The days that followed felt like a blur to Jungwon, each one bleeding into the next, marked by an oppressive silence that filled every corner of his apartment. Without Seoyeon or Yoonah in his life, he found himself adrift, lost in a sea of regret and self-doubt. The love he had once taken for granted now seemed like a distant memory, replaced by the heavy emptiness of his own making.
He hadn't heard from Seoyeon since that night. He imagined her trying to piece together the broken fragments of her life, just as he was trying to make sense of his own. There were so many things he wished he could say to her, so many apologies he longed to give, but he knew it wouldn't change anything. Seoyeon had been the most important part of his life for so long, and now, because of his betrayal, she was gone.
Jungwon spent his days avoiding his phone, ignoring the few messages that trickled in from Yoonah. She had kept her promise to give him space, but he knew that even she was waiting for something—an explanation, a decision, anything that could give them some clarity. But every time he thought about replying, the weight of his uncertainty held him back.
He wandered the city aimlessly, trying to escape the suffocating confines of his apartment, but no matter where he went, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had ruined everything. The parks, the cafes, even the riverbank where he and Seoyeon had once spent quiet afternoons—all of it was stained with memories that now felt out of reach.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Jungwon found himself at the very spot where everything had started to unravel—the riverbank where he had first realized his feelings for Yoonah. The place was eerily quiet, the stillness of the water mirroring the numbness inside him.
Sitting down on the grass, Jungwon closed his eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over him. He had thought that love would be enough, that following his heart would lead him to something real, something lasting. But now, it all seemed like a distant illusion. He had let his desires blind him to the consequences, and in the end, he had lost not just Seoyeon and Yoonah, but also the version of himself he once knew.
He pulled out his phone, staring at the blank screen for a long time before finally unlocking it. His thumb hovered over Seoyeon's contact, the familiar name bringing a fresh wave of guilt. He had replayed their last conversation over and over in his head, wishing he could take back everything he had said, wishing he could go back to the way things were before everything fell apart.
But there was no going back.
Jungwon took a deep breath, scrolling to Yoonah's messages. She had sent him a few over the past week, each one softer, less insistent than the last:
"I'm here if you need me."
"I miss you."
"I hope you're okay."
She had been patient, even now, giving him the time he needed to sort through his emotions. But Jungwon knew that he couldn't leave things hanging forever. Yoonah deserved an answer, even if it wasn't the one she wanted.
He typed slowly, the words forming painfully as he tried to gather his thoughts:
"Yoonah, I've been doing a lot of thinking. I don't know how to say this, but I think we need to take a step back. I care about you, I really do, but I can't move forward like this. I need to figure out who I am without hurting anyone else, and right now, I'm not sure I'm capable of being the person you deserve."
He hit send before he could second-guess himself, feeling a heavy weight lift from his chest. It wasn't the answer Yoonah was waiting for, but it was the truth—something he had avoided for far too long.
Jungwon sat there for a while longer, watching the last traces of daylight disappear, leaving the world in darkness. He had made his choice, but it didn't feel like the relief he had expected. Instead, it felt like the closing of a chapter—one filled with love, mistakes, and heartbreak.
As he stood to leave, Jungwon realized that he was truly alone for the first time in years. No Seoyeon, no Yoonah. Just him and the consequences of his actions. The future stretched out before him, uncertain and full of unknowns, but for the first time in a long while, he was ready to face it.
He didn't know where he was going from here, but he knew that whatever came next, it would be on his own terms. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.