024

Chapter twenty four

"What was that?" I ask, breath catching as Heeseung drags me beneath a tree, trying to shield us both from the rain.

Water runs down my face, but I'm not sure if it's rain or tears anymore

"What?" he mutters, not looking at me. His eyes dart around like he's searching for something—anything—other than this conversation

"You love me?" I press. My voice is small, shaky, but the words are loud between us

He finally looks at me, but his expression is unreadable, "What? No. I just said that to get you out of there quick. I mean... we're hardly even friends, Haerin."

Hardly even friends

I blink. "We are... acquaintances," I adds on top

Acquaintances

Was comforting me after Ni-Ki left me, acquaintances?

Was climbing through my window to check on me, acquaintances?

Was kissing me when I broke down over a stupid grade, acquaintances?

Was standing up to my dad when he raised his voice, was pulling me away from the same man who hit me, acquaintances?

Was making me feel—maybe for the first time in a long time—like I had reasons to stay alive, like I mattered... acquaintances?

A bitter laugh wants to escape my throat, but all that comes out is, "oh"

"What, are you mad?" he asks, finally meeting my eyes, "You said it yourself—we're not friends"

"No—I umm—can you just take me to Jiwon's?"

He sighs, glancing up at the sky. "Wait until the rain stops. It's too dangerous to ride right now"

His soaked shirt clings to his chest as he tries wringing the water out. Droplets trail down his jaw and disappear into his collar. I hate how much I still want to reach for him, and I don't know why I do

"I'd like you to bring me now" I say quietly, my voice barely audible over the storm

He stares at me for a second longer, then nods, "Okay"

We don't speak as we run to his bike

I slide off the back of Heeseung's motorcycle without saying a word. My legs feel weak—not from the ride, but from everything else.

From everything he said. From everything my dad did

The rain hasn't let up, and now it's soaked through my clothes, my shoes, even my hair

But I don't care

I walk straight to her front door and knock, not knowing what I'll say, or even what I need. I just know I need someone

The door swings open, and Jiwon greets me with a smile that falters the second she sees me. Her brows knit together

"You're... all wet" she says quietly, scanning me with concerned eyes, she steps aside. "Come in, quick. I'll get you a towel"

I step inside her warm house, and the heat wraps around me, almost making me shiver harder

The contrast between in here and where I've just come from is too much. It's almost painful

She returns with a towel and gently places it in my hands, her eyes still searching my face

"Was that Heeseung just now?" she asks, voice soft

"Mhm." It's all I can manage.

I start drying my dripping hair, but it feels like such a small act in comparison to the chaos still clinging to my skin

"Come on, let's go to my room. I'll get you some dry clothes"

She leads me upstairs, quiet but present. She doesn't ask any more questions, and I'm grateful.

She hands me a hoodie and some leggings, and I slip into the bathroom to change

When I return, I sink onto her bed like my body doesn't know how to hold itself up anymore

Silence settles over us for a few seconds before it breaks—

"Why is it always him?" I whisper, and my voice cracks under the weight of the question

Then the dam breaks. I curl in on myself, sobs bursting from my chest before I can stop them

"Talk to me" Jiwon says gently, immediately wrapping her arms around me. She pulls me into her chest and holds me like she's trying to keep the pieces of me from falling apart completely

"I don't know what's going on anymore" I manage through tears. "I'm so tired, Jiwon. Of everything. Of pretending I'm fine. Of trying to be someone I'm not. Of him thinking he can just—" My words dissolve into another sob

She doesn't rush me. Just runs her hand slowly along my back in the kind of rhythm that says, I'm here, you're safe

"You don't have to pretend anymore" she whispers. "Not with me. Whatever it is, I'll help you"

"There's so much you don't know" I murmur, lifting my head slightly

My vision is blurry from the tears, but I catch the way her eyes lock onto my face

Her hand brushes my cheek, the one that's still stinging faintly from where my father slapped me. Her thumb lingers there—gentle, careful

"I know" she says, her voice barely more than a breath, "but you can tell me. Whenever you're ready. However you need to"

She wipes away the tears running down my cheeks

"You're not alone, Haerin" she adds, voice firmer now, "You never were. You're my best friend. And I'm not going anywhere"

And in that moment, with her arms around me and her words wrapping around my broken pieces, I believe her

Maybe—just maybe—I don't have to carry this pain alone anymore

Lee Heeseung

I don't leave

I sit on the motorcycle long after she's gone inside. I'm soaked, cold, and shaking—not from the weather, but from everything I just saw. Everything I just said

Her dad hit her

And I just let it happen

I thought saying I loved her would be the big moment. The dramatic save. But now I realize I've messed everything up even more

She didn't need some fake declaration—she needed the truth. She needed someone who stayed

So that's what I do

The rain slows to a drizzle. The air feels heavy. My fingers grip the edge of the helmet, but my mind keeps rewinding to the look on her face when I told her we were "hardly even friends"

How many times did I prove the opposite, only to deny it the second things got real?

The guilt is suffocating

But even under all of it, one thing is clear: I can't walk away from her

Not now. Not ever

Kim Haerin

I pull Jiwon's hoodie tighter around me as I step outside

The air is damp, but the rain has stopped. Everything smells like wet pavement and flowers trying to come back to life

And then I see him

Heeseung

Still there. Still waiting. Sitting on the same motorcycle. Soaked to the bone

"You stayed?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper

He stands slowly, brushing the rain from his hands, "Of course I did"

I walk toward him, heart thudding unevenly in my chest. The closer I get, the more I feel the pull—this invisible thread tying me to him even when I don't understand why

"I wanted to make sure you were okay" he says

"I'm not" I admit. "But... I think I will be"

He nods slowly. Doesn't try to fix it. Doesn't look away

"You don't have to go back there" he says quietly, eyes scanning my face for permission to keep going. "Not tonight. Not tomorrow. Not until you're ready"

My breath catches

He takes a step closer. "You can stay at my place, you can pick any room you want. Just... stay until you figure things out with your dad. You deserve to feel safe. You don't owe anyone anything until then"

His voice is careful, he's not pushing, he's just opening a door—and letting me decide if I want to walk through it

And for the first time in forever, I don't feel like I'm standing at the edge of a cliff alone

So I nod, slowly, "Okay"

Did we like the dual pov???

Shouod I do it more often

-K