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"Areum," my sister called out as her head poked out from behind my door. "Could you help me with something?" She asked and I said yes almost immediately.

I've been drowning in guilt for the past month, knowing that I ended her relationship with Taehyung and I've been trying my best to help her out in any way possible.

"Could you help me pass these to Taehyung?" She asked and I feel my heart drop to my stomach.

"What?"

"It's just a few of his things." She sighed, "it hurts to look at them so I'd rather give them back." She said, sticking out a bag of things in front of her.

She noticed the hesitant look in my eyes, "please." She pleaded, her eyes broken and lost. I sighed as I stood up and approached her.

"Alright," I gave in, grabbing the bag from her hands. "I'll go tomorrow." I gave her a weak smile as she hugged me, "thank you. I don't know what I'll do without you." She whispered and I feel my heart sink.

This side of Aera was alien to me, she had never been the soft, emotional sister. So the fact that she was showing me this side of her showed how hurt she was, making me feel worse about myself.

I let out an exasperated sigh the moment she left my room. I slumped onto my bed, thinking about how I was going to face Taehyung after that night.

A text message gets me to snap out of my thoughts.

I hope you're ready! I have something exciting planned.
7:30PM

I read the message from Jae and instantly sprung to my feet, remembering the dinner date we had. I quickly got ready, dabbing on a little make up and perfume as I rushed out, meeting him.

I'd like to believe that things were finally changing between us. Ever since he started putting in effort to make us work.

I met him at the restaurant, and there he was seated at the table draped in a suit. "Hey," I said and he instantly got up, smiling as he pulled me into his embrace. He gave a quick peck to my cheek as he sat back down.

"Well, you're late." He narrowed his eyes at me, "but it's fine." He sat up quickly, beaming.

"Someone's in a good mood." I chuckled and he grinned.

"I'm just excited for the little something I prepared." He gave me a cheeky grin, his eyes glimmering with excitement. "I'm sure you'll love it."

All I did was giggle as our food was served to us.

"This is amazing." I almost moan as I bit into the steak.

"Right?" He said right after taking a bite. He wiped the corner of his lips with a napkin as he looked at me. "I've missed this." Jae looked at me, taking my hand into his.

"Me too, I—" And I was interrupted by a buzz from his phone. He stuck out his finger before me, motioning for me to halt as he reached for his phone.

"Sorry, as you were saying." He placed his phone back onto the table as he looked at me, trying to give me his fullest attention.

"I've missed this too. I'm happy we-" And the buzzing cut me off once more. I couldn't help but pull away from him the moment he reached for his phone again.

"I'm sorry, I'll just be one second." He said, getting up from the table as he walked away, pressing the phone to his ear as he spoke.

I sighed, picking up my glass of champagne as I stared at the golden liquid that laid rich in the glass. Taking a sip, I placed it back onto the table and in that moment Jaesun comes back.

"Babe, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, let's just eat." I smiled, trying not to let my mood get ruined.

"That's not it, I have to go." He said and I only gape at him. "My mentor called me back, they need me to finish paperwork on a case." He said, as he took one last bite of his meal.

"Right now?" I let out, exhausted.

"Yes, I'm so sorry." He repeated as he kissed my forehead, "you know what it's like as a law student." He sighed, "I'll call you." Jae said, as he rushed off without turning back.

I groaned, sinking into my seat as I stared at the empty seat before me. This was becoming a familiar view. I feel the couples seated next to my table throw judgemental glances at me and I simply look to the table, trying my best to stay calm.

I feel a lump develop in my throat, the back of it stinging as I tried holding back my tears. I hated the feeling of people judging my relationship, one that was crumbling so evidently.

I raised my hand, calling for a waiter as I asked for the bill. "Oh, not just yet Ms Areum." He smiled at me, signalling for more staff to come over. As they did, the room lights dimmed and I looked around confused.

"Oh God no." I pleaded under my breath the moment three men with violins came out, playing a piece that I couldn't recognise. I realised that this was the little 'something' Jaesun was talking about.

I feel almost every head turned to my direction as the men playing the violin approached my table. I sink down into my seat further, embarrassment taking over me as I feel my face redden.

I looked up meeting everyone's gaze as the violin sings and I feel my eyes sting, tears welling up to the brim. The humiliation became unbearable the moment I hear someone say, "poor girl" pitifully.

I tried blinking away the tears, trying to avoid causing a scene but as I blinked, salty tears dripped down my cheeks.

Murmurs started to buzz around me but they weren't audible to my ears.

"Can I please have the bill?" I let out weakly and the violins stop the moment the men noticed my tear stained cheek. "Oh, yes Ma'am." The waiter rushes off and brings back the bill to me and I paid.

I stood up and left as soon as I could, feeling embarrassment burn through me. Having to walk out, alone with eyes staring right at me.

I got into my car and instantly broke down the moment I sat behind the wheel, feeling humiliated. I grip onto the steering wheel as tears poured out of me, my cries going unheard.

I fished out my phone, dialling Jae's number, wanting to vent it all out but he doesn't answer and I throw my phone to the passenger seat getting worked up.

I ran my palm across my face, drying my cheeks as I tried collecting myself. I wanted to give Jaesun a piece of my mind, feeling sick of the humiliation he constantly puts me through. So I drove up to his campus.

I pulled over and rushed up to his schoolmate's dorm room where he usually does his assignments. I knocked onto it and it opened, revealing a male I wasn't familiar with.

I sniffled lightly, "Is Jae in?" I asked as I peeped into the room and he shook his head, "he said he was meeting you." He responded, leaning against the doorframe as he scanned my body.

"Meeting me? What?" My brows knitted together as I stared at him, lost.

"Yea. Maya, right?" The blonde male looked at me and I feel my heart stop for a solid second.

"Dude, that ain't Maya!" I hear someone yell from inside the room and I feel my chest tighten. A brown haired boy stumbled his way to the door. He, I could recognise.

Jae always claimed to be with him when doing assignments because, apparently, they had the same mentor.

"Maya?" I looked at the both of them with confusion.

"Dude, you right. Maya had a bigger ass." The blonde turned to the brunette laughing after checking out my body but he earns a punch in response.

I simply stared at them, tears making it's way to my eyes once again.

"Areum, right?" The brunette said and I nod slightly. "Jae's with Maya right now, she's a mentor and a professor here." He tried covering up their blunder but the blonde instantly burst out in laughter.

"Ji, you're telling me that that bitch is a professor?" He laughed, not being able to read the room and the brunette simply punched him once more, this time harder. He gave him a stern look as he looked back at me and the blonde boy finally understood who I was.

"I mean yea, that bitch's a professor." He cleared his throat as he looked at me and I simply shook my head, feeling sick to the gut.

I walked out into the hallway, trying to calm my ragged breathing as I tried thinking of all the possible scenarios, ones that didn't involve Jaesun cheating but nothing came to mind.

I really was just an option for him.