You walked through the dimly lit hallway of the apartment building, humming a soft tune under your breath. The faint echo of your footsteps bounced off the walls, blending with the distant murmur of televisions and the occasional creak of floorboards. It was a quiet morning, or at least, it had been, until your gaze fell on someone stepping out of an apartment a few doors down.

At first, you couldn't quite place them. Their features seemed oddly familiar, like a memory hovering just out of reach. But then it hit you, and your heart clenched.

Ji-ho. Your boyfriend. Wasn't he supposed to be at the hospital?

Your stomach twisted, a heavy knot of dread forming as you instinctively ducked behind the corner. Pressing your back against a wall, you willed yourself to stay hidden, your mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

"I'll see you later, oppa!" A voice rang out, high-pitched and teasing, followed by the light smack of a kiss on his cheek. You peeked around the corner just in time to see the girl giggling, her glossy hair bouncing as she shut the apartment door. Ji-ho stood there, his lips curling into that smug smirk you once found charming.

"I'll see you later, Min-ji." He said casually, giving her a small wave before strolling down the hall.

Min-ji? Your heart sank deeper. Who was Min-ji? And why had you never heard her name before? Desperately, you tried to rationalize. Maybe she’s his sister? Yeah, that’s it. Maybe she’s just a family he never mentioned! But the pang in your chest refused to ease. Deep down, you knew something was wrong.

Your legs moved before your mind could catch up, trailing after Ji-ho with careful, deliberate steps. You kept a safe distance, ducking out of sight whenever he glanced over his shoulder. Each step felt heavier than the last, the chill in the air wrapping around you like a suffocating fog.

Eventually, he led you to a narrow alleyway. A shadowy, unsettling place that reeked faintly of garbage and damp concrete. Your heart thudded loudly in your ears as you crouched behind a rusted dumpster, gagging at the acrid smell but too consumed by dread to care.

Just ahead, a young woman leaned casually against the wall, her face lighting up the moment Ji-ho appeared. She rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck in a way that felt far too intimate. "Oppa, you're here. I was so worried," She said, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Ji-ho chuckled softly, pulling her close. "I’m sorry, sweetheart. I was busy." You watched in horror as his hands slid down to her waist, then lower to her ass, giving them a firm squeeze that made her giggle. Your heart splintered.

And then he kissed her.

Not the quick, playful kind of kiss you might give in passing, but something raw and heated. Her moan filled the alley, a sound so intimate it felt like a slap to your face. You wanted to look away, but you couldn’t. You were rooted to the spot, your stomach twisting into painful knots with every second that passed.

The girl pulled back slightly, her breathless words cutting through the air. "Right here?"

"Yeah, right here." Ji-ho replied, his tone low and full of promise. His hands moved to the buttons of her shirt, undoing them one by one.

Something inside you snapped.

"JI-HO!" Your voice rang out, sharp and trembling with a mix of rage and heartbreak. Both of them froze, their heads whipping toward you. Ji-ho’s eyes widened in shock, his hands still hovering over the girl’s shirt.

"B-baby! What are you doing here?" He stammered, stepping away from the girl as if that could erase what you’d just witnessed.

Tears blurred your vision as you clenched your fists. "You lied to me! You said you were at the hospital!"

"I-I am! I mean, I was—" He fumbled for words, his usual confidence crumbling.

"Stop lying!" You shouted, your voice cracking under the weight of your emotions. "I thought you loved me..." You blubbered, no longer angry, but sad.

For a moment, his expression softened, then it hardened, and his true colors shone through. Ji-ho rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "What, you expect me to stay loyal to you? Please. I need someone hotter, someone with a bigger ass—"

"Just stop it!" You screamed, your chest heaving with sobs. "We’re done, Ji-ho. Over. And don’t even think about asking me for that 150k Won you wanted!"

He let out a low laugh, his indifference cutting deeper than any insult. "Fine. Whatever. I can just borrow money from one of my other girls."

Your heart felt like it had been ripped to shreds. Without another word, you turned and ran, tears streaming down your face as you left the alley behind. "Finally, she’s gone," You heard Ji-ho mutter as you disappeared from view. "Now, where were we—"

But before he could finish, a loud slap echoed through the alley. "You’re cheating on me?!" The girl shrieked, her hands flying to yank at his hair.

"Ouch— ouch! Baby, that hurts! I can explain, I swear!" Ji-ho’s panicked voice faded as you kept running, refusing to look back.

─────

A week had passed since you broke up with Ji-ho. You blocked him on every social media platform, deleted every app that could connect you to him. Still, blocking him didn’t mean you didn’t miss him. Because, in truth, you did. You miss him so much that you sometimes wished he’d show up at your doorstep, holding a bouquet of flowers, apologizing for everything. Maybe, if he did, you’d forgive him and take him back.

Or perhaps you didn’t miss him at all. Maybe it wasn’t Ji-ho you were yearning for, but the feeling of being in love and being loved in return. Maybe you needed someone who would love you for you, not for what you could provide them. You wanted someone who wouldn’t take advantage of your affection, someone who wasn’t in it just for the money.

A deep sigh escaped your lips as you wandered aimlessly around the campus. Your eyes were fixed on the ground, your thoughts far away. You weren’t even sure where you were headed. Eventually, your feet led you to a vending machine, the thought of a drink bringing a small spark of hope. "Maybe something cold will help," You thought, inserting five coins into the machine. You scanned the rows of options, but none of them seemed appealing. Just the same boring choices.

Finally, you settled for a canned lemon drink. It wasn’t your favorite, but it would do.

As you turned away, you bumped into someone. You groaned in frustration, rubbing your forehead. "I’m so sor—" You started, but the words died on your lips when you looked up to find yourself face to face with a tall woman. Se-mi. The same Se-mi who had invited you out for drinks just a week ago.

"Unnie?" You murmured, your voice quiet, unsure.

Se-mi’s surprised expression shifted into a warm smile. "Hey! Fancy seeing you here." She chuckled lightly, the sound making you feel oddly nervous.

"Oh, hey," You forced a smile, your tone tight. "Yeah, it’s… it’s pretty fancy to run into you here." You laughed, but it came out a little too fast, a little too nervous.

Se-mi narrowed her eyes, her smile faltering for a second as she studied you. "You look down." She said, her voice softer than before.

You blinked, caught off guard by how quickly she picked up on your mood. You tried to brush it off. "Oh? Really? Uh, that’s… wow," You stuttered, cursing yourself inwardly.

Her expression grew more serious, and she took a step closer. "Is something wrong? Is this about your dog again?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

You shook your head quickly. "No. Everything’s fine. Ppang is fine." You lied, but it was so obvious you weren’t convincing anyone. Se-mi let out a sharp scoff.

"Come on. Don’t give me that shit," She said, a slight edge to her voice. “I know something’s wrong. Talk to me.”

You sighed in frustration, trying to hold it together. "Why do you care? We barely know each other." You hadn't meant to snap, but the words had already left your mouth.

Se-mi seemed taken aback by your words, her eyes widening slightly. It was clear she hadn’t expected you to respond that way.

"Well," She said slowly, "Even if we don’t know each other that well, I still think of you as a friend," She replied gently. "But… you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. No pressure." She smiled softly, and for some reason, her kindness made your chest tighten. You hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Okay, fine," You relented, your voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I’ll tell you. Not like I have anything else to do right now anyway." You let out a dry chuckle, rubbing the back of your neck. "Um… let’s find somewhere private first. I don’t want anyone overhearing us." You gestured to a bench a few feet away.

Se-mi nodded, leading the way. Once you were seated, you took a deep breath, unsure where to even begin. She looked at you with such quiet understanding, her expression soft, waiting for you to speak.

Finally, you spoke, your voice trembling. You told her about the awful thing you've seen a week ago, how you caught Ji-ho leaving another womans apartment, then watched him making out with someone else in an alley.

By the time you finished, your eyes were filled with tears, and you tried desperately to hold them back, not wanting to break down in front of Se-mi. But the more you fought it, the worse it became.

"I’m so sorry that happened to you, Y/n," Se-mi said, her voice full of empathy. "It’s okay. You can cry," She added, pulling you gently into her arms.

And that was it. The dam broke.

Tears streamed down your face, your body shaking with emotion as you clung to Se-mi, not caring how messy it all was. "I-I just don’t understand why he did that," You sobbed, wiping your eyes in vain. "He always told me he loved me. Like that one time when we—" Your words faltered as your chest tightened. You couldn’t finish the sentence. "I’m sorry, I’m so embarrassed." You choked out, feeling utterly humiliated.

Se-mi shook her head, wiping a tear from your cheek. "Don’t be embarrassed. It’s not embarrassing at all. I know exactly how it feels when someone you love betray you like that," She said, her voice full of compassion. “It’s his loss. He couldn’t see how amazing you are.”

Her words, so gentle and understanding, made something in your chest unclench. You buried your face in her neck, allowing yourself to cry freely, your tears soaking the fabric of her shirt.

For a moment, it was just the two of you, the world outside fading away.

Then, suddenly, your stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence. You froze, feeling your face flush with embarrassment.

"I’m so sorry," You muttered, clutching your stomach. "I haven’t eaten all day."

Se-mi’s laughter rang out, light and warm. "It’s okay. Actually, I’m a little hungry too. Want to grab a bite at the cafeteria? Might help take your mind off everything."

"You want to eat with me?" You asked in disbelief.

She grinned and shrugged. "Who else would I eat with?" Her teasing tone made you blush, and you couldn’t help but smile.

"I’d love to!" You said, your voice more cheerful now.

Se-mi’s grin widened. "Great! Let’s go then." She stood up, offering you her hand. You took it, the warmth of her grip reassuring, and together you walked toward the cafeteria. One step at a time, the world seemed a little brighter than before.

─────

A/N: wow, i actually felt bad for yn here lol. anyways, hope you all are doing fine!! i have a question. would you guys be interested in a won ji-an x reader? like, not se-mi x reader, but the actual actress herself? or would that be cringe? 😭

and thank you so SO much for 1k+ read?!? no like seriously, thank you!!! i didnt even think i could make it this far but you guys made it happened <3 i love yall so much!!