55 : faltering

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After the ceremony ended, she felt like she was suffocating under the weight of the rumors and the harsh whispers that filled the air. Every glance thrown her way seemed to burn with judgment, and every murmur seemed louder than the applause she had received earlier. She couldn't stand being in the crowd any longer. She needed to get away, to breathe, and to process everything that had happened.

Without saying a word to anyone, she made her way out of the gym and toward the parking lot, her heels clicking hurriedly against the floor. She felt her chest tightening with each step, her emotions bubbling dangerously close to the surface. The rain had picked up slightly, drops pattering lightly on the pavement as she stepped outside.

Jungwon, watching her leave, was immediately worried. He didn't hesitate to follow her, knowing she wasn't okay after what had happened. As he reached the doors, he called her name, but she didn't stop. Her pace quickened, and he felt the urgency to catch up. He couldn't just let her leave like this-not when she was clearly hurting.

"Nabi!" he called, raising his voice slightly as he jogged after her, ignoring the rain that was now dampening his clothes. He reached her just as she stepped onto the parking lot, his hand instinctively reaching out to grab her arm.

But the moment he touched her, she spun around, her eyes wide and filled with a mix of frustration and pain. "Jungwon, stop!" she snapped, her voice trembling. She hadn't meant to raise her voice, but the overwhelming emotions were spilling over, and she couldn't control them anymore.

Jungwon froze, taken aback by the sharpness of her tone. He had never heard her speak to him like that before. His concern only deepened, but before he could say anything, Nabi's words came out in a rush, her voice filled with desperation. "I just... I just want to be alone, okay? I can't-" She struggled to find the words, her hands gesturing helplessly as if trying to express the chaos in her mind. "I need space," she finished, her voice breaking slightly.

Jungwon felt a lump form in his throat, his heart aching at the sight of her like this. He didn't want to leave her alone, not when she was clearly struggling, but he could see how overwhelmed she was-how raw and vulnerable her emotions were in this moment. He didn't want to push her further, to make her feel even more cornered than she already did.

"Okay," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He stepped back, his hands falling to his sides in defeat. "I'm... I'm sorry, Nabi. I just-" He stopped himself, realizing there was nothing he could say to make this better.

Nabi turned away from him, her breath hitching as she tried to hold back tears. She didn't want to hurt him, but the weight of everything-of the rumors, of the judgment, of the confusing emotions between her, Jungwon, and Sunoo-was too much to bear. She felt like she was drowning in it all, and she just needed a moment to collect herself without anyone around.

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