“I’ve decided to meet Jaehyuk Oppa again.”

And her expectation was correct. When the topic of ‘Jaehyuk’ came up, the expressions of the three people chilled. The atmosphere surrounding the four became heavy in an instant.

After a while, the first person to break the silence was Mrs. Seo.

“Arin, I was going to support whoever you met. Of course, I know you’re a thoughtful child, and I don’t think you made this decision lightly. However, I don’t understand why it’s him.”

“…Mother.”

“You and that person have already broken up, right? There must be a reason for the breakup. If you meet him again, conflicts will likely resurface. He will hurt you again.”

As Mrs. Seo finished speaking, Yijoon added to the conversation, breaking the silence with a frightening voice.
“Yeah, Mom is right. Are you in your right mind? Why that man! Do you know how difficult it has been for you all this time?!”

Yijoon’s emotionally charged voice revealed her irritation.

“Honestly, I just don’t understand you. Why are you trying to jump back into that pit? What’s lacking in you! Why go to that man again? Does it make sense that you couldn’t forget him even after all that you’ve been through? Are you foolish?”

Yijoon glared at her with determination. Arin didn’t feel the least bit offended by her words. She knew that Yijoon spoke out of concern for her.

“Sorry, Yijoon.”

Her heart was heavy. The people who had protected her when no one else was around, who had stood by her side when she thought she was the only loner in the world, were the ones she had betrayed.

“I’m sorry.”

Her heart clenched with guilt for hurting the people who had filled the void left by her family.

Even though they had spent a short time together, they had loved and cherished her. Along with gratitude, Arin felt a sense of guilt that she couldn’t express openly.

“If time passes, I might regret it. Maybe there could have been a better choice later on? I might think about it. Still, it doesn’t matter. I chose to go to Jaehyuk Oppa’s side because I didn’t want to create regrets. I want to prove that the path I chose is not entirely foolish.”

“Arin.”

When she heard her name, Arin looked at Mrs. Seo. Her eyes were filled with the love and affection of parents that she had never experienced before.

“Mother. And thank you. For thinking of me like your own daughter…….”

Then, she turned her gaze to Yijoon.

“Sorry, Yijoon.”

“…….”

Yijoon had treated her like a friend and a sister. It seemed like she was asking, ‘Is this really necessary?’ She was the first one to turn away from Arin’s gaze.

Arin’s eyes finally moved to Yuhyun.

As their eyes met in the air, Yuhyun’s pupils shrank. He had a shocked expression on his face, as if he had received a significant blow.

“Sorry, Oppa.”

“……Are you serious?”

Instead of answering Yuhyun’s question, Arin nodded her head. His face distorted in an instant. He seemed to want to say something, but he bit his lips as if restraining himself.

‘But, Oppa, even if I’m not that person, I can’t accept your feelings. I’m sorry for rejecting your feelings in this way.’

“As Mother said, I understand that I might get hurt for the same reason. I also know that a similar conclusion might be drawn until that problem is resolved.”

The words about Jaehyuk from now on were not the truth to convince Yijoon and the family; they were lies.

It was definitely so.

But why was she feeling so emotional? Suddenly, her throat choked up.

“……Even if it’s the last time, I want to be by Oppa’s side.”
At Arin’s final words, the three people’s gazes turned towards her face. Afterward, a not-so-brief silence descended. No one responded. The air inside the house felt heavier and more stifling than ever before.

Yijoon broke the silence.

“You… do you really have to be with that man in the end?”

Instead of answering, Arin nodded her head. Yijoon’s heart sank in an instant.

“Why of all people….”

Yijoon had been a close friend to Arin for a long time, thinking she knew her better than anyone. During the time Arin had separated from Jaehyuk, Yijoon sensed, although Arin herself might not have been aware, a subtle longing for Jaehyuk in her words.

It was natural. Arin had loved Jaehyuk for a long time.

He was her first love, her first man. Yijoon thought it wouldn’t be easy for a friend to forget someone they had held in their heart for a long time.

However, fortunately in Yijoon’s eyes, although not completely, the presence of a man had been gradually becoming blurred within Arin over a long period.

So, she was relieved. She believed that as time passed, Arin’s feelings for that man would fade away completely.

“Is it really necessary?”

Yijoon asked Arin, suppressing the sighs that seemed endless.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Arin said.

Yijoon could no longer easily oppose her. Arin’s heart had already solidified, and no matter what Yijoon said, it seemed useless.

Mrs. Seo and Yuhyun remained silent, just looking at Arin.

“Whatever we say, you won’t change your mind, right? Fine, do as you wish.”

Yijoon said with an exasperated voice.

Then, Mrs. Seo and Yuhyun stood up without saying anything.

Arin remained alone in the living room for a long time even after the three people entered the room.