⊱S'excuser ne fera pas remonter le temps⊰

Apologizing won't turn back time

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One year was such a short time. To beings like us, that couldn't be truer. Time passing faster than we could realize was something I had come accustomed to.

Yet, in just a year, the seven of us became six.

Chastity... Jieun faced the consequence of her wager and vanished from existence, or so everyone was told. After telling us she was going to be fine when the agreement time was up, Jieun was suddenly gone without a goodbye. I couldn't believe what I heard about her. No one could. Everything had happened so fast, I still couldn't realize the reality that she was no longer... there...

It wasn't like the death we all had grown used to. It was crueler. There was nothing left of her.  She slipped away just like that and we all started blaming ourselves for what happened to her.

Everyone was shaken. We were scared. Even if our emotions were dampened, we grieved for a long time. We couldn't accept it. Jieun was like a sister we never had. Just a year before, she was laughing with us and teasing Hyunwoo about his pride. Yet, she was gone now. Long gone.

The Sin of Lust was erased, too. She lost the bet but because of the human she was involved with, Chastity lost as well. It didn't make sense and it made me angry. Still, what could I do?

I couldn't blame the human. He was a victim and he even ended up going to hell because of the agreement. It was even more ridiculous that he became the new Sin of Lust.

"Next in line!"

I flinched when the cashier practically yelled at me, snapping me out of my thoughts. Blushing in embarrassment that other people were now staring at me, I apologized and scanned the menu. The words were blurred as my eyes flitted from name to name and I grew even more nervous when the cashier sighed.

"The oreo milkshake is good... Just to recommend in case you're in trouble," a guy murmured behind me and I quickly ordered that.

When I turned around to thank him after the cashier gave me my receipt, I froze when the new Lust came into view before me. His purple hair cascaded down to his doe eyes as they stared at me. I stammered and looked away, trying to think about what I should do.

"Lady! You're holding the line," the cashier snapped again, making me jump, and I quickly ran to the corner of the cafe to hide behind a table, slumping on the chair.

I calmed down myself and straightened the receipt that I had crumpled when I was scolded. I didn't expect to run into Lust, or rather, I didn't expect he would act like that with a Virtue.

"I'm sorry." The same dulcet voice spoke and I snapped my head up to see Lust standing beside me with an apologetic smile. His expression was too soft that I wouldn't have guessed he was a Deadly Sin. "You got yelled at again because of me."

I was baffled. "Don't you... Don't you know who I am?"

His doe eyes blinked four times and scanned my face before he said, "Chastity- Saejin, right? Did I mistake you...?"

"Ah, no... I just wondered if you... Are you here for a drink?"

His eyes widened before his lips split into a grin. "If you mean drink as in a non-alcoholic one, yes."

I cracked a smile and sighed, "Why am I embarrassing myself around you...?"

"It's okay," he chuckled and I eased a little. I didn't expect him to be so nice and myself to be so comfortable with him, but I appreciated it greatly.

"You can sit down if you want." I smiled and gestured to the seat in front of me.

When he was about to sit, the cashier called for me to take my order and called for him afterwards. As I was about to get up, he stopped me and went off to take our drinks before coming back and placing my milkshake in front of me. He had ordered the same. I sheepishly thanked him and he hummed before sipping from his straw.

Painfully silent minutes passed as we sipped our drinks, looking away from each other. I urged myself to speak but didn't know what to say. Perhaps I shouldn't have offered him to sit with me if it was going to be awkward like this.

"Your hair color is pretty," I blurted and mentally slapped myself.

He broke into a smile and it reminded me of a bunny. "Thanks. Yours is pretty, too. I've never seen someone so... white... angel-like."

I hummed and rubbed the milkshake glass. "So... I know you're new and, um... How are you doing... Lust?"

An expression akin to a frown crossed his features. "Please, call me Jungkook. I'm not used to people calling me that. I'm doing... fine, I think. It's not unbearable but I'll have to get used to it anyway."

I pursed my lips. His situation honestly felt so pitiful. "I'm sorry you had to become like this. It's because of the former Lust intervening in your life..."

He shook his head with a soft smile. "I don't blame her. I did this myself."

I twirled the milkshake straw as I wondered. The former Lust couldn't make him sin but he took his own life. I didn't know what the reason was but it was definitely something related to her.

"Why are you so nice? We're supposed to be enemies, right?"

"Well, you're a good being, right?" He gave me a bunny smile again. "I just don't want to antagonize good beings. Besides, I don't even have a direct enemy now-"

"Why are you being friendly with this wench?"

I tensed up when Greed suddenly came out of nowhere and fumed at Jungkook. The younger looked back and forth between us like a deer caught in headlights.

"Well, I-"

"This woman will manipulate and use you, Jungkook. Stay away from her. She's an enemy, a horrible one," Greed spat and didn't even let Jungkook say anything before he teleported with him.

Laughing, I clenched the milkshake glass in exasperation. "Wench?"

Although Greed appeared and made the mood sour, Jungkook's warmth lingered and eventually dissipated my anger. It started awkward but I really enjoyed his company. A change from the constant confrontations with a certain Deadly Sin.

Ever since our conflict started, I had been wanting to apologize but was too coward to do that. As the hostility between us built up, it became even more impossible to speak up.

Was it too late to apologize for what I did now?

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It had to be done now.

"The sooner, the better," I repeated to myself, reminding myself that I just had to do it. Just do it. "The more I hesitate, the less likely I'll ever do this, Sae."

My breaths came out shorter as I approached the blonde man who was simply standing a few feet away from a chattering group of hospital directors, watching them with furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips. His head and narrowed eyes turned my way but then disregarded me just as quickly.

"Greed," I said as confidently as I could but my voice still trembled, "can we talk?"

"About what?"

His tone was cold but he was not against talking. That was good.

I walked up to stand in front of him, hopefully grabbing his attention. When his sharp eyes focused on me, my courage plummeted but I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

"It's about... what I did to you..."

He scoffed, looking away. "What's there to talk?!"

"I... I want to apologize." I bit my lips and faced down. "I really, truly am sorry about lying to you. I admit that I approached you with the intention to help my late father, but! As I got to spend more time with you, I started to like you genuinely. It's the truth."

He shook his head, frowning. "Don't you dare lie to me again."

"You might not believe me but I swear that's true." I lifted my head and furrowed my eyebrows. "And I didn't know what my father did. I didn't know what he did to you. What he caused you. I couldn't believe it... I am deeply saddened and sorry about what happened to you."

He snapped his head at me and glared with a condescending look. "What can your 'sorry' do? You think I can forgive what was already done just like that? That easy?"

"I know. Even if you won't forgive, I still want to apologize again and again. I'm sorry, that's all I can do. My father did something horrible, that's why he's paying for it now." My lips quivered as tears formed in my eyes. "I can't do anything. I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

"Stop." His hand flew up to cover his face. "Crying won't solve anything, so stop. I can't do this."

I sniffled and blinked my tears away. "I just... I'm sorry for everything."

As soon as I said those words, Greed disappeared and I was left alone, wondering if my heartfelt words at least reached him.

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Who do we see in this chapter? 👀

Hope you enjoyed Jungkook's cameo. We all know he's a cinnamon roll even as a Deadly Sin 🥲

Thank you for reading 🌸