Despite being only one year, so many things have changed for both of us... 

Haru was advancing in his life, and on the contrary, my life was leading to a downfall... 

After his breakup, Haru has focused entirely on his work... He changed his companies that he'd been working for three times to get higher positions... and after a while, he found a business partner, and they'd established their own business company, and he became CEO... 

During his days working for his past companies, Haru had established a number of connections with VIP's businessmen and women. This really helped him when he opened his own business. 

Then, he also bought a new car along with a two bedroom apartment somewhere near my house, and moved out of his parents' house in a short time... 

As for his love life, I should say he completely lost his senses. He's just had flings, and one night stands,... He was unable to sustain any meaningful romantic relationships. He seemed to be stuck in a pattern of short-term, superficial relationships like in his old times.

  ~

The day he got his car, he was so excited that he called me right away. As I answered the phone, I could feel his positive mood.

-" Myung!!! Myung!... Where are you?~~..."

+"I'm on my way home in the subway... what's up?!..."

-"I just got my car. I'll pick you up~... let's have dinner together~..."

+"Ahhh~... Congrats, Haru~... I'm a bit tired now, so~..."

-"Don't be a bummer!... Where should I come to get you?..."

+" (sigh)... XX Station, wait for me near XX Street. I'll be there in 10 minutes..."

-"Okayyyyyy~~... See you, Myu Myu~..."

I hung up the phone and smiled unconsciously while staring at my phone's screen. I was happy for him sincerely that he'd been achieving whatever he wanted.

As I got there, a black XX car stopped in front of me, and the window was rolled down. "Get in!..."

I tilted my head and peeked, then got into the car as I saw Haru's face. "Woah!... Nice pick!..." 

He was bursting with enthusiasm, "Right?!!... haha~... "

I chuckled, "Your face is so funny now~... like a child who got his favourite toy~... " He laughed and said, "I'm so happy! Now we can go wherever we want without any trouble ~~... I'm going to treat you to the most delicious dinner you've ever had!"

He turned on the music and raised the volume and drove to the restaurant... 

Since both of us like old songs more, Haru played George Michael's careless whispers and sang along with it loudly, " Tonight the music seems so loud~ I wish that we could lose this crowd~ maybe it's better this way~ we'd hurt each other with the things we want to say~.... Hey, sing with me!... Don't be quiet!..." 

I laughed and sang along with him awkwardly in a low tone, "And I'm never gonna dance again~ Guilty feet have got no rhythm~ Though it's easy to pretend~ I know you're not a fool~"

Then he continued excitedly, "Should've known better than to cheat a friend~And waste a chance that I've been given~ " 

He glanced at me for a few seconds and grasped my hand, "So I'm never gonna dance again~ The way I danced with youuuu~... "

As we were enjoying the moment, we arrived at the restaurant in 20 minutes. When we were seated, I glanced at the menu and whispered, "Hey!... It's so expensive here!..." 

-"It's okay... Just order what you'd like to eat..."

+"But~... The prices give me anxiety~..." 

-"Myung, I'm not that penniless person anymore~... Don't feel burdened..."

I let out a sigh and ordered Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta with salad. Haru ordered steak with a bottle of champagne. 

While we were eating, he cut his steak into small pieces and kept giving me bites. "Haru... Eat yourself~... you're giving me a lot!..." 

- "Watching you enjoy your dinner makes me full~..."

+"You can have from mine, too~... So eat if you don't want to make me uncomfortable~..."

-"Okay... okay~... What have you been up to these days?..." 

I paused for a moment, remembering my problems again. "Just still searching for a job and working part-time."

-"Is there anything I could do to help?..." 

+"I'm doing fine~ Don't worry~..."

I grinned bitterly, trying to hide my feelings since I didn't want to make him upset or worry when he's on his happiest days... 

After dinner, Haru gave me a ride home.

As we got out of the car, I said, "Thanks for dinner... "

-"It's my pleasure~..."

I hesitantly mumbled, "Today, I wasn't feeling well~... But being with you made me feel better~..."

He pulled me into his arms and said, "Let's go on more dates in future~..." 

As I couldn't express myself, I stayed silent. Then Haru continued, "Once my apartment decorating has been completed, I'll invite you there as I want you to be the first person to put your feet there." 

I stepped back and replied, "Don't be creepy!..."

He flicked my forehead and said irritatedly, "How's that creepy?!... As someone who means a lot to me, you should be the first one..." 

I stared at him in daze, "Ehhh~... Fine... Let me know then... take care on your way!... I'm leaving now..." I turned around and walked away as I waved my hand for him... 

   ~

As days passed by, I kept getting rejected everywhere I tried to apply... some said I didn't have enough experience... some said I was too old even though I was just 25... some said they didn't like my grades and university... 

I hated office jobs in the first place, and I know I don't have the talent to work there or communicate with people... 

The only reason I tried to get into one of them was because of my parents' wish... 

But we all know that sometimes simply trying isn't enough to achieve something... 

I was deeply burned out...

I felt useless...

I reached the point that there wasn't any excitement or happiness left in my heart... 

I'm tired of running nonstop when I can't get anywhere...

Tired of hearing my parents' voices whenever they had a fight... 

Tired of seeing others move forward while I'm the only one who is stuck at rock bottom... 

Tired of people asking when I'll get a job? When will I get a girlfriend? Why don't I study more? 

How come I'm still unemployed?

Tired of my dad repeatedly criticizing me for not being able to find a proper job... 

I started to isolate myself from the world... distanced myself from my friends and acquaintances... 

I locked myself in my dark room to find peace... 

I was lonely... and desperate...

I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or what I truly wanted... 

The high level of stress, thinking about the future, was suffocating me... 

That was the time Haru reached out his hand to me... 

When I was my darkest self...

He offered to let him help me... 

 ~

It was the day my cell phone's screen shattered accidentally in the morning while I was running to the bus. I hit someone accidentally, and my phone dropped on the floor. When I reached my hand to pick it up, someone stepped on it as he was running to catch on the bus too. Although I called that person a few times, he got on the bus and left. I crouched down and stared at the wrecked phone on the floor, "It couldn't be worse than this!... I don't even have enough money to repair it... "... 

After my shift was done, I got out of the café and noticed Haru was staying out there for me...

He approached me and asked, "Why haven't you answered your phone?... I was worried..."

+"My phone is broken... Why are you here?..." 

-"What?!... I want us to have dinner together and then take you to my place~..."

+"Can we do it another day?... I'm exhausted..."

I was staring at the floor the whole time. I couldn't lift my head and look into his eyes. I wasn't in the mood to do anything at that moment.

-"Myung~... "

As I heard his soft voice calling my name, it seemed that he was disheartened. So I said, "Let's go~..." 

After dinner, we took a stroll in the park beside the river before visiting his place and then sat down on a bench to take a break. That was when He asked me why I was down lately and how my phone got broken today, and as soon as I heard that, a tear rolled down my cheeks... 

I suppressed my feelings for years... and I hadn't shed a tear till then... 

But suddenly, I was overwhelmed by feelings I tried to bottle up... 

I cried so much that I couldn't even say a word... 

He stood up in front of me and hugged me tightly... when I became a bit calmer, he kneeled down in front of me and took my hands. 

As soon as Haru realized how desperate I was, he said, "You shouldn't always handle all of these hard things alone. You can lean on me... Let me help you, Myung... "... that's what he said when he discovered how desperate I was. 

My tears kept falling off on our hands while our eyes locked on each other... 

" Don't cry, your tears are breaking my heart... everything will be okay... I'm gonna fix it... trust me..." he said, and then caressed my face with his right hand to wipe my tears... 

In the meantime, he kissed the back of my hand... 

He kept repeating, "it'll be okay... My Myung...  Don't cry... you're not alone... you have me... "... 

I don't know why, but his words made me cry even louder... He embraced me and patted my back. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of comfort and security. I felt like I wasn't alone in this world, that I had someone to lean on and rely on. That night, for the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of hope.

 ~

I've always believed that I should solve my problems on my own... I shouldn't rely on others... 

I didn't like to get help from others... 

Maybe it's because of my pride...

It may have been due to my lack of trust in others... 

Or possibly it's because I don't want to be a burden on others... 

By the way, when you're at your lowest, your beliefs will turn into a void as soon as you see a little light. You want to hold it so tight to save yourself from darkness... You won't care about anything anymore... 

The only thing you know is to get out of there...

So that's how I decided to follow his lead... 

  ~

Afterwards, we went to Haru's place as my sobbing finished. He put his arm around my shoulder and showed me around. Haru's apartment was cozy and inviting. The living room wasn't that big, but it was a normal size, with a large beige couch, a natural wood coffee table, and a TV. The kitchen was well-equipped with modern appliances. One of the rooms was the master bedroom, which has a king-sized bed and closets with a private bathroom. And the other room was his office with a desk and bookshelves.

As we sat down on the couch with cups of tea to drink, I said in a remorse tone, "Sorry~... I ruined today's mood..." 

Haru placed his hand on mine and said, "Don't be stupid!... You've never shown your feelings or shared your problems, so I feel grateful that you finally did it!... "

I smiled bittersweetly, "It's a nice place, by the way... you've had a hard time living with your parents." 

-"Yeah~... also we can be alone here without bothering~... staying up late night~... Do whatever we want~..." 

+"haha~... Do you remember that when we were teenagers, I stayed at your house that time, suddenly we got hungry and decided to eat at 3 AM, so we brought your mom's air fryer into your room with chopped potatoes and sausages without waking them up?!... I was so scared then!..."

-"Pfttt~... I do!!!... We even took her electric kettle to make some tea!!!... Then she found out tomorrow morning and scolded me for a whole week!... hahaha~... " 

We laughed and talked that night about our memories for a while, and my heart felt lighter than before.