Professor Kim

ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ | 𝟷𝟽

ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ

𝐘/𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

The next day, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had been hanging over me since Jiho's sudden return. The fact that he already knew about my marriage to Taehyung added more tension, and I needed answers — not just for myself but for Taehyung too. I couldn’t let the past haunt me any longer.

As I headed toward the courtyard after class, I saw Jiho waiting for me by the steps, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. His eyes locked on mine as soon as I approached, but this time, there was no surprise in his expression — only the weight of everything unsaid.

"Yn," he said, his voice steady.

"We need to talk," I responded, my tone firm. I wasn’t here for pleasantries or small talk. I needed closure.

Jiho stood up straight, walking closer to me, his gaze searching my face. "I figured you’d want to."

I crossed my arms, trying to maintain my composure. "Why, Jiho? Why did you leave me without a word? I was left wondering what I had done wrong for so many years."

He let out a deep sigh, a mix of frustration and guilt crossing his face. "I left because I was scared."

"Scared?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes. "That’s it? You were scared?"

"It’s not as simple as that," he said, running a hand through his hair. "You have no idea what was happening in my life at the time."

"Then tell me," I urged. "I deserve to know."

He hesitated, his eyes scanning the ground before meeting mine. "You remember that time when my family was going through financial problems, right? My dad had those debts, and everything felt like it was falling apart?"

I nodded slowly, memories of Jiho’s family troubles coming back to me. His father’s business had collapsed, and they were struggling to make ends meet. But I still didn’t understand how that justified abandoning me.

"I didn’t tell you everything," he admitted, his voice softening. "It wasn’t just debts. My dad got involved with some dangerous people to try and fix things. People who made it clear that if I stayed around, you could be in danger too."

My heart sank as his words registered. "Danger? What kind of danger?"

"Bad people, Yn," Jiho replied, his voice tight. "I thought if I left, if I cut ties with you, they wouldn’t come after you. I couldn’t risk your safety, so I did the only thing I could think of—I disappeared. I thought I was protecting you."

I stared at him in disbelief, trying to wrap my head around this new information. "You didn’t think I could handle the truth? That maybe we could face it together?"

He shook his head, pain etched into his features. "I didn’t want you dragged into that world. I thought leaving you was the best way to keep you safe."

"But you didn’t let me decide that, Jiho," I whispered, the hurt resurfacing. "You made that decision for me."

A heavy silence settled between us as we both processed everything. I couldn’t deny that Jiho’s reasoning made sense in a twisted way, but that didn’t make the pain any less real. He had still left me without a word, and I had been left to pick up the pieces.

"I’m sorry," he said after a long pause. "I was young, scared, and stupid. I thought I was doing the right thing."

. "I know I lost my chance, but I needed to explain myself. I owed you that much."

There was a long pause between us, the air thick with unresolved tension. Finally, I nodded, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. "Thank you for telling me the truth, Jiho. But it doesn’t change anything. My life is with Taehyung now."

"I understand," he replied, his voice low. "I just wanted you to know that I didn’t leave because I didn’t care. I left because I did."

"Goodbye, Jiho," I said, turning to walk away, my heart feeling lighter despite the emotional weight of the conversation.

"Goodbye, Yn," he whispered behind me, and I knew this time, it really was the end.

🦩

𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠'𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

When I got home later that evening, I found Yn sitting on the couch, looking lost in thought. I could tell immediately that she had spoken to Jiho.

"You talked to him," I said, sitting beside her.

She nodded, her expression softening as she looked at me. "I told him everything. He explained why he left, but… it doesn’t matter anymore."

I tilted my head, waiting for her to continue.

"He said he left to protect me from some dangerous people his father got involved with," she explained. "He thought disappearing would keep me safe."

I let the information sink in, but the only thing that mattered to me was that Yn was here, with me. "And now?"

"And now it’s over," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I told him I’m married to you, and that I love you."

A surge of relief washed over me, and I couldn’t help but smile. "I’m glad you told him. I never wanted anything or anyone to come between us."

Yn leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder. "Nothing will, Taehyung. I’m with you, and that’s all that matters."

I wrapped my arms around her, feeling the tension of the past few weeks finally lift. Jiho was part of Yn’s past, but I was her future. And nothing could change that.