“gunwoo…” you tried to muster up the courage to look him in the eyes, his beautiful innocent eyes. he didn’t deserve what was about to happen. he was always so good to you. yet here you were, away to break his poor soft heart.

you took a deep breath in before finally looking him in the eyes and speaking up, “this isn’t gonna work..”

his confused expression deepened at your statement, not being entirely sure what you were meaning, “what are you talking about?” he titled his head.

“we need to break up..” your voice went quiet, you were unable to keep the sadness down and boxed up inside you.

gunwoo’s eyes widened in shock, this was the last thing he’d expected to hear from you, especially when things seemed to be going so well between you two. “w-what? why? did i do something wrong?” his mind instantly going to everything he’d ever said to you or done, trying to figure out what pushed you to this decision.

gunwoo was sadly the type of person to blame himself for the smallest things and dwell on the feeling, mostly alone. you knew that too well, that’s why it broke your heart to see his mind going there this very moment.

you shook your head, tears forming in your eyes. you could physically feel your heart ripping in half and aching so badly for the kind hearted sweet boy that stood in front of you, getting soaked in the pouring rain just for you to simply dump him after all that you two have been through. good and bad.

“then.. why?” he looked at you with those puppy eyes that always melted your heart, which totally wasn’t helping you right now.

you wiped a stray tear from your cheek, “my parents don’t agree with your.. violent lifestyle.” you sniffled, you sadly weren’t lying about that, your parents pretty much despised gunwoo for putting you in even the slightest danger, as if he didn’t do everything in his power to protect you. “they say that if i don’t break up with you, they’ll disown me..”

“i’m so sorry gunwoo.. i can’t afford them cutting me out..” your voice quivering as you held in your tears, you didn’t want to completely break down in front of him.

gunwoo didn’t know what to say, he wanted to fight for you, after all he had a heart of a boxer, a fighter that never gives up.

but another part of him knew that you loved your family with everything you had, and that nothing should come between you and them.

not even him. despite how much he loved you.

he was going to let you go, as that’s what he believed would be the right thing to do. because as the saying goes, if you love someone – let them go.

his sad puppy eyes welled up with tears, throat clenching in a way it felt like barbed wire was restraining him from speaking. he couldn’t contain his sadness, he was always an open book when it came to you, always felt safe enough to let himself be vulnerable.

but he somewhat agreed with your parents, he did put you in harms way multiple times whilst dating you, whether it was intentional or not, you did get hurt and he will never forgive himself for that, so maybe it was better that way.

he simply nodded, looking down at the ground. vision blurry from the tears. “i understand.” gunwoo’s voice raspy and quiet.

“i wish there was another way gunwoo, but i-” you shook your head, feeling so guilty, you couldn’t stand hurting him like this. your first instinct was to over-explain yourself.

“it’s okay.. you don’t have to-” he wiped his tears with his sleeve, “-you don’t have to explain. family comes first.”

“y/n, dad says to hurry it up.” you heard your sister yell from the cracked open car door, your father not having the balls to tell you that himself. the black hyundai parked on the other side of the street, of course your parents would be watching over you nonstop now.

you gave her a nod before turning back to gunwoo, “if it were up to me, this wouldn’t be happening..” you met his sad gaze before you pulled him into a hug.

a tight hug that said goodbye.

“i will always love you gunwoo... please take care of yourself, woojin and ms. kim. okay?” you spoke softly, your words slightly muffled by his soaked hoodie. but he heard everything.

“mm.” he gave you a soft nod, his face buried in your soft wet hair that smelt of your fruity shampoo.

your father honked the car horn, impatient bastard.

“i love you.” gunwoo whispered into your hair before pulling away and letting you go. he noticed the tears marking your cheeks, this was as equally hard for you as for him.

“hey, it’s okay.” he wiped your tears with his thumbs. “everything will be okay. i promise.” he tried to assure you, forcing a weak smile despite the tears forming in his eyes.

you sniffled, nodding your head softly.

“come on now, they’re waiting for you.” gunwoo tilted his head to your family’s car. he didn’t want them more mad than they already were.

you stepped off the curb, letting go of his hand, for the last time.

running to the other side of the road where the car was parked and got inside it – leaving him under that damn cherry blossom tree in the heavy spring rain, with a broken heart and tears staining his cheeks.

© cradle2thegrave | all rights reserved.