Street Racer || Yang Jungwon

°•♡•° / 55

—— Seori

After school, I decided to go to the shopping center alone. It was a place where I could lose myself among the crowds, maybe buy something to distract myself from the chaos that had become my life. I wandered aimlessly through the aisles, not really looking for anything in particular. I just needed to get away from everything and everyone, to clear my head and find some semblance of peace.

As I walked, my footsteps echoing slightly on the polished floors, I found myself drifting towards the cinema area. The bright posters and the smell of popcorn filled the air, momentarily lifting my spirits. I thought about maybe catching a movie to pass the time, to escape reality for a couple of hours.

But then, I saw him.

Jungwon was standing there with Jake, Sunghoon, and Jay. They were talking and laughing, but I could see the sadness in Jungwon’s eyes, a sadness that mirrored my own. My heart ached at the sight of him. He looked so lost, so heartbroken, just like me.

I quickly ducked behind a nearby column, not wanting him to see me. My heart pounded in my chest as I peered around the corner, watching him from a distance. Part of me wanted to run up to him, to throw my arms around him and tell him everything, to finally clear the air between us. But I couldn’t. I was paralyzed by fear, by the mess that Jiyeon had created and the doubts that had festered between us.

I watched as Jungwon and his friends chatted, their laughter not quite reaching their eyes. I could see how hard he was trying to be normal, to pretend like everything was fine. But I knew him too well. I could see the cracks in his façade, the way he clenched his jaw when he thought no one was looking, the sadness that lingered in his eyes even when he smiled.

I wanted to cry out to him, to tell him that I missed him, that I still loved him despite everything. But my feet remained rooted to the spot, my voice silent. All I could do was watch as they bought their tickets and made their way inside.

As soon as they disappeared from sight, I leaned back against the column, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. Seeing Jungwon like that had torn open the wounds I had been trying so hard to heal. My chest felt tight, my heart heavy with a mix of longing and despair.

I slowly made my way to a nearby bench and sat down, my mind racing. What if Jiyeon’s schemes had truly ruined everything beyond repair? What if Jungwon never trusted me again? The thoughts swirled in my head, making me feel dizzy and overwhelmed.

The mall bustled around me, people going about their lives, oblivious to the turmoil inside me. I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen, my fingers hovering over Jungwon’s contact. I wanted to text him, to tell him that I was there, that I was sorry for everything. But what would I say? How could I explain something so complicated in a simple text?

The memory of our last conversation replayed in my mind, the hurt in his eyes, the anger in his voice. I knew he was struggling just as much as I was, but the gap between us felt insurmountable. Jiyeon had done her damage well, sowing seeds of doubt and mistrust that had taken root and grown into a barrier I didn’t know how to break down.

I stayed there for a while, lost in my thoughts, watching as people came and went. Eventually, I got up and made my way out of the mall, my steps heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

As I walked home, the sun setting in the distance, I made a silent promise to myself. I would find a way to fix this, to show Jungwon the truth and mend the rift between us. It wouldn’t be easy, but I couldn’t give up on us. Not when I knew that we still loved each other, despite everything.

I reached my house and went straight to my room, collapsing on my bed with a sigh. As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, I felt a small spark of hope. I wouldn’t let Jiyeon win.