BLOSSOMS IN THE SPOLIGHT | HEESEUNG

27: The Breaking Point

Heeseung stood frozen on the balcony, the cool night air biting into his skin, but it was nothing compared to the sharp ache in his chest. Jia's last glance before following Minho inside haunted him. He had been on the verge of opening up, of telling her everything that had been weighing on him, but once again, the moment had slipped through his fingers.

He cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration. How did it come to this? He had always believed that the connection he and Jia shared was special—that eventually, she would see him the same way he saw her. But now, with Minho in the picture, everything felt uncertain. His hesitation, his constant delays—it all seemed like a mistake now.

The sound of laughter from inside the dorm reached his ears, pulling him out of his thoughts. The group had already started the movie, their voices a muffled reminder of how easily life went on while he stood out here, struggling with emotions he couldn't seem to get under control. Heeseung took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of defeat that had settled over him. He couldn't stand out here all night, avoiding reality. He needed to go back in, act normal—at least for now.

Steeling himself, Heeseung stepped back into the dorm. The scene in the living room was one of easy comfort—the boys and Jia were sprawled out across the couch and floor, watching some action movie that Ni-ki had picked. Minho was sitting next to Jia, not too close, but close enough that it gnawed at Heeseung.

He slipped into the room quietly, taking a seat at the far end of the couch, away from everyone else. Sunghoon noticed him first, shooting him a glance as if to check if he was okay. Heeseung gave him a quick nod, though it was far from the truth.

For the next hour, Heeseung tried to focus on the movie, but it was impossible. His eyes kept drifting toward Jia and Minho. They weren't overtly close, but the way they spoke to each other in quiet tones, shared inside jokes, and smiled so easily in each other's presence—it was enough to drive Heeseung crazy. Every moment felt like a reminder that Minho had already crossed a line that Heeseung had never dared to approach.

Halfway through the movie, Jake, who had been engrossed in the film, finally turned to Minho. "So, Minho, you've known Jia for a while now, huh?"

Minho glanced up, nodding casually. "Yeah, for a couple of months now. We met through a mutual friend in the flower business. She's really talented, you know? I'm always impressed by her designs."

Jia smiled at Minho's words, and Heeseung felt something twist inside him. He hated how easily Minho complimented her, how effortlessly he seemed to fit into her world.

"Jia's amazing," Sunghoon added with a grin, shooting a glance at Heeseung as if to gauge his reaction. "She's one of a kind."

Jia laughed, waving them off. "Okay, okay, let's not overdo it."

But Heeseung could barely crack a smile. His mind was too preoccupied with what Minho had said. Two months. Jia had known Minho for two months, and in that time, they had grown closer, shared experiences, built a bond that Heeseung had taken nearly a year to build.

A cold, bitter thought crept into his mind: What if Minho had already won her over?

It wasn't until the movie ended, and the group started to disperse, that Heeseung realized how much time had passed. The boys were getting ready to crash for the night, exhausted from the long tour and travel. Minho stood up, stretching with a satisfied sigh.

"I should head out," Minho said, grabbing his jacket. "It's getting late, and I have an early start tomorrow."

Jia stood up as well, walking him to the door. Heeseung watched them from the couch, his chest tight with every step they took together. He knew he shouldn't read too much into it—after all, Jia hadn't said they were dating—but the uncertainty of their relationship gnawed at him.

At the door, Minho turned to Jia, his voice low enough that the others couldn't hear. "So... are we still on for tomorrow night?"

Heeseung's heart stopped.

Jia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I'll text you the details."

Minho grinned. "Great. I'm looking forward to it."

With that, he waved to the rest of the group and left, the door clicking shut behind him. The room was silent for a moment, and Heeseung felt like the air had been sucked out of the space. Tomorrow night? What were they planning for tomorrow night?

Jia turned back to the room, her expression warm but casual, as if nothing unusual had just happened. "So, I'm going to head home too. It's getting late, and I need to open the shop early tomorrow."

Jake smiled at his sister, already half-asleep on the couch. "Thanks for coming, Jia. It's always fun when you're around."

"Yeah, don't be a stranger," Sunghoon added, though his gaze flicked to Heeseung with a knowing look.

Jia waved them off, grabbing her bag. "I'll see you guys soon. Good night!"

Heeseung stood up, his body moving before his mind could catch up. "I'll walk you out."

Jia blinked, a little surprised but not opposed. "Oh, okay. Sure."

The two of them stepped out into the cool night air, the quiet of the city wrapping around them as they made their way down the sidewalk. Heeseung's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the conversation he had been avoiding pressing down on him. He knew he had to say something—he couldn't let her walk away again without understanding how he felt.

"Jia," he started, his voice hesitant.

She turned to look at him, her expression soft and open. "Yeah?"

He swallowed hard, the words feeling heavy in his throat. "About Minho... are you guys—?"

Jia's eyes widened slightly, and she shook her head. "No, we're not dating. He asked me out, though."

Heeseung's heart clenched. He had been right. Minho had already made his move.

"And?" he pressed, his voice lower, more vulnerable than he intended.

Jia hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly. "I haven't given him an answer yet."

A sliver of hope flickered in Heeseung's chest, but it was quickly overshadowed by doubt. She hadn't said no. She hadn't turned Minho down. That meant there was still a chance she would say yes.

Heeseung stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "Jia, I need to tell you something."

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face, sensing the seriousness in his tone. "What is it?"

Heeseung's heart raced, every beat echoing in his ears. He opened his mouth to speak, to finally say the words he had been holding back for so long, but they felt stuck in his throat. His mind raced with everything that could go wrong—what if she didn't feel the same? What if he was too late?

But he couldn't hold it in any longer. Not now. Not when Minho was so close to taking her away from him.

"I—" Heeseung started, his voice barely above a whisper, but before he could finish, Jia's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen.

"It's Minho," she said, her voice soft. "He just texted me to confirm for tomorrow."

Heeseung's heart sank, the moment shattered by the harsh reality of his situation. He looked at her, his chest tight with emotions he could no longer control. But the words he had been about to say slipped away, replaced by the crushing realization that he might have already lost her.

"Good night, Jia," he said softly, turning away before she could see the pain in his eyes.

"Good night, Heeseung," she replied, her voice laced with confusion.

As Heeseung walked back to the dorm, his heart felt heavier than ever. He had missed his chance again. And now, tomorrow, Jia was going on a date with someone else.

Someone who wasn't him.