Sol's Biggest Secret | A Lovely Runner Spin-off

Unseen Choices

Sol was jolted awake by a persistent ringing in her ear. Her phone, buried beneath the pillow she had been sleeping on, was the culprit. She answered it without opening her eyes.

Caller ID: Hyun Joo

Sol: "Hello?"

Hyun Joo: "Sol! Where are you? Everyone's frantic with worry. I'm coming to pick you up; text me your address. Don't mess this up. You still have a graduation ceremony to attend, and what about your speech?"

Sol: "What? I'm fine, I promise. What time is it? I'll call you back."

As Sol reluctantly opened her eyes, she was greeted by a pounding headache—an unfortunate souvenir from the night before.

"Ugh, damn it." She cradled her head, trying to quell the throbbing.

Her gaze roamed the unfamiliar room, eventually landing on a full glass wall that revealed the city lights in the distance. It was still dark. This wasn't her room. Exhausted and disoriented, she struggled to piece together the previous night.

Where am I? Oh right! I'm in Kyung's room. Shit. So it really happened.

A chill ran through her as she noticed her bare shoulder. Then she felt a weight and warmth around her waist. Hesitantly, she peeked and realized she was naked. The hand on her waist confirmed her suspicions.

"Are you awake now?" a voice murmured into her ear.

Kyung had been watching her with a mixture of amusement and affection.

Sol turned to face him, her voice a whisper. "Kyung..."

She bolted upright in shock. She wasn't used to this. He was still drowsy, but the sight of her bare back could stir any man's senses.

Kyung sat up too, pulling her into a gentle embrace from behind, his face resting on her shoulder. Sol felt the odd blend of warmth and chill from his touch.

"Hmm..so you remember me—You'll be cold. Come back to bed," Kyung said with a smile.

Sol's resolve weakened as she recalled everything that had happened the night before. Her mind was still grappling with her decisions.

What am I doing? What did I do?

She remembered seeing Sunjae and piecing together the fragmented memories of the night. A warm, confusing feeling settled in her chest.

"Did you forget what happened last night? It'd be a shame if you did..." There was a trace of concern in his voice.

He guided her back to bed, allowing her to rest against his chest. Sol felt awkward but found solace in his presence.

"I... remember. I just can't quite process it..." She was still trying to make sense of her choices, feeling that things didn't have to end this way.

"Let's talk about it," Kyung said softly, guiding her back to a lying position. "We don't have to rush."

Sol instinctively buried her face in his chest, finding comfort in this moment of vulnerability. It felt like a safe haven amid the chaos of her emotions.

"First, can you tell me about what happened with Sunjae and why you suddenly broke down on the bus yesterday?" Kyung asked gently, hoping she would open up.

"I would, but no one would believe me..." she whispered.

"I would listen," he replied, soothingly rubbing her shoulder.