Guilty As Sin ► Y.JH

18

The night air was crisp as Soleil walked down the quiet streets of her neighborhood, the soft rustle of leaves beneath her feet barely noticeable in the silence that hung around her. She had sent a message to Minho hours ago, asking if they could meet, and now she was on her way to his apartment-hoping that this time, their conversation would be different, more honest, more open. She needed to feel something other than the weight of guilt that had been suffocating her for weeks.

As she approached his building, her heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts racing. She hadn't heard from Jeonghan since their conversation earlier in the day. Since she had walked away from him. Since she had made the decision that seemed so right, yet still hurt like hell. The look in Jeonghan's eyes-his broken, shattered expression-had stayed with her all day. And now, more than ever, she was starting to question if it had been the right choice.

She loved Jeonghan. There was no denying that. But her love for him had come with too much pain, too many sacrifices. She had hurt Minho, her brother-her family-and no matter how much she tried to tell herself that it was for the best, the guilt gnawed at her. She had been torn between her love for Jeonghan and her loyalty to her family. And now, as the days passed and the consequences of her actions became clearer, she realized the depth of the mistake she had made. The price she had paid for her heart's desires.

When she stepped into Minho's apartment, she found him sitting on the couch, staring at his phone. The atmosphere between them was still tense, the weight of their fractured bond hanging between them like a suffocating fog. But this time, it felt different-less accusatory, more subdued. Minho had given her space in the last few days, allowing her to process everything, but she knew they couldn't stay in this limbo forever. They had to confront the reality of what had happened.

"Hey," Soleil said softly, walking toward the couch. "I'm sorry for dropping by unannounced."

Minho glanced up at her, his eyes tired but not filled with the same anger he had shown in their last conversation. "You don't have to apologize. You're always welcome here."

The words stung, in a way she couldn't fully explain. He wasn't pushing her away, but he wasn't reaching out either. It was as if they were both standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure of whether they should leap or turn back.

Soleil sat beside him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She glanced at the floor for a moment before speaking again. "I've been thinking a lot."

"I know you have," Minho replied quietly. "I've been thinking too. About everything."

They both sat in silence for a long while, the quiet stretching between them like a chasm, until Minho finally broke it.

"I just want to understand why, Soleil. Why did you let things go so far with Jeonghan?"

Soleil's chest tightened. It was the question she had been avoiding asking herself for days. She had always known that her actions had consequences, but now the truth was staring her in the face, raw and unforgiving.

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice shaking slightly. "I thought I was in control. I thought... I thought it was just a phase, or something that would pass. But it didn't. It wasn't just a crush. It wasn't something that could be brushed aside. It was real."

Minho's eyes darkened with pain, and he looked away, his jaw tight. "But it wasn't just you who got hurt, Soleil. It was all of us. You hurt me. And I don't even know if I can forgive you for that."