Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

54

Minji trudged back into the apartment, her chest still heavy with the weight of Hanni's tears and the words she couldn't take back. Sullyoon was gathering her things in the living room, her coat slung over one arm and her bag over her shoulder. She looked up when Minji entered, her expression a mix of concern and guilt.

"How did it go?" Sullyoon asked tentatively, though the look on Minji's face already gave her the answer.

Minji exhaled shakily, running a hand through her hair. "She... she thinks we're together."

Sullyoon's brows furrowed in regret. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things worse. I didn't even realize—"

"It's not your fault," Minji interrupted softly, waving her hand dismissively. "You were just... here. I let this mess happen. It's all on me."

Sullyoon hesitated for a moment, biting her lip. Then, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Minji in a brief but firm hug. "Look, I'm running late, but call me if you need anything, okay? Don't sit here and overthink yourself into a hole."

Minji nodded mutely, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks."

Sullyoon give her a cheek kiss before hurrying out the door, leaving the apartment in silence. Minji stood there for a moment, staring blankly at the floor, before she made her way to her room.

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a second, her legs feeling weak. Slowly, she walked over to her nightstand and sat down on the floor beside it. Her hand hovered over the drawer for a moment, hesitant, before pulling it open.

Inside was a small velvet box, unassuming yet so heavy with meaning. Minji carefully lifted it out, her fingers trembling slightly. She opened it, revealing the ring nestled inside.

The diamond gleamed even in the dim light of her room, catching her gaze and refusing to let it go. It was classic, old-fashioned in the most beautiful way. Minji had spent hours agonizing over the choice, finally settling on this one during a secret shopping trip with her manager. She'd wanted it to be perfect — a piece of forever, timeless, like the way she felt about Hanni.

Her thumb brushed the inside of the band, where the engraving stared back at her: Hanni

The knot in her throat grew tighter. This was what Jennie had been talking about — the photo from Dispatch that had sparked her sister's anger. Minji hadn't even noticed one of the employee taking pictures that day. The thought of that photo being out in the world made her stomach twist. It wasn't just the invasion of privacy; it was the fear of Hanni finding out like this, through a leak.

The idea of Hanni watching her buy this ring only to betray her weeks later made Minji feel sick. The very thought crushed her, the weight of it pressing down on her like she couldn't breathe. She had never wanted Hanni to hurt like this, but somehow she'd let it all spiral out of control. And now, the love she'd once hoped to immortalize with this ring felt impossibly out of reach, slipping through her fingers like sand no matter how tightly she tried to hold on.

Hanni's tear-streaked face haunted her mind, the anguish in her eyes so raw that Minji could barely stand the memory. She had inflicted that pain—she had let it spiral this far, and now the damage seemed too great to ever undo. She clenched the little box tighter, but even the velvet beneath her thumb felt cold and foreign, like it didn't belong to her anymore.

This ring was supposed to be a promise, a celebration of the love they shared. Now, it felt like a cruel joke, a painful reminder of everything Minji had ruined. How could she ever hand this to Hanni now? How could she expect Hanni to even look at her, or to forgive her?