Dahyun adjusted the files in her hands as she walked briskly toward the pediatrics ward. Her schedule was packed, and she had no time for distractions.
The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside, only to freeze when she saw Dong Joo already there.
"Dahyun," he said, his voice hesitant.
She clenched her jaw and pressed the button for her floor, refusing to look at him. The silence was suffocating, but Dong Joo seemed determined to break it.
"How are you?" he asked, his tone cautious.
Dahyun finally turned to him, her expression sharp. "Don't."
"Don't what?" he asked, his brow furrowing.
"Don't pretend to care," Dahyun snapped, her voice cold. "Don't try to start a conversation with me like nothing happened. I'm done being the fool."
Dong Joo looked taken aback. "That's not fair, Dahyun."
She let out a bitter laugh. "Not fair? Really? You think *this* is about fairness?"
"It's not fair to me either," he said, his voice rising slightly. "You think it was easy for me? You think I didn't feel anything when I-"
"When you what?" Dahyun cut him off, her eyes flashing. "When you chose her? When you decided that I wasn't worth the risk?"
"Dahyun, it's not that simple," he said, his tone pleading. "Jisoo and I... we've been together for years. We've built a life together. Plans, commitments-"
"And where did that leave me?" Dahyun interrupted, her voice trembling with anger. "If you had a life figured out with her, why did you drag me into this mess? Why did you make me think there was something real between us?"
Dong Joo looked down, guilt written all over his face. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"But you did," Dahyun said firmly. "You made me feel like I was something to you, only to remind me that I was just a detour. I made you choose, Dong Joo, and you chose her. So don't stand here and talk to me like you're my boyfriend or like you have the right to care about how I feel."
He opened his mouth to respond, but she held up a hand, cutting him off.
"Better yet, don't talk to me at all," Dahyun said, her voice steely.
The elevator dinged as it reached her floor. Without another word, Dahyun stepped out, leaving Dong Joo standing alone, his regret heavy in the silence.
---
Later that day, Dahyun found herself replaying the encounter in her mind, her emotions swinging between anger and sadness. She didn't regret what she'd said, but the hurt lingered, a reminder of how deeply she'd allowed herself to care for someone who couldn't give her what she deserved.
As she entered the pediatrics ward, she straightened her shoulders, pushing the thoughts aside. She had work to do, and she wasn't about to let Dong Joo-or her feelings-get in the way of that.
Still, a part of her wondered if she'd ever truly be able to move on. But for now, she told herself, setting boundaries was a good start.
---
The day passed in a blur for Dahyun. The pediatrics ward was bustling with activity, leaving little time for her to dwell on her emotions. But when her shift ended, the exhaustion hit her like a wave, both physically and emotionally.
As she walked toward the hospital parking lot, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Sana:
Sana: Dinner's at 8. You better not bail.
Dahyun sighed, half-smiling at her friend's persistence. She wasn't in the mood to socialize, but she also knew better than to say no to Sana when she was determined.
---
Back at their shared house, Sana was already in the kitchen, bustling around with pots and pans. Yoongi sat at the dining table, scrolling through his tablet.
"Perfect timing!" Sana chirped when Dahyun walked in. "Dinner's almost ready. Go change and join us."
Dahyun kicked off her shoes and slumped onto a chair instead. "I'm good here."
Yoongi glanced up, taking in her weary expression. "Rough day?"
"You could say that," Dahyun muttered, her voice laced with bitterness.
Sana paused mid-stir, turning to face her. "What happened?"
Dahyun hesitated, but then the words spilled out. "I ran into Dong Joo in the elevator."
Sana groaned. "Ugh, what did he want?"
"To talk," Dahyun said, rolling her eyes. "He wanted to act like he's the victim in all of this. Can you believe that? He had the nerve to say it wasn't fair to him either."
Yoongi frowned. "What does he mean by 'not fair'? He made his choice."
"Exactly!" Dahyun exclaimed, her frustration boiling over. "I told him to stop talking to me, to stop pretending like he cares. I'm so done with him."
Sana set down her spoon and came over to sit beside her. "Good for you. Seriously, Dahyunnie, he doesn't deserve any more of your time or energy."
"I know," Dahyun said, her voice softening. "But it still hurts, you know? I thought... I thought I meant more to him."
There was a heavy silence before Yoongi spoke. "You do mean more. He's just too much of a coward to admit it."
Dahyun looked at him, surprised by the conviction in his tone. Sana shot him a knowing glance, but Yoongi avoided her gaze, focusing instead on his tablet.
"Thanks, Yoongi," Dahyun said, her lips curling into a faint smile.
"Anytime," he mumbled, pretending to read.
---
After dinner, Dahyun retreated to her room, feeling a little lighter but still restless. She stared at her phone, tempted to text Dong Joo just to get the last word in, but she stopped herself.
Instead, she opened her window, letting the cool night air wash over her. She couldn't keep living in the shadow of what could have been.
A soft knock on her door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," she said.
Yoongi peeked in, holding two cups of tea. "I thought you might need this."
Dahyun smiled as he handed her a cup. "Thanks. You didn't have to."
"I know," he said, sitting on the edge of her bed. "But I wanted to."
They sipped their tea in comfortable silence for a while before Yoongi spoke again.
"You're stronger than you think, you know," he said quietly. "You've been through a lot, but you're still here, still fighting. That says a lot about you."
Dahyun looked at him, her chest tightening. "Thanks, Yoongi. That means a lot."
He gave her a small smile, his cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of pink. "Anytime."
