Loving the Playboy||L.Hs

one.

October 2021

Haeun adjusted the collar of her white cardigan, smoothing the fabric before reaching for her favorite lip gloss. She leaned into the mirror, swiping it carefully over her lips and pressing them together for the perfect shine. It had been a grueling week-her final year of college was proving to be even more demanding than she had imagined. Late nights of studying and endless deadlines had left her mentally drained.

But tonight was different. Tonight, she had a reason to escape the chaos: a date with Heeseung, her boyfriend of four years. Heeseung had always been her safe haven, someone who made the stress feel bearable.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. The bell rang again, and Yunjin, her roommate, answered it, greeting Heeseung with a polite smile.

"She'll be ready in a minute," Yunjin said brightly. Heeseung nodded curtly, not returning the smile.

Yunjin closed the door and turned to Haeun with a raised brow. "He's here, but... he seems off."

Haeun glanced at her reflection one last time before grabbing her handbag. "I'm ready," she said, brushing off Yunjin's observation.

When Haeun opened the door, Heeseung stood there, hands tucked into his pockets, a slight frown tugging at his features. She smiled at him, her expression warm, but his response was subdued-a half-hearted curve of his lips that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Something was wrong.

Haeun knew Heeseung better than anyone. His mood shifts, the way his posture stiffened, the subtle drop in his voice-it was all too familiar. But she didn't press him, choosing instead to see how the evening would unfold.

"So, where are we headed?" she asked, walking beside him as the evening air brushed against her cheeks. She glanced up at him, her long dark brown hair swaying gently with her steps.

"I haven't planned much. Where do you want to go?" he asked, his tone flat.

Her brows knitted together. Heeseung always planned their dates. "Um... how about the café we used to go to? It's been a while since we've been there," she suggested, her voice hesitant.

He nodded without a word. The silence between them was unusual, almost stifling, and Haeun couldn't ignore the unfamiliar weight that hung in the air.

The quiet stretched as they reached the café. The soft hum of conversations and the faint aroma of coffee filled the space as Heeseung opened the door for her.

"You go find a seat; I'll order," he said, already walking toward the counter.

Haeun nodded, choosing a small table by the window. She sat down, her hands fidgeting with the strap of her handbag. Her gaze drifted to Heeseung, who stood at the counter, scrolling through his phone. He looked distant, his expression unreadable.

Her chest tightened. Something was definitely wrong, and the fact that he wasn't telling her only made it worse.

A few minutes later, Heeseung approached with their drinks, setting the tray down gently.

"Here," he said, his voice barely audible.

"Thanks," she murmured, pulling her drink closer.

"So, how's work going?" she asked, trying to break the silence.

"It's fine. Nothing new," he replied, stirring his drink with the spoon. His tone was clipped, almost robotic, and he avoided meeting her eyes.

"That's good," she said, shifting in her seat. "My week has been crazy, though. These exams are going to be wild." She forced a small laugh, hoping to lighten the mood, but Heeseung didn't react.

She hesitated before continuing. "By the way, there's a music festival at the park near my dorm next week. Should we go together?"

He didn't respond immediately, his focus fixed on the swirling liquid in his cup. She bit her lip, the silence pressing down on her like a weight.

"And I heard Jake and Yejin picked up-"

"Haeun, stop," he said abruptly, his voice cutting through her sentence.

She froze, her eyes widening in surprise.

"What?" she whispered.

Heeseung sighed, setting the spoon down with a clatter that made her flinch. His hands trembled slightly as he looked down at the table.

"Haeun, I'm sorry," he began, his voice cracking. "I don't think I can keep doing this. This relationship... it's too much for me."

Her heart sank. She stared at him, her mind struggling to process his words.

"What are you saying? We can work this out, Heeseung. I know it's been hard, but we can figure it out together. I've even tried to give you more space. Isn't that enough?" Her voice broke, tears welling in her eyes.

He finally looked up, his gaze filled with a mixture of guilt and pain. "You don't understand, Haeun. This is for the best. Please don't make this harder than it already is."

She stood abruptly, grabbing his wrist as he turned to leave. "Harder for you? What about me? Do you think I can just forget about everything we've been through?"

He paused, his back to her, his shoulders tense.

"It's for the best," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. Gently, he pulled his wrist free and walked away, the café door closing behind him.

Haeun stood there, her vision blurred with tears. She sank back into her chair, staring at the empty space he left behind.

November 2021

Since that day, Haeun hadn't been the same. The lively, cheerful girl her friends knew seemed to vanish. She withdrew into herself, her laughter replaced with silence, her once-bright eyes clouded with sadness.

She didn't tell anyone about the breakup-not Yunjin, not her closest friends. It felt too raw, too painful to put into words.

During the day, she went through the motions: attending classes, taking notes, pretending everything was fine. But as soon as the day ended, she locked herself in her room, letting the tears fall freely.

She cried herself to sleep most nights, only to wake up and repeat the cycle the next morning.

Her world felt gray, the colors dimmed by the absence of the person she thought she'd never lose.