Chapter 21

Chapter 21 — (Goodbye, My Friends)

The courtroom doors opened.

The hearing was finally over.

Mi-youngi had been sentenced to one year in prison.

Miho, Han-seok, and Seo-jun slowly walked outside.

Nobody spoke.

Miho's eyes were still filled with tears.

She kept looking back at the courtroom.

Then—

“Miho!”

Miho stopped.

She turned around.

Mi-youngi was being escorted away.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Mi-youngi looked at her with tears in her eyes.

Mi-youngi: “Miho…”

Miho couldn't say anything.

Mi-youngi stepped closer and hugged her.

Miho immediately started crying harder.

Mi-youngi: “I'm sorry…”

She held her tightly.

Mi-youngi: “I never wanted to hide everything from you.”

Miho's voice trembled.

Miho: “Then why did you?”

Mi-youngi pulled back slightly.

Tears rolled down her face.

Mi-youngi: “Because I thought I had no other option.”

Miho looked at her through tears.

Mi-youngi: “I knew you would hate me if you knew the truth.”

Miho shook her head.

Miho: “I don't know what to feel anymore…”

Mi-youngi gave her a sad smile.

Mi-youngi: “And it's okay…”

She looked toward Seo-jun.

For a moment, she smiled through her tears.

Mi-youngi: “Even if Seo-jun could never be mine…”

Her voice broke.

Mi-youngi: “I guess… that's okay too.”

Miho cried even harder.

Mi-youngi hugged her one last time.

Mi-youngi: “I'm sorry, Miho.”

The guards gently called her.

Mi-youngi slowly let go.

She looked at Miho one last time.

Then she walked away.

Miho stood there crying.

Han-seok quietly walked over.

He didn't say anything.

He simply hugged Miho.

Miho cried against his shoulder.

Han-seok: “It's okay.”

He gently held her.

Han-seok: “Let it out.”

Miho slowly calmed down.

Han-seok smiled softly.

Han-seok: “You don't have to be strong all the time.”

Miho wiped her tears.

Seo-jun stood beside them, silently watching the prison vehicle disappear into the distance.

For a long moment, none of them spoke.

Then Miho looked at the sky.

Miho: “I just wish things had been different.”

Han-seok gently squeezed her shoulder.

Han-seok: “Maybe they can be from now on.”

Miho nodded.

They turned and walked away together.

Soo-ah would never come back.

Mi-youngi's choices could never be undone.

But the truth was finally known.

And the three friends knew they had to keep moving forward.

The End.