Soundleasure | Choi San

Chapter 33

The drive back to Y/n's apartment was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the silence between them. Night had fallen, and the soft glow of streetlights passed by in a blur as they made their way through the suburbs. Y/n gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly, her mind replaying the events of the day.

She and San had reconciled -finally, after days of tension and miscommunication. Yet, despite the relief of being back on good terms, something still gnawed at her. There was one lingering truth she hadn't shared.

San sat beside her, his head resting against the window, seemingly relaxed after the emotional rollercoaster of the day. But Y/n knew better. She could feel the slight edge in his posture, the unspoken tension that still lingered in the air between them. She knew that everything wasn't fully resolved, not yet.

—You've been quiet —he spoke, breaking the silence.

Y/n glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her heart skipping a beat. She hesitated for a moment, her thoughts racing. Did he know? Could he sense the secret she was holding onto?

—I'm just a bit tired.

—If I had the license, I'd switch with you —his tongue clicked—. I really need to get it.

—I like driving. It's just been a long day.

San nodded, his gaze still on the darkened streets ahead. The tension between them was palpable, like a weight neither of them wanted to acknowledge. Y/n bit her lip, wondering if she should say something now, clear the air before the silence became unbearable.

But she couldn't bring herself to confess. Not yet. She didn't know how San would react to the truth. Would he forgive her the way his father had? Or would it reignite the rift between them?

As they continued down the road, San shifted in his seat, his voice softer this time.

—It wasn't hard today for you, right?

Her stomach twisted at his question. Of course, he'd noticed her discomfort at the lunch, the way her body had tensed whenever his father spoke. She couldn't lie to him, not now, but the truth felt too heavy to say aloud.

—No, of course not —she nervously laughed—. Just a bit tense, but that's usual when you meet your in-laws.

—It seemed more like just being nervous. Did he make you uncomfortable by mentioning the company? He shouldn't have mentioned his job issues —San mumbled.

Y/n's heart raced, and she could feel her palms growing clammy against the steering wheel. Did he know? The question hovered in her mind, making her feel like she was walking on thin ice. She tried to steady her breathing, but it was getting way too difficult.

The pause prolonged a little bit too long, and Y/n felt her throat tighten. Moved on. She wished she could do the same, but the knowledge that she had been the one to deliver the final blow to San's father's career held her back. She had never told San the truth about her role in that decision, and the guilt of keeping it from him weighed heavily on her heart.

She could feel his gaze on her now, as if he was searching for something in her expression. Did he know? Could he sense that there was more to the story than she was letting on?

—Are you okay?

His question hung in the air, and Y/n's grip on the wheel tightened. She could feel the words on the tip of her tongue, begging to be released. But fear kept them locked inside. Fear of what would happen if San found out the truth -that the person who had played a part in upending his father's life had been her all along.

Y/n stole a quick glance at him, and her heart ached at the look of quiet concern on his face. She knew he cared for her, that he wanted to understand what was going on in her head, but she couldn't bring herself to open up completely. Not now, when things had only just started to feel right again.