As we left the Kim mansion, Hyunjin told me to put on my seatbelt, but I didn't hear him—I was too lost in thought. I barely registered the sound of him sighing before he leaned in to buckle me up himself.
My heart skipped a beat.
His face was so close—too close. My breath hitched as my gaze instinctively dropped to his lips, my mind instantly flashing back to that kiss. I could still feel the ghost of it on my own, still taste the lingering warmth of him. Ahhh. This was insane.
Meanwhile, he was completely oblivious, his focus solely on securing the seatbelt.
The drive was silent, but my thoughts were anything but. That kiss—it was consuming me. Over and over, replaying like a song stuck on repeat.
Then, Hyunjin's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"I'm sorry."
His tone was soft, almost hesitant.
I blinked, turning to him in confusion. His eyes stayed locked on the road ahead, his grip firm on the wheel.
"Sorry for what?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
There was a brief pause before he spoke again.
"For everything that happened." His voice was laced with something I couldn't quite place—regret? Guilt? "It wasn't my intention to put you in an awkward situation like that. But I promise you, as long as you're my girlfriend... pretend girlfriend... I'll protect you. No matter what."
My heart fluttered.
The way he said it, the certainty in his voice—it threw me off.
"No biggie," I mumbled, trying to play it cool. But then, for some reason, I said the absolute dumbest thing imaginable. "It's not like you stole my first kiss anyway."
My eyes widened.
Did I just—?
A hot wave of embarrassment hit me all at once.
Hyunjin suddenly pulled the car over and turned to me, his brows raised.
"What did you just say?"
I wanted to sink into the seat and disappear. I scrambled to come up with something—anything—to save myself, but my mouth had officially stopped functioning.
Before I could even attempt a recovery, his phone rang.
Lee Seoyeon.
He sighed before answering.
"Hello?"
"Come see me."
Her voice was shaky, like she had been crying.
"Seoyeon, I don't think—"
"Please, Hyunjin."
A long silence stretched between them.
"I'll be there soon."
✨WRITER'S POV✨
After dropping Wendy off, Hyunjin arrived at Seoyeon's house. The moment he stepped inside her room, he found her curled up on the edge of her bed, her face buried in her hands.
She was crying.
Her entire body trembled as she lifted her gaze to him, her eyes red and swollen.
"I don't understand," she choked out. "Why her? Why not me?"
Hyunjin exhaled, his heart sinking.
"Seoyeon—"
"No!" she snapped, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I've loved you for years, Hyunjin. Years. I waited, I stayed by your side, and I never once asked for anything in return. But now—now you're choosing her? Just like that?"
Hyunjin's chest tightened. He hated seeing her like this.
"You mean a lot to me," he said gently, his voice thick with emotion. "But only as a friend."
She let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "A friend? That's all I've ever been to you?"
"I never wanted to hurt you," he admitted.
"Then why are you doing this?" Her voice cracked. "If you care about me at all, you won't be with her. You can't be with her."
Hyunjin's expression hardened.
"I'm with Wendy now," he said firmly. "And I need you to accept that. Please, Seoyeon. If you care about me, just be happy for me."
She clenched her fists, her whole body shaking. "I can't," she whispered. "I won't accept it. I refuse to accept it, Hyunjin. I won't let you be with her."
His jaw clenched.
"You have to."
Her breath hitched.
"And listen to me carefully, Seoyeon," he continued, his tone suddenly cold. "Don't do anything to hurt Wendy. I won't tolerate it."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
"Don't make me choose between you two," he warned.
Seoyeon sucked in a sharp breath, her lips parting, but no words came out.
Hyunjin gave her one last look before turning and walking away, leaving her in the silence of her heartbreak.
And as he stepped out of the house, the weight of everything settled onto his shoulders like a storm cloud, pressing heavy and unrelenting.
