It had been a week since the gala, and I still couldn't shake the weight of everything that had happened. Jun's words, his touch, the way he'd looked at me—it was all too much. I spent every day at work trying to block out the confusion that came with it, but the constant ache in my chest never went away.
And Jun? He hadn't stopped trying to reach me. He sent flowers to my apartment every morning, and every time my phone buzzed, I knew it was him. But I couldn't face him, not after what we'd shared at the gala—the way we'd danced, the way he'd told me he still loved me. It was all too much to process.
As I walked into the office that morning, my head was a mess of conflicting thoughts. Seong had been away on business for over a week, and I felt the weight of his absence in my chest. His steady presence had always been my anchor, but without him, everything seemed even more disjointed.
I greeted my coworkers absently, making my way to my desk and setting down my bag. Just as I settled into my chair, Ji Ho, my boss, appeared in front of me, holding two cups of coffee. He smiled warmly and offered me one.
"You look like you could use this," he said, his eyes twinkling with concern.
I accepted the cup gratefully. "You have no idea. Thanks, Ji Ho."
He sat on the edge of my desk, studying me closely. "You've seemed a little... distant lately. Is everything okay?"
I forced a smile, not wanting to burden him with the chaos of my personal life. "Just a lot on my mind. I'm okay, really."
Ji Ho frowned, clearly unconvinced. "You know, if you ever need to talk, I'm here. And if you ever need a break or some time off, just let me know."
His kindness was almost overwhelming, and for a moment, I felt the urge to confide in him. But I stopped myself. This wasn't something I could easily explain.
"I appreciate that, Ji Ho," I said softly, taking a sip of the coffee. "I'll keep that in mind."
---
The day passed in a blur of meetings, paperwork, and phone calls. By the time lunch rolled around, I was already feeling mentally drained. I decided to step out of the office for some fresh air and clear my head.
As I walked down the street, I noticed the familiar figure of Nathan approaching me from the other direction. My stomach tightened. I hadn't seen him since the night I spent at his place—since the night I'd woken up in his bed, thankfully untouched. He had been respectful, understanding, but it had still been an awkward experience, and I wasn't ready to face him again just yet.
But before I could duck into a nearby shop to avoid him, he spotted me and waved, his expression lighting up.
"Censia! Hey!" he called out, jogging over to me.
I plastered a smile on my face, trying to act normal. "Nathan. Hey, how are you?"
He grinned, his usual confidence on full display. "I'm good. Busy, as always. What about you? You look like you've had a rough day."
I shrugged, not wanting to go into too much detail. "Just work stuff. You know how it is."
Nathan tilted his head, studying me more closely. "Yeah, I know that look. Wanna grab some lunch? I know this great little spot around the corner."
I hesitated. Spending more time with Nathan wasn't exactly what I had in mind, especially with everything else going on. But I also didn't want to seem rude or distant, so I agreed.
---
We ended up at a cozy little café, tucked away from the busier streets. The smell of freshly baked bread and coffee filled the air, and for a moment, I felt a sense of calm wash over me.
Nathan ordered for both of us, chatting animatedly about his latest business ventures. I tried to keep up, but my mind kept wandering back to Jun, to the way he'd kissed me at the gala, to the way he'd apologized afterward. It was like I couldn't escape him, no matter how hard I tried.
"Earth to Censia?" Nathan's voice snapped me back to reality. He was watching me with a smirk, clearly amused. "You've been zoning out for the past five minutes. What's going on with you?"
I sighed, setting down my fork. "Sorry, Nathan. I've just been... distracted lately. It's nothing personal."
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Is it about Jun?"
The directness of his question caught me off guard. I blinked, surprised that he had picked up on it so quickly. "What makes you think that?"
Nathan shrugged. "I'm not blind. I've seen the way you look when his name comes up. Plus, I've heard things."
I frowned. "Heard things? What do you mean?"
He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Rumor has it Jun's been trying to win you back. And honestly, Censia, I'm not sure why you're even considering it."
His words stung, but they also rang true. Why was I considering it? After everything that had happened, after all the hurt and betrayal, why was I still drawn to Jun?
"I don't know," I admitted quietly. "It's complicated."
Nathan reached across the table, taking my hand in his. "It doesn't have to be. You deserve better, Censia. You deserve someone who's going to put you first, someone who won't make you question your worth."
His touch was warm, comforting, but it only added to my confusion. I didn't want to talk about Jun anymore, didn't want to feel the weight of everything hanging over me.
"I should get back to work," I said, pulling my hand away and standing up. "Thanks for lunch, Nathan."
He stood as well, watching me closely. "Just think about what I said, okay? You don't have to settle for less."
---
As I made my way back to the office, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, already expecting it to be another message from Jun. But when I saw the name on the screen, my heart sank.
It was Seong.
I'm back in town. We need to talk.
His message was simple, but it sent a wave of anxiety crashing over me. I hadn't heard from Seong since before the gala, and the thought of facing him now, after everything that had happened, made my stomach twist in knots.
I didn't reply, slipping my phone back into my pocket and quickening my pace toward the office. There were too many things I didn't want to deal with, too many emotions I didn't want to confront. I needed more time—time to figure out what I wanted, time to sort through the mess that had become my life.
But as much as I tried to push it all away, I knew it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down around me.