Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Aera
Aera stood in front of the mirror, trying to convince herself that everything was fine. The soft glow of the vanity lights highlighted her tired eyes, which betrayed the mix of emotions she'd been bottling up all day. She was supposed to be getting ready for their usual group dinner—a time she usually looked forward to—but tonight felt different. Heeseung's words from earlier kept replaying in her head. The way he talked about Bitna with such familiarity and excitement stung more than she cared to admit.
"Snap out of it, Aera," she whispered to herself. "It's just dinner. Act normal."
But despite her pep talk, the sinking feeling in her chest refused to leave. She knew she had to face them all, including Heeseung and Bitna, and somehow pretend everything was okay.
As she arrived at the VIP section of the dining hall, she forced a smile onto her face when she saw her friends. Sunghoon, Minju, Jake, and the others were already seated, laughing and chatting. The energy was light, but Aera couldn't shake her anxious thoughts.
"Aera! Finally, you're here," Minju said, waving her over. "We were just about to order."
"Hey, guys." Aera took her seat, scanning the room for Heeseung. She couldn't help it; her eyes naturally searched for him.
But he wasn't there.
"Where's Heeseung?" Aera asked, trying to sound casual.
"Oh, he's on his way," Jake replied, raising an eyebrow. "He texted saying he'd be here soon. Something about getting held up."
Aera nodded, trying to hide her nervousness as the others continued their conversation. She joined in as much as she could, laughing at Sunghoon's jokes and pretending to be interested in the small talk, but her eyes kept drifting to the entrance.
And then, he walked in.
Aera's heart skipped a beat when she saw him. Heeseung looked ridiculously handsome in his fitted black tux, his hair styled perfectly. But the moment of awe was short-lived. Walking beside him, dressed in a flowy, elegant dress, was Bitna, her arm lightly brushing against his as they talked animatedly. They both seemed at ease, like they were the only two people in the room.
Aera's forced smile faltered, and she quickly looked away, focusing on her glass of water instead. This night was going to be harder than she thought.
As Heeseung and Bitna reached the table, the group greeted them warmly. Bitna's friendliness was almost contagious, and soon everyone was introducing themselves.
"Hey, everyone, this is Bitna," Heeseung said with a grin. "We've known each other since forever."
"Wow, it's nice to meet you!" Minju said, giving Bitna a hug. "Heeseung's mentioned you before."
"Has he now?" Bitna laughed, glancing at Heeseung. "All good things, I hope?"
Jake chuckled. "Well, mostly. He didn't mention how pretty you are, though. You should've warned us, Heeseung!"
Heeseung just laughed, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. Aera forced herself to smile, though she felt like she might choke on her own emotions.
As dinner went on, the group bantered back and forth, and Bitna fit right in. She was funny, charming, and knew exactly how to keep the conversation lively. Aera, however, was barely holding it together. She'd chime in with a laugh or comment here and there, but her mind was miles away, lost in her thoughts about Heeseung and this sudden intrusion into what was supposed to be their experiment, their time.
Every now and then, she'd catch Heeseung's eye, but he seemed distracted, fully engrossed in his conversation with Bitna. The ease between them—the comfort, the inside jokes, the shared history—it all left a bitter taste in Aera's mouth.
Eventually, dinner ended, and the group decided to head out onto the deck for some fresh air and drinks. The night was cool, with a gentle breeze blowing in from the ocean. Everyone grabbed drinks and settled into deck chairs, gazing up at the stars.
Bitna, of course, was right next to Heeseung, their laughter ringing out into the night as they talked. Aera couldn't stand it anymore. She needed space, needed to clear her head. She walked over to the railing, leaning against it as she stared out at the endless sea, her thoughts swirling.
"Hey," came a voice beside her. It was Sunghoon.
She glanced at him and tried to smile. "Hey, Sunghoon."
He took a sip of his drink and leaned on the railing next to her. "You've been pretty quiet tonight. What's up?"
Aera sighed, shaking her head. "Just... a lot on my mind, I guess."
Sunghoon chuckled softly. "You know, you're not as good at hiding your feelings as you think you are."
"What do you mean?" Aera asked, furrowing her brows.
"I see the way you look at him," Sunghoon said bluntly, nodding toward Heeseung. "You're into him, aren't you?"
Aera's eyes widened, and she quickly looked away. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come on, Aera. It's obvious," Sunghoon said, his tone gentle but firm. "The way you've been acting tonight... anyone with eyes can tell something's bothering you. And I'm pretty sure it's not just the food."
Aera bit her lip, her eyes stinging with the threat of tears. "It doesn't matter, Sunghoon. It's just... stupid. Besides, he's clearly more interested in her." She glanced back at Bitna and Heeseung, who were laughing at something.
Sunghoon sighed. "Yeah, he's being an idiot. But trust me, Heeseung's not as sharp as he thinks he is when it comes to feelings. He probably doesn't even realize what he's doing."
Aera let out a bitter laugh. "Well, he seems pretty happy. Maybe this whole experiment was pointless from the start."
Sunghoon placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Look, I don't know what's going to happen, but I do know this: if you don't tell him how you really feel, you're going to regret it. Hiding how you feel just to avoid getting hurt isn't living, Aera."
She nodded, wiping away the tear that had finally escaped. "You're right. I just... I don't know if I can do it. What if it ruins everything?"
"Or what if it makes everything better?" Sunghoon countered. "You won't know unless you try."
Aera sighed, staring out at the dark waves below. "Maybe. But right now, I just feel lost."
Sunghoon gave her a small smile. "You'll figure it out. And hey, if you need someone to vent to, I'm always here."
"Thanks, Sunghoon," Aera said, managing a real smile this time. "You're a good friend."
"Damn right I am," he said with a wink. "Now, let's get back to the group before they start wondering why we're having a private heart-to-heart."
As they walked back toward the others, Aera couldn't help but steal one last glance at Heeseung. He was still smiling, still enjoying his time with Bitna, and it made her heart ache. But she pushed the pain down, determined not to let it show.
For now, she'd keep playing the role of the supportive friend. Even if it killed her inside.
