The cafeteria was buzzing with the usual noise. Clinking trays, quiet chatter, and the occasional burst of laughter. Se-mi led the way, her confidence steady as always, but there was a subtle warmth in the way she smiled at you. It wasn’t pity, not at all. It was something more comforting, like she genuinely cared.

You could hear your stomach growl again, this time a little louder than before, and you felt your face flush. Se-mi shot you a playful look. "I swear, if your stomach grows louder than my laugh, we might need to order more food."

You chuckled nervously. "I think it might already have a mind of its own."

She laughed, her eyes sparkling. "It's okay, I’m hungry too. Let’s fill it up then."

You followed her to the counter where trays were stacked, the smell of warm food lingering in the air. The cafeteria was far from fancy, but it felt oddly cozy. Se-mi picked up a tray, quickly loading it with a sandwich, some fruit, and a drink before glancing at you. "You good with this?" She asked, eyes flicking over the options.

You nodded, taking the tray she handed you. "Yeah, looks perfect. Thanks."

You both settled at a small corner table by the window, the noise of the cafeteria faded into the background. There was something peaceful about being here, with Se-mi's easygoing energy surrounding you. It was strange, but you felt like maybe… maybe you could start to breathe again.

"Hey," Se-mi said, her voice softer now, leaning across the table just a little. "I know it’s not the same, but I’ve been where you are. It’s tough to process when someone you loved turned into someone you don’t even recognize."

You met her gaze, swallowing the lump that had formed in your throat. “I just… I don’t get it. We had plans, you know? Everything felt so perfect, and then..." You paused, shaking your head. “I don’t know how to move on from that.”

Se-mi was quiet for a moment, taking a sip of her drink. Then, as if weighing her words carefully, she spoke again. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Sometimes, the best thing is to let it be messy. You’ll come through this, Y/n.”

You weren’t sure why, but there was something in her tone that made you believe her. You found yourself nodding, letting out a slow breath. “Maybe I’ve been trying too hard to make sense of everything all at once.”

She grinned. “It’s easy to get caught up in that. Trust me, I’ve done it. But sometimes, all we can do is let go and let time take care of things.” She took another bite of her sandwich, looking down at her tray before adding, “Besides, if you keep holding on to someone who’s already let you go, you might just miss out on something else. Something better.”

Your heart skipped. You weren’t sure if she meant it as encouragement or if she was subtly hinting at something else, but you chose to ignore the flutter in your chest for now.

“Something better?” You repeated softly, your gaze falling to the sandwich in front of you.

“Yeah.” Se-mi’s smile was full of confidence. “Maybe it’s not about finding someone new right now, but learning to love yourself again. You deserve to feel whole, not just to pick up the pieces left behind.”

It was so simple, but her words felt like a weight lifted from your shoulders. The idea of self-love, of finding strength within yourself, felt foreign, but maybe it was time to start trying.

"Thanks, unnie, " You said, your voice quieter than before. "I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that."

She gave a soft shrug. "What are friends for?" She paused, then added with a mischievous glint in her eye, "And I’m pretty good at making people feel better. I have my moments."

You laughed, the sound light and real, and for the first time in a week, it felt like things might be okay.

As you both ate and continued to talk, you couldn’t help but notice the ease with which she interacted with you. There was no judgment, no discomfort. She just… got it.

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A/N: hey!! how yall doing?!? sorry for not uploading much, ive been really busy (as i said in my previous chapter) and writers block is hitting me hard rn 💔 this chapter is so rushed, im sorry. this is probably my lamest chapter yet😔 anywhoooo hope yall are doing fine!!

i have a question, how many chapters would you guys think this book should have? i still havent think about that and im kinda having some sort of dilemma about it tbh 😭😭