Soo Jeon returned to her apartment that evening, her heart heavy with the weight of Ji-Eun's words. The lights in her small living room seemed dimmer than usual, casting long shadows across the walls. She dropped her bag near the door and sat down on the couch, staring blankly ahead. Her thoughts were scattered, and the silence in the room felt suffocating.
Ji-Eun's manipulative smile, her calculated words, and the reminder of Min Jun's family all played on a loop in Soo Jeon's mind. Could there be some truth to what Ji-Eun had said? Could Min Jun really be swayed by his family's wishes? Was she fighting a battle she was destined to lose?
She hugged her knees to her chest, pulling herself tighter as if it would stop the questions from spinning. For the first time in their relationship, Soo Jeon felt truly uncertain. She had faced obstacles before—Min Jun's demanding career, Ji-Eun's constant interference—but this felt different. The looming shadow of his family's influence seemed bigger than anything she had dealt with before.
Her phone buzzed on the table, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw Min Jun's name flashing. Her heart jumped, and for a moment, she debated whether to answer. She wasn't ready to talk to him, not while her mind was so clouded with doubt. But she couldn't avoid him either.
Taking a deep breath, Soo Jeon answered the call, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. "Hey."
"Hey, Soo Jeon," Min Jun's deep voice came through, warm and familiar. "Are you okay? You've been quiet all day. I've been thinking about you."
Soo Jeon swallowed hard. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired from rehearsals."
There was a pause on the other end, and Soo Jeon could almost picture the concern in Min Jun's eyes. "You sure? You sound… off."
She hesitated. Should she tell him about her meeting with Ji-Eun? About the doubts that had been gnawing at her ever since? She didn't want to burden him, not when he was already dealing with so much from his family. But part of her also felt that he deserved to know.
"I'm fine," she repeated, her voice a little more forceful this time. "Just a long day."
"Okay," Min Jun said slowly, though she could tell he wasn't fully convinced. "I was thinking we could grab dinner tomorrow. There's something I want to talk to you about."
Soo Jeon's heart skipped. "What is it?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow," he replied with a smile in his voice, clearly wanting to keep it a surprise.
The conversation ended shortly after, and as Soo Jeon hung up, her thoughts spiraled again. What could Min Jun possibly want to discuss? Was it something about his family? Or was he planning something bigger? She couldn't shake the feeling of dread that Ji-Eun's words had planted in her mind.
The next day, Soo Jeon made her way to the restaurant Min Jun had chosen. It was a cozy place they had been to many times before—small, intimate, with warm lighting and soft music playing in the background. She arrived early, her heart heavy with anticipation and the same lingering doubts.
As she waited for Min Jun, Soo Jeon found herself lost in thought, her fingers tracing the rim of her water glass. The tension in her chest grew with each passing minute, and she couldn't help but wonder what he had to say. Would it be something good, or would it confirm her worst fears?
Min Jun arrived shortly after, his presence filling the room as it always did. He greeted her with a warm smile, leaning down to kiss her softly on the cheek before taking his seat across from her. But even as he smiled, Soo Jeon noticed the faint lines of stress etched across his face.
"You look beautiful," Min Jun said, his eyes locking onto hers.
Soo Jeon returned the smile, though it felt a little forced. "Thanks. You look tired."
He chuckled softly. "Yeah, it's been a long week."
They ordered their food, and as the conversation flowed, Soo Jeon found herself relaxing just a little. Min Jun had a way of making her feel safe, of easing her worries even when they felt insurmountable. But the weight of the conversation they were yet to have still hung in the air between them.
Finally, as the plates were cleared and they sat with nothing but their drinks, Min Jun cleared his throat. "I've been thinking a lot lately."
Soo Jeon's heart skipped, her grip tightening on her glass. "About what?"
"About us," he said quietly. "About everything we've been through."
Her breath caught in her throat. Here it was—the moment she had been dreading. Was this where he would tell her that his family's pressure had finally become too much? That he couldn't continue to fight against them?
But instead, Min Jun reached across the table, taking her hand in his. His touch was warm and steady, grounding her as his eyes met hers with unwavering sincerity.
"I know things haven't been easy," he began. "And I know my family has made things harder for us than they should be. But I want you to know that none of that matters to me. You're the one I want, Soo Jeon. And I'm willing to fight for us, no matter what it takes."
Soo Jeon's chest tightened, her eyes burning with unshed tears. The words she had been longing to hear were finally spoken, but the doubts planted by Ji-Eun still lingered.
"Min Jun…" she began, her voice trembling slightly. "What if it's too much? What if we're fighting a losing battle?"
He squeezed her hand gently, his gaze never leaving hers. "We're not losing anything. We've already won, Soo Jeon, because we have each other. And as long as we keep fighting together, nothing can tear us apart."
A tear slipped down Soo Jeon's cheek, and Min Jun quickly wiped it away with his thumb. His touch was soft, reassuring, and in that moment, all of the fear and doubt that had been clouding her mind seemed to fade.
"I love you," he whispered, his voice filled with raw emotion. "And I'm not going to let anyone, not my family, not Ji-Eun, not anyone, come between us."
Soo Jeon nodded, her heart swelling with love and relief. For the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe again.
"I love you too, Min Jun," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
And as they sat there, holding each other's hands in the soft glow of the restaurant, Soo Jeon realized that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.