Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

48

Sorry, but this gonna hurt a little bit...

-

Hanni stepped into her dressing room, her chest tight from the concert's emotional intensity. The applause had been deafening, but it did nothing to soothe the emptiness that lingered. She hadn't heard from Minji in days, and the silence from her made her feel more distant than ever. It was as if something had shifted between them, and no matter how much she wished it wasn't true, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was broken.

She sank onto the couch in the corner of the room, her mind a whirlwind of exhaustion, frustration, and sadness. Her phone buzzed in her lap—a message from her manager. She didn't even bother to look at it, the weight of everything else on her shoulders far too heavy. She just needed a moment to breathe.

The door creaked open behind her, and she turned to see Jake step in, his expression soft. It wasn't unusual for him to stop by after a concert, but tonight, something about the way he looked at her made her uneasy.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice quiet, yet full of concern. "You've been off all night."

Hanni tried to smile, but it felt strained. "I'm fine," she replied, trying to make it sound convincing. "Just a little tired."

Jake didn't seem convinced. He stepped closer, his eyes scanning her face, reading the exhaustion and the sadness that she couldn't hide. "No, you're not fine," he said gently, his tone more serious now. "You've been pushing people away lately. Even your team noticed. You don't have to do this alone, Hanni. You can talk to me. At the end of the day I care about you, I'm your friend."

Her chest tightened, and for a moment, she almost believed him. Jake was there, in his own way. Maybe she had been distant. Maybe it was easier to shut everyone out.

"I just... I don't know how to deal with all this," Hanni muttered, her voice faltering. "Everything feels so messed up. I don't even know what's going on anymore."

Jake nodded, his expression softening with understanding. "I get it," he said, sitting down next to her. "You're overwhelmed. I've seen how hard you've been working, how much you've been carrying on your own. And I've watched you push people away. I'm not going anywhere, Hanni. I'm your friend. I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'll help you through it."

His words were comforting, and for a brief moment, Hanni allowed herself to believe in the kindness he was offering. She turned her head toward him, her heart aching with the weight of her emotions. Maybe she could lean on him, just for tonight.

But then, something shifted in Jake's demeanor. He moved closer, his hand gently brushing against hers, an intimate gesture that made her feel both nervous and oddly reassured.

"You don't have to carry this burden by yourself," he said, his voice lowering, now more intimate than before. "I know it's hard. You're always so strong, but you don't have to be strong all the time, Hanni. You can let me take care of you. I want to."

Hanni looked up, surprised by the tenderness in his voice. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she wondered if maybe she had been too hard on him. Maybe he was right. Maybe she did need someone.

Jake's hand slid up to her cheek, his fingers warm against her skin, and for a fleeting second, Hanni let herself relax into the touch. She didn't want to think about Minji, didn't want to feel the loneliness that had been growing between them. For the first time in days, she let herself focus on someone else.

But then, without warning, Jake's expression hardened, his gaze darkening as his fingers gently cupped her face. The sudden shift made Hanni's pulse quicken, and she felt a sense of unease creeping in.