WHEN LOVE FAILS

Wonnie's POV: Until We Meet Again

As I stepped off the plane and into the familiar chaos of Incheon Airport, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The bright lights and bustling crowds were a stark contrast to the serene moments I spent with Jeng under the Filipino sun.

Memories of our laughter echoed in my mind, each one a reminder of the love I felt for him—a love that seemed to bloom effortlessly, even amidst the uncertainty of my past. I glanced at my phone, half-expecting a message from him, but my heart sank as I remembered the truth I couldn't share: my family had arranged a marriage for me, a decision made without my consent since when I was a kid.

I had left Jeng with a heavy heart, knowing I was stepping into a future that didn't include him.

The weight of my choice pressed down on me, filling my chest with a mixture of guilt and regret. I had tried to convince myself that I was doing the right thing, that family obligations should come first, but every second without Jeng felt like a betrayal of the connection we had forged.

I could still picture his smile, the way his eyes lit up when we talked about our dreams and aspirations. I had never felt so seen or understood until I met him, and now, I was forced to abandon that connection for a path that felt so wrong. It was a cruel twist of fate to find love just as I was being pulled back into a life I had never wanted.

As I drove through the streets of Seoul, I couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that accompanied me. The city that once felt vibrant and alive now seemed dull without Jeng's laughter to fill it. I knew I had to face my reality and prepare for the life my family expected of me, but I couldn't stop thinking about what could have been.

Jeng deserved someone who could love him freely, without the chains of obligation holding them back. I whispered a silent promise to the universe: I would fight for my happiness, for us, even if it meant breaking away from everything I had ever known.

Back at home, the walls of my family's house felt stifling, a constant reminder of the expectations weighing heavily on my shoulders. I could hear my mother's excited chatter about the upcoming engagement, oblivious to the turmoil swirling within me.

Every time I saw the ring she had picked out, I felt a fresh wave of anxiety crash over me. How could I go through with this when my heart belonged to someone else? The thought of Jeng's face, filled with confusion and sadness when I left, haunted me. I longed to reach out, to explain everything, but I feared that revealing the truth would only cause him more pain.

In the quiet moments of the night, when the world outside fell silent, my thoughts would drift back to Jeng. I envisioned him exploring the beaches we had walked together, laughing as the waves lapped at his feet. The more I imagined him living his life without me, the more I realized that I had to make a choice.

I owed it to both of us to seek a love that was genuine and unwavering, not bound by duty or obligation. I couldn't let fear dictate my happiness any longer. With each passing day, I felt a growing determination to confront my family and reclaim my future, even if it meant risking everything for the love I had found in Jeng.

———Wonnie's Death———

Aftr a months of being married I decided to come back to the Philippines. The road stretched out before me, a blur of asphalt and uncertainty as I sped toward the airport, heart racing with a mix of hope and desperation.

I had made the impulsive decision to return to the Philippines, driven by the overwhelming urge to break free from the suffocating reality of an arranged marriage I never wanted. The thought of Jeng ignited a fire within me, a beacon of love that promised a different life, one where I could embrace my true feelings without the weight of familial obligations.

But as I rounded a bend, the world suddenly twisted, and the car swerved violently, my heart plummeting into a chasm of panic.

In those frantic moments, time seemed to slow down. I could see the headlights of oncoming traffic approaching, feel the overwhelming sensation of dread creeping in. As the impact struck, pain surged through me, but my thoughts remained fixated on Jeng.

I pictured his laughter, the warmth of his smile, and how effortlessly he made me feel alive. The reality of my impending fate crashed into me like the wreckage of my car. I fought against the darkness creeping into my consciousness, determined to hold onto the love that had once made everything feel possible. If this was the end, I wanted my last thoughts to be of him, the love of my life, not the cold future I was escaping.

With my fading strength, I lifted my phone one last time, the screen flickering dimly in the wreckage.
I reached for my phone, hands trembling as I typed a final message to Ae-cha.

"제발, 에게 말해 줘"
(Ae-cha, please tell Jeng)
"내가 그에게 돌아갈 수 없다고"
("that I can't come back for him")

"너는, 내 심장이고"
("Jagi, you are my heart")
"내 모든 것이야"
(my everything).
"미안해, 내가 그럴 수 없어서"
("I'm sorry I can't make it").
"항상 기억해, 난 항상 너를 사랑해"
("Always remember that I always love you.")

Tears streamed down my face as I pressed send, my last connection to the world that felt so vibrant and real with him in it. As I succumbed to the encroaching darkness, I held onto the hope that somehow, beyond this life, I could find my way back to him. Even in my final moments, the thought of Jeng filled me with a sense of peace. I was choosing love, even if it meant leaving everything else behind.

In my heart, I knew I wouldn't have the chance to see Jeng again, to hold him close and tell him how deeply I loved him. I longed to express everything I felt—how he brought color into my monochrome world and ignited a fire within me I never knew existed.

As I lay there, fading in and out of consciousness, I clung to the hope that love transcends even the boundaries of life and death. I whispered a silent promise to him, hoping he could feel it in his soul: that my heart would always belong to him, no matter where I went.

As darkness began to close in, I surrendered to it, letting go of the pain and fear. My last thought was of Jeng's smile, a radiant beacon of love that would forever illuminate the shadows of my existence. In that final breath, I whispered his name, believing with all my heart that love would guide me back to him, wherever that might be.