~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Seunghee's family formally filed a lawsuit of attempted rape against Chanyeol. They had concrete evidences and had taken legal actions to support their cause. But it was found out that Chanyeol was indeed the person with mental disorder and was currently taking medications for this ailment. With much regret and heavy hearts, the Oh family and Jeonghan watched as the accused was acquitted of the crime and was sent to a mental institute instead.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

It was just a few days after the reading of the verdict. It took a month for the case to arrive at an end they did not really favor.

Seunghee and Jeonghan were taking a walk for some fresh air. And somewhere along the way, they ended up at a nearby playground. Sitting on the swings, they talked earnestly.

"I'm glad, at least all is well now," Seunghee uttered.

Jeonghan was smiling. It's been a while since she had this precious smile on her face. It wasn't complete, but at least, she could smile again. After that incident with Chanyeol, it took her several days to have a proper conversation with him. He was so helpless those days. He didn't know if he would be able to help her get over it. She must have been too scared of even hearing that guy's name and he wondered what he really did to her. She only told the police and her family about it. Maybe she didn't want him to know more. Because if he did, he would truly kill that guy himself.

"Hey, I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you once again," Jeonghan said.

"It's alright. Don't blame yourself. None of us knew about it. I'm just glad you came. I'm just glad you're right here."

"Seunghee..."

"But there's something I want to tell you right now."

Her face displayed a very sad expression. Jeonghan quite felt anxious.

"What is it Seunghee?"

She was staring at the ground. She was very glum. It was distressing until she said the words.

"I'm leaving."

It was a shock for Jeonghan. It was something he never predicted.

"What? Where are you going? For how long?"

"For as long as it takes."

"What are you talking about?"

It was chaos for him inside. He was so disarrayed looking at her, Seunghee was staring at him now. She was so hurt. She could see his pain. But she would not be able to do anything about it. It was her decision and tears just fell down her face.

"I'm sorry... I'm really sorry Jeonghan..."

He was broken but he could not bear seeing her hurt too. He calmed her down by caressing her face.

"Don't cry now... It's alright, it's okay Seunghee..."

But she continued to shed her tears for a while. And he tried to console her all the way.

It took sometime till she finally opened up to him again. They sat at one of the park benches by then.

Seunghee began talking, "We talked about things at home. I told them every single thing that happened. From that time with Seungcheol, till recently. It's taken its toll on me, everything that had took place these past few months. And I'm not taking it very well. It has affected me emotionally and in the last event, psychologically. I'm not well Jeonghan. I can't forget about all those things. My only escape is when I'm with you. My moments with you. My time with you. But it's not enough. So we decided. I decided, that I'd stay away from this place for a while."

Jeonghan was very silent listening to her. He was absorbing everything.

"I don't know how long this will take me but this is the best way for me right now. I know it's selfish and unjust for me to ask you this."

She held his hand as he was staring at her.

"But can you wait for me... one last time?"

She was pleading him. She was begging him. She needed him to wait for her. He was the only person in the world that she wanted to be with after she had overcome all these fears. She needed assurance from him, if not, she would not be able to do it, and she was sure. But he had something in mind instead.

"Before I answer that, can I ask you to do one last thing for me?" he said.

"Anything."

"Before you go, will you make love to me?"

She was surprised. He was asking for the very issue she was trying to run away from. She froze that moment.

"You're running away from something you fear. Because those people supposedly forced you into doing it. But if you do it with someone you love, if you do it with me, we might know if all of these are really necessary," Jeonghan continued.

She never thought he would suggest something to insensible. She was scared right? It was the very thing she condemned, she had decided to even leave her hometown. But thinking about it, maybe he was right. She loved him with all her heart. How could she not give him everything? To sum it all up, she was also running away from the very guy she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

"I don't know..."

"If you really need to go after we've done it, I won't ask you to stay and I'll wait for you for as long as takes. But this is the only thing I ask of you Seunghee. Just this one thing."

This time he was the one begging her. "I want to help you. Let's make this work. Cuz I... don't want to be away from you."

Jeonghan was almost teary-eyed looking at her. She felt so lost. She was really self-centered. Did she even consider him? She just made the choice that was befitting her when he was there all along, ready to make sacrifices in order to help her overcome everything.

"I don't want you to go Seunghee. Please, if we can have another option, let's have it."

Seunghee obliged. He was right. She wasn't alone in this. She had him. She had the person to help her erase everything. She had the only person who can make everything right.

"Yes, let's do that. I'm sorry I didn't consider you..." she uttered.

"That's not important now. You have me Seunghee. It was my lack of responsibility that made so suffer like this. So let me make it up to you. I'll make sure you won't be scared anymore. I'll make sure you forget all about them. I'll help you."

"I trust you. Thank you Jeonghan. Thank you."

"Before you thank me, let's try first okay?"

"Okay."

They have decided. It was a mutual choice. Seunghee finally gave him the go. It was the one time that they would risk all odds against the world.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

They went to the Oh residence to inform her parents of their decision. But her dad was against it.

They were at the living room, sitting accordingly across each other. Seunghee and Jeonghan facing her Mom and Dad.

"I won't allow it. Are you asking me to allow my daughter to live with you despite not having wed? At this young age? That's outrageous!" her dad said.

"I'll take full responsibility for her no matter what happens sir. I love your daughter very much. I won't leave her. I won't allow anyone to hurt her," Jeonghan uttered.

"But you will surely hurt her in the process!" her dad said.

"Honey, calm down," Seunghee's mom muttered.

"How can I calm down at this ridiculous boy!"

"I think they have a point hon," she told him.

"What?"

"Seunghee needs him more than ever now. To make her forget about the ones who did her wrong."

"It's not just a random decision dad. I'm willing to do this. I don't think leaving will really solve everything," Seunghee finally opened up.

"But we've talked about this. I will not let you do this," her dad firmly responded.

"But dad... I don't want to run away. I don't want to be scared forever."

Seunghee's dad heard her plea. The seriousness and genuineness in her eyes were remarkable. If he said no to her, he knew she would only try to convince him more to prove herself in the right.

"So what's in it for our daughter? It's obviously all in your favor," he asked Jeonghan.

Jeonghan quickly replied. "It might seem to be in my favor but sir, your daughter is the only person in the world I'll lay my life on. I may still be lacking right now but it doesn't affect the fact that I'll do anything for her. And if I fail to help her now, I will do everything over and over again until I fulfill my goal. I will never leave her, even if I have to win her all over again."

"That's easy to say boy. But then alright. If this is her decision, I will permit it. If, and only if, you promise me. You will never, ever hurt my Seunghee. Ever!"

"I'm sorry, I don't do promises sir. I just do it. And I will do it. I will never hurt Seunghee. Even if I have to hurt myself instead."

Seunghee's mom uttered, "Alright. Just keep her safe Jeonghan."

"I will ma'am."

"We'll be okay mom, dad. Just please trust us. Please trust Jeonghan. We will do this," Seunghee said.

Her parents were still worried. They were handing the future of their daughter to this boy as early as that point in time. They were helpless and uncertain but they had to give their trust to him. He was their only hope. And they could see how Seunghee wanted to do it. She was also depending her future on him. They thought maybe it was really fated that everything has happened. Maybe destiny has it made this way for the both of them.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Seunghee finally moved in with Jeonghan that day. Jeonghan even bought another bed for her in his room. As they were helping each other put out her stuffs in the room, they could feel the tension. It was the only time they had felt like they were being pressured. But they had to make it work even though they were both anxious of what was to happen.

Jeonghan held her hand. He could see she was stressed. "Hey, it's alright. We'll do this step by step. We'll gradually come to it."

She smiled calmly at him. "I know, I trust you. You're all I have in this."

He hugged her tightly and caressed her head. "Yeah. I love you Seunghee. It's gonna be alright."

"I love you."

She leaned on him. She had him, she should never be afraid if he was there. She was pitying herself. But feeling him close to her, she was safe. She knew she can never be safer.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

To be continued...