As the days passed, my absence grew more pronounced, and so did the ache in Jungwon's heart. It wasn't something I intended to happen, but life had a way of making everything more complicated, and I found myself buried under the weight of it all. Jungwon, with his soft eyes and gentle presence, was always there, always patient, but even he couldn't stop the distance that was growing between us.

He reached out again, this time with a call, but I couldn't bring myself to answer. The screen lit up with his name, and my heart squeezed painfully, but I let it ring out. I couldn't. Not right now. I needed to focus, to get my mind straight, and talking to Jungwon would unravel everything I had carefully kept together.

On the fourth day, he finally got through to me. I had just finished dealing with another family issue when my phone buzzed, and before I could even think, I answered it. The exhaustion in my voice must've broken his heart because I could hear the worry in his soft tone.

"Hey, Bells. I've been really worried about you," Jungwon said, trying to stay calm even though I knew he wasn't. He never was when it came to me.

"Jungwon... I'm sorry. I just... I can't right now," I replied, my voice strained and barely holding together. The last few days had been a whirlwind, and I felt like I was suffocating under the pressure. I hated this—hated feeling like I was pushing him away when all I wanted was to be in his arms.

"Is there anything I can do? Anything at all?" he asked, his desperation to help bleeding through every word. It made me want to cry. Jungwon was always there, always willing to take on my burdens as his own, but this time, it was too much. I couldn't let him carry this for me.

"I don't know, Jungwon. I just... I need to focus on my family right now. It's all too much." The words came out sharper than I intended, but I was drowning, and I didn't know how to pull myself out. I didn't mean to push him away, but I could feel the distance growing between us, and it terrified me.

"I'm here for you, Bella. No matter what. Just... don't forget that, okay?" His voice was filled with a quiet reassurance that made my heart ache. He always knew what to say, always knew how to make me feel like everything would be okay, even when it wasn't.

"I know," I whispered, barely finding the strength to speak. But even as I said it, I could feel him slipping further away, the distance between us widening with each passing day. Family came first, and I was drowning in more than I could handle. And even though he understood, I knew it hurt him.

This time, it wasn't our rivalry keeping us apart—it was something neither of us could control. And that, more than anything, was what scared me the most.

My world was a constant whirlwind of worry and responsibility, so full that there wasn't any room left for anything else—not even for him. The weight of everything pressing down on me made it hard to breathe, let alone think about anything beyond getting through the day. And yet, in the quiet moments when the chaos settled just a little, I couldn't help but think of him, hoping with everything in me that when this storm finally passed, I'd still find him waiting for me on the other side.

Another week slipped by, and the silence between me and Jungwon grew heavier, like a cloud hanging over me that I couldn't escape no matter how hard I tried. It wasn't intentional—I never meant for things to get this way—but life had other plans. Every day felt like a blur, a never-ending cycle of hospital visits, doctors' appointments, and trying to keep everything together at home. Grandma's condition demanded constant care, and my mom, bless her, leaned on me more than ever before. I understood; she was scared too. But it didn't change the fact that I felt like I was drowning.

Between running endless errands, trying to keep the house from falling apart, and spending sleepless nights at the hospital, it felt like there wasn't a single moment to breathe, let alone think about school or... or Jungwon. It was as if the warmth we had shared, the comfort of his presence, had been replaced by the cold weight of responsibility. And with every passing day, that warmth seemed further and further away, overshadowed by the demands of my reality.

But even as I focused on my family, I couldn't shake the feeling that Jungwon was slipping further from me. Every time I saw another missed call or an unanswered text, guilt gnawed at me, eating away at whatever was left of my heart. I knew he was hurting too, feeling neglected and abandoned, but there was only so much of me left to give. The weight of everything else in my life had left me hollow, and I didn't know how to make room for anything else—no matter how much I wanted to.

And so, I let the silence stretch on, hoping that somehow, despite it all, he would understand. Hoping that even though I couldn't reach out right now, he would still be there when I finally could. Because, despite the distance, despite the silence, a part of me still longed for him, still held on to the memory of the warmth we once shared. And all I could do was hope that it wasn't too late when I finally found my way back to him.

Two weeks later, I finally returned to school, hoping—praying—that something might feel normal again. The familiar hallways stretched out in front of me, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, I could catch up on my classes and talk to Jungwon, explain everything that had kept me away for so long.

But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I walked into the cafeteria.

There he was, sitting at one of the tables, his head tilted back in laughter, looking so at ease. His laughter—a sound that used to feel like a warm blanket on a cold day—now felt distant, foreign. And beside him... beside him was a girl I had never seen before.

She was beautiful. Her soft brown hair framed her face like a gentle halo, and her smile—oh, that smile—seemed to light up the entire room. The kind of smile that made people stop and stare. The kind of smile that felt like sunshine after weeks of rain.

The way she and Jungwon talked, the way they leaned in close to each other, sharing some secret that wasn't meant for anyone else... it was as if they had known each other for years. Their connection was effortless, like a perfectly choreographed dance that I wasn't a part of.

My heart sank, twisting painfully in my chest as I stood frozen in place. I couldn't move. I couldn't tear my eyes away from them. The warmth that had once been ours—those stolen moments, the laughter we had shared—was now being shared with her. Someone who hadn't been drowning in family problems, someone who hadn't disappeared for weeks without a word.

As if he could sense me watching, Jungwon looked up. Our eyes met for the briefest moment, and for a second, I thought I saw something flicker in his gaze—something familiar. A shadow of what we once had. But then, just as quickly, it was gone.

His smile faltered, but only for a split second, and then he looked away, back to her.

A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears at bay. I hadn't expected this. I hadn't expected to come back and find him like this—with someone else, looking so... happy.

And yet, deep down, a small part of me couldn't blame him. I had been the one who pulled away, who got lost in the chaos of my own life. I had been the one who left a void, and now it seemed like he had found someone to fill the space I had left behind.

Without a word, I turned and walked out of the cafeteria, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest.

It didn't take long for me to learn the name of the girl who had so easily taken my place at Jungwon's side—Haeun. Her name lingered in the air like a sharp, unwelcome reminder, a name that stung every time I heard it. She was new, with a fresh face and a seemingly innocent smile that fooled everyone but me. There was something off, something I couldn't quite put my finger on, but I knew, deep down, that Haeun wasn't as sweet as she appeared.

Somehow, she had wasted no time getting close to him. Too close. It was as if she knew exactly where to position herself in Jungwon's life, sliding into the space where I used to be. And every time I tried to approach him—whether in the hallways, after class, or during lunch—Haeun was always there, like an unshakable shadow. She had this way of pulling him away with a smile that never quite reached her eyes, and it only made my chest tighten with frustration.

At first, it started subtly—a light tug on his sleeve here, a playful excuse to get him alone there—but as the days passed, it became more deliberate. The way she would look at me whenever I got too close to him, that silent warning in her eyes, daring me to stay away. But I'm not the type to give up easily. No way. I needed to know what was really going on between them, and there was no chance I'd let Haeun win without a fight.

So, I started watching. It wasn't hard to notice the way she monopolized his time, always managing to steer him away whenever I was near, as if she had some sixth sense for my presence. It was infuriating, watching her manipulate the situation, always managing to pull him just a little further from me.

Then, one day, everything came crashing down. I had been heading to the library after class, lost in thoughts of catching up on schoolwork, when I heard Haeun's voice floating down the hall. It was light, airy, and just as fake as that smile of hers. Curiosity got the better of me, and I paused just outside the door, staying out of sight as I listened.

"I can't believe you're going on a date with Jungwon this weekend!" Sumin's voice echoed in the hallway, laced with excitement. "You two are practically the hottest couple already."

Hottest couple? The words stung, piercing through the air like a knife. Haeun's laugh followed, light and carefree, but it made my stomach churn. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag as I pressed myself against the wall, heart pounding in my chest.

"Well, it's about time, isn't it?" Haeun's voice was dripping with satisfaction. "He's been all mine for the past week anyway. I've got him wrapped around my finger."

Her words twisted like a knife in my chest. Wrapped around her finger? The thought made me sick. My mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions—anger, hurt, confusion. Was that really how she saw it? That she could just waltz into his life and claim him as hers?

"I mean, he's cute and all," another voice chimed in, "but he still seems a little hung up on that other girl—what's her name? Bella?"

My heart skipped a beat. For a split second, hope flared up inside me, but it was quickly extinguished by Haeun's next words.

"Oh, don't worry about her," Haeun said, her tone turning cold and possessive. "Jungwon's over her. I'll make sure of that this weekend. One date, and he won't even remember she exists."

I could barely breathe. The words hit harder than I expected, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. My vision blurred as I tried to process what I had just heard. Was this really how far things had gone? Was Jungwon actually planning to go out with her? The thought of it made my heart ache in a way I wasn't prepared for.