Chapter Text
He watched as Eun Yeong-ro was dragged by Nam Tae-il. She's safe. Was his last thought as his vision darkened at the edges and everything became hazy and his eyelids felt too heavy to keep open; just as a final breath was about to leave his lips, the world stopped.
A blinding white light consumed his being and he found himself lifting his hand to block the searing brightness. When he could see again the world had come to a standstill, the soldiers with their guns still pointed at his nearly lifeless body were unmoving. Unblinking with a scowl etched on his face, Nam Tae-il in half a stride with a tear-streaked Yeong-ro. All stopped in time.
Yeong-ro.. he took an angry step in her direction only to get Nam Tae-il's dirty paws off his woman when a seemingly young voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Are you ready to die?"
He turned around to find a young man in his 20s around his age, maybe a few younger but his eyes.. it was the same shade as the woman he loved .. the woman he died for.
"Eun Yeoung-woo." He states as an image of Yeong-ro embracing the said man comes to his mind.
"Ah yes.." the man said thoughtfully; "So, are you ready to die Soo-ho ssi?"
Putting the weirdness of the situation aside, he promptly glances at his bullet ridden body.
"Am I not already dead?" He whispers.
Yeong-woo chuckles, "Not yet, you aren't." His gaze travels the room and lands on his sister, quickly softening. He walks over to her and gently places a hand on her head.
" You love my little sister. " he states, "and yet you wish to leave her behind"
"As long as she's alive and safe- " Soo-ho begins to say.
Yeong-woo just sighed and with a quick wave of his hands, the background faded.
The scene changed into Roma Cafe. Soo-ho could only watch as he saw Yeoung-ro cry inaudibly, sitting alone in their spot clutching the record player with the cassette he had recorded for her; streams of tears running down her rosy cheeks as she listened to his final words, his confession which he never got to say to her face.
"After being brutally interrogated by Nam Tae-il , she was released when the opposition took over. But there was nothing for her when she came out. No friends, no family, no love. "
They watched as Yeong-ro shakily stood and walked out of the cafe, she walked alone in the darkened night and entered a small apartment at the end of the road. She cried herself to sleep holding the cassette to her chest.
" I couldn't protect her from all this pain. My little sister. "
Soo ho's eyes misted as stepped forward to wipe her tears unable to bear to see her swollen eyes when the scene changed again.
This time it was a busy street, everyone was busy in their lives and going about their day with friends, partners, parents; aside from one middle aged Yeong-ro who had a paper plane in her hands; he watched as she flew it as she passed the shop he bought her the very first gift. She walked alone.
" Dont you see? Soo ho ssi, She'll be breathing-" he looks Soo ho in the eye. "- but not living"
The scene changed yet again, to small cozy room, where an elderly woman laid on the bed. Wires and tubes attached to every visible surface. A nurse comes in and gently removes the woman's oxygen mask and instead puts a headphone around her ears and plays a very old and very used cassette.
Soo ho and Yeong-woo watch as the nurse clutches Yeong-ro's hands as she passes away. Alone. In a hospital bed with no one by her side.
By the time the scene changed back to the attic, Soo ho could barely keep his tears at bay.
"Lim Soo ho-" Yeong-woo puts a hand on Soo ho's shoulder shaking under his steady hand. “I don't blame you, You did more than I ever could, but in this moment-" he gestures to the attic around them "she loses everything and everyone that she ever loved. That ever mattered.”
"I know you have gone through a lot too, and I have no right to ask you this” He tears up. “ But as her older brother I have to ask you for this favour."
Meeting his haunted teary eyes..
"Don't let her lose you too."
Brightness engulfed him.
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He was about to climb out the bathroom window when he heard it.. heard her ...
"Soo ho ssi!!!!"
He turned around as the sound of footsteps got closer and then started to recede.
"Comrade Lim Soo ho! what are you doing? Come out right now!" Kang Chang-ya hurriedly whispers.
Soo ho turns around to lift himself up but a strange feeling stops him at the last second. He suddenly feels wrong; his gut was telling him that he has to go to Yeong ro. He looks at Kang Chang ya
"Give me a minute." He says as he turns and runs back.
"Comrade Soo ho!!" She starts to yell but is stopped by Eung Cheol. " Trust him "
She is visibly worried, but they have not come this far to just abandon their comrade at the last minute. Even though he is being foolish in love.
" A minute." She nods to herself. "Just a minute."