Selenelion

16 - The Beginning Of An End

Irene woke up feeling disoriented. She felt warmth beside her and, with a start, realized someone was lying next to her. Turning slowly, her eyes widened in shock when she saw Seulgi. Not only was Seulgi beside her, but they were both naked.

Memories from the previous night flooded back to her: drinking, getting wasted, playing truth or dare, and finally... the sex. Her head throbbed as she mentally slapped herself, unable to believe what had transpired.

Carefully, she slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Seulgi. Once she was up, she quickly headed to the shower. As the warm water cascaded over her, fragments of the previous night flashed through her mind. She blushed madly but couldn't quite comprehend her feelings.

After finishing her shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the bathroom. To her dismay, Seulgi was awake, sitting up in bed and staring at her.

Irene's heart raced as Seulgi spoke. "Irene, can we talk? Please?"

Nervous, Irene nodded, unsure of what to say or feel. She moved to sit on the edge of the bed, keeping her distance but listening intently.

Seulgi's POV

I was nervous, looking at Irene as she stepped out of the bathroom. Her hair was damp, and she was wrapped in a towel, clearly avoiding my gaze. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for her to sit down. I had to know how she felt about what happened last night.

Finally, I mustered the courage to speak. "Irene, do you regret what happened between us last night?"

At first, Irene didn't know what to say. She fidgeted, and I could see the conflict in her eyes. My anxiety grew, but I forced myself to continue.

"Irene, I don't regret anything. In fact, I enjoyed it," I admitted openly, watching as a blush spread across her cheeks.

She looked up at me, her eyes widening slightly. "Seulgi, last night was... unexpected. I mean, we were both drunk, and things just happened. I don't know what to think."

Gathering my resolve, I pressed on. "Please, Irene, give me a second chance. I know I messed up before, but I've learned from my mistakes. I promise things will be different."

Irene sighed, wrapping the towel tighter around herself. "It's not that simple, Seulgi. You really hurt me before, and I'm not sure if I can just forget that."

"I know," I said, my voice cracking. "I know I hurt you, and I've hated myself for it every day since. But last night, it felt like a new beginning. Like we could have another chance to make things right."

She looked at me, her expression softening but still guarded. "You say that now, but what if things go wrong again? What if we end up hurting each other even more?"

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "I can't promise that everything will be perfect, but I can promise that I'll do everything I can to make you happy. I won't make the same mistakes again. I've realized how important you are to me, Irene. Please, just give me a chance to prove it."

Irene looked down at our joined hands, her thumb gently brushing against mine. "Seulgi, it's not just about promises. It's about actions. How can I trust that things will be different this time?"

"I'll show you," I said firmly. "I'll show you every day that I've changed. I'll be there for you, I'll listen to you, and I'll support you in everything you do. I've grown since we were last together, and I'm ready to be the person you deserve."

She bit her lip, clearly deep in thought. "It's hard for me to let go of the past, Seulgi. I've been trying to move on, but seeing you again, and then last night... it brought back all these feelings."