A Recipe for Love ( Le sserafim X Fem reader )

Chapter 7: Apologies, Empathy, and Revelations

AN: sorry for the slow updates guys I recently got sick and I'm still recovering  🥲

The quiet murmur of the kitchen fan was the
only sound as Y/N stood by the counter, her hands gripping the binder of photocards. The confrontation she had been mulling over for days was finally about to happen. She knew she had to address the strange coincidence—that Chaewon, the rude photocard buyer from months ago, was now living under her roof. It felt surreal, but there was no more avoiding it.

Y/N took a deep breath and reached into her bag, pulling out her mask. She carefully placed it over her face, making sure it was securely in place. The familiar comfort of the mask gave her a bit of confidence as she prepared to confront Chaewon.

The sound of soft footsteps broke the silence, and Y/N's heart raced as Chaewon walked into the kitchen. Chaewon gave a brief nod of acknowledgment, her face blank as always, but Y/N could feel the tension bubbling beneath her own surface.

"Chaewon," Y/N called out, her voice steady but laced with underlying nerves.

Chaewon glanced up, startled. "Yes?"

Y/N took a breath, holding up the binder, flipping to the page that held Chaewon's photocard. "I need to talk to you about something. About this."

She pointed to the photocard. The moment Chaewon's eyes landed on it, her face paled. Recognition was immediate. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

"This was you, right?" Y/N's voice was calm but firm. "You bought this from me months ago. And you weren't exactly... kind."

Chaewon blinked, stunned, her gaze darting between Y/N and the photocard. "I—I didn't know it was you," she finally whispered, her voice shaky. "I'm sorry."

Y/N could see the apology in her eyes, but the memory of that day still stung. "I'm not asking for anything dramatic. It just bothered me how dismissive you were. Like I didn't matter."

Chaewon looked down, guilt creeping across her features. "I didn't mean to... I was just in a really bad place that day." She paused, biting her lip as she struggled to continue. "We had a meeting that morning, and... my manager—he really laid into me. He belittled me and the group because of all the hate we'd been getting online. It was... brutal. I felt so small, like I was letting everyone down."

Y/N's breath caught. She had just learned about the hate LE SSERAFIM faced and now hearing it from Chaewon herself made it even more real. The anger she had felt toward Chaewon for that encounter began to melt away, replaced by a deeper sense of empathy.

Chaewon's voice cracked slightly as she continued. "After that meeting, I wasn't just upset—I was crushed. And then, knowing I had to meet up with you because you were selling the card, it felt like... proof that what the managers said was true. It felt like I was just a product people were getting rid of. The hate we get online, I can sometimes brush off, you know? But seeing you sell the card made it all feel so real. Like I wasn't worth anything."

Y/N's heart softened completely at Chaewon's sincerity. She could see how deeply the situation had affected her. "Chaewon, you don't have to keep apologizing. I get it now. You were going through something tough."

Chaewon shook her head, her expression full of remorse. "No, but I should've treated you with respect. I'm really sorry. That doesn't excuse how I acted. You didn't deserve that, and I feel like such a terrible person"

Y/N stepped closer, a small smile forming on her face as she placed a gentle hand on Chaewon's shoulder. "You're not, please don't think that. We all have bad days. What matters is that you're being honest now."