Yuna smoothed her outfit, glancing one last time in the mirror. Tonight, she'd agreed to go on a date with Jihun an idea he'd been gently pushing for weeks. Her mind was elsewhere, though, her attention drifting back to the day's true purpose. Kairo's schedule was still buzzing in her mind, tempting her with the opportunity to track his moves throughout the evening. She knew it would take precision to balance both.
When she arrived at the restaurant, she spotted Jihun waiting for her, his face lighting up the moment he saw her. "Yuna!" he greeted warmly, pulling her into a hug. She offered him a polite smile, hoping he wouldn't notice her occasional glances toward her phone.
They ordered, and while Jihun began chatting about his day, Yuna nodded along, her mind racing as she discreetly checked Kairo's latest update. He was only a few blocks away, heading to an upscale lounge with some colleagues. Her heart pounded; if she timed it right, she could step away from the date and slip by to catch a glimpse of him.
Feigning a brief distraction, she excused herself from the table, claiming she had a quick work call. "It won't be long, I promise," she said, flashing Jihun a reassuring smile before slipping out.
With her heart racing, she walked swiftly to the lounge, making sure to stay out of view but close enough to observe. She spotted Kairo through the windows, deep in conversation, completely unaware of her presence. For a few moments, Yuna just watched, soaking in the details as if they were secrets meant only for her.
Realizing she'd been gone a little too long, Yuna hurried back to Jihun, hoping he hadn't noticed her absence. She slid back into her seat, her expression calm as she apologized, "Sorry about that! Just work stuff."
But as the night continued, she found herself repeating the same pattern: a few minutes with Jihun, then an excuse to step outside and check on Kairo. Each time she returned, Jihun's expression grew more strained, but he kept his words gentle, as though he were trying to understand her.
By the end of the evening, Yuna felt a quiet thrill mixed with the faint guilt of knowing her attention had been divided. But in her mind, this was her world a balance of reality and her mission to stay close to Kairo, even if it meant keeping Jihun in the dark.
After the date, they returned to Yuna's apartment. The silence lingered a moment too long before Jihun took a deep breath, his expression shifting to something vulnerable.
"Yuna," he started softly, his voice carrying a weight she hadn't heard before. "I know I mean a lot less to you than you do to me. And if that's the case, maybe it's better if you just tell me to back off."
His words stunned her; he wasn't the usual lighthearted, patient Jihun she was used to. His eyes held a depth of hurt and sincerity, and for the first time, she felt the impact of her distance and half-truths.
"You're my everything, Yuna," he continued, struggling with each word, "but I can't keep putting myself through this if… if your heart's somewhere else." He let his gaze drop, hands clenching and unclenching as he seemed to brace himself for her response.
Yuna felt a pang of guilt, but she quickly brushed it off, rationalizing that this was necessary. Keeping him close was convenient, but in her mind, nothing would compare to her connection to Kairo. Still, she knew she had to tread carefully. She reached out, resting a hand on Jihun's arm, hoping to say just enough to keep him in her orbit without fully committing.
"Jihun… you're important to me," she said softly. "I don't want you to go anywhere."
But deep down, her mind was already drifting back to Kairo.
Just as Jihun's words lingered in the air, Yuna's phone lit up with a notification. Her heart skipped as she saw Kairo's latest post a photo of the lounge she had gone to spy on earlier in the evening. The warm lighting, elegant decor, and a small caption beneath it: "Great night with the team."
Yuna's eyes widened, her breath catching. He had captured a moment that she'd witnessed herself, like a hidden message meant only for her. In her mind, it was almost as if he knew she'd been there, a shared experience that bound them closer.
Lost in her thoughts, she barely registered Jihun's presence anymore, his confession drifting to the back of her mind as she stared at the screen. She could practically feel the pull of that night all over again, the memory of watching him so close yet untouchable.
Jihun noticed her distraction, his face falling as he watched her engrossed in her phone, oblivious to the moment they had just shared. The truth of her divided heart became all too clear, and, silently, he took a step back, realizing that he'd already begun to lose her.
He then bid a goodbye and left.