Childhood Friend of the Youngest Daughter of a Conglomerate Family - Childhood Friend of the Youngest Daughter of a Conglomerate Family chapter 58

58 – Let go

“Ah, sorry, but from here on, it is Daehan Group’s private property. “You cannot climb this mountain without permission.”

The security guard blocked my path and said, Perhaps because it is the descendant of a wealthy family, this mountain is always guarded like this.

I handed him the permit. It was originally given only to the Daehan Group family, but Jaejun Yoo prepared it especially for me.

Usually, when I come here, I come with Jaejun Yoo or Ara, so I don’t have to use this permit, but today, since I was alone, I ended up using this permit for the first time.

The security guard looked at me a little suspiciously, but since the permit was genuine, he had no choice but to let me in. He nodded and gave way.

“Yes, confirmed.”

“Thank you.”

The mountains were very green, perhaps because it was the time when spring was transitioning from spring to summer. On the way up the mountain, you can see squirrels, birds chirping, and other beautiful natural scenery.

But even those things could not ease the burden of my heavy heart.

When I climbed up to the halfway point of Seonsan Mountain, I could see Han Seung-ah’s grave in the distance.

Her grave was quite far away from the other graves. I haven’t heard the exact circumstances, but I guess… There must have been some influence from humans who did not acknowledge her.

Well, it doesn’t matter. Although she is lonely now, Yoo Jae-jun will stay by her side later, and as time passes, her children will also join her.

“… “But there is no place for me here.”

From Noble mtl dot com

I cannot be buried in this mountain.

No matter how much we were like family to her, and even if she thought of me as her son, I am technically an outsider to her.

And I also have no regrets about being in that position.

If you die anyway, everything is meaningless.

No matter how much we commemorate or talk, nothing is conveyed to the dead person.

Everything is just self-satisfaction.

It’s just self-satisfaction, but… It is also something that is truly necessary for the living.

I stood in front of her tombstone and spoke the words I had prepared.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come to last year’s anniversary. I made an excuse about taking the college entrance exam, but the truth was I was just reluctant to see Ara. She said Ara hurt me again. “It really hurt at that time.”

“…… “

Of course there was no answer. Although there was no one, I really felt as if Han Seung-ah was quietly listening to the story in front of me.

“… Sorry. I’m complaining to myself for no reason. “First of all, I have to say hello.”

I placed my left hand on top of my right and raised it to eye level.

And then he knelt on the ground first with his right leg and then his left leg.

In that state, he placed his folded hands on the floor and lowered his head.

“Thank you, for saving me that day. Thank you for accepting me as your son.”

Thanks to Han Seung-ah saving me that day, I was able to live a human life for the first time.

I learned what family is, I was able to go to school, and there were many people I loved and who loved me.

But I couldn’t repay her for her kindness. Because before that, she had become a person forever.

So, I tried really hard to keep my promise to her. I tried to protect Ara.

“… But did you really want me to have this hard time? “Do you expect us to keep that promise even though you know we’re so broken?”

That’s not true. Han Seung-ah, who died in the first place, wouldn’t even know what kind of situation I was in.

Keeping a promise with the dead is ultimately just for one’s own satisfaction.

What restrains it is not the dead, but oneself.

“I am your son too. If I get sick from keeping my promise to you, then how should I protect myself? “But your daughter comes first?”

No one can tell you the answer to that.

And I have already found the answer to that.

This thing I’m doing now is just a ritual.

“… Don’t you think so? Even if your wife was alive, she probably would have told you to do this, right?”

After spewing out wild speculations, I stood up.

Today, I broke a long-standing promise that no one could force to fulfill.

———-

Ara received Hansol’s message the day after Hansol fully recovered.

「Are you free this Sunday? “There are some places I want to go together.”

“Uh… ?”

Ara was taken aback by the unexpected recommendation.

I thought she wouldn’t even listen to my story. She somehow thought she would have to beg and hang on for her to be with him.

But unexpectedly, her Hansol asked to meet her first.

Ara quickly responded as he was about to change his mind.

「Yes, it’s okay! When is the weekend? Where should I see it?”

Ara felt good. Obviously, Hansol’s intention wasn’t to ask her out on a date, but he was still happy that he could meet and talk with him.

Less than a minute after Ara sent her message, she received a reply from Hansol.

「See you in front of Deutdeumcho at 3 PM.」

“… “Dreutcho?”

Why at their alma mater?

It was a little surprising, but Ara was in no position to hide such a thing right now.

After immediately sending him a reply saying she knew, she began to choose in advance what she would wear that day.

Because I have to look at least a little prettier to Hansol. Because she has to change his mind again.

———-

Sunday 14:40. Ara arrived 20 minutes earlier than her scheduled time, but Hansol was already waiting in front of the door of Deum Elementary School.

I wanted to come first and wait to get a good look…

As soon as she saw him from a distance, Ara ran over to him and quickly apologized to him even though she was breathing heavily.

“I’m sorry… Sol… “Did you wait long?”

“Why did you run so hard? Wearing shoes that are so uncomfortable. “Don’t worry, I didn’t wait too long.”

“Huh? Yeah, yeah… ?”

Ara was taken aback by the surprisingly kind voice.

Even after meeting for a long time, I thought he would treat me coldly, but I didn’t expect him to be so kind to me.

Hansol waited leisurely until Ara caught her breath.

Ara asked in a subdued tone, wondering if there was anything wrong with his attitude.

“Oh, how am I today…” ? I was worried that Sol was meeting you outside after a long time… “

“… Pretty. You were always pretty. “Ara, you have never been unpretty to me.”

Ara was thrilled to see Hansol praising her with a faint smile.

How long has it been since he smiled? How long has it been since he told you that you were pretty?

Ara had no idea what Hansol was thinking behind that smile.

“It’s been a long time here, hasn’t it? Prickly pear. This is the last school you and I went to together. I remember?”

“Yes! Of course I don’t remember…. “I had the most fun when Sol went to elementary school with you.”

It has to be that way.

At that time, Han Seung-ah was also alive, and she was on the best terms with Han Sol.

It was a time when there were no worries and we were always together with our loved ones.

“You know, remember? When we were in fourth grade, girls suddenly started celebrating Valentine’s Day. So, I went to the kitchen and prepared seven boxes of chocolate to tell Sol to make the chocolate himself… “

“That’s right. “Your wife will scold you.”

“But even then, Sol forced you to eat the burned-out chocolate I made… “I was very happy.”

“… I was glad that you were willing to take care of that for me. Ah, you were always the first to take care of me. So the boss is always jealous because of that… “

“hehehehe, that’s right… “

Hansol and Ara sat on a bench in the elementary school playground and talked about old times for a while.

A story about how in third grade, Ara said she wanted to try Pikachu pork cutlet, so the two of them secretly got off the school bus in the middle of the school bus and became lost.

The story is that when she was in the fourth grade, Ara got into a fist fight for the first time in her life because she was angry at her classmates who were teasing her after finding out that Hansol had no parents.

The story of how the two secretly raised a raccoon that suddenly invaded their school, etc…

Ara was laughing with Hansol and talking about her happy days.

It was so dazzling to see a brightly smiling face after a long time.

“It would have been better if we had gone to middle school or high school together. Then there would have been many better memories… Right?”

“Uh, yes… That’s right… “

Ara answered while shrinking without realizing it.

Since she was in elementary school, Ara deliberately chose a different school from Hansol.

Hansol comforted her after seeing her like that.

“… Ah, you had a situation too, right? That’s why it was like that. “I’m fine now.”

“Uh… ? “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

As Hansol answered with a bright smile, Ara felt a sense of discomfort for the first time today.

Today I came to explain the matter to him.

She must have been one of the things that really hurt him. Why do you say it so easily?

It’s like… Like someone who has put closure to it.

When I thought about that, his bright smile looked so sad.

I felt something was wrong.

However, Hansol did not give Ara time to think any further, and she stood up and held out her hand to her.

“Ara, there’s another place I want to go, will you go with me?”

“So, Sol… First of all, can we go somewhere and eat something? I have to do something to you… “There are things I need to apologize for.”

“… “Ara, you have nothing to apologize for.”

“So, Sol… ?”

Despite her reluctance, Ara could not shake off the hand that eventually grabbed her own hand.

Ignoring her own opinion, Hansol took her to a certain park.

I don’t remember it well, but it looks familiar.

“… Araya, do you remember this place?”

“…… “

“Well, you’ve only been here once… “I was so young that I might not remember.”

“I’m sorry… “

Ara reflexively apologized.

I was wondering if it was a park I had visited with him once.

I wonder if I missed our memories.

Hansol shook his head, saying she had nothing to apologize for, and took her with him and sat down on the park bench next to her.

An old street lamp stood next to the bench.

“This is the park where we first met.”

“This is…” ?”

“Is there this streetlight? Here I was lying… Ah, you found me.”

“Ah.”

Ara finally remembered.

While walking down the street at night with Han Seung-ah, Ara, who wanted to go into this park, met Hansol for the first time under this streetlight.

I was able to spot him because his shiny platinum-blonde hair stood out.

When I think about it now, it was truly a miraculous meeting.

Hansol tightly held the hand of Ara, who looked at him in surprise.

I was a little surprised, but Ara also held his hand. She held it harder than he held it.

“… Thank you Araya. For discovering me. Thank you for saving me. “If it weren’t for you, I would have lived another horrible life.”

“Again… ?”

Ara didn’t quite understand what it meant to repeat the same life again.

But that wasn’t what was important now.

Hansol’s voice was so sad. It felt like something that wasn’t supposed to come out of his mouth would come out.

“So, Sol… wait for a sec! Just stop for a second! First, I’ll tell you something… “

“Thanks to you, I have a real family. I also went to school. I made a friend too. I have so many people I love… “I learned what it means to truly live like a human being.”

“So, Sol… “

“Everything I have was thanks to you. I am so grateful to you. So I always wanted to be by your side. “I wanted to pay it all back.”

Ara wanted to interrupt him somehow, but Hansol did not give her the chance.

Ara naturally shed tears. She desperately hoped his next words wouldn’t come out.

Hansol released her joined hands and hugged Ara while sitting down.

One of his hands brushed Ara’s hair.

“So I can’t do that, right? This is a topic that I received a lot from you… “I can’t be the first to do that, right?”

“Sol, don’t do it… do not do that… “

What does it mean that you can’t do that? But Ara didn’t bother to ask. She didn’t want to hear it.

But cruelly, Hansol whispered those words in her ear.

“So, Ara. You do it. “Please, let me go first.”

“…… !!”

“I can’t let you go, so please let me go. Let me ask you… “

Ara’s plea was meaningless and the words finally came out of his mouth.

Like Ara’s trembling body, his voice also trembled.

“I, I can’t do it. I hate it Sol… “

“… It’s so hard for me to be with you. “I feel sick just looking at you, Ara.”

“Oh, it hurts… ?”

It hurts just looking at you. It’s hard for someone you love to be with you.

Could there be anything more cruel than this in the world? Could there be anything sadder in the world?

From Noble mtl dot com

“Now I can’t even talk about the good times with you or look at your pretty face. “I keep thinking of you pushing me away, those moments.”

“I’m sorry, Sol. I’m sorry… “

“Araya. I really love you, I love you so much… The more I love you, the more it hurts. “The deeper the feeling, the harder it is to see you.”

“So, Sol… “

Ara could no longer continue her words. The same was true for Hansol.

Hansol carefully let go of Ara in his arms and stood up.

Ara instinctively grabbed his hand. He held on with all his might.

She begged with every fiber of her being not to go and to give her one more chance.

Looking at that pitiful sight, Hansol let out a sad voice.

“… Araya, I’m sick.”

“ㅡㅡㅡ!!”

They say their loved one is sick.

Please let me go.

How could I hurt him any more?

How can I hold him to my desires any longer?

Ara had no choice but to slowly pull his trembling hands away from him.

I had no choice but to let go of Hansol.