The Love We Hide

ep 6 : Unveiling the Hidden

Chapter 6: Unveiling the Hidden

The air was crisp as autumn leaves began to fall outside the gallery. Soo-Jin stood in front of her latest exhibit, a beautiful collection of paintings depicting the changing seasons. Yet, despite the vibrancy surrounding her, her heart felt heavy with uncertainty.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed on the table beside her. It was a message from Ji-Hoon: Can we talk?

Her pulse quickened. She had been replaying their last conversation in her mind, and the weight of his vulnerability haunted her. Did he want to open up, or was this just another business matter?

Soo-Jin bit her lip, torn between fear and hope. She quickly typed back: Sure, where?

The reply came almost instantly: How about the café down the street at 5?

She stared at the screen for a moment, her heart racing. This felt different. It was more than just a meeting about the gallery; it felt personal.

As the clock ticked closer to five, Soo-Jin stood in front of the café's large glass window, her reflection staring back at her. She felt a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. What did Ji-Hoon really want to discuss?

The bell above the door jingled, and she turned to see him enter. He looked as composed as ever in a tailored suit, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of nervousness.

"Hey," he greeted, sliding into the seat across from her.

"Hi," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks for inviting me."

He nodded, running a hand through his hair, a gesture she recognized as his way of trying to ease the tension. "I wanted to talk about... us. About what happened at the gallery."

Soo-Jin's heart skipped a beat. "Us?"

"Yeah," he said, leaning forward slightly. "I know I can come off as cold, and I-" he paused, searching for the right words. "I didn't mean to push you away."

She swallowed hard, her own walls beginning to crack. "I get it, Ji-Hoon. You're a CEO. You have a reputation to uphold. But I've felt something between us since the first time we met."

His gaze intensified, locking onto hers. "You're not like anyone I've ever met. You make me... feel things I thought I'd buried long ago."

The café buzzed with noise, but in that moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world. "What are you afraid of?" she asked, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I'm afraid of letting someone in again. The last time I did, it ended in heartbreak. I can't go through that again."

Soo-Jin felt a pang of empathy for him. "I understand that. I've been hiding from love ever since my breakup too. But maybe... we can help each other?"

Ji-Hoon's eyes softened. "You really think so?"

"I do," she said, a spark of hope igniting within her. "But it won't be easy. We both have our scars."

Just then, the café door swung open, and Min-Ho stepped inside. His eyes widened as he spotted them, the smile on his face faltering.

"Hey, guys!" he called out, approaching their table. "What's going on?"

Soo-Jin's heart sank as she caught Ji-Hoon's guarded expression. "We were just-"

"We were discussing a potential collaboration for the gallery," Ji-Hoon interrupted smoothly, his tone returning to its usual coolness.

Min-Ho's brows furrowed in confusion but quickly brightened with enthusiasm. "Sounds great! I'd love to hear more about it."

Soo-Jin exchanged a glance with Ji-Hoon, who seemed to relax back into his stoic persona. But she felt the moment slip away like sand through her fingers.

As they chatted about the gallery, Soo-Jin couldn't shake the feeling that their conversation had been interrupted. When Min-Ho finally left, she turned back to Ji-Hoon, determined to revisit their discussion.

"Ji-Hoon," she said softly, "about what we were talking about..."

"I know," he replied, his expression shifting to one of concern. "But now isn't the right time. There are things we both need to sort out first."

Her heart sank, but she understood. "I get it. We both have our pasts to deal with. But promise me we'll talk again?"

He nodded, a hint of a smile breaking through his serious facade. "I promise. Just... give me some time."

As she watched him leave, a sense of longing washed over her. The conversation may have ended, but the unspoken feelings lingered in the air, filling the space between them with hope and uncertainty.

End of Chapter 6