Love You Goodbye (ryeji)

3

Lies.

They're subtle at first, aren't they?

It starts with little white lies, just to protect them, just to keep the peace.

You tell yourself it's for the best, that they don't need to know the details, that it's easier if they don't know.

But little by little, those lies stack up until you've built a wall so high that you don't even remember how to climb it back down.

Why do we lie? Why do we protect ourselves instead of the ones we love?

The answer is simple:

It's about fear.

Fear of the hurt, the anger, the disappointment. That look in their eyes when they realize they've been deceived. It's the same reason you lie about where you were, or who you were with.

You lie because you're terrified of losing them.

You're terrified of the consequences,

Terrified of the truth.

But lies always come out. They always have a way of catching up with you.

And once they do, once the truth seeps through the cracks, the damage is done.

Trust is shattered, promises are broken.

You know you've crossed a line you can't take back, yet the hardest part is looking them in the eyes and seeing the hurt you've caused.

And you know you'll keep lying to them, even when you know the cost.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air as Yeji sat across from Lia at their favorite café. The familiar hum of chatter and the clinking of cups provided a comforting backdrop, but Yeji's mind was far from comforted. She stirred her drink, her thoughts tangled in the events of the past few weeks.

Lia, ever the observant friend, leaned forward, her brows furrowed with concern.

"Yeji, are you okay? You've been quiet lately," she asked gently, breaking Yeji's trance.

Yeji looked up, offering a weak smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I'm fine, just... tired," she lied. Her fingers fidgeted with the rim of her cup.

Lia didn't buy it.

"You've been 'fine' for weeks now," Lia said, her tone softer but firm. "Does this have anything to do with Ryujin?"

The mention of Ryujin's name was like a sharp jab to Yeji's chest. She hesitated before answering, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's nothing, really. She's just been... busy."

Lia sighed, her expression shifting to something more serious. "Busy doesn't mean she should ignore you, Yeji. Especially not when you two are engaged."

Yeji's sighs, as her fingers lightly tracing the intricate diamond ring on her left hand. It sparkled faintly, a bittersweet reminder of the promises made, and perhaps, the promises broken.

"Engaged.." Yeji chuckled dryly.

The word "engaged" hung heavily in the air. It felt like a lifetime ago when Ryujin had slipped that ring onto Yeji's finger, her eyes filled with nothing but love and certainty. Yeji's mind drifted to the memory of how they'd met—back when everything was simpler, when Ryujin was just a charming stranger who had stumbled into her life.

It was a rainy afternoon in Seoul, and Yeji was late for her shift at the bookstore. She darted through the crowded streets, her umbrella doing little to shield her from the downpour. As she turned a corner, she collided with someone, her umbrella clattering to the ground.