𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗥 ━━━ ❝ there's no morning glory, it was war. ❞
𝘁𝗼 preying eyes Han Ji-Ah had it all . . . from
rich background to a very promising future
with Han dynasty at he...
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❝ tears on the letter ❞
｡☆★━━━━━━★☆｡
THE NEWS HIT HAN JI0AH LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN, leaving her breathless, numb, and utterly broken.
Yoon Soo-Hee, the girl she had tried so desperately to protect, had taken her own life.
It was a gut-wrenching blow that left Ji-ah reeling, consumed by guilt and sorrow.
She found herself standing at the entrance of the funeral hall; her heart was heavy with grief. Mourners filled the room, their faces etched with sadness as they paid their respects to Soo-He.
Ji-ah felt a lump form in her throat as she made her way to the front.
As Ji-Ah stood there, a flood of memories washed over her. She remembered Soo-Hee's tear-streaked face, her desperate pleas for help. She remembered her own promises to protect her, to make things right. And now, Soo-Hee was gone, lost in the darkness that had consumed her.
Amidst the grief and confusion, Ji-Ah's thoughts drifted back to her conversation with her father. She remembered his cold, calculated words after learning of Soo-Hee's death.
"I can't help you now," he had said, his tone devoid of emotion. "If it was just about bullying, it would have been easier to help. But with the suicide case attached to it . . . it's bad for business. You'll understand someday."
Ji-Ah can't say his words surprised her. She wasn't. She should be angry at him, curse him—or better yet, she should be wrecking hell on those behind Soo-Hee's death.
But she was angry, she wasn't cursing anyone, and she certainly wasn't wrecking hell on anybody.
Ji-Ah felt . . .nothing.
And why should she feel angry at anyone but herself? Why should she curse anyone but herself? Why should she wreck hell on anybody . . . but herself?
As Ji-Ah grappled with these questions, a deep sense of self-blame and guilt washed over her. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had failed Soo-Hee, that her actions—or lack thereof—had contributed to this tragic outcome.
She remembered the day Soo-Hee had begged her not to intervene, not to make things worse for her. Ji-Ah had ignored her pleas, convinced that she was doing the right thing. But now, faced with the devastating consequences of her actions, she couldn't help but wonder if she had made a terrible mistake.
She looked around at the mourners, their faces twisted in sorrow, and realized that she caused their pain. She had promised to protect Soo-Hee, to make things right, and instead, she had only brought more suffering upon her.
Hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks. Life moved on, but for Ji-Ah, it was as if time had stood still. The guilt weighed heavily on her; a constant companion that refused to be ignored.
She tried to bury herself in her studies, in her work, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape the memories of Soo-Hee's pleading eyes, of her own failure to save her.
One day, as Ji-Ah sat alone in her room, the weight of her guilt became too much to bear. She sank to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she cried out in anguish.
"I'm sorry, Soo-Hee," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm so sorry. I should have done more. I should have been better. I should have saved you."
But there was no answer, no solace to be found in the empty silence of her room. Ji-Ah knew that she would have to live with her guilt for the rest of her days, a constant reminder of the life she had failed to save.
The school bell rang, signaling the end of another long day. Ji-Ah gathered her books and started making her way towards the exit, her mind still heavy with thoughts of Soo-Hee and her own guilt. Lost in her thoughts, she almost collided with someone turning the corner.
"Oops, sorry," a soft voice said, and Ji-Ah looked up to see a girl standing in front of her. She was small in stature, with gentle eyes and a timid smile.
"It's okay," Ji-Ah replied, offering a faint smile in return.
The girl hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I'm Moon Dong-Eun," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"I'm Han Ji-Ah," Ji-Ah replied, surprised by the girl's sudden introduction.
"I know who you are," Dong-Eun said quietly. "Everyone does. You're friends with Jae-Joon, right?"
The acknowledgment sent a pang through Ji-Ah's heart, a stark reminder of the shattered relationships she once held. With a heavy sigh, she mustered the strength to respond.
"Was. Was friends with him," Ji-Ah corrected, her voice tinged with sadness.
Dong-Eun's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Oh . . . I'm sorry," she murmured, her expression filled with sympathy.
Ji-Ah managed a weak smile, grateful for Dong-Eun's understanding. "It's okay," she reassured, though the weight of her words hung heavily in the air.
Dong-Eun nodded slowly, her gaze softening. "I didn't mean to . . . " she trailed off, her voice faltering.
Ji-Ah reached out, placing a comforting hand on Dong-Eun's arm. "It's alright, really," she said, offering a reassuring squeeze.
Moon Dong-Eun, a girl from her school known for her reserved nature, started to cross paths with Ji-Ah more frequently. At first, their interactions were brief and polite, mere nods of acknowledgment in the hallway. But as time passed, a tentative friendship began to bloom between them.
Dong-Eun's gentle demeanor and understanding nature provided a comforting presence for Ji-Ah in her darkest moments. Unlike Soo-Hee, who had pleaded with Ji-Ah to stay out of her troubles, Dong-Eun seemed to appreciate Ji-Ah's company, even in silence.
They would often sit together during lunch, wordlessly sharing their grief and finding solace in each other's presence. Ji-Ah found herself opening up to Dong-Eun in ways she never thought possible, sharing her guilt, her pain, and her regrets.
Dong-Eun, in turn, offered a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on, providing a sense of understanding and empathy that Ji-Ah had been craving. She never judged Ji-Ah for her mistakes or tried to offer empty words of comfort. Instead, she simply listened, offering silent support and companionship.
As their friendship grew, Ji-Ah found herself slowly starting to heal. The weight of her guilt didn't disappear overnight, but with Dong-Eun by her side, it became more bearable. She began to see a glimmer of hope, a possibility of redemption, in the midst of her despair.
And oh, how she wishes she hadn't.
⭒ ✦ ✧ ✦ ⭒
𓆸𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐀 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝄢
Finally the fourth chapter ! so it begins . . . tears are falling and Dong-Eun is finally in the picture, it's just the beginning you all !
