A Deal To Stay

WAY TO MY LIFE

A journey that started long ago is finally coming to an end. I do not know how to express my happiness, but I couldn't stop smiling if I tried. I must have looked ridiculous, because even the couple sitting across from me in the train compartment noticed right away. Even a couple in my train compartment could tell how I felt.

They were both recently retired army officers from the same batch. They even shared their own relationship story with me to offer some advice.

They had served the country together and had been there for each other their entire lives. However, busy schedules and different shift timings had led to a distant life, even though they lived in the same apartment.

They could only eat together once or twice a month, but they were always respectful and responsible toward their roles and duties in the marriage. Now that they were retired, they were always together, living happily and going on regular vacations.

They were traveling to the wedding of a relative's child. Their only son was already married and lived in their house with his wife and children; they were in the next compartment.

When I told them about my journey to see her, they blessed me. They told me never to let her go and to always care for her feelings and emotions. They even gave me a pair of brooches for her and me. They were custom-made for newlyweds and were quite eye-catching.

As they were getting off the train, they said, "Most people only read about this kind of love in books. You are living it. Just go for it-own it!"

It really boosted my confidence, and I am heading toward you more every second.

Wondering how you will react when you see me makes me quite scared. If you were to ask me why I made you wait all these years, I would be shaken. I fear I would not be able to stop myself from shattering in front of you. I really don't want you to see me like that.

MET BUT STILL DISTANT

I am standing here in front of her door. This place is nothing less than a luxury villa, but it still feels familiar because I can feel your presence here. This beautiful garden carries your aroma amidst the scent of the flowers.

Alas, you are not her, so I lied to your housekeeper, telling him I was here for a business deal, and he let me wait inside. The whole house gives me hints that it was truly you who designed it. In your room, I could sense that things were arranged exactly the way I would like to see them.

No wonder you never forgot me. But now, it is hard for me to wait for you to live your life with me. I went back to the hall.

The second I saw her, I froze. Everything just came rushing back, and I fell for her all over again. Before this, I had heard her mother mention how happy she was that her daughter agreed to the engagement with the boy standing next to her.

I felt like something broke inside my body from the pain, though there was no physical sign of harm. When they saw me, they asked why I was there.

My eyes filled with tears upon meeting her, but seeing her happily getting married, I did not want to ruin her contentment.

So, I asked her to talk in private. Having her with me in the study, I wanted to embrace her in my arms and never let her go, but I knew I was the one who had left her back then. I no longer had the right to stop her.

Instead, I told her that I wanted to form a business partnership by merging her Taekwondo academy with the arts academy I had run during all the years I was caged there. To stay close to her, I even offered to fund her company with the foreign supply and support she had been longing for.

She was pleased with the offer but asked why I was doing this. I replied that I simply liked how much she did for her students and wanted to do the same. She agreed, and I asked my manager to get the agreement papers ready.

I also asked her if I could stay at her home, using the excuse that I was new to the area, it was a busy month, and the local hotels were fully booked. I mentioned that my own house still had some renovation work left, so perhaps she would let me stay for a week until the paperwork was finalized.

She looked at me intently for a second but then allowed me to stay in the guest room. She showed me the room and let me settle in. Then, playing a bit cute, I asked if she could get me something to eat.

When her mother saw me, she also asked her to prepare something for me, so she went to the kitchen. Her mother thanked me because she had been longing for a foreign business deal for a long time, and I had just handed it to her.

In truth, when I visited her room earlier, I had read about her need for that deal. It was the perfect excuse to stay near her. I do not know why she is ready to marry that man, but I will try my best to make sure she changes her mind.

Then, a helper brought out my food. Eating it really made me feel the warmth of a home cooked meal and a family after all these years. Soon after, my manager arrived. I explained the task to him, told him to draft the contract, and instructed him to oversee the remaining work on my nearby villa.

At night, her mother came and invited me to join them at the dining table for meals for the duration of my stay. When I went down, I saw her sitting with a man named Enzo. I have no idea what she's doing with this Enzo guy. He's scrawny and can't seem to keep his hands to himself. I literally clenched my jaw when he grabbed her hand to lead her over to the table.

Her mother served us both a beef dish. A battle with our chopsticks started at the very first bite, but then she gave me another piece, and Galassia stopped us from quarreling at the table.

After Enzo left, Galassia's father suddenly asked about my family. I told him about the accident and explained that I am completely alone. He mentioned that I reminded him of someone he used to know, and then he went to bed.

I don't know why, but I feel like Galassia's cheerful behavior is just a facade for the outside world. I no longer feel the connection we used to share back then.