Vicious Spirits - Kat Cho Page 0,115

her hair, “I also trust you. And I know I can trust that if you do go, you’ll always come back someday.”

Somin pulled back in confusion. “I never said I wanted to go anywhere.”

“I’m your best friend,” Jihoon said. “You don’t think I can tell you want to leave this place as soon as we graduate?”

“Not forever,” Somin said quickly, like she had to defend this secret dream of hers.

“I know.” Jihoon nodded reassuringly. “And I think you should tell your mother.”

“It’s not the right time.” She could feel nervous flutters in her stomach at just the thought.

“If you keep putting it off, then you’ll never tell her.”

“What if she gets upset?”

“You’ve had fights with your mother before,” Jihoon said.

“I just don’t know how to leave her,” Somin said. “What if I leave and then something happens to her?”

“What if you stay and you start to resent her?” Jihoon asked.

Somin pouted because she couldn’t argue against that logic.

“Talk to her,” Jihoon said. “Don’t have regrets.”

“When did you become so bossy?” Somin asked. “I don’t think I like it.”

Jihoon laughed. “I love you, Lee Somin.”

“I know,” Somin said.

“You’re supposed to say it back.” Jihoon batted his lashes.

“No, I don’t want to because you’re being so ridiculous.”

“And you love me for it,” Jihoon said with a wink.

“Yeah.” Somin sighed. “I guess I do love you.”

67

JUNU STARED AT the packing boxes. They’d been delivered ahead of the movers arriving tomorrow. Maybe he should reschedule. He wanted to make sure that the more delicate things in his apartment were prepped for transport. No, that was just a delay tactic. He’d decided to leave, and he would.

He knew leaving would hurt Somin, but it was better this way. She didn’t belong in his world. He’d always known this. She could have died on that mountain because she wasn’t able to let him go and he’d never have forgiven himself. Because he loved her, he had to let her go. And maybe one day she’d realize it was for the best. Or she wouldn’t and she’d hate him the rest of her life. Maybe that was for the best, too.

Miyoung stepped into the foyer, then stopped short at the sight of the boxes.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“I’m going to start a bowling league,” Junu said. “What does it look like? I’m moving.”

“Moving?” Miyoung asked, frowning. “Why?”

“I just feel like it’s time. I think I’ve stayed way too long here. But don’t worry. I own this building. You can stay as long as you want.”

“Oooh,” Miyoung said with a knowing nod. “I get it. You’re running.”

“What?” Junu said, taken aback. And surprised by the smile that spread on Miyoung’s face. “I am not,” he insisted. But his heart raced like he was caught doing something wrong. “This is just my thing. I go somewhere, hang around until I get bored, and leave.”

“Except you’re not bored this time. You’re scared.” Miyoung shrugged as she took a pair of shoes from the shoe cabinet.

“Don’t you have school?” Junu scowled.

“It’s Sunday,” Miyoung said.

“Shouldn’t you be killing yourself studying for the suneung exam, then? You’re fully human now, why don’t you act like it?”

“You just don’t want me here pointing out that you’re scared.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Junu said. But he couldn’t think of a way to convince Miyoung she was wrong. She just was. There was nothing else to it.

“I recognize exactly what you’re doing because it’s what I used to do for the first eighteen years of my life. Run away from my problems. Or let someone else clean them up for me. But you forget, I once literally left the country and my problems stayed with me. It doesn’t matter where you are when your problems exist in here.” Miyoung pointed to her head.

“I’m not . . . I mean, that’s just not . . . What would I be running from?”

“From the looks of it, you’re running from what you want because of what you think you deserve.”

Junu frowned at that. “You’re not making any sense.”

Miyoung leaned forward so her face was lined up with Junu’s, then enunciated each word. “You have feelings for people here, so you are running away because you think you deserve to be alone.”

“What?” Junu practically shouted, jerking away from her. “That’s ridiculous!”

“No, it’s not. You care about Changwan. You can’t deny that.”

Junu shrugged. “Maybe. But he’ll be fine without me.”

“Sure,” Miyoung agreed. “He’ll probably be okay.”

That stung, Miyoung’s easy acceptance that Changwan didn’t need him. Wait, that’s what