바실래아

≡ pt.2:: ↷

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It's hard to forgot someone who gave you so much to remember. In the end, we would end up regret things we didn't do, the chances we didn't take.

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Jisung clenched his teeth as the memories re-entered his mind, refusing to let tears fall. With every punch, he emptied his anger.

He was angry, at himself, for the way he stood by and watched her suffer. The way he ignored her cries for help, and told her she didn't matter. He was lying all the while; she meant the whole universe to him.

He gave the punching bag a last jab before collapsing onto the floor and reaching for his water bottle.

"Punching the poor bag isn't going to solve your problems. You messed up badly, you know that." Seungmin voiced, snatching a pair of gloves from Jisung's side.

"What do you want?" the boy inquired, his tone tinged with irritation.

"The truth."

"I know you're preparing for the bar exam, but don't go all lawyer on me, Mr. Kim." Jisung mocked, standing from the floor to look at the other.

"Jisung, shut up. This isn't you: you're usually so upbeat and cheerful. You know something, don't you? Just tell me the truth, the whole, honest truth." Seungmin reacted, raising his voice as he lessened the gap between them.

"Listen, Seungmin, I'm not sure what you're talking about. If you've come to irritate me, your mere presence is enough." Jisung snapped at the younger, taking his shirt off and striding away to the showers.

He paused momentarily to read Seungmin's weary expression, before wondering.

"Why do you care?"

"Because, it's...strange. During the memorial, I saw your clenched fists. Those scumbags you call friends may not know, but I noticed the marks all over your hand. Something's definitely happened, and I just want to know what."

"Tell me, Ji, why'd you guys break up?"

Jisung turned, and opened his mouth hesitantly several times until he finally shared.

"Min, it was only a summer fling, nothing else. We were supposed to break up at the end of the summer, but she called it quits a few weeks earlier instead, thanks to her obnoxious 'protective' brother." He replied, but his gaze did not meet Seungmin's.

"Then why would you cry, empty Seojung's ice cream stash, and wallow in your sorrow for three days?! Spill it already, Jisung." He yelled, forcefully throwing the gloves from his hands onto the ground.

They remained silent, the cool air of the A.C. hitting their body as the younger sighed in an attempt to ease the tension.

"Let me tell you what I believe: Do Aera was murdered in cold blood. I'm not sure who did that, but there has to be a reason behind it, and you may as well know it! Everyone's saying she jumped because of a broken heart, but my gut says it is so much more."

"I'm not sure!" Jisung shouted, dropping onto a nearby bench. He sobbed, his knees supporting the hands that held his head. Seungmin jogged closer and sat beside him without a word before letting him continue.

"I don't know why she broke up with me, I really don't. We dated for a year, a fucking year! Y'all assumed we'd just started dating when we told you guys in summer, but no, we dated for so long."

"We went to Lotte theme park on a date one night. Everything was so great, Min, we even said 'I love you' for the first time to each other that day! But suddenly, out of nowhere, she calls me and tells me we're done the very next day! I bawled my eyes out, but she was so nonchalant about it, like she played with me!" he added, his voice shaky and frail.

At this, Seungmin's heart broke, and felt sympathy, which he'd never felt for the opposite boy before. But, instead of comforting him, he held Jisung's shoulders and questioned, "Were you there that night, when she allegedly jumped?"

Jisung shook his head, standing and stepping slightly away from the younger.

"Seungmin, don't complicate matters. The girls tried convincing Aera not to jump, but she was adamant. She jumped, so it's clearly suicide." he concluded, biting his lower lip and closing his eyes for a brief period.

"My only regret, is that I didn't treat her better," he mumbled, "I regret not protecting and loving her enough," before breaking out into tiny sobs and leaving the room.

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