Love You Goodbye (ryeji)

4

The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as Yeji sat curled up on the couch, her phone resting on her lap. Her fingers idly traced the edge of the screen.

Ryujin's absence was loud. Deafening, even.

She hadn't been home for two days now, claiming she was at Winter's place because of some "urgent matters" that couldn't wait.

It didn't sit well with Yeji.

Not anymore.

Once, she wouldn't have doubted Ryujin. She would've trusted her word without hesitation. But now...

Now, everything felt different. Off.

She picked up her phone, opening her messages with Winter. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard, heart pounding in her chest as she debated whether to send the text.

Is Ryujin with you?

The words stared back at her, accusing and fragile, like they shouldn't have existed in the first place. But she couldn't stop herself from hitting send.

Her breath hitched as she watched the three dots appear. Winter was typing.

Yes.

A single word.

Simple. Reassuring, on the surface.

But it didn't ease the knot in Yeji's stomach.

She stared at it for a long moment, feeling a pang of guilt for even doubting Ryujin.

She trusted Winter, she did. But something still didn't feel right.

Before she could think better of it, she opened Instagram. Scrolling through Ryujin's feed, she searched for any signs, any clues. There was nothing out of the ordinary—just pictures from weeks ago, carefully curated and perfect, like their life together once felt.

"Yeji?"

The voice startled her. She looked up to see Ryujin standing in the doorway, her bag slung over her shoulder and exhaustion written across her face.

"You're back," Yeji said softly, standing up.

Ryujin nodded, brushing past her toward the bedroom. Yeji followed, watching as Ryujin dropped her bag onto the bed and began pulling off her jacket.

"Long day?" Yeji asked, trying to keep her tone light.

"Yeah," Ryujin muttered, not looking at her.

That was it? Just 'yeah'

Yeji swallowed hard. She moved closer, hesitating before reaching out to touch Ryujin's arm. "I missed you."

Ryujin stiffened under her touch, and Yeji's hand fell back to her side.

"I'm tired, Yeji," Ryujin said, her voice flat. "I just want to sleep."

Yeji bit her lip, trying to ignore the sting of rejection.

"Okay," Yeji whispered.

The scent of Ryujin's perfume lingering in the air. It was faint but different.

Different.

Yeji knew Ryujin's scent like the back of her hand—the clean, crisp notes of her cologne, the subtle warmth that was uniquely hers.

But this... this was sweeter, heavier, and it wasn't hers.

Yeji's throat constricted as she stood frozen in place, her mind racing. She wanted to say something, to ask her, but the words stuck in her throat.