Jade and Joshua were once the quintessential high school sweethearts, their young love blooming in the hallways of their school, filled with laughter and shared dreams. However, an unforeseen event shattered their once unbreakable bond, sending them...
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As Jiwon stepped inside the apartment, a heavy sigh escaped her lips, her head hanging low in exhaustion. The familiar warmth of home enveloped her, but it did little to lift her spirits. With her phone pressed against her ear, she nodded absent-mindedly at her manager's incessant chatter about the upcoming YSL event. "I posted the pictures and tagged their account, don't you worry," she replied, her voice weary as she fought to stay engaged.
The cold air of the apartment brushed against her cheeks, refreshing yet jarring after the bustling day she had endured. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she caught sight of the drawing room, where Joshua sat beside Eric, both of them fixated on the video game displayed on the large screen. Joshua's hair was tousled, giving him a boyish charm, and his intense concentration was evident as he gripped the controller tightly. "I got you, don't worry," he said through gritted teeth, his focus unwavering.
Jayoung lounged beside Eric, her head resting on his lap as she scrolled through her phone, oblivious to the world around her. Jiwon offered a quick goodbye to her manager, Hyunwoo, before ending the call, the weight of her fatigue settling heavily on her shoulders.
Her heels clicked sharply against the polished wooden floor as she passed the trio, moving wordlessly with a headache pounding in her temples. "Hi, Jiwon—" Eric started, but his voice trailed off when she ignored him, climbing the stairs with heavy steps.
She felt their eyes on her back, a mix of concern and curiosity until she reached the second landing and disappeared from their view. Jiwon had just returned from an informal interview her manager had insisted she attend, a commitment that had drawn unwanted attention from paparazzi, making her escape a challenge. Although she was accustomed to the exhaustion that accompanied public outings, this time, she felt utterly drained, as if her very spirit had been sapped.
Dragging her feet across the floor, she dropped her handbag and phone onto the desk, shedding her tailored Prada suit and hanging it neatly on a nearby hanger. The bathroom beckoned, and she stepped inside for a long, soothing shower, the water cascading over her, washing away the stress of the day. For a brief moment, she found solace in the cold water, letting the cool steam envelop her like a comforting embrace.
After drying her hair with a towel, she slipped into fluffy slippers that felt like clouds beneath her tired feet. As she reentered the room, she was greeted by the lingering scent of perfume she abhorred—Joshua's perfume. A sigh escaped her lips as she tried to shake off the unwanted reminder. Just then, her phone began to ring, and irritation flared within her. All she wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep, but the urge to decline the call was overshadowed by a flicker of curiosity. Jiwon was dangerously close to angry tears.
When she glanced at the caller ID, her heart skipped a beat. Jeonghan was calling. A rush of familiar energy surged through her—jittery and exhilarating. Her cheeks flushed pink, and the usual stoicism she wore began to melt away, replaced by an unnatural nervousness. With a renewed sense of anticipation, she accepted the call and brought the phone to her ear.
