𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 | (𝐆)𝐈-𝐃𝐋𝐄

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬

| Inspired by the song Gotta Go My Own Way

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In the quiet town of Bail, where everyone knew everyone, two girls grew up side by side-Minnie and Miyeon. From childhood scraped knees to high school crushes, they did everything together. They were more than best friends-they were each other's home.

Miyeon had music in her blood. She sang like her soul was stitched into every note. People stopped whatever they were doing when she sang-there was something about her voice that made time slow down. Meanwhile, Minnie was a force of her own on the basketball court. Tall, confident, and quick on her feet, she made the varsity team as a sophomore and had scouts whispering her name before she even realized what was happening.

They both had dreams-big ones-but they never talked about what that might mean for them.

Until one day, Miyeon got an email that changed everything.

She had been accepted to audition for a prestigious music academy in the city. Just the thought of it made her heart race-but the idea of telling Minnie made it sink. She held it in for days, then a week. Every time they walked home from school or stayed up late on the phone, she wanted to say something. But she couldn't.

When she finally told her, it was a quiet afternoon at the park. They sat under their usual tree, the one near the basketball court where Minnie used to practice her free throws while Miyeon read lyrics off her phone.

"I got an audition," Miyeon said, barely above a whisper.

Minnie blinked. "Audition?"

"For the music academy. In the city."

Silence. Just the rustling of leaves.

"Oh," Minnie said softly.

Miyeon looked at her, trying to read what she couldn't say. "I haven't accepted yet. I wanted to tell you first."

Minnie looked down at her hands, fingers laced tightly together. "It's amazing, Miyeon. Really."

"But?"

Minnie's voice cracked. "But what happens to us?"

Miyeon didn't have an answer. And that scared her more than anything.

The days after that were strange. They still hung out, still joked, still walked each other home-but something unspoken lingered between them. Like they were counting down, even if they didn't know what to.

When the day of the audition came, Minnie went with her.

"You don't have to come," Miyeon had said.

"I want to," Minnie answered.

They took the bus into the city, and Miyeon was shaking the whole way. Minnie held her hand the entire ride, saying nothing but squeezing every time she felt Miyeon's nerves spike.

Miyeon sang like she never had before-like every word was for Minnie, like she was singing their story out loud in front of strangers. When the judges smiled and nodded, she knew she'd nailed it. When they offered her a place on the spot, she should've been thrilled.

But she looked at Minnie-and saw heartbreak barely hidden behind a brave smile.

That night, back in their hotel room, Miyeon sat on the windowsill, staring out at the city lights.

"I got in," she whispered.

Minnie looked up from her spot on the bed. "I know."

Miyeon's eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to leave you."

Minnie stood and walked over to her. "Then don't."

Silence.

"But," she added, her voice soft and breaking, "I won't be the reason you stay, either. You're meant for something big, Miyeon. And I've always known that."

Miyeon couldn't stop crying.

Minnie smiled through her own tears. "Go. Chase your dream. I'll be okay."

And so Miyeon went.

They kept in touch. At first, it was daily calls and endless texts. Then, slowly, life happened. Miyeon buried herself in music; Minnie chased scholarships and led her team to nationals. They were still "Miyeon and Minnie," just... in different time zones, under different skies.

Years passed.

Miyeon made it. Her songs were on the radio, her face on billboards. Minnie, too, made waves in the world of sports-captain of a pro team, interviews, the works. They had made it. Separately.

And then one day, Bail called them both home.

A charity event in their hometown gym. Familiar faces, old memories. And then-each other.

They saw each other across the room.

It wasn't dramatic. There was no big gasp or slow-motion run. Just a quiet recognition. And when their eyes met, it was like no time had passed.

They stepped toward each other.

"Hey," Miyeon said, voice soft.

"Hey," Minnie echoed.

The air between them was thick with unspoken words.

"You look good," Miyeon said.

"So do you."

They stood in silence again, the noise of the room fading around them.

"I missed you," Miyeon said finally.

"I missed you too."

They talked for hours that night. About the years apart. The pain. The pride. The what-ifs.

And then Miyeon said the words that had haunted her since the day she left: "I loved you, Minnie. I still do."

Minnie's voice trembled. "I never stopped."

They didn't kiss. Not yet. But they didn't need to.

They had learned that love wasn't always about staying. Sometimes, it was about letting go so that both people could grow-and finding their way back when the time was right.

Because sometimes, going your own way doesn't mean walking alone. It just means taking the long way back to each other.

And under the fading light of their hometown sky, they found their way home-not just to Bail, but to each other.