Dior Lady event... Where Jisoo caught sight of Haein for the first time since their breakup, albeit from across the room. She lingered a little while, exchanged pleasantries with some people, admired a few bags, and then decided to leave, feeling uneasy at the thought of being in the same space as her ex.
Much to her surprise, Haein also happened to be a guest at another exclusive event just a few days later, attended only by South Korea's entertainment and media elite. It made sense though – he was a big name with numerous connections and acquaintances, and most of all, he wasn't filming at the moment. He might have seemed shy, but he was brilliant at making friends.
She couldn't help but notice him throughout the night, casually walking past her, hanging out with the DJ, seemingly everywhere. It got to a point where she couldn't even hide her glances.
"Do you still have feelings for him?" Joanna, the hotel owner's daughter and one of Jisoo's friends, asked cautiously. Jisoo sighed and took a sip from her whiskey on the rocks.
"Let's just say it was too intense to be forgotten." She replied, trying to focus her gaze away from Haein chatting with an elegant woman, seemingly unfazed by her presence.
"Have you thought about talking to him?" Joanna added.
"I would if he hadn't blocked me." Jisoo said with a hint of sadness. Joanna glanced at Haein as he said goodbye to the woman and walked away.
"Well, you might actually have a chance to chat with him here, I heard he rented a room." Joanna said. Jisoo's eyes widened in surprise and asked
"Really?" Joanna nodded in confirmation.
"Yeah, some artists booked rooms, and he's one of them. I can try to find out which one and let you know." Joanna offered. Jisoo hesitated, swallowing nervously.
The place was buzzing with people taking videos and snapping pictures — it was an enormous risk. She told Joanna she'd think about it before making her way over to the art exhibit.
As she walked through the exhibition, it was odd how she could feel his presence nearby. Though there were still others around, he stood out to her, completely engrossed in a painting. Waiting for a pair of gossiping women to leave, Jisoo finally approached him. For a moment they stood side by side in silence — Haein with arms crossed while Jisoo clasped her hands behind her back.
"You must be relieved now that no one associates your name with mine anymore." Haein said, she felt as her heart broke in a million of pieces as she recalled Haein's words from weeks ago, when she announced her new relationship. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes, trying to hold back her emotions.
"You know, that never really bothered me." Jisoo replied, the silence around them growing heavy. "Haein, I-" Jisoo started.
But before Jisoo could finish her sentence, he walked away from her, leaving an impatient sigh lingering in the air. The weight of his coldness hit Jisoo like a tidal wave, and she struggled to think of anything other than the man she still loved –and just couldn't forget.
But how could anyone forget someone who had once meant so much in their life?
Haein was Jisoo's first on-screen partner, and the first person she truly loved. They had a connection that made her feel safe, but somehow, she gave it all up and choose the fleeting attention she received. Was that the core issue?
Even though Jisoo never explicitly mentioned being in a romantic relationship with Bohyun, everyone jumped to conclusions, labeling him as her boyfriend, when in fact they were just getting to know each other. Korean forums further reinforced this idea, overshadowing his career and accomplishments.
