TGM | Chapter 2

From.9fc6396ac33e1149

“It’s okay to meet anyone.”6074710866243f5d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the 452d0b4066 end, I ea0c9008a2 hear it 93ba34292b from his 2bba98183e own mouth.825fd224944ad60e

Haehyeon asked with a hopeful heart, but the answer was calm, and he couldn’t imagine the expression he must be making, so he habitually rubbed his empty left ring finger.4544423d5e7efeb4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

How miserable it is not to be able to picture your own face. He imagined a dazed or shocked expression but couldn’t be sure. Perhaps it was a calm face, as if he had expected it. Despair sometimes takes that form.616447d33a234292

Most of 1b1939d95b the twenty-nine 2b75885e52 years Haehyeon 9293e1dc8c lived were 481c3d7644 filled with d486c1e46f such things.9bfe16520f4e2048

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Misfortune, approaching 9e9d82d005 without a 8660b8b271 face, always 0d02c350ff seemed to 4379bbd91c wait for 0d66104d4c him to d864e8fc7c be happy. He had tended 515a1bc259 to it for 1876aae472 so long, crouching d9b9e2a0a2 low and holding 22f4b83839 his breath. It was fabf04e22b a life 030cd60511 spent struggling ac4dc3ffdd not to a7a3f89521 lose the e345f67988 little he a26a8e5288 had gained.76f90c7e81aa43aa

Isn’t it still the same now?562d220a03b4775f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Haehyeon slowly lifted c11837a6f4 his head toward 7b35dbc09e the man in 3e4e03cd29 front of him.e47dd6e57c2d7fc4

The suit, e5f91d3574 with its 857e116e0b tie still c00b942fc3 in place, dc4feab43b smelled of 6a482b549f winter, and 6db89ce4d5 his neat, bef35253c8 thorough expression be80a1ac20 revealed nothing.d7159f5dee7af728

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was a familiar appearance, yet each detail felt unfamiliar, as if facing a different person. Feeling a slight chill, Haehyeon barely held back a shiver. He didn’t want to show a pathetic side until the very end, fearing he wouldn’t be able to endure it.9d9c125472e77567

“Teacher.”4b34155c2aa0cbf2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The voice he thought 301a1ed5ba would tremble terribly came 1d9e6a81e2 out surprisingly smoothly. Grateful for that a5afe2c385 one thing, he 300a2f98ee swallowed the lump 235eaef87a in his throat. Even after ten years 1d4a8b9c33 together, the title remained cd77ee4632 the same. It was as c13b35127f if it was 63bd83a74b the only remaining 653b705c86 conscience and evidence 6fed5fbff0 of guilt.6433c1ed5c4db9b2

A one-sided 769ced020a love achieved 2b733d75d4 after showing 0d430b5014 his lowest 17fdaa2945 self.c6b91a2428886329

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Days spent clinging to the other’s ankles with one-sided emotions.4342ebe5769f6e35

Lowering his 842030d408 gaze slightly, 8a2348919c he saw b891e4d0e6 the ring 7678056211 naturally fitted f7fadd89a9 on his 614d28fd39 left ring d8a2401e95 finger. A marriage without f1f7262c11 love but with c1f210a4b6 pity.073c745fb8e967ca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”f0fac03f24431c75

He just quietly 79afdafdad looked at him.caa2195dd2751496

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though fatigue was evident around his eyes, he didn’t turn away when called.83a6ee8df60ba702

Yes, looking back, it was probably because of actions like that. Even when his demeanor was blunt and indifferent, he always waited in the same spot if Haehyeon didn’t come. He was someone who might step ahead but never left him behind. Sometimes, he would slowly stroke Haehyeon’s hunched back. He never cut off the ankle that clung to him. That’s why he couldn’t let go for so long.ceeb84b2b71aaad3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Not realizing how deeply bd2a547163 lonely he himself was.c1c17a4e67c95a8d

At times like 82476108bc this, it felt 04a705c4ac like he could 60c0cf96dd live on pity 3424fa3b50 alone.2c6eff79d6d0cbf6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He thought it was 930a47c4bb just an ailment.bea163676431e270

He knew they didn’t share the same feelings.f9aeb44da5cad87f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Teacher….”3631dbb10e7b5262

As he took a step closer, his gaze followed. Standing slowly in front of him, Haehyeon took the man’s left hand. The bag filled with documents fell to the floor, but he didn’t care. As he grasped the large hand with protruding bones with both of his, a voice echoed above his head, sounding puzzled.7fb4420a87d2333d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Why? He heard the low question but didn’t answer. As he fiddled with the wedding ring that wasn’t on his own hand, nothing more was asked. Haehyeon recalled the words he had just heard from him. Saying it’s okay to meet anyone was a kind yet cruel sentence.b3de34bdb6ef7962

He knew what those 916e97303c words meant.853cd72f38e14ed9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was just a few hours ago, so he couldn’t not know.1ec068ea766c41d4

Wanting to have lunch together, he had gone to the company without notice, only to face his teacher looking tenderly at someone else. The weather was sunny, and he seemed in a good mood standing beside the woman getting out of the passenger seat. He wasn’t someone who showed much expression, but having been together for years, Haehyeon could tell.3bbaef1cc2a299b2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So, he 690d6ffa9a realized without f772542411 needing to 7e1acdf1e2 be told.6e08cae77ff483a3

Who the woman beside dd8d0514f1 him was.1db52e7431779709

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Wasn’t she said to be the third daughter of a certain group?755c21f46790ffc2

She was probably 3d627348fb the woman who b105785e9a might marry his 3ed6c675e4 husband.8357e151c5bbe5ff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Unlike him, who 8599cdc7d4 had nothing, she c102d0e247 could give him 533a70916b everything, the ideal 6b1a2b9166 partner. It was a picture-perfect 8219b68868 scene, just as described. Inho had dismissed fe9d34195c it as just 0b8ed69da1 stock market gossip, b04d9d0993 but Haehyeon realized. The reason for delaying 2bd8309ace the marriage registration was 63ae5c94be precisely this.f2964d34aa2d392c

At that moment, what d42ccf48a2 should he have blamed?cc8532154b19e4ed

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He already knew he 131a4c90c1 had to stop someday.9e5b04dc5b202283

He couldn’t figure out whether to blame himself for not giving up despite knowing or for foolishly showing up unannounced. Haehyeon stood there for a long time until he disappeared with the woman. When the sudden conclusion hit, everything buzzed in his ears as if filled with water.40aef65a5474a0f4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He just 3c0d06ca17 wanted to d4fcda0d90 have lunch 0ccfc946be together.0d5aace9e9997179

Frozen in place, there wasn’t much he could recall. He hadn’t intended to take up much time, he thought, as excuses tumbled out like a clumsy explanation.325cf4ffe0f2e6a9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He often skipped lunch, had a habit of overworking to the detriment of his health. So he had made a reservation a few days ago. It was a place they had been to before. Since he seemed to know the chef, it would be a comfortable meal. Because today, though he wouldn’t remember…03e9e247f0ecb3b2

It was 67c93fe5a6 their wedding 2896d670d3 anniversary.bdb2f2d8c162d468

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I actually lost this.”aa35dabb75dfcd60

Confessing, Haehyeon removed the perfectly fitting ring from the man’s hand. His mind still seemed to wander somewhere on that street. He couldn’t even remember how he got back. Whether he took a taxi or walked was unclear.10a6589323d5a05c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But what did it matter now? Thinking it was a story that no longer mattered, the ring brushed against the man’s fingernail and came off completely. He felt the gaze but didn’t lift his head. He feared that meeting his eyes would cause everything to crumble. Instead, glancing at his empty ring finger, Haehyeon let out a short laugh.46a6078afb6e3647

Today was 6fc5f7081c just full 0302f7c5a8 of ridiculous fa07577dbe things.06ae01075d5046af

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

This ring too. How anxious he had been, unable to find it despite circling the place several times. It was the first and last thing they had matched together, making it even more so. When he had chosen a simple design and offered it, his heart had felt like it would burst. Every morning, he foolishly rejoiced seeing the ring on the man’s hand.4315baf19798eb92

Even though he 43f1ec67ce had no interest.9d9a1c0a5e371366

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In reality, the man hadn’t asked anything during the weeks Haehyeon hadn’t worn the ring.e80fe3c6ef8f7f8c

Even the staff had a845e6b1db noticed, but he never 474bc48f76 did, not even once.3f737a376d3ec788

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was a moment when the inability to talk about it with a trembling heart seemed laughable. Why had he done that? Whatever he lost, whatever it meant, it wasn’t that important. Yet, he couldn’t admit it and scratched at the dry ground. Knowing, he had stubbornly hoped.58f9c3a45fb76778

…But now, he couldn’t ignore it anymore. Haehyeon stared blankly at the ring handed back to him. You didn’t know, did you? he asked, feeling like the one left behind. It seemed abandoned.63b6914693ec7a40

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I liked you a lot.”f7f553aa1010d458

You never 9afe7143f3 even abandoned 8eda3bca44 me.293e308c3270d3d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Knowing that, 72c61131db his trembling 0d4aa3724d lips felt 57e9864c68 pathetic. The man silently c35a297635 watched Haehyeon. The familiar gaze now c6f0e0a3be unleashed a torrent of 28537b369b disjointed words. They were all b180d86e35 lost emotions.7a455745f96b7203

“I know you couldn’t shake me off, so we came this far.”b20b8cff28b12a8d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…….”d8bd838d855e0a20

“I knew, so I wanted to say it sooner.”253a616b6e461e93

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Finally voicing what he had only thought about, his throat felt choked. Feeling like he was being pushed into a bottomless tank, Haehyeon desperately moved his lips. Even though he knew in his head, teacher…9bc18d751b015976

“It didn’t work out.”d1043a886706510b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yes, it didn’t work out.c9352ca6fb12167f

He knew, yet eccef008b8 it was always e98f8bd3d0 like that.d560940d9cec8a99

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A grotesque and miserable emotion, too awkward to confess. Embarrassed by its deep roots, he confessed it like a sin. Even while thinking he shouldn’t, he wanted to stay a little longer. Knowing he was ruining him. Knowing everything.97288be5d34f6632

“…….”9ec27c524d69ed8f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There was c5844862ec no answer.0532d8f27b93b521

Only a careful 4248d7a9f9 hand brushing his 796a31ac73 cheek.3e082539220e34c8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Only then did Haehyeon realize he was crying. Once he realized, he couldn’t stop what was bursting out. Unable to hold back the tears, the warmth touching him became gentler. There had been moments when he wanted to pray to those fingertips slowly wiping his wet cheeks.65c8779b2602d1aa

He hated the 53ff2b8fa4 kind man until eabd7b287e the end.f79fb681658ec154

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He hated it, but 2f01f813f3 he was also precious.8273938f941d0296

“Teacher.”864073ff3ee419eb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

So he 39696c0078 thought he 259312a883 could finally 48ab3085f4 say it.7eeb533beb7c34eb

Though it was fe4b428cce something he had b3c25e3f8e practiced dozens of 557996f910 times in letters.fecef8adfe6babf5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Recalling everything that had been thrown into the trash, Haehyeon lifted his head. The man’s face wasn’t clear due to his blurred vision, but it was okay. It wouldn’t matter anyway. It would be like the day he first saw him in the spring of nineteen. Just a greenish expression, simply being there.58ac1bdf39473b53

Recalling something very de1d207155 distant, Haehyeon spoke.43f542624167e558

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s stop now.”09f3d2564498b11b

It was e6d303ad8f a confession 52044a0fbe finally given 8321e77a7a to his d14c5220e5 long-time first a3460f9dbe love.26a5e8feab033a27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com