Yes, Boss | A Ryeji Rivals Romance

The Unraveling

The tension between Yeji and Ryujin became a silent presence in every interaction, a shadow that lingered over them, even when they tried to pretend it wasn't there. They still saw each other, still shared stolen moments and whispered promises, but the weight of their unspoken decision pressed down on both of them. Every glance, every touch, felt like it could be the last before everything came crashing down.

Yeji's work became a refuge, but it also became a trap. As the weeks went on, the pressure from the board increased, and every move she made was under intense scrutiny. The Stellar Blue tour continued to dominate headlines, the company thriving under her leadership, but there was always an undercurrent of speculation—whispers about her personal life that seemed to grow louder each day.

Rumors.

It started small. A few employees whispering when they thought no one was listening. The casual remarks in the elevator about how "close" she and Ryujin seemed. But as the gossip spread, it became impossible to ignore. The higher-ups were noticing, and while no one had confronted her directly, Yeji could feel the judgment in every meeting, every sideways glance.

One afternoon, after a particularly grueling meeting with the board, Yeji sat in her office, staring blankly at her phone. She had a message from Ryujin, but she hadn't replied yet. She wasn't sure what to say. They were supposed to meet that evening, but the tension between them had been growing, and Yeji wasn't sure how much longer they could continue this balancing act.

Her phone buzzed again, pulling her from her thoughts. It was Ryujin.

Ryujin: "Can you meet me after work? We need to talk."

Yeji's heart sank at the words. She knew this conversation was coming, but she wasn't ready for it. She wasn't ready to face the possibility that they might not find a way through this.

Yeji: "Yeah. I'll see you then."

The day dragged on, every hour feeling longer than the last. Yeji tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting to Ryujin—wondering what she would say, what decision they would come to. Would they finally decide to go public and face whatever consequences followed? Or would they continue to hide, risking everything in the process?

When the clock struck six, Yeji left the office, her heart heavy as she made her way to the small café where she and Ryujin had agreed to meet. It was a quiet place, away from the office, away from prying eyes. But even here, Yeji felt exposed, like the weight of the world was pressing down on her.

Ryujin was already there when Yeji arrived, sitting at a small table near the window, her fingers drumming lightly against the table. She looked up when Yeji entered, and for a moment, their eyes met, filled with a mixture of longing and resignation.

Yeji sat down across from her, her hands trembling slightly as she placed them on the table. "Hey."

"Hey," Ryujin replied, her voice soft but strained. She glanced around the café before leaning in slightly, lowering her voice. "We need to talk about what's happening, Yeji. We can't keep pretending like everything's fine."

Yeji's chest tightened, but she nodded. "I know."

Ryujin took a deep breath, her fingers tracing the edge of the table. "The rumors are getting worse. People are talking. And I've heard from a few people in the company that the board is... watching us."

Yeji's heart sank. She had suspected as much, but hearing it from Ryujin made it real. The rumors weren't just whispers in the hallways—they were reaching the highest levels of the company. And that meant the clock was ticking.

"What do we do?" Yeji asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do we... come clean?"

Ryujin hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "If we go public, it could ruin your reputation, Yeji. The board might question your leadership, your decisions. They'll think you've been prioritizing... us over the company."

Yeji clenched her fists in frustration. "But if we keep hiding, we'll destroy ourselves."

Ryujin met her gaze, her expression filled with pain. "Exactly."

The silence that followed was thick, filled with the weight of everything they hadn't said. Yeji's heart pounded in her chest, her mind spinning with the possible outcomes. If they went public, they could face backlash from the board, from the company, from the industry. But if they kept hiding, if they continued to lie, it would eat away at them—destroying the trust and love they had built.

"What do you want to do?" Yeji asked, her voice trembling. "I don't want to lose you, Ryujin."

Ryujin's eyes softened, but there was still a sadness in her gaze. "I don't want to lose you either, but I don't know if we can keep this up."

Yeji's chest tightened painfully, and she reached across the table, taking Ryujin's hand in hers. "I'll fight for us. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."

Ryujin squeezed her hand, her eyes filled with emotion. "I know you will. But this isn't just about fighting. It's about making a choice."

"A choice?" Yeji repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryujin nodded, her voice steady but filled with pain. "Either we go public and face the fallout together, or we... end this before it destroys us."

Yeji's breath caught, her heart pounding in her chest. The words hung between them like a dark cloud, and for a moment, Yeji felt like she couldn't breathe. End it? The thought of losing Ryujin, of walking away from everything they had fought for, was unbearable.

"I can't lose you," Yeji whispered, her voice breaking. "I love you."

Ryujin's eyes filled with tears, and she squeezed Yeji's hand tighter. "I love you too. But if we don't make a choice, we'll both lose everything."

Yeji felt the weight of Ryujin's words settle over her like a crushing force. She had been so focused on making their relationship work that she hadn't allowed herself to fully consider the consequences. They were walking a tightrope, and sooner or later, one of them would fall.

"I don't want to hide anymore," Yeji whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't care about the board or the rumors. I want to be with you, Ryujin. Public or private, I don't care."

Ryujin's tears spilled over, and she nodded, her voice thick with emotion. "Then let's do it. Let's stop hiding."

The decision was made, but the fear of what was to come still loomed over them. They would face the consequences together, but there was no guarantee they would survive the storm.

But for now, they had made their choice.

And for the first time in months, Yeji felt like she could breathe.