Work was supposed to be my escape. After everything that had happened at Jun and Seong's place, I was desperate to get back to my routine, to feel like I had some control over my life again. But even as I served customers, I couldn't shake the heavy weight sitting in my chest. Jun's mother's words kept replaying in my head, making me feel small and insignificant.
I took a deep breath, wiping down a table and trying to focus on the task at hand. The usual chatter of the restaurant buzzed around me, blending into white noise. Everything was normal. Until it wasn't.
"Censia, right?"
I froze, the sound of my name slicing through the background noise. Turning slowly, I was met with the sight of a tall, lean man standing in the middle of the restaurant, his arms crossed over his chest, a cocky smirk plastered on his face. His dark hair fell messily over his forehead, and his eyes glinted with something unsettling.
"Do I know you?" I asked cautiously, stepping back from the table, my heart rate quickening.
"You should," he sneered, taking a step toward me. "I'm Jun's ex. The one he tossed aside for his little boyfriend—and now, apparently, you."
The world tilted for a second. I had heard about Jun's past relationships, but I didn't know they still lingered like this—especially not in such a hostile way.
"I think you should leave," I said firmly, glancing around. Other waitstaff were starting to notice the tension, and the customers' conversations began to quiet as people turned to look.
"Leave? Oh no, sweetheart, I'm not going anywhere." He leaned in, his voice lowering into something dangerous. "I just want to know what makes you so special. What is it about you that makes Jun want to ruin everything?"
"Excuse me?" My voice shook, anger and fear mixing together in a potent cocktail. "I think you've misunderstood—"
"No, I haven't," he snapped, his voice rising, drawing more attention. "You think you can just walk into his life, ruin his relationship with Seong, and walk away unscathed?"
A couple of nearby customers stood up, looking ready to intervene, while others watched silently, some even murmuring in agreement with him. I was frozen in place, my mind racing, trying to figure out what to do.
"You need to leave," I repeated, my voice trembling but trying to remain steady. "This isn't the place for this."
The ex-boyfriend ignored me, stepping even closer, his voice dripping with malice. "You don't belong in their world. And I'll make sure you never do."
Before I could respond, a couple of customers approached, trying to pull him back. "Hey, man, that's enough," one of them said, his hand on the guy's shoulder. "You can't just come in here and harass her."
But others were starting to take his side, their voices blending into a chaotic argument. "Maybe she is causing problems," one woman muttered loudly, her arms crossed.
The noise escalated, voices rising as the restaurant erupted into a mix of heated arguments. My heart pounded in my chest, and my skin felt like it was burning under the weight of all the eyes on me. This was turning into a disaster—far worse than I could've imagined.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and in walked Jun, his face tense with determination. He spotted the commotion immediately, his eyes locking onto his ex before sweeping over to me.
"What the hell is going on here?" Jun demanded, striding forward and placing himself between me and his ex.
His ex's smirk only widened. "Ah, Jun. Finally. Come to rescue your new pet?"
"Leave," Jun said coldly, his voice low and dangerous. "Now."
His ex laughed bitterly, but he knew better than to push any further. With one last glare at me, he turned and stormed out, leaving behind a stunned silence. The customers were still murmuring, some looking at me with pity, others with judgment. It felt like the walls were closing in.
I couldn't breathe.
"I'm sorry," Jun started, turning to me, his eyes filled with regret. "I didn't know he would—"
But I couldn't listen. The weight of everything—his mother's words, this public humiliation—it was too much. My chest tightened as the tears began to burn behind my eyes. I bolted for the back door, pushing past the kitchen staff and out into the alley behind the restaurant, where I finally let the sobs break free.
The cool air hit my skin, but it didn't soothe the hurt that had been building for days. I crouched down, burying my face in my hands, trying to stop the tears, but they kept coming.
After a few moments, I heard footsteps behind me. Jun had followed.
"Censia, please," he said softly, his voice laced with concern. "I'm so sorry."
I shook my head, still crying, my shoulders trembling. "It's too much, Jun. I can't... I can't keep doing this."
Jun knelt down beside me, reaching out to pull me into his arms, but I pushed him away, the hurt too raw. "Don't," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "Just... give me some space."
He hesitated, his hands hovering in the air for a moment before he pulled them back, his eyes filled with sadness. "I'll give you space," he said quietly, standing up. "But please, don't shut me out completely."
I didn't respond. I couldn't. I just stayed there, crying in the alley as Jun walked away, leaving me to my pain.
---
The next day, I dragged myself to work, still feeling the weight of yesterday's events pressing down on me. As I walked in, my boss was waiting for me, his face grim.
"Censia," he began, "we need to talk."
I felt a knot form in my stomach as he led me to his office. He closed the door behind us, and the look in his eyes told me everything before he even said the words.
"I'm sorry," he sighed, shaking his head. "But after what happened yesterday, we've decided it's best if you don't continue working here. There were complaints, and... well, it's just not a good look for the business."
I stared at him, the words sinking in slowly. Fired. I was being fired because of something I had no control over. The injustice of it made me want to scream, but I couldn't. I didn't have the energy to fight it. I just nodded numbly and gathered my things.
---
When I got home, I locked the door behind me and collapsed onto the bed, the weight of everything finally crashing down. I didn't bother checking my phone, even though it buzzed repeatedly with calls and messages from Jun and Seong. I couldn't face them—not now. Not after everything.
For days, I stayed locked away in my apartment, ignoring the world. They came by, knocking on my door, calling my name, but I didn't answer. I couldn't. Every time I heard their voices, it only reminded me of how broken everything felt. Of how much pain had come from loving them.
I wasn't sure I could do this anymore.
The days blurred together after I locked myself away. I barely left my apartment, only moving from my bed to the couch in a daze, wrapped in the suffocating weight of sadness. Every time my phone buzzed, I felt a jolt of anxiety, knowing it was Jun or Seong trying to reach me. But I couldn't face them. Not after everything.
Every missed call, every unread message felt like a reminder of how fragile my situation was, how deep I had fallen into their lives, only to be crushed by the weight of it all. Jun's ex, his mother, the constant pressure of feeling like I didn't belong—it was all too much. And now, without my job, I didn't even have the distraction of work to keep my mind occupied.
I wrapped myself tighter in the blanket, staring at the ceiling, wondering how things had gone so wrong so fast. I loved them—at least, I thought I did—but I wasn't sure if I could survive this relationship. It felt like I was caught between worlds, never fully belonging to either.
The knocks on my door came every evening. Jun and Seong, always together, their voices soft but persistent.
"Censia, please," Jun's voice called through the door. "Let us in. Just talk to us."
I pressed the pillow over my head, shutting out the sound. It was too painful. Every time they came, it reminded me of how much I wanted them, and how impossible everything seemed now.
---
It wasn't until the fifth day that something shifted.
The knocks were softer this time, hesitant. But I didn't respond. I couldn't. I couldn't let them see how broken I was inside.
Then, there was silence. For a moment, I thought they had left, but then I heard Seong's voice. He wasn't calling my name this time. He was... talking to Jun.
"We need to give her time," Seong said quietly, his voice muffled through the door. "This isn't about us pushing her to talk when she's not ready."
"I know," Jun replied, frustration lacing his tone. "But I can't stand not being able to fix this. I hate knowing that she's hurting because of all this... because of me."
"You're not the only one she's struggling with," Seong added softly. "It's both of us. We've both put her in this impossible situation."
There was a pause, and I pressed my ear closer to the door, desperate to hear more.
"I love her," Jun said, his voice breaking slightly. "I don't care what my mom says, or what anyone else thinks. I love her. And I love you, too. Why can't this just work?"
My heart clenched at his words, the rawness of his confession hitting me hard. It was the first time he had said it out loud, and even though it was spoken through a door, it felt like a lifeline being thrown to me. But even then, I wasn't sure I could reach for it.
---
I didn't answer the door that night. Or the next. But something inside me had shifted. I couldn't keep hiding forever, and part of me knew that if I didn't face them soon, I might lose them for good.
So, on the sixth day, I finally left my apartment.
---
It was late afternoon when I stepped outside. The fresh air hit me like a shock, clearing some of the fog that had settled in my mind. I wandered the streets aimlessly for a while, trying to clear my thoughts, until I found myself at the little park near my apartment. I sat on a bench, watching the sun dip low in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of pink and orange.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and for the first time in days, I checked the screen. Another message from Jun. And Seong. I sighed, scrolling through the countless texts I had ignored.
"Censia, we just want to know you're okay."
"I'm sorry. For everything."
"Please, talk to us."
I swallowed hard, feeling the lump rise in my throat. Maybe I wasn't ready to talk. Maybe I wasn't ready to face them. But I couldn't keep running away either. So, I typed a quick message back.
"I'm okay."
That was all I could manage for now.
---
When I got home, the knocks on my door came again, but this time I opened it.
Jun and Seong stood there, looking tired, their eyes full of concern. Jun's expression softened immediately when he saw me, and he stepped forward, reaching out as if to pull me into his arms, but he hesitated.
"Hey," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Hey," Jun replied, his voice hoarse. "Can we come in?"
I nodded, stepping aside to let them in. It felt surreal, letting them into my space again after so many days of shutting them out. They walked in, glancing around my small apartment, which still felt too quiet and heavy with the weight of everything unsaid.
We sat down on the couch, the silence thick between us. I could feel their eyes on me, waiting for me to speak first, but I didn't know where to start.
"I'm sorry," I blurted out finally, the words rushing out before I could stop them. "I'm sorry I shut you both out."
"You don't need to apologize," Seong said gently, leaning forward. "We understand. We just... we've been worried about you."
Jun nodded, his hand reaching for mine, his fingers brushing against my skin. "Censia, you don't have to go through this alone. Whatever you're feeling, we want to be there for you."
I bit my lip, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. "It's just... it's been so hard. With everything. Your mom... the ex... I feel like I'm being pulled apart. Like I don't belong in your world."
"That's not true," Jun said quickly, his grip on my hand tightening. "You belong with us. I don't care what anyone else thinks. You're important to us."
Seong nodded in agreement, his eyes soft but determined. "We don't want to lose you."
I looked between them, my heart aching with the weight of their words. "I'm just... I'm scared," I admitted, my voice shaking. "I don't know if I can handle all of this."
Jun leaned closer, his eyes locked onto mine. "You don't have to handle it alone, Censia. We'll figure this out. Together."
I swallowed hard, feeling the warmth of his hand in mine, and for the first time in days, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could breathe again.
But I knew that even though we were sitting together now, this was far from over. The challenges, the doubts—they weren't going to disappear overnight. But in that moment, with Jun and Seong beside me, I realized that maybe I didn't have to have all the answers right now. Maybe it was enough that they were here, that we were together, even if the road ahead was uncertain.
And maybe... just maybe, we could make it work.