Guilty As Sin ► Y.JH

16

The days that followed the confrontation with Minho were some of the hardest Soleil had ever endured. Every time she saw her brother's face-every time she looked into those eyes that had once held nothing but trust and love for her-her heart fractured all over again. The weight of their broken bond pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe, hard to think.

She had known, of course, that there would be consequences. She had known that betraying Minho's trust in the way she had would come with a cost. But now that the price was being paid in full, she couldn't help but wonder if it was too high. Could her love for Jeonghan truly justify the damage it had caused? Could anything ever fix what she had broken?

The space between her and Jeonghan had grown as tense as the space between her and Minho. They spent time together, but it was strained, their conversations more awkward than comforting. Jeonghan was trying-she could see that-but his efforts didn't seem to make the weight of the situation any lighter. If anything, it was like they were both trapped in a limbo where they were neither together nor apart, struggling to figure out how to move forward.

Soleil lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling as the afternoon light filtered through her curtains. Her phone buzzed beside her, a message from Jeonghan. She had been so used to his constant texts and calls, but now it felt as though every notification brought with it a fresh reminder of the mess they were all in.

"I miss you."

She stared at the words, the simplicity of the message weighing heavy on her heart. She missed him too. She missed the way they had been, before everything had fallen apart. But in the same breath, she wondered if she could ever have him back without it costing her everything-her relationship with Minho, the very sense of self she had once known.

Soleil closed her eyes, trying to calm the storm in her mind. But every time she thought about what had happened, about the fragile bond she had shattered between her and her brother, her heart grew heavier. She couldn't keep living like this-trapped in guilt, constantly reminded of the chaos she had unleashed.

The next morning, she found herself walking down the same street where she had spent so many quiet evenings with Minho. She didn't know what had drawn her here-it was like some unspoken pull, the need to see him, to make sure he was okay. And yet, at the same time, she didn't know if she was ready for another confrontation.

When she reached his apartment building, her heart began to race. The door to the lobby swung open, and she hesitated just outside it, taking a moment to gather herself. She knew she had to face him, to rebuild what they had destroyed. But it wasn't going to be easy.

She rang the doorbell.

It was a few minutes before Minho opened the door, and when he did, there was an immediate tension in the air. He looked exhausted, his face drawn, as if the last few weeks had taken their toll on him too. But there was no anger in his expression-only a tired resignation.

"Soleil," he said quietly, stepping aside to let her in. "I wasn't expecting you."

Soleil stepped inside, unsure of what to say next. The air between them was thick, charged with so many emotions that it was almost impossible to speak.

"I know you're still angry," she began, her voice shaky, "and I don't blame you."

Minho gave a small, bitter laugh. "Angry? No, I'm not angry. At least not anymore. I'm just... trying to figure out how to deal with all of this."