Love You Goodbye (ryeji)

20

(Scene 20; Take 2...)

Yeji and Winter walked into the elegant restaurant, its modern yet cozy ambiance immediately catching Yeji's eye.

The soft clink of fine glasses and the murmur of quiet conversations surrounded them, adding a touch of class to the noontime.

They were quickly seated, and a waitress approached them with a friendly smile.

"Good day. What can I get for you both today?"

Winter glanced at Yeji before answering, "I'll have the grilled salmon, and Yeji, what about you?"

Yeji, who had been lost in thought, barely heard Winter's question.

Her mind was still on Ryujin, her heart heavy with a mixture of doubt and longing. She blinked and quickly nodded.

"Uh... I'll have the steak, medium rare, please."

After the waitress left, Winter shifted in her seat, watching Yeji closely.

The silence between them stretched, but Yeji broke it first.

"How's Karina?" Yeji asked with a cheerful smile.

"She's on a trip to the Philippines with her family," Winter replied, pulling out her phone to show Yeji a picture of Karina relaxing on a beach.

"Karina looks amazing," Yeji remarked, admiring the photo.

"She really does," Winter agreed, though her smile faded slightly as her expression softened.

"How's everything with Ryujin?" she asked, a slight edge to her voice.

Yeji froze.

Her breath caught in her throat for a moment, but quickly masked it with a smile, brushing it off.

"We're... good. Yeah, everything's fine."

Winter smiled faintly but didn't seem convinced. She studied Yeji for a moment before her phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Excuse me," Winter said, standing up. "I need to take this call."

"Yeah, sure," Yeji muttered, not fully registering the words.

Winter walked toward the restroom, leaving Yeji alone at the table.

Yeji stared at the glass of water in front of her, her fingers lightly brushing the rim as she tried to calm her nerves.

This restaurant was a first for her—a high-end place, with elegant décor and crystal chandeliers.

She had always loved fine dining.

Just as she was about to lift the glass to her lips, something caught her eye.

Her breath hitched as her gaze locked onto a familiar figure at the far corner of the restaurant.

It was Ryujin.

And right next to her was Jeonggeui.

Yeji's heart raced in her chest. Her pulse hammered in her ears, and her breath began to quicken, short and shallow.

She felt dizzy, the world around her spinning as the image of Ryujin and Jeonggeui—the way Jeonggeui was smiling at Ryujin, the way she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips—burned into her mind.

A lump formed in Yeji's throat, and she clenched her fists around the glass. Her vision blurred with tears that threatened to spill over. The glass trembled in her hand, the water threatening to spill.

She couldn't tear her eyes away. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Suddenly, a warm presence blocked her view. A figure stood in front of her, blocking her line of sight.

Winter.

Winter's voice was gentle but firm.

"Don't look at it anymore," Winter said softly, her face soft with pity. "Look at me."

The words were meant to comfort, but they only made Yeji feel more broken.

"That's the truth, Yeji," Winter said, her voice tinged with sadness. "I don't need to say anything. You already saw it."

Winter didn't mean for this to happen.

She hadn't wanted Yeji to see this, to witness the moment that shattered everything.

But here they were.

Yeji's hands shook, and her chest tightened as her breathing became shallow and rapid.

Her thoughts were spinning out of control, and she could feel herself slipping.

The tears were unstoppable now, streaming down her cheeks.

Winter had expected Yeji to storm over to Ryujin and Jeonggeui, to confront them—demand the truth.

But what Winter didn't expect was the quiet devastation that had taken over Yeji.

Yeji wasn't standing tall.

She wasn't shouting.

She was crumbling, silently.

Winter's heart broke for her.

"Yeji,"

Winter whispered, her voice full of concern as she kneeled in front of Yeji. She cupped Yeji's face gently, tilting it so that the older girl looked her in the eyes.

"Look at me."

Yeji's eyes met hers, and Winter could see the pain, the betrayal, all swirling inside of her.

"Lia and I talked," Winter said softly, her voice tight with regret. "Lia was the one who told me that Ryujin and her boss were coming here."

Yeji's lip trembled. "You two knew?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

Winter nodded slowly. "I'm so sorry. I lied to you, Yeji. When you asked me if Ryujin was with me? She wasn't. She was with her boss."

The words felt like a punch to the gut, and Yeji's breath hitched, the weight of it all sinking deep into her chest.

Winter expected that Yeji would be angry at her. But, it was the opposite.

"Thank you, Winter."

Yeji's voice was barely a whisper, her chest heaving as she fought to stay composed.

"I don't need to find evidence anymore. Because I already saw it with my own eyes." Yeji continued.

Winter sat back on her heels, helplessly watching Yeji's quiet breakdown.

She didn't know how to make it better.

She couldn't. 

There was no magic fix for the heartache that Yeji was now carrying.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind them, making Yeji freeze.

"Yeji?"

It was Ryujin. Her voice was laced with shock.

"Winter?"

Yeji's heart stopped, and she looked up just in time to see Ryujin standing there, her face pale as she glanced between Yeji and Winter. The shock in her eyes was too clear to miss. She had no idea Yeji would be here.