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"For you, I was just a chapter. For me… you were the whole book."
I once read a line in a book written by a wise man. It said:
"When walking out the door to the gate of your freedom, leave the past, the bitterness, and hatred behind. If not, you'll wallow in pain and self-destruction, and you'll remain in the dark forever."
I laughed when I read it. It made sense. It really did.
I tried—I truly tried—to leave behind the walls of my past, the echoing memories that clung to every corner of my soul. But no matter how far I walked, it followed. I couldn't erase it. The past shaped me, twisted me, and in some strange way, it gave me strength. It gave me reason to keep going.
"Who would believe that I'm the villain in my own story?" I whispered to myself.
"No, you're not!" Ae-cha screamed inside me.
"They made me one. They turned me into this," I said, laughing bitterly.
The sound of my own voice sent a jolt through my body, like an electric shock. A reminder that I was still here. Still broken.
They call me crazy. Others say I'm cursed.
I think… I'm starting to believe them.
I'm slowly becoming what they say I am—wallowing in pain, drifting deeper into self-destruction, with no one to run to, no one to call my own. I'm unraveling.
"I hate myself," Ae-cha screamed again.
"No… that's not true," I told her, softly.
But nothing about me had changed.
Then his memory returned—like a ghost—lingering in my mind.
His dark eyes, warm and kind, once locked onto mine as he smiled.
"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams, Ae-cha," he said.
I stared at him, confused.
"What dreams? Do I even have any?" I asked, sounding foolish.
Before I could finish, he silenced me with a kiss, then leaned in close and whispered:
"We all have dreams, Ae-cha."
Those words lit a spark in the darkness inside me. For the first time, I saw light in my tunnel. I wasn't alone. I had him.
But now... I walk that road alone again.
He left—taking the light with him.
His final words shattered me:
"You screwed me over. And I believed every word you told me," he shouted.
"I didn't mean to lie to you, Tae," Ae-cha stammered.
"You made me feel like I was always the one at fault. I thought we'd make it out of this—together. That's what we promised, wasn't it? I was wrong, Ae-cha."
"Tae, please, you're making a scene. Let's just step outside. I'll explain everything," I pleaded.
I reached for his hand.
He pushed it away.
"Just trust me. Please. I promise I'll explain."
"How can I trust a liar like you?"
Those words hit harder than any slap.
They tore through me—like a dagger to the heart.
"If you were in my shoes, you would've done the same," I whispered.
"I tried telling you. I know you love me. You didn't mean what you said. You couldn't have..."
Tears welled in my eyes as I fell to the ground.
"Tae, don't make it seem like you were just playing with my feelings. Tell me it wasn't all lies... all just a charade."
He looked away, pained.
"Let's end it here, Ae-cha. From now on… treat me like a stranger. Nothing more."
It felt like a dream. A nightmare I couldn't wake from.
I stood there, shattered. My tears poured like rain.
"Cruel… You're so cruel, Tae. Why are you the one leaving?"
"Why are you doing this to me? What am I supposed to do now?!"
He said nothing.
I forced myself to stand, trembling. I always knew this day would come.
When life gave me roses, it was the thorns that left the deepest scars.
"Fine," I said, wiping the tears from my face.
"You can leave. But before you do… just know, I'll always love you. Maybe I was just a fool to believe we could make it. Never mind."
"Take care of yourself," he murmured.
I turned away. I didn't look back.
I never saw his face one last time.
And when he left… he took the colors with him.
But even in the chaos and pain, someone watched—Lee Chug.
He stood from afar, eyes heavy with something like pity.
And I... I was ashamed to let him see this broken version of me.
To the world, I was a liar. A curse. A girl chasing after a family that never truly accepted me. A shadow of disgrace.
I gave him a present—for Tae. My final goodbye.
And then I left.
I closed that chapter for good.
Even if the world was dark, even if he took the colors with him,
I swore to dream again. To paint my own sky.
Without him.