Soojin sat outside a small convenience store, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared at the pavement. The fluorescent lights above cast a dim glow, flickering slightly, as the cool night air brushed against her skin.
Sion stepped out of the store, holding two bottles of chocolate milk. Without a word, he placed one in front of her before sitting down beside her.
Soojin glanced at the drink before grabbing it with a quiet "Thanks." She took a small sip, letting the familiar taste linger on her tongue, before leaning back against the cool metal railing behind her.
Sion watched her for a moment, then asked, "Feeling better now?"
She turned to him with a small, tired smile, but the redness in her eyes betrayed her earlier tears. "Yeah, I'm okay now. Sorry for crying on you like that."
Sion shook his head. "It's not your fault. You needed someone to lean on."
Soojin stared at the drink in her hands, rolling the bottle between her fingers. The night was quiet, save for the occasional hum of passing cars and the faint chatter of late-night customers inside the store.
After a moment, she spoke again. "You're not telling me to break up with him."
Sion glanced at her, his expression composed. "That's not something I can tell you to do. It's your decision. But…" He paused. "I do hope you'll choose to leave him—for your own sake."
Soojin let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "That's new."
Sion raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Most people tell me outright to break up with him," she admitted, a bitter smile on her lips. "I know they say it because they care, but… maybe what I really needed was for someone to just listen."
Sion exhaled, resting his arm on his knee. "Sometimes, that's what matters the most. Having someone who just… listens."
Soojin turned to him, her gaze softening. "Thank you."
Sion grinned, taking a sip of his own drink. "It's my pleasure."
She let out a small laugh before sighing, leaning her head back against the railing. "I don't know, Sion. I don't know if I can actually leave him."
Sion didn't press her. Instead, he simply said, "It's your choice."
She looked at him, searching his face for judgment, but found none. Only patience.
She smiled, even if it was a little sad. "Yeah… I guess it is."
______♡°
The second year of university had begun, and Sion found himself sitting in Mirang's office, discussing Soojin. The room was warm, slightly dim, and filled with the subtle scent of coffee and old books. A sleek, dark wooden desk sat at the front, where Mirang leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, a look of disapproval on her face. On the couch across from her, Riku and Jaehee sat lazily, both absorbed in their phones—one scrolling aimlessly, the other typing away furiously.
Mirang exhaled sharply. "So why hasn't she broken up with that guy yet?"
Sion sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "She was going to, but then he pulled the classic 'I made a mistake, I'll never do it again' card. He begged, apologized—said he couldn't live without her."
Riku didn't even glance up from his phone before scoffing. "I wonder when she'll grow a backbone."
Jaehee immediately snapped, not looking up either. "Shut up, I'm working."
Mirang shot Riku a glare. "Stay quiet and let Sion speak."
Riku smirked, raising one hand in surrender. "Oops. My bad. Sorry." He went right back to scrolling.
Mirang turned back to Sion, her tone softer. "Does it make you sad?"
Sion nodded, though his face remained unreadable. "Of course. But at the end of the day, it's her life. She has to decide for herself."
Mirang tapped her fingers against the desk, nodding. "That's true. People need to make their own choices if they ever want to grow as a person."
Sion let out another sigh, nodding in agreement. Silence settled over the room, stretching long enough that it started to feel heavy.
That was until the door BURST open, nearly giving Jaehee a heart attack.
"MY LIFE IS A NIGHTMARE!"
Yushi stormed in, grabbing his hair dramatically. His face was a mask of pure agony, as if he had just received the most tragic news known to mankind.
"I WOULD RATHER DIE THEN BE IN THIS SITUATION!"
Sion, Riku, and Jaehee immediately clamped their hands over their mouths, shaking with laughter. Their shoulders trembled as they tried—and failed—to hold back their amusement.
Mirang, however, merely sighed, leaning her chin against her hand. "You, Yushi, are the first person I've ever seen who's genuinely upset that someone fancies them."
Yushi stared at her, deadpan. "Mirang. MIRANG. I would be HAPPY if it weren't for the fact that this is MESSING with my JOB."
Mirang arched a brow, unimpressed. "Her liking you isn't what's messing with your job. You liking her is."
Yushi recoiled as if she had just accused him of a crime. "I DON'T LIKE HER!"
Mirang simply smiled. "We'll see about that."
Yushi threw up his hands in exasperation. "I DON'T! I REALLY DON'T!"
Mirang rolled her eyes. "Fine. Then just tell her straight up that you don't like her and to stop liking you."
Yushi looked at her, expression blank. "I DID."
Mirang raised a brow. "And?"
Yushi threw his hands up again, now pacing the room. "You know what she said?! She said—" He dropped his voice into a high-pitched, mocking tone. "'I can't stop liking you and I won't stop liking you! I'm gonna have you one day! Mark my words'" He flailed dramatically. "LIKE. WHAT?! WHO EVEN SAYS THAT?!"
The three guys lost it.
Jaehee rolled onto the floor, clutching his stomach. Riku had his face buried in a couch pillow, wheezing. Sion leaned forward, shaking with laughter, his hands covering his face as if he couldn't believe what he just heard.
Mirang covered her mouth, shoulders shaking. "Okay, okay." She composed herself and leaned forward. "You know, Yushi, I actually knew someone in the exact same situation as you."
That got their attention.
The laughter died down instantly as all four of them snapped their heads toward her.
Yushi crossed his arms. "Who?"
Mirang smirked, enjoying their curiosity. "A guy from my department."
Yushi immediately scoffed. "Of course, he's from my department."
Mirang chuckled. "Not just that. He was also a lot like you. Personality-wise, I mean."
Yushi narrowed his eyes. "How similar are we talking?"
Mirang leaned back, smirking. "Well, really similar. But more serious, you have friends. He didn't have even one."
The room fell silent.
Riku blinked. "Damn."
Jaehee winced. "That's rough, buddy."
Mirang nodded. "He was colder than you."
Sion tilted his head. "So how was his situation like Yushi's?"
Mirang propped her elbows on her desk. "He also had a girl who was crazy about him. No matter how much he pushed her away, ignored her, he was even mean to her but she kept chasing him."
Riku raised a brow. "And? What happened to him?"
Mirang exhaled, shaking her head. "I don't know. He's not in Aetheria anymore. I haven't seen him in like.... seven years."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Sion, Riku, Jaehee, and Yushi exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued.
Jaehee sat up straight. "Wait, he just..... disappear?"
Mirang shrugged. "Yeah. One day, he was just gone. No one knows where he went."
Yushi squinted at her. "…Are you trying to imply that I'm going to disappear next?"
Mirang grinned. "I'm just saying—maybe you should start running now."
Jaehee collapsed into another fit of laughter. Riku dramatically patted Yushi's shoulder. "It was nice knowing you, man."
Sion smirked. "You're doomed."
Yushi groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I hate all of you."