"not mine."

── .✦

You told yourself it didn't matter anymore. Whatever Jaehyun felt—whatever you felt—you had buried it the day you walked away.

But Jaehyun was different now.

It started with small things. In the cafeteria, Minji would eagerly approach his table, her tray balanced carefully in her hands, her voice sweet and inviting. "Jaehyun, let's eat together," she'd say, flashing him her brightest smile.

He would glance up at her, his expression unreadable, and shake his head. "I'm not hungry," he'd say simply before standing up and walking away, leaving his untouched lunch behind.

You watched from across the room, the tight grip on your own tray betraying the calm expression you forced onto your face. It wasn't just once or twice. Every day, Minji tried, and every day, Jaehyun refused.

"Is something wrong with him?" one of Minji's friends asked, her voice tinged with concern. "He's been so... off lately."

"Maybe he's stressed," Minji replied, her brow furrowed. "Or maybe he's mad at me for something?"

You didn't offer any answers, though you caught yourself glancing in his direction more often than you wanted to admit. There was something different about him—the way his shoulders slumped slightly when he thought no one was looking, the distant look in his eyes as though his mind was miles away.

You told yourself it wasn't your problem. You told yourself to stay out of it.

But one afternoon, you found him alone in the library. His usual seat by the window was occupied by someone else, so he sat at a corner table, his head resting on his folded arms. His bracelet—the one his sister made—peeked out from under his sleeve.

"Jaehyun?" you called softly, your feet moving toward him before you could stop yourself.

He didn't move.

You hesitated, then gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?"

His head lifted slightly, and his tired eyes met yours. For a moment, neither of you said anything. Then he sat up straight, running a hand through his hair.

"Just tired," he muttered.

"You haven't been eating," you said quietly.

He let out a small, humorless laugh. "You've been watching me?"

You froze, caught off guard. "N-no, it's just—Minji keeps asking you, and I noticed—"

"It's fine," he interrupted, his voice flat. He stood up, grabbing his bag. "Don't worry about me."

Before you could respond, he walked away, leaving you standing there, your hand still hovering where his shoulder had been.

------

Months turned into years. After graduation, life moved on, as it always does. 

You threw yourself into work, building a career, and slowly distanced yourself from old school memories. Minji had gone overseas for college, and her cheerful messages became less frequent until they eventually stopped. You didn't blame her; life had taken you both in different directions.

But Jaehyun? He disappeared entirely.

At first, you tried not to think about it. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he was adjusting to the demands of adulthood, just like you. But the silence gnawed at you. There was nothing about him on social media—no posts, no tagged photos, not even a hint of where he might be. It was as if he had vanished.

Some nights, when work wasn't enough to distract you, you'd find yourself scrolling through your phone, searching for traces of him. A part of you hated how much you still thought about him, how much you wanted to know if he was okay.

But there was never anything.

And so, you told yourself to let go.

One evening, after another exhausting day at work, you came home to your small apartment, tossing your bag onto the couch. The city lights flickered outside your window as you kicked off your shoes and made your way to your desk.

You opened your laptop, intending to skim through emails before calling it a night. Most were the usual—work updates, newsletters you forgot to unsubscribe from, spam. But one subject line made your breath catch:

"Wedding Invitation: Minji & Jaehyun."

Your heart stopped.

You stared at the screen, the words blurring as your chest tightened. With trembling hands, you clicked on the email.

It was a formal invitation, complete with a glossy photo of Minji and Jaehyun. They were standing close, her hand resting on his chest, both of them smiling softly. Minji looked radiant, and Jaehyun...

He looked the same, yet different. Older, maybe. More polished. But his eyes—they were the same eyes that had once met yours with something unspoken, something you hadn't been able to hold onto.

The email included a short message from Minji.

"Hi, Y/N-ie! I hope this email finds you well. I know it's been ages, and I'm so sorry for losing touch. But I couldn't get married without inviting you—you've always been such an important part of my life. I really hope you can come! It would mean the world to me. Love, Minji."

You sat back in your chair, your hands falling to your lap as the weight of the email settled in.

Jaehyun was getting married. To Minji.

The two people who had unknowingly shaped so much of your life, who had occupied your thoughts for far too long, were now tying their futures together.

You swallowed hard, your throat burning as your vision blurred with tears. You blinked them away, forcing yourself to breathe.

After a moment, you typed a short reply:

"Congratulations, Minji. I'm so happy for you both. I'll do my best to attend."

Your fingers hovered over the send button, hesitation prickling at the edges of your resolve. But then you hit send, knowing there was no point in lingering.

The wedding day arrived faster than you wanted. You debated not going, but Minji had insisted you come. "You're one of my closest friends," she had said with a smile, not knowing the weight her words carried.

At the reception, you sat near the back, your hands gripping your glass of water as you tried not to look at the happy couple. But your eyes betrayed you.

Jaehyun stood at the head of the room, his arm around Minji as they thanked the guests. He looked stunning in his suit, his usual distant demeanor replaced by a polite smile.

But when his eyes met yours across the room, the smile faltered. Just for a second.

You quickly looked away, your chest tightening.

"Congratulations," you said quietly when Minji approached you later, her dress flowing elegantly as she leaned in for a hug.

"Thank you," she said, beaming. "I'm so glad you could come!"

Jaehyun was beside her, silent.

"Jaehyun, doesn't she look great tonight?" Minji asked, nudging him playfully.

He glanced at you, his expression unreadable. "Yeah," he said softly. "She does."

And then Minji was pulled away by another guest, leaving you and Jaehyun alone for the first time in months.

"Y/N," he said quietly, his voice low, almost trembling.

You shook your head, forcing a smile even though it felt like it might crack. "You look happy, Jaehyun. That's all that matters."

For a moment, he said nothing. Then, his jaw tightened, and he looked away, as though he was fighting something deep inside. "Thank you," he finally murmured, the words heavy with unspoken emotion.

Your throat burned as you swallowed back the tears threatening to spill. You managed a small nod, your watery eyes meeting his one last time. "You're welcome," you whispered, your voice breaking slightly.

And just like that, it was over.

He turned back to join his bride, leaving you standing there, a single tear slipping down your cheek. You wiped it away quickly, afraid someone might see.

Outside, the night was quiet, the cool breeze brushing against your tear-streaked face. You tilted your head back, looking up at the stars.

"Thank you," you whispered again, though he couldn't hear you anymore.

Because he was never yours to begin with.

The end.

what we learn? dont give someone who we love to someone like friend.

nighty, love.