3

Jun sitting alone on the bed, the silence of the room almost suffocating after Alis's departure. The weight of their last conversation lingers in the air, and Jun’s mind is racing with emotions. Suddenly, his phone rings, breaking the silence. He picks it up and sees his mother’s name on the screen.

Jun: (answering the call, trying to steady his voice) Mom?

Jun’s Mom: Jun, I need you to come home tomorrow. It’s important.

Jun hears the urgency in her voice, something that makes his stomach knot with unease.

Jun: (frowning) What’s this about?

Jun’s Mom: We’ll talk when you get here. Just… please, come home.

Jun sighs, the exhaustion of the night catching up to him.

Jun: Alright, I’ll be there.

They exchange brief goodbyes, and Jun ends the call. He sits there for a moment, staring at the phone in his hand, feeling an unsettling sense of foreboding. The screen fades to black.

The next morning, Jun arrives at his family home. he walks through the familiar hallways, his footsteps echoing in the quiet house. He finds his mother waiting for him in the living room, her expression serious.

Jun’s Mom: (motioning for him to sit) Come, Jun. We need to talk.

Jun sits down, sensing that whatever she’s about to say is going to be heavy.

Jun: What’s going on, Mom?

His mother takes a deep breath, looking at him with a mix of sadness and determination.

Jun’s Mom: When your father was… when he was taking his last breath, he made a promise to his best friend.

Jun’s heart skips a beat, the mention of his late father immediately tugging at his emotions.

Jun: (confused and wary) What kind of promise?

Jun’s Mom: He promised that you would marry his friend’s daughter. It was your father’s last wish.

Jun’s eyes widen in shock, and he feels a surge of anger and disbelief.

Jun: (raising his voice slightly) What? Mom, how could you even consider this? I don’t even know her!

His mother reaches out, placing her hand on his, her voice soft but firm.

Jun’s Mom: Jun, this was your father’s last wish. He wanted to make sure you were taken care of, that you had someone who would stand by you. I know it’s sudden, but this is important to me—and to him.

Jun pulls his hand back, standing up abruptly as he starts to pace the room, frustration boiling over.

Jun: (agitated) I’ve been waiting for three years for her, Mom. Three years! I thought I could move on, but now you’re telling me I have to marry some girl I’ve never even met?

His mother watches him, her eyes filled with concern. She knows how much Jun has suffered waiting for his ex-girlfriend, the girl who left him heartbroken and never returned.

Jun’s Mom: (standing up, her voice trembling slightly with emotion) I know, Jun. I know you’ve waited, and I know how much it hurt. But sometimes, we have to let go of the past. Your father believed that this would be best for you. He wanted you to have a future, even if it wasn’t the one you imagined.

Jun stops pacing, his shoulders slumping as the weight of her words sink in. The room feels heavy with the burden of his father’s last wish, and Jun feels trapped between his own desires and the promise made by the man he loved and respected more than anyone.

Jun: (softly, almost defeated) What if she never comes back? What if I’m just holding onto a ghost?

His mother steps closer, placing a hand on his shoulder, her eyes filled with motherly concern and love.

Jun’s Mom: Maybe it’s time to stop waiting, Jun. Maybe it’s time to move forward… for both of us.

Jun closes his eyes, taking a deep breath as he tries to reconcile the storm of emotions inside him. He knows deep down that his mother is right—that he can’t keep living in the shadow of a past that may never return.

After a long pause, he finally nods, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jun: Okay, Mom… I’ll do it. I’ll marry her.

His mother exhales in relief, tears welling up in her eyes as she pulls him into a tight embrace.

Jun’s Mom: Thank you, Jun. Your father would be proud.

Jun holds her, feeling the weight of his decision settle over him. The camera pulls back, showing them standing in the middle of the living room, two people trying to make peace with the choices they’ve made.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***