INK AND SHADOWS [???]

Hara leaned back against the couch after Jay's heartfelt confession, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips.

The silence between them was heavy but comforting, like they had stepped into a world where words weren't necessary.

She looked over at him, her expression soft but teasing.

"Since you shared your story, I think it's only fair if I tell you mine. Don't worry, it's free of charge."

Jay chuckled lightly, trying to ease the tension.

"Free, huh? Well, let's hear it then."

Hara sighed, twiddling her thumbs nervously.

"Honestly, I don't even know what to call myself..."

"Am I an orphan or not?"

Jay tilted his head, confusion flickering across his face.

"My mom passed away when I was ten," Hara started, her voice trembling slightly.

"She went out to buy strawberries for me because I begged her. It was my favorite fruit. She finally found some, but... on the way back, she got into an accident."

Jay's eyes softened, his gaze fixed on her as she spoke.

"I remember waiting for her to come home, not knowing what happened to her," she continued, her voice cracking.

"I kept asking myself why I wanted them so badly in the first place. Was it really worth it?"

Hara took a shaky breath, her hands clutching her knees.

"When my dad found out why she was out that day, he... he blamed me for everything. He hated me so much he wanted to put me in an orphanage." She smiled bitterly.

"But my uncle Jungkook saved me. He didn't let that happen."

Jay leaned forward slightly, his brows furrowed in concern. "Uncle Jungkook? The guy from the tattoo shop?"

She nodded. "Yeah, that's him. My mom's younger brother. He was barely an adult himself when he took me in. He'd just graduated, didn't have much money, but he worked so hard to give me a life. Even now, I can't imagine how he managed to do it all."

She paused, her lips trembling as her voice grew softer.

"He gave up his own dreams to take care of me. And he's always told me the only thing I need to do is study, graduate, and pursue what I love. But how can I? How can I live freely when all I've ever done is ruin people's lives?"

Jay opened his mouth to object, but she continued before he could speak.

"I blamed myself for everything. For my mom's death, for my dad hating me, for my uncle having to sacrifice everything for me. That's why I work so hard in school. I want to get a scholarship so I don't have to use his money anymore. I want to make things right."

Tears began streaming down her face as she spoke.

"And the thing is... I've never told anyone about this. Not a single soul. Because the moment people hear about my broken past, they look at me differently. Like I'm a fragile thing that might shatter at any second."

Jay watched her quietly, his heart aching as he saw her tears. He shifted closer to her, pulling her into a hug.

"You're not broken, Hara," he murmured against her hair.

"You're so much stronger than you think."

Hara let herself cry in his arms, the weight of her pain and guilt pouring out in waves.

For the first time, she felt a flicker of relief—like she wasn't carrying the burden alone anymore.

As she clung to him, a dangerous thought crept into her mind.

What if I told him everything? What if I told him that I'm the dark green-haired girl he met at the nightclub and the silver-haired girl from that night?

She swallowed hard, pushing the thought away.

No. This was enough.

She had already shown him a part of herself she never thought she would.

That secret... it was something she couldn't reveal.

Not now, not ever.

"I'm okay," she whispered, trying to pull away from the hug.

But Jay didn't let go. Instead, he tightened his arms around her, his voice firm but gentle.

"You're not okay, and that's fine. You don't have to be strong all the time."

Hara froze as he slowly pulled back, his hands moving to her face. He slid her glasses off carefully, setting them aside before using his thumbs to wipe her tears.

His gaze softened, and before she could react, he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.

Hara's breath hitched, her heart pounding wildly.

She didn't know what to say, what to think.

Jay pulled back, his eyes searching hers. "Hara, you're incredible. You're raw, honest, and vulnerable... and you don't even realize how amazing that makes you."

His words sent a strange warmth through her chest, one that both comforted and unsettled her.

And for Jay, seeing her like this—her walls down, her emotions laid bare—made him realize something.

He didn't want to just be her friend.

He wanted to be the person she could always lean on, the one who could make her feel safe, loved, and cherished.

But for now, he kept that thought to himself, letting the moment speak for itself.