The Way We Heal

by hwacha

"Don't like someone like me. Talented bastard." The one I once loved, the one I once hated, the one I once admired, the one I once hurt, the one who was, in truth, so much like me— A reunion with my first love. When Jeong Sumin returned with a gold medal and confessed his feelings, Choi Jeongo felt nothing but bewilderment and inferiority. Back in high school, Choi Jeongo had admired Jeong Sumin. Back then, Choi Jeongo had hated Jeong Sumin to death. Back then, Choi Jeongo had broken Jeong Sumin’s leg. And yet, to that very Choi Jeongo, Jeong Sumin confessed his love. "If you truly hate swimming, then just quit. Jeong Sumin. Do whatever you want. But if you're just scared of losing— Then do it. It's okay to lose." Even if you lose, even if everyone curses you out, even if it makes you want to die—I'll tell you that you did well." "……." "That you did a good job." *** You are the only person I don't have to hide from. Because I know you won't be disappointed. Even if my record slows down by ten seconds, even if I can never get any faster, even if I turn out to be nothing at all— I know you will still call me Jeong Sumin. Twenty-nine turns. As I swam, turned, and swam back, you were all I thought about. "Like only me." No matter how pathetic and miserable I am. "I like only you. Liking you—I'm never stopping." How much love does it take to finally believe that nothing is wrong with me?

Officially licensed English translation