Broken Paths || Wen JunHui

Chapter 15: Thin Ice

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Da-Rae woke the next morning feeling restless, her mind clouded with the events of the previous day. She had barely slept, her thoughts spiralling between Hyun-Woo's escalating demands and Jun's unsettling fixation. The weight of it all seemed unbearable, pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She had always prided herself on being composed, on maintaining control, but lately, everything felt like it was slipping away from her.

Her phone buzzed, a new message from Hyun-Woo: "We need to talk. Tonight. No excuses." She felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She couldn't keep avoiding him forever, but the idea of another confrontation made her feel trapped. She had no idea how to reconcile her professional obligations with the personal chaos that was her life. And now, there was Jun—a wild card she hadn't anticipated, a complication she wasn't prepared for.

After her morning rounds, Da-Rae found herself once again standing outside Jun's room. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, reminding herself that she was the doctor here, that she needed to maintain boundaries. But when she stepped inside, Jun was waiting, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.

"Good morning, Da-Rae," he greeted softly, his voice carrying a strange mix of warmth and something else—something deeper.

"Good morning, Jun," she replied, forcing a smile. "How are you feeling today?"

Jun's lips curved into a small, enigmatic smile. "Better," he said, his gaze never wavering. "Much better... now that you're here."

Da-Rae swallowed, feeling a twinge of unease. She chose to ignore the comment, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground. "Have you been doing the exercises we discussed?" He nodded, still watching her closely. "Yes. But I've been thinking... about what you said yesterday."

Her heart skipped a beat. "What did I say?"

"You said there is no 'us,'" he began, his tone measured. "But I think you're wrong. I think you're just afraid... afraid to admit that you feel something for me, too."

"Jun, that's not—"

"You can lie to yourself," he interrupted, his voice growing firmer, "but you can't lie to me. I see it in your eyes, Da-Rae. You're unhappy. You're trapped. And I can help you."

Da-Rae felt a chill run down her spine. His words were both seductive and threatening, a dangerous mix that set her nerves on edge. "I appreciate your concern, Jun, but this... this is not appropriate. We need to keep things professional."

Jun leaned back in his chair, his smile fading into something more contemplative. "Professional," he repeated slowly. "But isn't it also your job to help your patients... to really help them, even if it means breaking a few rules?"

"Jun, you don't understand—"

"I understand perfectly," he cut in sharply, his eyes narrowing. "You're scared. Of him. Of what he'll do if you step out of line. But I'm not scared, Da-Rae. I'm not afraid to fight for you." Her breath caught in her throat. "Jun, stop. You don't know what you're saying. You don't know—"

"I know more than you think," he replied calmly. "And I know that you deserve better than this. Better than him."

Da-Rae's mind raced, trying to find a way to defuse the tension. "Jun, please... let's just focus on your recovery, okay? That's what's important right now."

Jun tilted his head slightly, as if considering her words. Then he nodded, a faint smile returning to his lips. "Of course, Da-Rae. For now... we'll focus on my recovery."

But the way he said it, the way his eyes gleamed with a dark promise, made her feel as if he had already made up his mind about something—something she wasn't sure she wanted to know.---That evening, Da-Rae sat in her apartment, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her mind was racing, her emotions in turmoil. Jun's words kept echoing in her head, his intense gaze haunting her thoughts. And then there was Hyun-Woo—impatient, controlling, his messages growing more aggressive with each passing day.

Her phone buzzed again, another message from Hyun-Woo: "Where are you? I'm outside. We need to talk."

She felt a jolt of panic. Why is he here?  She quickly got up and peeked through the window. Sure enough, Hyun-Woo was standing by his car, his expression dark and impatient. She knew she couldn't avoid him any longer, so she opened the door and stepped outside, wrapping her arms around herself against the cool night air.

"Hyun-Woo," she greeted, trying to keep her voice steady. "What are you doing here?" "I told you, we need to talk," he replied, his tone curt. "You've been ignoring me, Da-Rae. I'm not going to tolerate this anymore."

She sighed, feeling the familiar weight of his expectations pressing down on her. "I'm not ignoring you, Hyun-Woo. I've been busy with work."

"Busy?" he scoffed, his eyes flashing with irritation. "Too busy to even reply to a message? You're my fiancée, Da-Rae. You're supposed to be with me, not running around a hospital all day. "Da-Rae clenched her fists, trying to keep her composure. "Hyun-Woo, we've been over this. My job is important to me. I can't just give it up because you don't like it."

His expression hardened, and he took a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I don't just not like it, Da-Rae. I won't allow it. You need to make a choice—your job or me." She felt a surge of anger rising in her chest, and for once, she didn't hold it back. "You can't control my life, Hyun-Woo! I have a right to my own choices, my own future. If you can't accept that, then maybe we shouldn't be together."

His face darkened, and for a moment, she thought he might lash out. But then he took a deep breath, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Fine. If that's how you feel, then we'll see. But don't think I'll let this go easily, Da-Rae. You'll regret this."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Da-Rae standing in the cold, her heart racing with fear and defiance. She knew she had pushed too far, but she was tired of being backed into a corner. Back in the hospital, Jun lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling with a smile on his lips. He had sensed something in Da-Rae today, a shift, a crack in her resolve. She was starting to see things his way, even if she didn't realize it yet.

He knew he needed to be careful, to play his cards right. He couldn't rush her, couldn't scare her off. But he was patient. He had time. And he would use every moment to show her that he was the only one who truly cared, the only one who truly understood.

He picked up his sketchpad, flipping to a blank page. Slowly, methodically, he began to draw. Her face took shape under his pencil, her eyes filled with the uncertainty and fear he had seen earlier. But in his version, she was smiling, relaxed, looking back at him with the affection he craved.

"I'll show you, Da-Rae," he whispered to himself, his voice low and determined. "I'll show you that you don't need him... that you only need me."

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