The Love We Hide

Ep 4 : Fractured Hearts

Chapter 4: "Fractured Hearts"

Soo-Jin couldn’t sleep that night. Ji-Hoon’s words echoed in her mind, each one chipping away at the wall she had tried to build around her own heart. He was trying, but why did it feel like they were both walking on a tightrope, unsure of what lay on either side?

The next morning, Soo-Jin sat at her desk at work, trying to focus on her tasks, but every email and document blurred into the background. Her phone buzzed, jolting her back to reality. Her heart raced when she saw Ji-Hoon’s name flash on the screen.

*“Can we meet? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”*

Her hands trembled as she typed a quick reply: *“Sure. When and where?”*

They agreed to meet that evening at a quiet park near the Han River, a place where they wouldn’t be interrupted by the chaos of the city or prying eyes. The tension was palpable even before they exchanged words. Ji-Hoon stood by the water, his back to her, hands stuffed in his coat pockets. As Soo-Jin approached, he didn’t turn around immediately.

She stopped a few feet behind him, waiting for him to speak.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about us,” Ji-Hoon began, his voice barely audible over the gentle sound of the river. “About what I said... and how unfair I’ve been to you.”

Soo-Jin’s heart sank. The way he said *“us”* felt heavy, as though he were about to push her away again.

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” she replied, stepping closer, her breath visible in the cool air. “You’ve been honest with me, and I appreciate that.”

Ji-Hoon turned around, his eyes searching hers. “But that’s the problem, Soo-Jin. I haven’t been completely honest. I’m... I’m still hiding something from you.”

Soo-Jin blinked, confusion washing over her. “What do you mean?”

He took a deep breath, his face etched with guilt. “There’s someone else.”

The world around Soo-Jin seemed to blur, her pulse quickening as she processed his words. She hadn’t expected this—of all the things she had imagined, this was not one of them.

“Someone else?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’re... seeing someone?”

“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “It’s not like that. It’s... complicated.”

Soo-Jin crossed her arms, feeling a mix of anger, hurt, and confusion. “Then explain. Make me understand.”

Ji-Hoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Her name is Mira. We’ve known each other for years. She’s someone from my past—a past I’ve tried to leave behind. But... it’s not that simple. I owe her more than I can ever explain.”

Soo-Jin felt a pang of jealousy, though she knew she had no right to feel that way. “And does she know about me?”

Ji-Hoon hesitated, and in that brief pause, Soo-Jin felt her heart breaking a little more. “No,” he admitted, his voice strained. “I didn’t tell her because... I didn’t know what this was between us. I didn’t want to hurt either of you.”

Soo-Jin turned away, trying to blink back the tears that threatened to spill. This wasn’t what she had signed up for. She had let herself fall for him, only to discover that there was someone else tethered to his heart.

“I need time,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I can’t do this, Ji-Hoon. Not like this.”

Ji-Hoon’s hand reached out, but he didn’t touch her. His voice was pleading, desperate. “Please, Soo-Jin. Don’t walk away. I’ll fix this. I’ll figure it out.”

She shook her head, her tears finally spilling over. “I can’t be someone’s second choice. You need to decide what you really want, Ji-Hoon. I can’t wait for you while you sort out your feelings for her.”

With that, she turned and walked away, her heart heavy with the weight of his indecision. Ji-Hoon didn’t follow her this time, and that hurt more than anything.

As Soo-Jin walked along the river, her phone buzzed again, but this time she didn’t check it. She needed space, clarity—something she couldn’t find while wrapped up in Ji-Hoon’s tangled emotions.

But one thing was certain: whatever happened next, their relationship would never be the same.