Chapter 65

A silence heavy enough to feel frozen settled between them.

Maybe even after asking the question himself, Jun Shin had never expected Gyeol to answer like that. He sat there wordlessly, almost stiff with shock.

Idiot.

The wind sweeping across the shore suddenly felt cold. Curling his trembling shoulders inward, Gyeol spoke quietly.

“Of course, I don’t mean wanting to go back to that awful day specifically... I mean that time in general. They’re just memories now. Remember what Kisoo said? That even if it was hard now, it would all become memories someday. I think he was right.”

So maybe, in the end, the relationship between you and me could become one too.

“Maybe this moment right now will become a memory someday as well.”

The instant he finished speaking, Jun suddenly grabbed hold of his clothes.

Startled by the unexpected movement, Gyeol turned his head.

Jun’s eyes °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° were shaking violently.

It seemed he had understood the implication hidden inside Gyeol’s words.

The possibility that the past could become nothing more than a memory.

The possibility that even this might someday become a memory.

Which, in other words, also meant:

I think I might finally be able to leave you behind in the past.

“.......”

The sound of waves filled the silence between them.

Gyeol could see Jun’s lips trembling faintly. They moved as if he were about to spill out words meant to stop Gyeol from leaving.

But before he could, Gyeol simply patted the back of Jun’s hand lightly.

Comforting him.

And at the same time, comforting himself.

“Jun... I always wanted you to be doing well. That’s never changed. Not even once.”

He loosely clasped Jun’s hand and gently removed it from his clothes.

Jun resisted weakly for a moment like he couldn’t bear to let go, but eventually his hand fell away helplessly.

“Even from now on, the way I cheer for you won’t change.”

It was the truth.

Even after Jun abandoned the group and disappeared, Gyeol had never truly been able to curse him.

He cried endlessly.

Waited endlessly.

Wore himself out worrying.

Felt hurt.

Felt despair.

Felt resentment.

But at the end of that entire whirlpool of emotions, the conclusion had always remained the same.

Even so, I still hope you’re doing well.

Sometimes Gyeol thought he was pathetic.

He could barely even take care of himself properly, yet he was still wishing for the happiness of Jun Shin—the same Jun Shin who had transferred groups and risen effortlessly into stardom.

And yet, whenever Gyeol happened to see Jun and Moving on television—in drink commercials that aired after Yuli’s children’s programs, in bank commercials supposedly reserved only for celebrities with clean, trustworthy images, in prime-time weekend variety shows filled with top stars, in news reports covering global idol groups—

he always found himself frowning while secretly hoping Jun was still happy.

Because he had loved him that much.

Because the size of the feelings he still held was larger than resentment or hatred.

“So you should stop tying yourself to the past too and start getting to know other people. Coming all the way onto R-Connect just to get tangled up with me is kind of... a waste.”

His chest throbbed painfully, but Gyeol forced the words out anyway with a bitter smile.

Tears were gathering in Jun’s eyes.

Seriously, this idiot hadn’t changed at all.

To the point it was hard to believe he was the same person who had once left both Gyeol and SAVE ME behind.

Jun Shin, as a person, was almost exactly the same.

Gyeol’s nose had been stinging for a while now.

If he kept talking any longer, he felt like he would start crying too.

So Gyeol stood up without hesitation.

Pretending not to notice Jun’s confused gaze following him upward, he simply held out his hand.

Jun looked like he had countless things he wanted to say.

But in the end, he said none of them.

To Jun Shin, Gyeol’s wishes had always mattered more than anything else.

What Gyeol wanted.

What made Gyeol happy.

Whether Gyeol was safe.

Just as Gyeol had always wished for Jun’s happiness, Jun likewise could not stop wishing for Gyeol’s.

And he probably always would.

Enough that he could almost dare call it forever.

That was why Jun could only obediently take Gyeol’s hand and stand.

Without being able to confess the selfish truth—that he still wanted him, and would probably continue wanting him forever.

***

Title: Jun-Gyeol shippers get in here RIGHT NOW. I’m actually losing my mind. (281)

I am NOT mentally stable right now. Sensitive as fuck. If you’re not a Jun-Gyeol shipper get the hell out before I bite somebody.

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I’m seriously losing my fucking mind is this real??? IS THIS REAL???

I just watched the episode and I’m genuinely going insane somebody answer me

Please somebody answer because I’m actually about to lose it

Am I the only one going insane??? I’ve ripped my hair out so much I can’t tell whether the stuff on my floor is dog fur or human hair anymore

No because seriously...... how are we supposed to interpret this

On the surface Jun’s basically in a “0 confession 1 rejection” situation right??

BUT LOOK AT THEIR EYES. THEIR ATMOSPHERE.

These are literally ex-lovers who dated for ten years and are breaking up

Like deeply in love soulmates being forced apart because of unavoidable circumstances and misunderstandings

NO BUT WHY DO THEY HAVE TO BREAK UP????

Just become a final couple already

Actually screw final couples just hold hands and leave the show together

Even if it gets exposed that they were actually dating and some giant scandal breaks out I genuinely won’t blame them at all SO PLEASE JUST LEAVE FLOP-CONNECT TOGETHER PLEASEEEEEEEEE 😭😭😭😭😭

I can’t even sleep so I’ve been digging through literally everything from the SAVE ME days onward

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They were literal babies back then how the fuck did things end up like this on R-Connect 😭😭😭 holy shit I feel like my heart’s gonna explode

<Comment>

Holy fuck I thought I got hacked for a second 😭 thank god I’m not the only one going insaneI’m way too emotionally invested... I genuinely don’t WANT to be like this but Jun-Gyeol is keeping me awake at night... not even slash-shipping fanfic writers would write shit this intense holy fuck 😭😭 why are they this tragic and devoted and insaneUm... are Jun-Gyeol even allowed to be on R-Connect? Because they’re literally on a completely different dating show from everyone else lmao⤷ FOR REAL. I’ve seen this before. It’s called EXchange Love.

⤷ Fuck, even if I don’t WANT to think about EXchange Love the vibes are exactly that weird...

⤷ Why does it feel like the viewers are getting bullied? Like hold on... why am I getting socially excluded by a dating show viewer experience????

Passing-by Sun-Gyeol shipper here... personally I still think the final couple absolutely has to be Sun-Gyeol but I admit the Jun-Gyeol emotional investment is completely insane. Gyeol Go should transfer safely to Sun Choi. Sun is the best choice.⤷ Read the fucking room holy shit why would you leave this comment under a Jun-Gyeol breakdown post?

⤷ Did you not read the first line of the post? Who cares if Sun Choi is the nation’s Swimming Emperor. Sun-Gyeol shippers are annoying as fuck. “Sun is the best choice” was funny at first but y’all keep invading other ship posts acting like Gyeol will obviously choose Sun in the end and it’s getting irritating as hell.

⤷ Sun probably wouldn’t even want fans acting like this

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Jesus why is everyone in these comments so angry suddenly;⤷ Stop getting so emotionally overinvested... seriously get a grip people..

I’m a Moving fan but... why do I cry every time I watch Jun-Gyeol scenes... I was literally a Jun x Michael shipper before this too^^... why is my heart beating for Jun-Gyeol now...⤷ Beep. Severe Jun-Gyeol addiction detected.

⤷ I think you’re already past the denial stage lol just accept it

⤷ No because switching from Jun-Michael to Jun-Gyeol is fucking killing me 😭

But seriously can’t they just date...?I only watch R-Connect so I don’t really know the Jun-Gyeol backstory. I saw comments saying SAVE ME basically disbanded because Jun left? But was that really the main reason? And if it was then why is Jun acting like THIS toward Gyeol on R-Connect now?⤷ SAVE ME started disbanding after Jun left O / Why Jun acts like this: literally nobody knows

⤷ 😭 I followed Jun from SAVE ME into Moving... honestly saying the group disbanded because of Jun leaving is kinda unfair. More accurately the group couldn’t survive after Jun also left. The actual scandals were Park Kyungwoo and Choi Yoonsoo. (Park Kyungwoo: drug charges / Choi Yoonsoo: pregnancy scandal)

⤷ There’s always at least one Jun solo stan saying this lmao... I ship Jun-Gyeol too but if you actually care about Gyeol then yes, your fave’s departure absolutely contributed to the group collapsingㅠㅠ there were even rumors he vanished without warning before leaving

⤷ OP) Guys stop fighting and just answer why Jun is acting like this lmfao

⤷ We literally said nobody knows ask Jun yourself

⤷ OP) IF I COULD ASK JUN MYSELF WOULD I BE ASKING HERE GODDAMMIT 😭

Didn’t Jun leave SAVE ME because he fell for Michael and wanted to transfer into Moving where Michael was?⤷ I’m a Moving fan please stop 💀 that’s literally fanfic content. (Like ACTUAL fanfic content.)

⤷ OMG sorry I didn’t know it was fanfic 😭 my friend told me and I thought it was real

⤷ If you know now then PLEASE delete the commentㅠㅠ

No matter how you look at him Jun Shin just looks completely fucking obsessed with Gyeol Go and it feels “genuine”... if I were writing a novel wouldn’t it basically be [Forced to leave SAVE ME against his will → can’t forget Gyeol → joins R-Connect to win him back]?⤷ Then go write a novel lmao

⤷ Hey if this turns out true I’ll bet my wrist on it

⤷ (cold stare..)

⤷ 😭 I literally SAID I was just making stuff up stop yelling at me..(tiny voice)

⤷ But honestly this is delicious I’m devouring this theory right now somebody please write fanfic about it (I consume everything indiscriminately)

⤷ You’re the worst one here.

first love flavor TV..⤷ Exactly

⤷ Damn

Okay maybe I’m just dumb (or maybe I’m in denial) but... what did Gyeol mean when he said he’s always supported Jun and always will but Jun should start looking at other people..?⤷ ...It was rejection.

⤷ Basically “let’s go our separate ways.”

⤷ It means Jun Shin got dumped.

⤷ Fuuuck 😭😭😭😭😭 I prayed I was misunderstanding that

How is Jun “0 confession 1 rejection” when he’s basically confessed like ten times already on R-Connect lmaoMeanwhile poor Isu Yoon catching strays in all this⤷ Shhh..

⤷ 😭 Isu please stop chasing emotionally unavailable Jun Shin and go find somebody else PLEASE..

⤷ At least Jun clearly sorted things out on his side too... Isu should move on now

⤷ But doesn’t it feel like he WON’T? 😭 Even during his interview Isu said he didn’t think his feelings would change and that he wanted to keep trying until the end...

I’ve been watching sporadically so wait, did something happen between Jun Shin and Isu Yoon too?⤷ [One-line summary: Isu Yoon got rejected by Jun Shin] After the second pheromone matching during the Time Booth free period, Isu asked Jun to talk again. During that conversation Jun said, “I’m sorry, Isu. I don’t think I have room to get to know anyone else right now.” and “There’s only one person I can see. I’m sorry.” Total line drawn.

⤷ Holy shit thanks for explaining ㄷㄷㄷ

⤷ But wait... Jun saying “there’s only one person I can see” to ISU instead of saying it directly to GYEOL is actually brutal as hell 😭

⤷ But Jun looked MAXIMUM suffering mode while saying it... it didn’t even come off badly... he just looked tragically miserable..

⤷ 2222 agreed

LEAKED FLOP-CONNECT FINAL COUPLE: http://al-connectmarket.com/378172⤷ This asshole again sigh

⤷ Report him

⤷ Fuck I clicked the link and it was selling sweet potatoes and fishing rods I’m crying what’s the correlation between those things LMAOOOOOOOO

Guys don’t worry! Jun-Gyeol become the final couple later and they’re currently dating!!⤷ FR????

⤷ ????

⤷ Really??

⤷ ?

⤷ Says who

⤷ ...Inside my head. Sorry. I didn’t think anyone would believe me..

⤷ Hang this bastard in the marketplace~!!!!!!

⤷ Execute him

⤷ FUUUCK I’M SORRY I’M SORRYYYYY

So what do we do now??? Should we sell our Jun-Gyeol stocks?? Is it over??⤷ Hmm no keep holding for now

⤷ Wait why are you telling people to hold?

⤷ (comment_screenshot.jpg attached) [Jun-Gyeol are getting a huge moment later. Absolutely keep holding.]

⤷ Huge moment...? Isn’t that just bait?

⤷ Nope apparently the person who posted that is an R-Connect insider and every spoiler they’ve dropped so far has appeared exactly on broadcast

⤷ What counts as a huge moment though? Wasn’t the beach hug already huge? The entire internet exploded over that

⤷ Feels kinda questionable to call that THE huge moment though

⤷ Huge moment? Fuck it. I don’t know. I’m holding. I’m gonna keep watching anyway.

⤷ Same. Holding.

⤷ Holding 222