The air in Gochang felt heavy, the rain drizzling down as the group scattered to find cover. In the chaos, Dahyun and Dong-joo ended up alone, seeking refuge in an old cabin hidden deep within the woods. The weather worsened, cutting them off from the rest of the group.
As the storm raged outside, silence fell between them, only broken by the sound of rain against the wooden roof. Dahyun sat on one side of the room, arms crossed, avoiding Dong-joo's gaze.
"You're too quiet," Dong-joo finally said, his voice steady but carrying an undertone of tension.
"I don't have much to say," Dahyun replied, her words sharp. "Being here with you doesn't change anything. You're still engaged to Jisoo, and I'm-" She hesitated. "I'm trying to move forward."
Dong-joo stood, pacing. "And you think I'm not trying? You think I don't know how wrong this feels?"
"Then stop," Dahyun said, her voice rising. "Stop looking at me like that. Stop making it harder for me to let go!"
Dong-joo froze, his expression torn. "I can't," he said after a pause. "I've tried, Dahyun. I've tried convincing myself that Jisoo is who I should be with. I thought being back with Jisoo, doing a couple therapy would make everything clearer, but it hasn't. If anything, it's made me realize how much I still love you."
Dahyun shook her head, her emotions threatening to spill over. "You're not being fair, Dong-joo. You can't say things like that when you're already with someone else."
"I know it's selfish," he admitted, stepping closer. "But I'm confused. I love Jisoo, but not like I used to. If I could, if God allowed it, I'd choose you. Every time."
His words hit her like a wave, overwhelming and unrelenting. Tears slid down Dahyun's cheeks as she struggled to resist the pull she felt toward him. "But we don't live in a world where that's possible," she whispered.
Neither could pinpoint when the tension broke, but in the next moment, they were no longer fighting their feelings. Their lips met in an urgent, desperate kiss, the weight of their emotions breaking every wall they'd built to keep each other away.
---
The next morning, The sunlight filtered through the cracks in the cabin as Dahyun stirred awake. She sat up quickly, her heart pounding with guilt and confusion as memories of the night before rushed back.
Dong-joo was already awake, staring out of the window. When he turned to face her, his expression was conflicted but determined.
"What does this mean for us?" Dahyun asked, her voice trembling.
Dong-joo took a deep breath. "It means I'll talk to Jisoo. I'll end things with her."
"And then what?"
"Then we'll figure this out. Together."
---
The air in Seoul buzzed with a subtle tension as the medical team returned from Gochang. The hospital felt alive with the news of their successful outreach program, but for Dahyun and Dong-joo, the days passed under a cloud of unresolved emotions. Jisoo noticed the slight shifts in Dong-joo's demeanor-the way he avoided her gaze, his unusually restless nights. Though he assured her things were fine, her instincts told her otherwise.
Jisoo's suspicions grew when she noticed how often Dahyun and Dong-joo seemed to avoid each other, as if conscious of the space they shared. She watched them with a keen eye, waiting for the cracks in their façade to reveal the truth.
---
Two Weeks Later, the hospital buzzed with excitement as the staff gathered in the auditorium for a celebration of their latest achievement. The party was an elegant affair, complete with glowing lights and a live band. Dahyun stood near the refreshment table, her mind far from the festivities. She had barely touched her drink, her thoughts consumed by the growing guilt gnawing at her every time she saw Jisoo.
