BLOSSOMS IN THE SPOLIGHT | HEESEUNG

14: The Fragility of Feelings

The warmth of Heeseung’s smile lingered in Jia’s mind for days after their conversation in the park. She had finally opened up to him, and he had reassured her—told her she was the one he cared about. That moment had felt like a new beginning, a second chance to connect with him without all the misunderstandings. Yet, as the days passed, Jia couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling.

Things between them had returned to normal, but something felt different. Heeseung was still playful and charming, but there was an underlying casualness to his interactions with her that left Jia feeling unsure. He was affectionate, yes, but there was a certain detachment she couldn’t quite place. It was almost as if he wasn’t taking their relationship—or whatever this was—seriously.

One afternoon, Jia found herself at a small rooftop café with Heeseung. The autumn breeze played with her hair as they sipped their drinks, the city skyline sprawling out before them. It was peaceful, the kind of moment that could’ve been romantic, but Heeseung’s attention was scattered.

He had his phone out, scrolling through messages and occasionally laughing at memes he was showing her. Jia smiled along, trying to match his carefree energy, but inside, a nagging voice asked why he didn’t seem more invested in being present with her.

“Heeseung,” she said after a moment, her voice tentative. “Can we talk?”

Heeseung glanced up from his phone, his playful smile still in place. “Sure, what’s up?”

Jia hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us... and I’m not sure where we stand. I just want to know if you see this going anywhere serious.”

Heeseung blinked, his smile faltering slightly. He leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment before he laughed lightly, as if trying to brush off the weight of the question. “Serious? Jia, why are you thinking so far ahead? We’re having fun, right?”

His response caught her off guard, and she felt a pang of disappointment. “Yeah, I mean, I am having fun, but... I guess I just want to know if this is more than that. If we’re more than just... fun.”

Heeseung leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “I like you, Jia. I’ve told you that. But why complicate things with labels and expectations? We’re young. We should be enjoying the moment.”

Jia’s heart sank. She had expected some hesitation, maybe even uncertainty, but not this. Not such a casual dismissal of the deeper connection she thought they had.

“So you don’t want anything serious?” she asked, her voice quieter now, a hint of vulnerability slipping through.

Heeseung shrugged, still smiling as if they were discussing something trivial. “It’s not that I don’t like you, but love? Relationships? That stuff can wait. We’re just getting to know each other, right?”

Jia stared at him, her thoughts spinning. Was she reading too much into their moments together? Had she imagined the connection between them? She had opened up to him, shared her insecurities, and yet here he was, treating their relationship like it was nothing more than a fleeting experience.

“I thought we were getting to know each other because we wanted something more,” Jia said, her voice firmer now, trying to make him understand.

Heeseung’s smile faded slightly, but he didn’t seem as shaken by her words as she had hoped. Instead, he reached for her hand across the table, his touch warm but not as reassuring as it once was. “Jia, you’re overthinking this. I care about you. I do. But we don’t need to rush into anything serious. Let’s just enjoy what we have, without all the pressure.”

Jia withdrew her hand slowly, a coldness settling in her chest. She had hoped for more—a deeper conversation, a sign that he felt the same way she did. But Heeseung’s laid-back approach to their relationship left her feeling uncertain and unsteady.

“I just don’t want to waste my time on something that’s not going anywhere,” she said softly, looking down at her coffee cup.

Heeseung frowned slightly, leaning back in his chair again. “Waste your time? Is that what you think this is? A waste of time?”

Jia sighed, shaking her head. “No, but I need to know if we’re on the same page. If you’re just... not serious about any of this, then maybe I need to rethink things.”

Heeseung stared at her for a long moment before his expression softened into something apologetic, but still distant. “Jia, I didn’t mean to make you feel like this isn’t important. I just don’t want to complicate things. We’re good together. Why push for more right now?”

Jia nodded, even though she didn’t entirely agree. She could see now that Heeseung wasn’t going to give her the clarity she needed. He was content with the status quo, with keeping things light and playful. But she wanted more—needed more.

The rest of their time together at the café passed in a blur, with Heeseung returning to his jokes and lighthearted conversation, as if their serious talk had never happened. Jia smiled and laughed along, but her heart wasn’t in it. She couldn’t shake the feeling that their relationship, as easy and fun as it was, wasn’t built on the same foundation she had hoped for.

That night, as Jia lay in bed, she replayed their conversation in her mind. Heeseung’s carefree attitude toward love made her question everything. Did she want to continue down this uncertain path, knowing he wasn’t as invested as she was? Or was it time to confront the truth—that maybe, despite their connection, Heeseung wasn’t the person who would take her feelings seriously?

She turned her phone over in her hand, contemplating sending Sunghoon a message. He had always been the one she turned to when things got complicated. But tonight, Jia felt a need to process this on her own. She needed to decide if she could accept Heeseung’s unserious approach to love—or if she deserved more than just fleeting fun.