BLOSSOMS IN THE SPOLIGHT | HEESEUNG

13: Distance and Denial

The days that followed felt heavy for Jia. She couldn’t shake the feeling of insecurity that had crept in during that café gathering. Despite Sunghoon's reassurances, the image of Heeseung and Jisoo together lingered in her mind, haunting her every thought. Every time she thought of reaching out to him, her heart clenched with doubt. What if she misread everything? What if she was just another friend to him, like Jisoo?

And so, Jia did what felt easiest—she avoided Heeseung.

At first, it seemed like a temporary solution, a way to give herself space to think. She threw herself into her work at the flower shop, spending long hours arranging bouquets, the smell of roses and lilies soothing her frayed nerves. Her phone, once a constant companion, stayed tucked away in her bag. She didn’t check for messages from Heeseung, didn’t look for updates from the group, and avoided their social media posts. It was easier that way, or at least she convinced herself it was.

But Heeseung noticed.

One afternoon, as Jia was carefully arranging an elaborate wedding bouquet, her phone buzzed with a message. She ignored it at first, focusing on the delicate white orchids in her hands, but something made her glance at the screen. It was from Heeseung.

Hey, haven't heard from you in a while. Are you okay?

Her heart raced. She stared at the message for what felt like an eternity, her fingers hovering over the screen. She wanted to respond, to tell him she was fine, but the words felt stuck. The image of him laughing with Jisoo flashed in her mind again, and a lump formed in her throat. Instead of replying, she tucked her phone away and forced herself to focus on her work.

Days passed, and Jia continued to keep her distance. Whenever the group invited her to hang out, she made excuses. If she saw Heeseung’s name pop up on her phone, she ignored it. It wasn’t that she didn’t miss him—she did. But her feelings were too tangled, too raw. She couldn’t face him, not when she was so uncertain about where they stood.

One evening, after closing up the flower shop, Jia decided to take a walk through a nearby park. The crisp autumn air was refreshing, and the sound of rustling leaves underfoot was a welcome distraction. As she wandered through the paths, her thoughts drifted back to Heeseung. She missed his playful energy, the way his smile lit up a room. But every time she thought of reaching out, the insecurities gnawed at her.

“Jia?”

The sound of her name jolted her from her thoughts. She turned and froze. Heeseung was standing a few feet away, his expression a mix of surprise and concern.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said, walking toward her. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

Jia’s heart pounded in her chest. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

“Did I do something wrong?” Heeseung asked, his voice softer now, hurt creeping into his tone. “You just disappeared. I don’t understand.”

Jia looked down, avoiding his gaze. “No, it’s not you... I just needed some space.”

Heeseung frowned. “Space from what? From me?”

The vulnerability in his voice made her heart ache, but she couldn’t bring herself to explain everything, to tell him how insecure she had felt about Jisoo. “It’s complicated, Heeseung. I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”

Heeseung studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers. “If it’s about Jisoo... you don’t have to worry. She’s just a friend.”

Jia blinked, caught off guard by his directness. “It’s not... I mean, it’s not just that.”

“But it’s part of it, isn’t it?” Heeseung pressed gently. “Jia, I don’t know what’s going on, but I care about you. I thought we had something, but now... I don’t know where we stand.”

The honesty in his words cut through her defenses, and Jia felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She had been so focused on her own insecurities that she hadn’t considered how her distance might have affected him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I just... I didn’t know how to deal with everything I was feeling.”

Heeseung took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. “Then talk to me. Don’t shut me out. I want to be there for you, Jia.”

For the first time in days, Jia felt the weight on her chest begin to lift. She took a deep breath, finally meeting his eyes. “I’ve been confused. About us. About Jisoo. About... everything.”

Heeseung’s expression softened. “Jisoo’s a friend, Jia. You’re the one I care about.”

Those words, simple yet profound, broke through her walls. The tension she had been carrying dissolved, and a single tear slipped down her cheek.

“I’ve missed you,” she admitted, her voice shaky.

Heeseung smiled, a small, relieved smile. “I’ve missed you too.”

And in that moment, Jia realized that her fear and avoidance had only kept her from something real. Maybe things weren’t perfect, but they didn’t have to be. What mattered was that Heeseung was standing in front of her, willing to work through it together.

“Can we start over?” she asked, her voice tentative but hopeful.

Heeseung’s smile widened. “I’d like that.”