The following days were a blur of confusion, guilt, and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. I couldn't stop replaying that moment in my office, standing between Jun and Seong while my phone buzzed with Nathan's message. The weight of their expectations, their love, felt like it was suffocating me, even though I knew they meant well.
I buried myself in work, doing everything I could to avoid thinking about what had happened. But even at the office, I couldn't escape it. Every time I caught a glimpse of my phone, I half-expected another message from Nathan or Jun or Seong.
That morning, I had barely managed to drag myself out of bed, still groggy from the restless sleep I'd gotten. But I forced myself to show up to work, hiding behind the mask of professionalism I'd mastered so well.
I kept to myself most of the day, throwing myself into tasks, checking off deadlines, and ignoring the occasional pang of my phone buzzing with notifications. But everything came to a head when I walked into Ji-Ho's office to deliver some paperwork and found Nathan waiting there, leaning casually against the desk, looking just as perfect as he always had.
"Censia," he greeted with a wide smile, his gaze sweeping over me. "You look stunning as always."
My heart sank, and I forced a smile, keeping my tone cold. "What are you doing here, Nathan?"
Ji-Ho looked between the two of us, sensing the tension but choosing to stay silent. He was used to seeing me interact with clients and partners, but Nathan wasn't just anyone—he was a ghost from a past I'd never truly escaped.
Nathan pushed off the desk and took a step closer to me, his hands slipping casually into his pockets. "I was hoping we could talk. You didn't respond to my messages."
"I've been busy," I replied curtly, gripping the stack of paperwork in my hands a little too tightly.
Nathan tilted his head, a soft chuckle escaping him. "Busy avoiding me, you mean."
Before I could respond, there was a soft knock on the office door, and Jun stepped in, his eyes immediately zeroing in on Nathan with an icy glare. I felt the tension in the room skyrocket, and my pulse quickened.
"What's he doing here?" Jun demanded, his voice dangerously low.
Nathan smirked, unbothered by Jun's presence. "Just catching up with Censia. Is that a problem?"
Jun's jaw clenched, and before I could intervene, he took a step forward, clearly agitated. "You need to leave. Now."
Nathan crossed his arms, looking far too comfortable for my liking. "Or what? You're going to kick me out?"
I quickly stepped between them, placing a hand on Jun's chest to stop him from escalating the situation. "Nathan, please. Just leave."
Nathan's eyes softened for a moment, but his smirk didn't fade. "Alright. I'll go. But we're not done, Censia. Not by a long shot."
With that, he turned and walked out of the office, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Jun stared after him, his fists still clenched, but when he turned to me, there was a flicker of pain in his eyes. "Why is he here, Censia?"
I sighed, shaking my head. "I don't know, Jun. He just showed up. I told him I didn't want to talk, but... he won't let it go."
Jun's face softened, and he took a step closer, his voice low and filled with concern. "I don't trust him. He left you once, and now he's back, thinking he can waltz back into your life? No. I won't let that happen."
I placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him down. "It's fine, Jun. I'm not going back to him."
But Jun wasn't convinced. His brow furrowed, and I could see the frustration and worry bubbling under the surface. "I don't like this, Censia. He's trouble."
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed again, and I pulled it out to see yet another message from Nathan. My heart sank.
Nathan: We need to talk. I'm not giving up on us.
Jun saw the message over my shoulder and swore under his breath, his expression darkening again. "This has to stop."
I nodded, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Nathan wasn't going to let me go that easily. And I wasn't sure if I had the strength to keep fighting.
---
Later that evening, I found myself sitting in my car outside of Nathan's apartment. I had promised myself I wouldn't go, that I would keep my distance, but here I was, once again tangled in the web of my past.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but as soon as I knocked on his door and he opened it, I realized I had made a mistake.
Nathan greeted me with a soft smile, his eyes searching mine as if he already knew what I was thinking. "You came."
"I shouldn't have," I whispered, already regretting my decision.
But Nathan didn't seem fazed. He stepped aside, letting me in. "You're here now. Let's talk."
I walked inside, my heart pounding in my chest. His apartment was immaculate, just as I remembered—sleek, modern, and perfectly curated to match his polished exterior. It was everything I wasn't, and yet, for some reason, I had always found comfort in it.
Nathan poured us both a glass of wine and motioned for me to sit on the couch. "You've been on my mind a lot lately, Censia," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."
I took a sip of the wine, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Nathan, this... this can't happen. I'm with Jun and Seong now. I've moved on."
Nathan's smile faltered, and he leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine. "But have you really? Do you really believe you can be happy with them? I know you, Censia. You're not the same girl who would settle for half of someone's heart."
His words hit too close to home, and I looked away, my chest tightening. "It's not like that."
Nathan reached out, gently taking my hand. "I've changed, Censia. I'm not the same man I was when I left. I've built something now, something I'm proud of. And I want you by my side."
I pulled my hand away, shaking my head. "You can't just come back into my life like this. It's not fair."
Nathan sighed, leaning back on the couch, his eyes never leaving mine. "Life's not fair, Censia. But I'm here now. I want to make things right."
We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, the weight of his words hanging in the air. I didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond to the conflicting emotions swirling inside me.
Eventually, Nathan stood up and walked over to the window, looking out at the city below. "You don't have to decide anything right now. Just... think about it."
I swallowed hard, setting down my glass. "I should go."
Nathan turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "Stay. Just for tonight. No pressure, no expectations. Just stay."
Against my better judgment, I nodded, too tired to fight anymore.
We spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing, and reminiscing about the past. It was bittersweet, like stepping back into a time when things were simpler, when I hadn't yet been pulled in a thousand different directions.
Eventually, I fell asleep on the couch, and when I woke up the next morning, I found myself wrapped in a blanket, with Nathan asleep in the chair across from me.
I didn't know what the future held, but for now, all I wanted was peace. Even if it was just for a little while.