A Billionaire For Hanni

Chapter 44

Minjeong was stirring a pot of soup when Jimin walked into the kitchen, carrying a tray of freshly baked pastries. The aroma of the warm bread filled the space, a stark contrast to the heaviness that lingered between the two women. Minjeong set the spoon down, wiping her hands on a towel, and gestured for Jimin to sit at the small dining table.

Jimin sat down quietly, her eyes focused on the pastries she had brought. Minjeong noticed her silence and raised an eyebrow.

"So... have you been thinking about Hanni and Minji again?" Minjeong asked, her voice soft yet curious.

Jimin looked up, her expression unreadable. "I suppose," she replied nonchalantly. "It's hard not to, considering how much everything has changed. But I suppose it's inevitable. Things like this don't just happen overnight."

Minjeong leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Do you really think they were always destined to break up?"

Jimin remained silent for a moment, her fingers tracing the edge of her mug. "I think... it was a matter of being misunderstood. Neither of them could give the other what they needed. Love became one-sided over time."

Minjeong sighed. "That makes sense. But still, they had something special, didn't they? They seemed so... connected. I don't understand how it all fell apart so suddenly."

Jimin tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in thought. "You can love someone deeply, but if you're not on the same page, if you're not truly seeing and hearing each other... it's easy to drift. That's what happened with them. They had their own needs, but they were too busy with their own worlds to meet halfway."

Minjeong frowned. "So you think it was just a lack of communication?"

"I don't think it was *just* that. It was deeper. Maybe they never fully understood each other's fears and insecurities," Jimin mused, her tone low. "Minji, for all her confidence, carries her own doubts. And Hanni, well, she gave so much of herself... maybe too much. And in the end, neither of them felt truly seen by the other."

Minjeong's gaze drifted down to the table. "It's so hard to watch them both like this. I care about them both, but I don't know what to do anymore."

Jimin reached across the table and gave Minjeong's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Sometimes, all you can do is be there for them when they're ready to talk. For now, all you can do is listen."

Minjeong nodded, her mind still troubled by the events of the past few weeks. "I just wish I knew what to say to Minji. She's been so closed off. It's like she's numb."

Jimin remained quiet for a moment before replying, "She's in pain, Minjeong. But pain is something only time can heal. No words can fix it right now. But she'll come around when she's ready. Just don't push her too hard."

Before Minjeong could respond, there was a knock on the door. Danielle's voice called out from the other side.

"Minjeong? Jimin? Are you both home? I need to talk to you."

Minjeong quickly stood up, wiping her hands on her apron. She walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Danielle standing on the porch, looking worried.

"Hey, Danielle. What's going on?" Minjeong asked, concern crossing her features.

Danielle stepped inside, her face lined with worry. "I... I need to talk to both of you. It's about Minji. I don't know what's going on with her, but she's been distant, even more than usual. And Hanni... I think she's spiraling."

Minjeong's eyes widened. "Spiraling? What do you mean?"

Danielle took a deep breath, running a hand through her hair. "She's been... sinking into a sort of depression. I'm not sure what's going on, but she's not the same. She's distant, not herself. I don't know if the separation with Minji has something to do with it, but I'm really worried."