A lovely change with love|2min

chapter 16

Trigger warning
Mention of suicide
Accident (non graphic)

Seungmin sat alone in the corner of the hospital cafe, cradling a cup of warm coffee between her hands. The faint aroma of roasted beans filled the air, but her senses were dulled by the rapid thudding of her heart. Every time she thought back to earlier that day, her pulse quickened, making her chest feel tight.

Flashback

She had been kneeling on the cold floor of a modest living room, her knees pressed into the thin rug beneath her. The room smelled faintly of incense, a quiet, respectful atmosphere permeating every corner. In front of her, an elderly woman sat in an armchair, her face lined with sorrow, yet softened by time. Seungmin’s voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes glistening with guilt and regret.

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Seungmin whispered, bowing her head deeply.

The old woman immediately leaned forward, her frail hand reaching out to gently touch Seungmin’s shoulder. “My dear child, please stand up,” she urged, her voice calm but firm. “It’s not your fault.”

Seungmin hesitated but stood slowly, feeling a rush of emotions swirl inside her. She reached into her bag and retrieved a check, holding it out with both hands. “Please… accept this. It’s the least I can do.”

The old woman looked at the check, then smiled softly and shook her head. “There’s no need, my dear. Mr. Lee has already done more than enough for us.”

Seungmin blinked, confusion clouding her thoughts. “Mr. Lee?”

The elderly woman’s face softened even more as she pointed to a stack of neatly arranged items on a nearby table—groceries, fresh blankets, and even some new clothes. “These were delivered to our home today. Such kindness.”

Seungmin’s heart skipped a beat as she stared at the items. Minho? She felt her chest tighten, her breath catching as the realization settled in. Her mind raced back to the conversation she’d had with him not long ago.

“You don’t have to carry other people’s burdens. You must be tired.”

His words echoed in her mind, and with them came a warmth that spread through her entire body. Seungmin’s heartbeat quickened, her emotions tangled in confusion, gratitude, and something else she couldn’t quite name.

Present

Back in the café, Seungmin’s thoughts were interrupted as Felix’s voice echoed in her mind, his words lingering like a distant whisper.

“Minho joined an even more dangerous mafia just to save you.”

Her heart thudded painfully against her ribcage, almost as if it were trying to break free. She clenched her hand over her chest, trying to calm the erratic rhythm. “Stop beating so fast,” she mumbled under her breath, staring down into her coffee as if the swirling liquid held some answer. The warmth from the cup seeped into her cold fingertips, but it did nothing to ease the storm inside her.

'Don’t forget, his heart is already occupied by another girl' she reminded herself. The words tasted bitter on her tongue, and she swallowed hard. No matter how much her heart raced, no matter how her thoughts drifted toward him, Minho wasn’t hers to have.

Yet even as she told herself this, she couldn’t shake the feeling that had taken root deep inside her—a feeling that refused to be ignored.

Seungmin walked through the bright, sterile hospital corridors, the soft hum of fluorescent lights and the murmur of distant voices filling the air. Her white coat swayed slightly with each step.