“See how quickly you just affirmed that to me? You are not your parents, Seth. Everyone loves in their own way, and I can see that you will love so strongly. Greatly, even if you don’t believe in it. That’s got to account for something.”
“But I’ve broken her heart before. What if I break her heart again?”
“Love doesn’t promise that there’ll be no broken hearts. But it’ll promise that it can be mended with the right person.”
Would Seth’s love for Nina truly be enough? He refused to repeat his parents’ mistake, refused to put Nina through that kind of torment. Not again.
He wanted to be right for her. Wanted to spend his entire life, train his entire being, to be deserving of her. Wanted to be the one that made Nina believe that her works of fiction could be reality.
The question now was whether Seth was willing to take that risk. Was he brave enough?
“Thank you, Jae,” he whispered. He felt Jae’s hand clap against his shoulder.
“I think you should also talk to your parents tomorrow, too. They might have something to say, now that they know how you feel.”
“God, I hate how you’re the wise one between us,” Seth groaned, with a small chuckle.
“I always was. Now, do you want to continue this or play some games?”
And just like that, the weight of their conversation had lifted, and Jae had reverted them back into a lighter air. Seth didn’t even feel like he deserved Jae, but at least he can work everyday to be the bestest friend that he could be, for him.
33
Now
Seth woke up to the smell of fresh kimchi fried rice, egg and soup. It turned out that Lina is a really good cook.
Jae was already seated at the table, when Seth stirred on the futon.
“Morning sleepy head. You snore loud as hell, by the way. Pretty sure the whole complex could hear you,” Jae professed, with a mouthful of kimchi fried rice.
A groan escaped Seth as he ran his fingers through his haggard hair.
“What time is it?”
“About 10am.”
Seth checked his phone, and saw that there were about 5 missed calls from his parents. He sighed, sending his Dad a brief text to let them know he was coming home that afternoon.
As he ate breakfast with Lina and Jae, watching their silly banter, Seth couldn’t help but crave the type of sibling-ship they have. Maybe if he had a brother or sister, he wouldn’t have handled his parents’ situation the way he did. He would’ve had a built-in best friend, someone he could always protect and lean on.
They played on Jae’s console for a couple more hours, until Seth decided it was time to head on home. On the train back, he rehearsed how he would walk in the door. Pictured what his parents might say.
Were they just meant to have a happy reunion, say their apologies and move on?
Seth doubted he could do that, but he’d like to take the right path toward that ending.
After all, he no longer saw any point in holding onto his anger. It did not fuel him, but only exhausted him.
Only pulled him away from what he wanted most: his happy ending.
And to learn how to love correctly.To love Nina correctly.
It took him an hour and a half in total to get home. When he went to knock on the front door, it opened, and he was greeted immediately with the sight of his parents. They stood at the threshold, taking in Seth’s appearance.
He could see their desire to embrace him, to take him in their arms, but they stood frozen in place.
Waiting for him to make the first move.
