Days had passed since I had let Jun and Seong back into my life. Things felt… different. Lighter, maybe. Not everything had magically fixed itself, but for the first time in weeks, I wasn't constantly questioning everything. Jun was his usual self, bright and affectionate, always checking on me, calling me just to hear my voice, and inviting me over to their mansion whenever he could. Seong, on the other hand, remained more reserved, but I could tell he was trying to open up more. His small gestures—an unexpected smile, a lingering touch, or a thoughtful compliment—meant the world to me, even if they weren't as obvious as Jun's.
One evening, Jun invited me over to their place for dinner, promising that this time it would just be the three of us. No interruptions, no drama—just us.
As I pulled up to the massive gates of their mansion, I couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Every time I stepped into their world, it felt like I was intruding. Their lives were so different from mine. Their home was massive, and it always made me feel small in comparison—like I didn't belong in a place so grand.
But Jun had insisted, and Seong had even sent me a text earlier that day: Looking forward to seeing you tonight. It was brief, but it was more than I'd expected.
I rang the doorbell, my heart racing slightly as I waited for someone to answer. A few moments later, Jun opened the door, grinning widely.
"Censia, you made it!" He pulled me into a tight hug before I could even step inside. "Come on in. Seong's finishing up in the kitchen."
I stepped inside, and the familiar warmth of their home washed over me. Despite its size, the mansion wasn't cold or unwelcoming. There were personal touches everywhere—family photos, little trinkets Jun had collected during his travels, and cozy furniture that made the space feel lived-in.
We made our way to the kitchen, where Seong was indeed cooking, his sleeves rolled up and an apron tied around his waist. He glanced up as we entered, offering me a small smile.
"Hey," I said softly, feeling suddenly shy under his gaze.
"Hey," Seong replied, his voice as calm and soothing as ever. "Dinner's almost ready. I hope you're hungry."
I nodded, trying to shake off the nerves that still lingered. This was supposed to be a relaxing evening, but I couldn't help feeling like something was off—like something was about to go wrong. Maybe it was just my paranoia, leftover from all the drama we'd been through lately. Or maybe it was something else.
We sat down to dinner, and as promised, the evening started off perfectly. The food was incredible, as always—Seong was a fantastic cook, though he never bragged about it. Jun kept the conversation light and fun, telling stories from his childhood that had both Seong and me laughing. It felt like a normal night, like the three of us were finding our rhythm together.
But just as we were finishing dessert, there was a knock at the door.
Jun frowned, glancing at Seong. "Are we expecting someone?"
Seong shook his head. "No. I didn't invite anyone over."
Jun stood up, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "I'll get it. Be right back."
I watched as he left the dining room, my stomach knotting with unease. The last time we'd had an unexpected visitor, things hadn't ended well. My mind flashed back to that horrible day at the restaurant, when Jun's ex had caused a scene. I hadn't seen or heard from him since, but I couldn't help but worry.
A moment later, I heard voices near the front door—Jun's and someone else's. The voice was muffled, but there was something familiar about it. My heart started to race.
Seong must have noticed the tension in my face, because he reached across the table and placed a reassuring hand on mine. "It's probably nothing," he said quietly. But I could hear the uncertainty in his voice too.
Before we could say anything else, Jun reappeared, his expression tight. "Censia… can you come here for a second?"
I stood up slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. Seong followed me, the tension between us palpable as we made our way to the front door.
Standing in the doorway was someone I hadn't expected to see again—Jun's ex-boyfriend. The man who had humiliated me in front of my coworkers and customers, who had nearly caused me to break things off with Jun and Seong entirely. The sight of him made my stomach churn.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
He looked at me with a smug smile, his eyes flicking between me, Jun, and Seong. "I came to talk. About the three of you. You see, I think you're making a mistake."
Seong stepped forward, his expression darkening. "You need to leave. Now."
But the man didn't budge. "Oh, I'll leave soon enough. I just wanted to make sure Censia here knows what she's getting into. Do you really think you're going to last in this little arrangement? Do you really think these two are going to choose you over their family, their reputation? You're nothing to them."
His words cut deep, sharper than I expected. I clenched my fists, trying to keep my composure, but the tears were already welling up in my eyes.
"Get out," Jun growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Now."
The man raised his hands in mock surrender, smirking as he backed away. "Fine, fine. I'm just trying to help. But remember, Censia… you'll never belong here. You'll always be the outsider."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
I stood there, frozen, my mind racing with his cruel words. I knew I shouldn't let them get to me, but it was impossible not to. He had voiced the very fears I'd been trying so hard to push aside—the fear that I didn't belong, that I would never truly be a part of Jun and Seong's world.
Seong stepped beside me, his hand resting on my arm. "Don't listen to him, Censia. He's just trying to stir up trouble."
But it was too late. The damage had already been done. The insecurities I'd been burying came rushing back, and I felt a lump form in my throat.
"I… I need a moment," I whispered, pulling away from both of them.
Jun called after me as I hurried toward the back of the house, slipping out into the garden. The cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me.
I sank down onto a bench, burying my face in my hands as the tears finally spilled over. How had everything gone so wrong? One moment, I had been happy, feeling like things were finally starting to make sense. And now… now I wasn't so sure anymore.
I heard the door behind me creak open, and I knew it was Jun. He walked over slowly, sitting down beside me, but he didn't say anything. He just sat there, his presence quiet but comforting.
After a long moment, I finally spoke, my voice shaky. "Maybe he's right. Maybe I don't belong here. I'm just… I'm not like you. I'm not from your world."
Jun turned to me, his expression pained. "Censia, don't say that. You belong with us. I don't care what he said. I don't care what anyone thinks. I love you, and Seong loves you too. That's all that matters."
I wiped at my tears, but they kept coming. "But your mother—your ex—it's too much, Jun. I don't know if I can handle all of this."
Jun gently took my hands in his, his gaze steady and sincere. "We'll handle it together. Please, don't give up on us."
I looked into his eyes, seeing the depth of his emotions, the sincerity behind his words. But despite that, the doubt still lingered.
Seong appeared a moment later, standing silently behind us. He didn't say anything, but his presence alone was enough to calm me, if only slightly.
For a long time, we just sat there in the quiet garden, the three of us together in the stillness of the night. But even in their company, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, this wasn't where I belonged.