𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐓 | 𝘰𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘩𝘶𝘯

⤖ chapter fifty-eight

alexa, play 'smile on my face'

It has only been a minute since she arrived, yet it felt longer as she bored her eyes on his unreadable ones, just like the first time they met. Him sitting only meters apart but still seems so far.

Heejung wondered if she made the right decision to meet Sehun. Even before she came in the private room they reserved just for them to secretly meet, questions like 'Can I face him and be able to leave after?' and 'What if I can't?' lingered in her thoughts.

All to make a point that the man she once only adored from afar, was now her weak link.

"So," she broke the thickening silence. "How.. how are you?"

He broke eye contact and pursed his lips before replying. "I..."

What am I supposed to say? I'm doing extra great, I mean we're just filing a divorce right?

Sehun poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue as he snapped himself back from his thoughts. "I'm... okay?" He looked confused. "Actually, everything is a mess right now."

He flickered his gaze up to her and found her nodding in agreement, a timid smile painting her tinted, plump lips that he fought so hard not to look at for a long time or he would just not resist himself from savoring them, at least before she leaves.

"What about you?" the boy asked her back.

Her eyes blinked twice before she cleared her throat and looked away. "Did you find the envelope I left back at... at.." home?

Why couldn't she say it?

"Back at the house?" she continued, her nonchalant eyes meeting his expectant ones.

"Uhh, yes."

Silence fell over the room once again, none of them able to directly confront the elephant in the room.

"Heejung," he started, to which she looked straight at him that made him pause and bit his lip in contemplation. He took a sharp breath. "I want to know why..."

"Sehun, you know why." She replied with a stifled titter.

His brows furrowed as he pushed himself closer to the table, closer to her and rested his arm over it.

"If this is about me and Hayeon..."

"You don't have to tell—"

"Would you please let me finish?" he sternly retorted and Heejung's shoulders slumped, biting her bottom lip.

"What happened to me and Hayeon was nothing. She came up to me that day, I don't know why she was there. But she came to me and I refused any of her intentions."

His pleading orbs caused the girl's heart to crack into fragments, still, relief washed over her as he answered a question she needed to be addressed.

"I didn't kiss her back."

Sehun stressed on every word as he leaned closer, waiting for her to at least show any emotion on her face. But there was nothing.

She turned away from him but the light betrayed her, showing how her eyes became glossy, water filling her orbs to which she fought so hard not to spill.

"Heejung..." he softly said.

"But it's already too messy..." blinking her tears away, she faced him again. "Isn't it?"

"You don't have to explain anything to me. 'Cause we had an agreement, remember? Now we have a chance to make it sooner than what we've expected. Isn't that great news?"

She smiled. Every second she sat there was like a test whether she would give in or be brave and face the reality that this cannot be.

"Do you have a pen?"

Sehun pulled out a familiar envelope and placed it on the table. Pressing her lips together, Heejung rummaged through her bag and handed him her pen when she found it.

"Thanks."

He took out the paper inside, and she watched him as he draw strokes of his signature. When he was done, he carefully placed the paper back inside and pushed it on her side of the table with her pen on top of it.

She reached for it but before she could retract her hand, a size bigger than hers hovered over her skin and gave it a light squeeze.

Amused, she lifted her gaze up, covering up the slight pain poking her chest, and found him already staring at her.

Sehun gave it another squeeze. "It was fun while it lasted."

He was about to withdraw his hand when he felt her thumb grazed over his knuckle with a gentle caress. She sent him a beam before clearing her throat.

"Good luck on your promotions. I'll continue rooting for you," she said. "After all, you're my bias."

A boyish grin plastered on his lips. "Knew it. Took you long enough to admit it."

Her smile only got wider. She sighed as she pulled her chair behind and stood up.

"Well I better get going."

"Already?"

"Yeah. Don't miss mommy too much."

His heart hammered against his chest when she leaned in, but maybe he expected too much. She tapped his cheek twice and he fought the urge to let her hand stay there.

"Don't overdo it," he said. "I might miss it."

"Goodbye, Sehun."

Heejung began to walk, leaving him behind when she felt a tug on her hand. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Sehun holding her hand without looking at her, head hanging low.

"I'm sorry." Her brows knit together.

"What are you sorry for?"

The lad stood up, towering over her figure as she looked up at him and watched as his adam's apple bobbed. He swiftly let go of her hand, then took a step towards her before Heejung felt herself melting in his embrace, and found herself secretly wanting this to not cease.

He nuzzled his head to the crook of her neck and reached up before planting a bittersweet kiss on the side of her crown. Finally, he distanced himself from her warmth to restrain himself from grabbing unto her as she goes away.

And with a smile on his face, he waved his hand.

"See you around, Elsa."

idk what makes it sadder

them not admitting their feelings or breaking up even though they're not actually together

epilogue is coming up

im still thinking if i should continue the second book or let this be the end for them