cherish | lee heeseung

°˖➴ #𝟭𝟮

Confrontation

———

"THANK YOU for visiting. Have a nice day!" Haneul said, a gentle smile plastered on her face.

It was a new day, and the soft morning light filtered through the large windows of the library, casting a warm glow on the rows of bookshelves. Haneul was already at her desk, assisting patrons with their inquiries and helping them find books they needed. The familiar hum of the library surrounded her, a comforting backdrop to her work.

She moved from task to task with ease, her interactions with the library visitors punctuated by polite smiles and helpful guidance. An elderly man needed assistance with the computer, and she patiently explained how to search for books online. A young mother with two children asked for recommendations on bedtime stories, and Haneul eagerly pointed out a few favourites.

As she checked books in and out, she exchanged friendly words with the regular patrons, her demeanour calm and professional. Despite the busy atmosphere, she found a certain peace in the routine of her work, a welcome distraction from her swirling thoughts about Heeseung and her boyfriend, Minho.

Haneul was in the middle of issuing a library card when her phone buzzed on her desk. She discreetly glanced at the screen and, as usual, saw a text from Heeseung.

'Good morning〜 How's your day going?'

A small smile tugged at her lips as she typed back a quick reply. 'Good morning! It's been busy but good. How about you?'

Just then, Chaewon walked over to the desk with a concerned expression. "Hey, Hana," Chaewon said, a hint of urgency in her voice. "I could really use your help with something."

Haneul looked up, curious. "Sure, what's up?"

"It's the computer in the back," Chaewon explained. "It won't turn on, and I have no idea what's wrong. Could you take a look?"

Haneul nodded, putting down her phone. "Of course, let's go see what's going on."

They headed to the back office where the computer sat on the desk, unresponsive. Haneul crouched down and checked the power connections, ensuring everything was plugged in securely. She pressed the power button again, but the screen remained dark.

"Hmm, it might be the power supply issue," Haneul said thoughtfully. "Let me check a few things."

She examined the cables and then looked for any signs of issues with the power outlet. After a few minutes, she found the problem: a loose connection in the power strip. She plugged it in securely and pressed the power button again. This time, the computer hummed to life, the screen flickering on.

"There we go," Haneul said with a smile. "It was just a loose connection."

Chaewon sighed in relief. "Thank you so much, Hana. I don't know what I would do without you."

"No problem at all," Haneul replied. "I'm glad it was an easy fix."

Chaewon gave her a grateful smile. "You're a lifesaver. Now I can get back to work."

As Chaewon thanked her profusely, another colleague, Jiwon, knocked on the door and stepped in.

"Haneul," Jiwon said, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern, "there's someone looking for you at the entrance."

Haneul glanced at Chaewon, who gave her an encouraging nod. "Thanks Jiwon. I'll be right there."

As she walked towards the entrance, a sense of unease settled in her stomach. She had a feeling she knew who it might be. And as she turned the corner, her suspicion was confirmed: her boyfriend was standing there, looking impatient and slightly annoyed.

"Minho? What are you doing here?" Haneul forced a smile, trying to keep her tone light.

Instead of answering, he grabbed her by the wrist, his grip firm and unyielding, and pulled her outside. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low and tense.

Haneul's heart pounded as she followed him out of the library, her wrist aching from his grip. Once they were outside, he let go of her wrist but stepped closer, his eyes narrowed with anger.

"Who is Heeseung?" he demanded.

Haneul's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?" she stammered, trying to stay calm.

"I saw the text," he snapped, pulling his phone out of his pocket and showing her a screenshot. "You left your phone on the desk, and I saw the messages. 'Good morning, how's your day going?' You didn't tell me you were texting some guy named Heeseung."

Haneul felt a wave of frustration. "Heeseung is an old friend," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "We ran into each other recently. That's all."

Minho's expression darkened. "Just an old friend? You expect me to believe that? Why didn't you mention him to me before?"

Haneul took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "Because I knew you'd react like this. Heeseung and I are just friends. There's nothing going on between us."

He rolled his eyes. "You can't be serious, Haneul. I don't want you talking to him anymore. You need to focus on our relationship."

Haneul's frustration turned into anger. "Our relationship?" she echoed. "You've been distant and rude for weeks. Now you show up here, making demands and accusations. This isn't about Heeseung. It's about us and how you've changed."

Minho's face twisted with anger. "I'm not the one who's changed. You have. And if you care about this relationship, you'll do what I say."

Haneul felt a pang of hurt and a surge of defiance. "I care about this relationship," she said quietly. "But I also care about my friends and my job. I won't give up my life for you."

Minho scoffed. "Friends and your job? Your job at this library is a joke. You need to focus on something more serious, like the job I found for you."

Haneul's anger flared. "I love my job," she said firmly. "And I won't let you dictate what I do with my life."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and final. Minho stared at her, his eyes hard and unforgiving. "Fine," he said coldly. "Do whatever you want. But don't expect me to stick around if you don't change."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Haneul standing there, her heart pounding and her mind racing. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The confrontation had been intense, but it had also made something clear: she needed to take control of her life and make decisions that were right for her.

———