INK AND SHADOWS [???]

Hara's heart was pounding as she sat in the clinic's waiting room. Every second felt like an eternity.

She tried to distract herself by scrolling through her phone, but her hands were trembling too much to focus.

Finally, the nurse called her name. She walked into the doctor's office with her stomach in knots.

"Well, Hara, the test results are negative," the doctor said with a kind smile.

Hara felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest.

"So, I'm not...?"

"No, you're not pregnant," the doctor confirmed.

"The delay in your period could be due to the emergency pills. They can sometimes disrupt your hormones. I'll prescribe some hormone medication to help regulate your cycle."

Hara nodded, barely able to process her relief.

She thanked the doctor and left the clinic with the prescription in hand.

Once outside, she let out a shaky laugh. "I was ready to bury myself six feet under," she muttered.

The thought of her overreaction made her laugh again, but this time with genuine relief.

For the first time in days, she felt light and free.

She wanted to hug someone—her uncle, Jay, anyone—but more than that, she wanted a smoke.

She wandered into a quiet alley, far from prying eyes, and pulled out the pack of cigarettes she kept hidden in her backpack.

Sitting on the old, worn stairs, she lit one, took a deep drag, and exhaled slowly.

The smoke curled around her as she closed her eyes, letting the tension melt away.

But her moment of peace was short-lived.

"Smoking, huh?" a voice said, startling her.

Before she could react, a man snatched the cigarette from her lips.

He looked at her with a mix of surprise and amusement. "A high school girl? A nerdy one at that? Smoking? That's crazy."

Hara glared at him. "What the hell do you want? Mind your own business!"

The man took a drag from her cigarette, smirking.

"Good taste, though. Nice brand."

"Seriously, who do you think you are?" she snapped.

He ignored her hostility, studying her face. "Rough day?"

Hara scoffed. "I don't talk to strangers."

The man chuckled, clutching his chest dramatically.

"Ouch. That hurt."

He extended a hand. "Lee Heeseung. There, now I'm not a stranger."

Hara rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

He glanced at her school uniform and spotted the name tag. "Jung Hara," he said, smiling.

"Now we're even. I know your name, you know mine."

"You're so annoying," she muttered, turning away.

His gaze shifted to the clinic's paper bag next to her.

"You sick or something?" he asked, his tone softening.

Hara ignored him, standing up to leave.

"Hey," he called out as she walked away.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm usually around here. Just saying."

She didn't reply, but his words lingered in her mind as she boarded the bus home.

As the bus rattled through the city, Hara stared out the window, lost in thought.

Suddenly, her eyes caught something familiar—a superbike parked outside a convenience store.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She spotted Jay and his friends laughing and talking near the store.

Her chest tightened as memories of her recent panic flooded back. Tears welled up in her eyes.

What's wrong with me?

Why do I feel so lonely?

Why do I hate myself so much?

She pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the bus window, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.

When she finally got off at her stop, she sat on the bench, staring at the empty street.

Her thoughts swirled as she tried to make sense of her emotions.

By the time she reached home, she felt drained.

As she stepped inside, the comforting aroma of her uncle's cooking greeted her.

"Hara!" Jungkook called from the kitchen.

"You're late! Come eat—I made your favorite."

Hara walked into the kitchen and froze.

Seeing her uncle's warm smile and the effort he'd put into the meal made her chest ache.

Before she knew it, she was rushing toward him, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

"Whoa, what's this?" Jungkook asked, startled.

"Are you okay?"

Hara didn't say a word, burying her face in his shoulder as tears spilled again.

Jungkook patted her back gently, a soft smile forming on his lips. "Ah, I see. It's your hormones, isn't it? Your period must be close."

Hara pulled away, wiping her eyes. "Don't say that!"

"Okay, okay," he chuckled.

"Come on, let's eat."

Despite the delicious meal, Hara couldn't shake her lingering sadness. Jungkook noticed but didn't press her for answers.

Later that night, she took a long shower, trying to wash away the weight of the day.

She grabbed a glass of water and took the hormone pills the doctor had prescribed, silently praying they would work.

As she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts drifted back to Jay.

What if I had been pregnant?

How would I have told him?

Or Uncle Jungkook?

The questions swirled in her mind until sleep finally claimed her.

_

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