[His brow furrows. If her most important wish was granted, then something else was there—something that he's failed to see, caught in his self-absorption as he was.
He remembers his clumsy attempt at words during the first ceremony, followed by the devastation of his ineloquence coming down like a sharp blade on the faint thread of hope he'd been chasing. Yingying's patience and understanding in the following week were like a lifeline amid the mounting despair, and he dared to let himself dream for want of something more. For that kindness to go unreciprocated must have been perplexing. It must have been wearisome, to speak yet be so utterly unheard.
He thinks back to all the times they've interacted, and all that's been said of them.
"Yingying certainly is lucky to have someone so thoughtful."
"I see how tired you are all the time, sweetheart. And you're there at the wisteria so early, too . . . you must think I'm some wicked spirit willing to feed on just anyone, is that it~?"
"Can you really not think of anyone who has paid extra special attention to you recently?"
"I'm happy you picked me."
He thought that it was normal. That this is simply how Yingying is, infinitely generous and giving in her wishful love, in how she calls to people with terms of endearment. Just as how he grew an investment in their peers here, wanting to see where the road to recovery would take them in the hopes that he might find something similar. Only . . .
"If I were to return back in a new body, I still wouldn't know the language or technology of the times . . . I might feel even lonelier. Like I don't have a place to belong anymore."
"My heart fluttered underneath the wisteria with you . . . so this time, I'll be the one to bravely ask you to not leave my side, sweetheart."
"Don't you know I want to see you, too?"
"█ █████ ███ ██ ████ ███, ███ ███ █████ ████ ██. That's what I think!"
"If you want to give one to someone, there's someone better than me to receive it."
"She is a kindred spirit . . . and a flower whom I wish to see in bloom."
Yi Sang's gaze drops, filled with consternation over his own ignorance. Then his expression tightens, and his eyes flit back up to Yingying as he unfolds his arms.]
No, I believe I shall.
[He will fret. He won't make excuses for not seeing the bloom that's been reaching out to him, for ignoring the wish suffused in its hopeful petals. For regarding something so precious with a slantwise glance.]
Allow me to apologize . . . for not seeing your heart when it was laid plainly before me.
no subject
He remembers his clumsy attempt at words during the first ceremony, followed by the devastation of his ineloquence coming down like a sharp blade on the faint thread of hope he'd been chasing. Yingying's patience and understanding in the following week were like a lifeline amid the mounting despair, and he dared to let himself dream for want of something more. For that kindness to go unreciprocated must have been perplexing. It must have been wearisome, to speak yet be so utterly unheard.
He thinks back to all the times they've interacted, and all that's been said of them.
"Yingying certainly is lucky to have someone so thoughtful."
"I see how tired you are all the time, sweetheart. And you're there at the wisteria so early, too . . . you must think I'm some wicked spirit willing to feed on just anyone, is that it~?"
"Can you really not think of anyone who has paid extra special attention to you recently?"
"I'm happy you picked me."
He thought that it was normal. That this is simply how Yingying is, infinitely generous and giving in her wishful love, in how she calls to people with terms of endearment. Just as how he grew an investment in their peers here, wanting to see where the road to recovery would take them in the hopes that he might find something similar. Only . . .
"If I were to return back in a new body, I still wouldn't know the language or technology of the times . . . I might feel even lonelier. Like I don't have a place to belong anymore."
"My heart fluttered underneath the wisteria with you . . . so this time, I'll be the one to bravely ask you to not leave my side, sweetheart."
"Don't you know I want to see you, too?"
"█ █████ ███ ██ ████ ███, ███ ███ █████ ████ ██. That's what I think!"
"If you want to give one to someone, there's someone better than me to receive it."
"She is a kindred spirit . . . and a flower whom I wish to see in bloom."
Yi Sang's gaze drops, filled with consternation over his own ignorance. Then his expression tightens, and his eyes flit back up to Yingying as he unfolds his arms.]
No, I believe I shall.
[He will fret. He won't make excuses for not seeing the bloom that's been reaching out to him, for ignoring the wish suffused in its hopeful petals. For regarding something so precious with a slantwise glance.]
Allow me to apologize . . . for not seeing your heart when it was laid plainly before me.