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°˖➴ #𝟬𝟰 - uncertainty
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"SERIOUSLY, Hana, does this guy even own a watch?"
Kim Sunoo exclaimed through the phone. "I swear, if I ever get my hands on him..."
Haneul had been pacing back and forth in her room ever since she got home, her frustration growing with each passing minute of being stood up by her boyfriend. She then finally grabbed her phone and dialed her friend's number.
Despite her friend's fiery reaction, Haneul couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty. "But what if it's just a misunderstanding?" she wondered aloud. "Maybe he had a legitimate reason for not showing up."
Sunoo scoffed incredulously. "Oh please, girl, don't tell me you're buying into his lame excuses again," he retorted. "You deserve someone who respects your time, not some flake who can't be bothered to show up when he says he will."
Haneul chewed her lip, torn between her desire to believe the best in Minho and Sunoo's no-nonsense advice. "I just don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her friend's tone softened, a note of empathy creeping in. "I get it, Hana," he said gently. "But you can't keep making excuses for him. It's time to put yourself first and demand the respect you deserve."
Haneul nodded, torn between her desire to salvage her relationship and her growing realization that maybe it wasn't worth fighting for. "I know, but... what if things could be different?" she mused, her thoughts drifting back to the good times she and Minho had shared.
"You deserve someone who makes you feel loved and valued every single day," he reminded her, his voice unwavering in its conviction. "Don't settle for anything less."
Despite her friend's words of wisdom, Haneul couldn't shake the nagging doubt that lingered in the back of her mind. "But what if I'm making a mistake?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with fear.
"You're not alone, Hana," he said softly. "Whatever you decide, I'll be here for you every step of the way."
"Thanks Sunoo, you're the best." Haneul said, grateful for her friend's understanding.
"I know I am." he declared, making Haneul laugh at her friend's sassiness.
Just then, Sunoo's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Speaking of which, did you hear that Heeseung is back in town?"
Haneul froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Yeah, I know," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the sudden flutter of excitement in her chest.
Sunoo gasped in disbelief. "Wait, you knew?" he exclaimed, his voice rising with shock. "And you didn't tell me?"
Haneul winced, realizing she had been caught red-handed. "I... I wanted to tell you, but I wasn't sure how," she admitted, feeling a pang of guilt. "It's just... complicated."
"Hey, it's okay," Sunoo said reassuringly. "You don't owe me an explanation. But spill the tea, girl! What's the deal with you and Heeseung?"
Haneul hesitated, unsure of where to begin. "We... we bumped into each other at the grocery store," she confessed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "And I met him at the cafe today."
"Oh my god, are you serious?" he exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. "What happened next?"
As Haneul recounted her reunion with Heeseung, Sunoo listened with rapt attention, hanging on her every word. Despite his initial shock, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the possibility of his friend rekindling a connection with her childhood crush.
As the call drew to a close, Haneul felt a sense of gratitude wash over her. "Thanks again Sunoo," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "For everything."
Her friend's warm laughter echoed through the phone. "Anytime, girl," he replied. "You know I always got your back."
With a final exchange of heartfelt goodbyes, Haneul hung up the phone, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. She knew she still had a difficult decision ahead of her, but at least she has people who supports her.
Haneul was about to climb into bed, when her phone buzzed with a notification. With a weary sigh, she glanced at the screen, her heart sinking as she read Minho's latest message.
For a moment, she considered ignoring it, pushing aside the disappointment and frustration that threatened to overwhelm her. But curiosity got the better of her, and with a resigned sigh, she clicked on the notification, bracing herself for yet another excuse.
'Hey Haneul, got stuck at work again, you know how it is. I'll make it up to you, I promise'
As the message unfolded before her, Haneul's shoulders slumped in resignation. Another work-related emergency, another broken promise. She felt a pang of disappointment gnawing at her heart, mingled with a sense of weary acceptance. This had become all too familiar, a recurring pattern that seemed destined to repeat itself no matter how much she hoped for things to change.
She sighed, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she debated how to respond. Part of her wanted to lash out, to unleash all the pent-up frustration and anger that had been simmering beneath the surface. But another part of her, the part that still clung to hope, urged her to give him another chance, to believe that maybe this time would be different.
With a heavy heart, Haneul typed out a brief reply, her words tinged with a hint of resignation. 'It's okay,' she wrote, forcing a smiley face at the end to mask the bitterness in her tone. 'Just let me know when you're free.'
As she hit send, Haneul felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Despite her best efforts to remain hopeful, deep down she knew that this pattern would only continue unless something changed. But for now, all she could do was wait, her heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unanswered questions.
With a heavy heart, Haneul set her phone aside, her thoughts swirling with a mix of emotions. She knew she should be angry, should demand better treatment from Minho. But in that moment, all she felt was a bone-deep weariness, a longing for things to be different, even as she doubted they ever would be.
