𝖱𝖾𝖻𝖾𝗅 𝖧𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍, 𝖣𝗂𝖺𝗆𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝖲𝗈𝗎𝗅

ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ¹⁹: ᴱᶜʰᵒᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᴸᵒᵛᵉ

The last day of the camping trip arrived, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter and the scent of marshmallows roasting over the fire. Heeseung sat slightly apart from the group, his heart heavy as he watched the couples around him. Jake and Yuna were wrapped up in each other, sharing soft smiles and playful nudges. Wonyoung and Jay were huddled together, whispering and laughing, their bond evident. Even Sunghoon and Ningning were cozied up under a blanket, the warmth of their connection palpable.

As he observed them, Heeseung felt a deep sense of loneliness wash over him. Memories of Irene flooded his mind—their shared laughter, the way she would light up when he made her smile. It was a bittersweet reminder of what he had lost.

"Hey, man, you okay?" Sunoo asked, noticing Heeseung's distant gaze.

"Yeah, just thinking," Heeseung replied, forcing a smile. "It's nice to see everyone happy."

Sunoo nudged him playfully. "You'll find that kind of happiness again. Just gotta get through this rough patch."

As the evening wore on, the group gathered for one last bonfire, sharing stories and roasting marshmallows. Despite the joy surrounding him, Heeseung felt like an outsider looking in, the weight of his heartache making it difficult to fully engage.

Once the camping trip wrapped up and everyone returned to their usual routines, Heeseung found himself at Jake's house, the lingering nostalgia of the trip still hanging in the air. Sunoo flopped down on the couch beside him, an excited gleam in his eyes.

"I have an idea for winning Irene back!" he announced, bouncing slightly on the cushions.

Heeseung perked up, intrigued but cautious. "What's the plan?"

Sunoo leaned closer, his tone serious. "First things first, you need to take slow steps. You have to resolve the issue with her dad. If you can get him to like you, it'll change everything."

Heeseung nodded, understanding the importance of Mr. Kim approval. "But how do I even start?"

"Maybe write him a letter," Sunoo suggested. "Apologize for the misunderstanding and express how much Irene means to you. Show him you're serious about her."

Just then, Jake chimed in, "Oh, and I heard from Yuna that Yeji and Karina had a fight. Yeji's been talking to Yuna a lot lately. If we can get her to admit who was behind that mess, it could help clear your name."

"Yeah," Heeseung said, feeling a spark of hope. "That could work."

"Also," Jake added, "I heard that Yeji apologized to Jay while Wonyoung was around. Maybe she's ready to own up to her mistakes."

"Brave of her," Heeseung said, surprised. "Maybe there's a chance she'll help me out."

Sunoo smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Heeseung. We'll handle the issue with Yeji, and you just focus on Mr. Kim. You can do this."

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Heeseung felt a renewed sense of determination. He wasn't alone in this; he had friends who believed in him and were willing to help.

The thought of Irene lingered in his mind, fueling his resolve. He needed to take action, to show her that he was worthy of her trust and love. With each passing moment, Heeseung felt a flicker of hope igniting within him. The path ahead was challenging, but he was ready to fight for what mattered most.