1. "Does knowing I'm the artist you admire change your feelings?"
1. "Do you respect me more now that you know?"
1. She wasn't making this easy.
1. I needed to make amends.
2. "No... My feelings haven't changed..."
1. "But if you hadn’t found out, would you ever have spoken to me again?"
1. She was right...
1. I was indeed a damn coward.
1. If I hadn't stumbled upon the truth about her...
2. ...we likely would have drifted apart because of my actions.
1. Of my actions.
1. I would have assumed she was with that girl and would have avoided her all year.
2. As is my habit whenever I face difficulties.
1. I'm foolish.
1. But I knew she deserved the truth, that she had been right all along and I was just afraid.
1. When she called me out for running away from her...
2. ...from us.
1. She was right, and I didn't like that.
1. "Are you going to talk to me without running away?"
1. "I'm sorry, sera. For everything."
1. "I've been so terrified of getting hurt, of losing someone important again, that I pushed you away."
1. "I let my fears control me, and I deeply regret that."
1. "I'm sorry..."
1. "I'm sorry for the pain I caused."
2. Though it was never my intention, by letting her into my life, I knew I would eventually hurt her.
1. Despite this, I ignored the inevitable.
1. Constantly finding excuses to keep her around under the guise of having 'warned' her.
2. It was a poor excuse at best.
1. "You might think I'm apologizing because now I know you're the artist I admire, but that's not it."
1. "I should have apologized to you sooner, much sooner!"
2. "I even wanted to invite you to this event, not realizing it was yours."
1. "I thought you were busy with that girl from the party."
2. "And I get it, I was the one who suggested we see other people."
1. "I didn’t want to come between you or make things awkward when it was probably too late."
1. "But I was wrong."
1. "I should have looked for you and cleared the air, regardless of whether or not you were with someone else."
2. "I didn't"
1. "Have the courage."
1. Her expression hardened, and her posture stiffened.
1. It was clear she was critically processing my words.
1. "I understand, jimin. But understanding doesn't change the facts."
1. "Hiding from what you feel doesn't just make it disappear."
2. "It only complicates things when you're finally forced to confront them."
1. "I'm sorry..."
1. "Stop with the apologies, jimin!"
1. "That's not what I want to hear."
1. "You're missing the point. I don't want your guilt or your apologies."
1. "Apologies."
1. "!"
2. "What I need is for you to see the truth, that you actually care..."
1. "...about me."
1. "Not just as an artist, but as sera, your friend."
1. "What I need is for you to stop running from me and your feelings."
2. Right...I had been hiding, using my personal rules and fears as shields against everything around me...
1. ...including my own feelings.
1. "I...I don't want to run anymore... Really."
1. "That girl came to help me. She offered to organize my event."
2. "I needed some help, and she was there, that's all."
1. "There's nothing going on between us."
2. "So, she knows you're s. Corbin?"
1. "Yes."
1. "Actually, I was about to invite you..."
2. "You were about to invite me to your event?"
1. "Yes, but you kept turning me down."
1. "You mean I could have had a free ticket, after I tried so hard to get in?"
1. "Really?"
1. "Yes, really! I entered the contest twice, trying to get a ticket."
2. "That's so frustrating..ugh"
1. I should have known
2. "...and all this time, I could have just gotten one from you directly?"
1. "I guess timing is everything, isn't it?"
1. "I wanted to tell you earlier, but every time I tried, something got in the way, your rejection, or you were too busy."
1. I realized how many misunderstandings had piled up between us due to unspoken words and missed opportunities.
1. "I had no idea..."
1. "I'm sorry for all the misunderstandings."
1. "I've always admired you and your work, not just as s. Corbin but as you, sera."
1. "Knowing this now, it doesn't change how I feel."
1. "It actually makes me..."
1. "....admire you more."
1. "That's all I've ever wanted to hear, jimin."
1. "I wish you would forgive me..."
2. "...I've been feeling really"
