronos' Goh Yoo-Joon and Lee Jin-Sung.

"At first, I blamed myself. But over time, I felt more and more wronged by the fact that you hated me for what happened. Why did you do that?"

Goh Yoo-Joon and Lee Jin-Sung emptied their glasses together. Goh Yoo-Joon gave a serious answer. "I acted foolishly by blaming others. The one who was wrong was me, not you. I hurt you."

"Do you know how painful it was being in the same group with you because of how you acted around me? Honestly, if I hadn’t met Hyun-Woo hyung again, I wouldn’t have wanted to sit down and have this conversation with you."

It was the first time Lee Jin-Sung had spoken so candidly about his feelings to Goh Yoo-Joon.

Kang Joo-Han supported Lee Jin-Sung. "Right, I never understood it either. Jin-Sung did nothing wrong, but why would you take out your anger on an innocent kid? Put yourself in Jin-Sung’s shoes. He’s already sensitive, and with you behaving like that, he kept thinking Suh Hyun-Woo suffered because of him."

"Sorry..."

"What would you have done if you hadn’t met Suh Hyun-Woo again in that timeline, huh?"

Goh Yoo-Joon didn’t say anything. He didn’t hear Kang Joo-Han’s criticism often, not during their group activities, or even after the group had disbanded. Until today, he hadn’t done the right thing, so he couldn’t face this criticism shamelessly.

"...Enough now. It’s hard to see you like this, so lift your head," Lee Jin-Sung said quietly.

He resented how Goh Yoo-Joon had acted like a stranger for the past ten years, and it bothered him so much. He vividly remembered how, even during concerts or other good occasions, Goh Yoo-Joon would hesitate and then awkwardly avoid him whenever their eyes met. Lee Jin-Sung often thought about it and regretted it.

‘If only he had not avoided my gaze and at least managed a strained smile, we might not have become this distant.'

However, he forgave Goh Yoo-Joon because the image of Chronos was too deeply ingrained in his mind. Because he was envious of their Chronos versions, and also because he thought Goh Yoo-Joon calling him over to apologize meant he had the same thoughts.

And then—

"Let's patch things up now, hyung." Lee Jin-Sung filled his glass to the brim and raised it. As Kang Joo-Han also lifted his glass, Goh Yoo-Joon looked at Lee Jin-Sung with wide eyes.

Lee Jin-Sung smiled awkwardly. "Hyun-Woo hyung said I should make up with you."

Tears welled up in Goh Yoo-Joon's eyes. He tried to hold back his tears, but his expression crumpled and tears started flowing down. "I’m sorry."

Their glasses clinked together, spilling the liquids over their hands.

‘We’ll be fine.’

Despite the pain of sending away a dear friend, they still had colleagues who cared for them. Therefore, even if it took a very long time to become happy, someday they would move forward like they promised to Suh Hyun-Woo.

***

I cried for half a day. I felt a terrible sense of loss that I had not even felt immediately after being revived. I didn't regret persuading Goh Yoo-Joon to return to the original world or not holding onto the Elated members.

However, dealing with the sober reality of a final goodbye to people who cared for me and whom I cherished was quite difficult.

After moving Kang Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon to their beds, I returned to my room and cried for a long time. I tried to hold it in quietly at first, but the crying gradually became uncontrollable, and I ended up sobbing loudly.

How much time had passed?

Crash!

"Hyung!"

The door burst open with a loud noise as Lee Jin-Sung rushed in. Although he opened the door with such force, he seemed quite taken aback by my appearance.

"Hyung, are you crying?"

"...No. What are you doing barging in without knocking?"

"That... That's true..." Jin-Sung said by tilting his head, confused. "I don't know. I just felt that I should come check on you. But good thing I did! Telepathy worked! Why are you crying, hyung?"

He approached with a concerned voice and started to comfort me.

Soon after...

Crash!

Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon also barged in just like Jin-Sung.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Why is he crying so much? Is he hurt?"

"Hyun-Woo, are you having a panic attack again? Where’s your medicine?"

It seemed the members didn't remember anything that had happened.

"Ah, no... It's not that."

Even if I explained with a nasal voice, would anyone believe me?

Yoon-Chan also woke up because the members were making a fuss and hurried over."Hyungs, what's going on...? Hyung?"

He promptly fetched medicine and brought it over with water, then quickly joined the others in making a fuss.

"Oh dear! Kiddo, you have to tell us if you’re sick. Gosh! Call Tae-Seong hyung! Tell him we might need to go to the hospital, Yoo-Joon."

"Uh? Oh. Where's the medicine? Wait, are you running a fever?"

"No, Yoo-Joon hyung. The fever could be from crying."

"Huuuuh!!! Why are you crying?! Hyung, are you going through a hard time???"

"Ah, no. I’m not sick."

With all the commotion, my tears were pushed back. Oh, gosh. I was dying of sadness, but the Elated members wouldn’t even give me a moment to mourn them.

Tae-Seong arrived late, and almost carried me on his broad shoulders to the hospital.

'What’s going on with the members' memories?'

There were more than a few things I was curious about the Chronos members who had come to their senses after the Elated members returned to their original world. But due to the members' worries and the near trip to the hospital, I couldn’t resolve any curiosities and had to lie down in my bed alone again. Of course, I could figure things out by observing the situation tomorrow...

But the immediate problem lay somewhere else. Meeting the Chronos members I had missed was great, but overcoming the farewell with Elated looked like it was going to be quite a struggle. It had been tough sending them off by myself.

As I lay in bed, miserable tears started flowing again.

Knock, knock-

Someone knocked on the door very cautiously.

"Hyung, are you asleep?"

It was Yoon-Chan.