Chapter 28 - END

Life had finally settled down after everything that had happened. Ryeowook and his gang were locked away for good, thanks to Taeil and the Yeonbaek Group's tireless efforts. My parents and Han-Wool had ensured they wouldn't see the light of day again. It felt surreal, knowing that the nightmare was over. And through it all, I found myself standing beside Ga-Min, helping him recover in the hospital, nursing him back to health after the brutal battle.

He was healing well, but of course, that didn't stop me from nagging him.

"Ga-Min, you need to stop pretending you're fine! You're still acting like you can do everything on your own," I said, hands on my hips, giving him my most serious look as I adjusted the bandage on his arm.

He smirked, his eyes crinkling with that familiar mischievous glint. "I'm fine, Hera. Really. You're worrying too much."

"I'm not worrying," I shot back, though the worry was clearly there in my voice. "I'm making sure you don't get worse. I'm not losing you to something stupid like an infection, alright?"

He laughed, the sound of it warm and comforting. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'm not invincible."

I softened, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "Good. Now rest and let me do the work, okay?"

His hand reached out, gently pulling me toward him. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're enjoying this."

I raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on my face. "Maybe I am. But only because you look so cute when you're helpless."

Before I could finish my sentence, Ga-Min leaned in and kissed me. The moment his lips met mine, I felt a wave of warmth wash over me—like everything was finally right in the world.

But then, just as we were pulling away, the door to the hospital room swung open with a loud crash.

"Seriously?! Not in front of us!" Lee-Joon's voice rang out, and I could already hear the playful disgust in his tone.

The rest of the study group filed in, each one groaning dramatically at the sight of Ga-Min and me.

"We're going to puke, just so you know," Ji-Woo chimed in, a mock grimace on her face.

Suncheol walked in next, his usual calm demeanor intact, though even he couldn't hide his amusement. "Honestly, we're all happy for you two, but could you keep it PG?"

Geon-Yeob smirked as he slid into a chair. "You two have no shame, do you?"

I rolled my eyes, but deep down, I was smiling. They were all here, and that meant the world to me. I quickly turned to face them, pushing the awkwardness aside.

"I just wanted to say thank you," I said, my voice steady as I looked at each one of them. "You all risked your lives for me, and I'll never be able to thank you enough."

Lee-Joon leaned back, hands behind his head. "Nah, we're good. We just did what friends do."

I reached into my bag and pulled out several white envelopes—one for each of them. I handed them out to the group, my heart racing a little.

"Wait, Hera, what's this?" Geon-Yeob asked as he took the envelope, clearly confused.

"Open it," I said, my voice a little shaky with anticipation.

They all exchanged puzzled glances, but they did as I asked. One by one, they opened the envelopes, and I watched as their faces went from curious to utterly shocked.

Inside each envelope was a check, made out to them for a significant amount of money. It was far more than any of them had expected.

Lee-Joon's eyes widened, his jaw dropping. "What...? Is this for real?"

Ji-Woo blinked a few times, staring at the check in her hand. "This is... this is a joke, right?"

I shook my head, unable to suppress a grin. "Nope. It's real. You all risked your lives for me, so this is the least I could do."

Lee-Joon was the first to recover, looking at the check again, then back at me. "Hera... this is... this is insane. Are you sure about this?"

I nodded. "I'm sure. It's the only way I know how to show my gratitude. You all risked so much to help me."

Sancheol let out a low whistle, his eyes still on the check. "This is a lot more than I was expecting."

Lee-Joon grinned, holding the check up like a trophy. "Alright, alright. I'm not complaining. This is pretty damn sweet."

Ji-Woo sighed dramatically, but there was a smile playing on her lips. "You really are something else, Hera. But, I guess we'll take it."

Hee-Won, who had been uncharacteristically quiet up until now, suddenly let out a piercing scream as she tore open the envelope with wild excitement.

"OH MY GOD!! NO WAY!" She jumped out of her seat, nearly knocking it over in her haste. "YOU GOT ME TICKETS TO THE ATEEZ CONCERT?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

Everyone turned to her in shock, as she danced around the room, waving the concert tickets in the air like she had just won the lottery.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS, HERA! YOU'RE THE BEST! ATEEZ!! ATEEZ!!" Hee-Won shrieked, completely losing her composure.

I laughed, shaking my head. "I figured you'd like that. Don't spend all the money I gave you on concert merch, okay?"

Hee-Won stopped her ecstatic dance for a moment, a huge grin on her face. "You know me too well, Hera! I'm going to be the happiest person on Earth! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She pulled me into a hug before running off to go prepare for her concert adventure.

The rest of the group couldn't help but chuckle at Hee-Won's over-the-top reaction.

Se-Hyun, who had been quietly holding his envelope, smiled at me, his expression full of gratitude. "Thank you, Hera," he said softly. "This could really help me and my dad with the new business we're starting. You don't know how much this means to us."

I smiled back, happy to see his appreciation. "I'm just glad I could help. You've all been such an important part of my life."

Finally, I turned to Ga-Min, who had been unusually quiet as everyone celebrated Hee-Won's excitement. He opened his envelope slowly, and his eyes widened as he saw the check inside.

"Hera... you didn't have to—" He started, clearly taken aback.

I cut him off with a smile. "You deserve it too. You've been through a lot, and you stood by me through all of this. I couldn't have made it without you."

Ga-Min's expression softened, and he shook his head, still in disbelief. "I don't know what to say... this is way more than I expected."

I laughed gently, "It's the least I could do."

He smiled back at me, and for a brief moment, everything felt perfect.

The air was still, and the soft rustle of the leaves seemed to echo in the quiet cemetery. Ga-Min and I stood together, the weight of the world heavy on our shoulders as we faced Dong-Wook's grave. It had been months since everything had unfolded, but some things still felt unfinished. I had always thought I would find peace here, but standing before his grave today, I wasn't so sure.

"I'm sorry, Dong-Wook," I whispered, my voice barely a breath as I stared at the headstone. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I never wanted you to be part of that world. You didn't deserve what happened to you... none of us did."

Ga-Min stayed quietly beside me, a steady presence, offering no words but more comfort than I could ever ask for. His hand brushed against mine, and I felt a strange sense of calm. The battle was over. Ryeowook was in prison, and everything seemed to be falling into place—but it didn't feel like enough.

"I had to do it, Dong-Wook," I continued, my voice thick with guilt. "I had to get Ryeowook locked up... it was the only way. But... I wish it hadn't ended like this."

Ga-Min looked at me, his gaze soft but firm. "You did what you had to do. You couldn't have known how it would end. You're not the one who caused this."

I nodded, grateful for his words, but the guilt was still there, gnawing at me.

Then, I saw it—a fresh bouquet of flowers sitting neatly on the grave. A simple gesture, but one that immediately caught my attention. I hadn't placed them there, and there was no one else around. My eyes scanned the flowers, a small, comforting mix of white lilies and soft daisies. They looked new, the petals still crisp and fresh as though they had been placed only moments before.

A strange sensation stirred in my chest, and I stepped closer, my heart racing as I examined the flowers.

It was then that I noticed something small—a single card tucked in between the blooms. I reached down, carefully picking it up.

The handwriting was familiar, though I hadn't seen it in months. It was neat, with a clean, precise style—just like Han-Wool's handwriting. The card didn't say much, only a simple note:

"I'm sorry, and I'll never forget you."

My breath hitched, and for the first time in a long time, a small smile crept onto my lips. I didn't know why, but something about the flowers—about Han-Wool's quiet gesture—gave me a sense of peace I hadn't felt before.

I looked at Ga-Min, whose eyes had followed my movements. He must have seen the expression on my face.

"Who do you think left them?" Ga-Min asked gently, though I could see the understanding in his eyes.

I held up the card for him to see, my smile still lingering. "It's Han-Wool. It's definitely him. He... he never really knew how to express himself, but I think this is his way of saying goodbye. Of saying he's at peace with it all."

Ga-Min nodded, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "He's a complicated guy, huh?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of sadness and warmth. "Yeah, but I think he's finally found his peace."

We stood there for a few more moments in silence, just the two of us, before I turned away from the grave. I wasn't sure what the future held, but at that moment, I felt something shift. The past, with all its pain, seemed to fade away.

It was time to let go.

As Ga-Min and I walked back toward the car, I glanced one last time over my shoulder at Dong-Wook's grave. And for the first time in months, I felt lighter. There was closure. And in some strange way, I knew we'd all be okay.

Life continued, and though Han-Wool had moved abroad to study and the truth about Mrs. Oh's killer had been uncovered it was an expelled student who got his revenge. Min-Hwan had kept his distance, and the world felt a little bit brighter.

But nothing was as nerve-wracking as the message I received from my parents.

I froze, staring at the screen of my phone as my heart skipped a beat. The message was simple but ominous:

"We know you're dating someone. We'd like to meet him."

I looked up at my friends, my stomach in knots. "Well... looks like I'm in trouble," I muttered, barely able to hide my anxiety.

The room went completely silent before they all turned to Ga-Min.

"Oh, man," Se-Hyun said, "Ga-Min, you're screwed."

Lee-Joon clapped him on the back. "Welcome to the elite club, buddy."

I couldn't help but laugh nervously, glancing at Ga-Min. "Well, looks like you've got another challenge to face."

Ga-Min looked like he might pass out from the pressure. "Wait, you're not kidding, right? Your parents want to meet me?"

"Yep, and they've got high standards," I said, trying to keep the mood light. "But don't worry. I believe in you."

Ji-Woo grinned. "This is going to be good."

Hee-Won added with a chuckle, "We're all gonna be there to watch. Good luck, Ga-Min."

Ga-Min gave a resigned sigh, running his hand through his hair. "This is gonna be interesting."

"Well, you better get ready," I teased, squeezing his hand. "This is just the beginning, my love."

We all laughed, and for the first time, I felt completely at ease. With my friends, with Ga-Min, and with the world—no matter what came next, we could handle it together.