The drama surrounding Dong-joo, Jisoo, and Seungtak had started to wear on everyone at the hospital, especially Dahyun. Watching Dong-joo struggle each day, seeing the toll it took on him, and knowing how much pain he carried in silence-it was becoming unbearable for her. She hadn't wanted to get involved, but her feelings for Dong-joo had grown too strong to ignore. And now, more than ever, she wanted him to know how she felt.
That evening, Dahyun found herself standing outside Dong-joo's office, her heart racing. She took a deep breath and knocked, stepping inside without waiting for a response.
"Dong-joo," she called softly.
He looked up, surprised, his face weary. "Dahyun... it's late. Shouldn't you be heading home?"
She took a few steps closer, her gaze locked on him. "I needed to talk to you."
He sighed, leaning back in his chair, clearly dreading another conversation about his messy personal life. "If this is about Seungtak and Jisoo-"
"It's not just about them," she interrupted, her voice firmer than she expected. "It's about us. About you... and me."
Dong-joo raised an eyebrow, looking at her, a bit surprised. "Dahyun, I... I don't want to drag you into this."
"Well, too late," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm already in it, whether you wanted me to be or not. I care about you, Dong-joo. I've watched you struggle through this entire mess, and... I can't just stand by anymore."
He plooked away, a hint of guilt crossing his face. "You don't understand. This isn't something you can just jump into. Jisoo and I... We're engaged."
"I know," she replied, stepping closer to him. "But that history doesn't have to define what happens next. You have a choice here, Dong-joo."
He shook his head, laughing bitterly. "A choice? Dahyun, it's not that simple. There are years of memories, betrayal, and mistakes that you can't just erase. Jisoo and Seungtak... they took something from me that I can never get back but that doesn't mean I can just forget the good ones too."
"And I know that," Dahyun replied, her voice filled with empathy. "I know how much they hurt you. But I'm here, Dong-joo. I'm here, and I want to be with you if you'll let me."
He looked at her, his expression torn, the conflict in his eyes clear as day. "Dahyun... you don't deserve to be dragged into this."
She took a deep breath, willing herself to be vulnerable, to lay her heart on the line. "I don't care, Dong-joo. I don't care if you're broken or if your past is a mess. I am a mess myself. But all I know is that I want you. I'm standing here, asking you to pick me. Choose me. Love me."
The room went silent as her words echoed in the air, heavy and raw. He stared at her, a mix of longing and hesitation flickering in his eyes, as if he wanted to reach out to her but was too afraid to.
"You don't understand what you're asking," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "Jisoo and I... we had a life planned together once."
"And you have a chance to start something new," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "With me."
He looked down, his hands clenched into fists. "I don't know if I can just... forget everything."
Dahyun's heart twisted painfully, but she refused to back down. "I'm not asking you to forget, Dong-joo. I'm asking you to make a choice. I'm here, and I'm ready to be with you, but I can't do this alone. I can't keep waiting in the wings, hoping you'll see me."
He was silent for a long moment, the weight of her words hanging in the air.
Just then, the door opened, and Jisoo stepped inside, looking between the two of them, sensing the tension. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she crossed her arms. "Am I interrupting something?"
Dahyun's gaze didn't waver, and she kept her eyes on Dong-joo. "No, you're not. Dong-joo and I were just talking."
Jisoo glanced between them, her expression unreadable. "I can see that," she said, a hint of bitterness in her tone. "Dong-joo, we need to talk."
Dahyun's heart sank, but she took a steadying breath, refusing to let her resolve crumble. "Dong-joo," she said softly, her eyes pleading. "If you choose her, then I'll respect that. But if you want me-really want me-then you need to make a choice, here and now."
Jisoo looked at him, waiting, her eyes glimmering with expectation.
Dong-joo stood frozen, torn between the two women, the weight of his past and his potential future pressing down on him.
Dahyun took a step back, giving him space, her heart pounding as she waited for his answer. "I know this is hard, Dong-joo. But I need you to be honest with yourself. Who do you want?"
He looked between them, his face etched with pain and indecision. "I... I don't know."
Dahyun closed her eyes, a painful smile tugging at her lips. "Then I guess that's my answer."
Without another word, she turned and walked out, her heart breaking with every step she took. She didn't look back, didn't wait to see his reaction. She just kept walking, fighting back the tears threatening to spill over.
---
That night, she sat alone at a dimly lit bar, nursing a drink as she replayed the conversation in her mind. Her heart ached, a deep, hollow pain that refused to go away. She had put herself out there, had been vulnerable, had laid everything on the line-and yet, Dong-joo had been unable to choose.
As the minutes turned into hours, she kept waiting, hoping that he would show up, that he would make the choice to be with her.
But as the night wore on, the seat beside her remained empty, and she began to realize that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't coming after all.
