Broken Paths || Wen JunHui

Chapter 12: Cracks in the Surface

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Da-Rae's days became a blur of hospital rounds, strained conversations with her family, and tense encounters with Hyun-Woo. Each day seemed to stretch longer than the last, the pressure of her situation squeezing her until she felt she might snap. Jun's sessions, once a small pocket of solace in her chaotic world, now felt like a tightrope walk. She was mindful of her professional boundaries, yet Jun's presence stirred something within her—a sense of comfort that was becoming harder to resist.

Jun, on the other hand, had become acutely aware of Da-Rae's distress. He noticed the subtle changes in her demeanor, the way her shoulders slumped just a little more, the shadows under her eyes deepening. Each day, he watched her with a mixture of fascination and concern, his own feelings growing in intensity. He could sense the storm building in her life, and it mirrored the turmoil he once felt himself. More than ever, he wanted to reach out, to do something—anything—to help.

During one of their sessions, Jun dared to push a little further. He watched Da-Rae closely as she sat across from him, her gaze distant. "You seem... different today," he began carefully. "Like there's something on your mind."

Da-Rae blinked, pulled from her thoughts. She hesitated, weighing how much she should reveal. "It's nothing," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Just... a lot going on outside of work."Jun leaned forward, sensing an opportunity. "You can talk to me, you know," he said, his voice low and sincere. "You've been here for me... I'd like to return the favor if I can."

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I appreciate that, Jun, really. But it's... complicated." She paused, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her coat. "Sometimes, life outside these walls is more of a prison than anything you could imagine."

Jun felt a flicker of anger flare up inside him at her words, his heart clenching at the thought of her being trapped, just like he had been. He had to suppress the urge to stand up and demand to know more. Instead, he kept his voice even. "You don't deserve that. You should be free to live the life you want, not the one someone else decides for you."

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a moment, Jun saw a flash of something raw and unguarded—fear, maybe, or longing. "That's easier said than done," she murmured. "Especially when you feel like you owe everyone around you."

Jun's hand twitched, wanting to reach across the table and take hers, to reassure her that she didn't owe anyone anything but herself. But he held back, knowing he had to be careful. He couldn't afford to scare her away. "You don't owe them your happiness," he said quietly. "And you certainly don't owe them your life."

That night, Da-Rae returned home to find another message from Hyun-Woo waiting for her on her phone. She stared at the text for a long time, feeling her frustration boiling over. She had been to his family's house again last night, sitting through another agonizing dinner where every glance and every word felt like a critique, a condemnation of who she was. Her career, her independence—they were thorns in their side.

She felt the walls closing in around her, each day tightening the noose. Hyun-Woo wanted an answer soon, and his patience was wearing thin. She knew that if she didn't give in, things would only get worse.

But then, she thought of Jun. The way his eyes held her when she spoke, the quiet strength in his words. There was something so genuine, so unwavering in him. In their sessions, he'd been nothing but vulnerable and honest, and somehow, he'd begun to crack open something inside her, too. Could she confide in him more? Was it even appropriate to do so?

She shook her head, trying to dispel the thought. No. She had to keep her boundaries clear, even if he seemed to understand her in a way that no one else did. Yet, in the darkest corners of her mind, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she thought.

Meanwhile, Jun's mind was racing. He spent that night pacing his room, unable to shake the feeling that Da-Rae needed him. He thought about how he might help her without crossing the lines that kept him tethered to this place. He started to research—anything and everything—about her life outside these walls. He began to obsess over the details, piecing together the fragments he had gleaned from their conversations.

He knew her fiancé's name, the family's expectations, the way they wanted her to conform. And it made his blood boil. She deserved more than this. She deserved to be happy, and he was starting to believe, deep down, that maybe he was the one who could offer that to her.

He couldn't explain it, but he felt like he needed to protect her from the life she was trapped in. He wanted to tear down the walls that were closing in around her, even if it meant breaking a few of his own in the process.

Jun's thoughts grew darker, more intense, and he started to imagine scenarios—ways he could intervene, make things right, even if it meant crossing a line he had never dared to before. He knew he had to be careful. He knew he had to play the long game. But the thought of Da-Rae suffering was unbearable, and he found himself making plans. Plans that might just tip the balance in his favour, that might bring Da-Rae closer to him, where she truly belonged.

⋆˙⟡♡⚕🩺⊹ 🤍