chapter twenty four

she took a slow breath and walked toward him.

each step felt heavier than the last, like her legs were fighting against her. maybe he'd get up. maybe he'd walk away. maybe he'd tell her to leave.

but he didn't.

he just sat there, still and unreadable, his eyes following her the whole time.

when she reached the table, she pulled out the chair across from him and sat down, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.

he didn't say anything.

the silence stretched between them like a wall—cold and quiet.

"i know i'm probably the last person you want to see," she said softly.

still, nothing.

she looked down at the table, forcing the words out before her courage disappeared. "what they said... about the bet... it was true. at first."

she glanced up. his face didn't change.

"they dared me," she continued. "they said i couldn't do it—that i'd never get you to talk to me. and i was stupid enough to say yes, because i didn't think it mattered. i didn't think you would matter."

aeri's voice broke at the end, and she quickly looked away.

"but then you did," she whispered. "you started to matter. and i didn't know what to do with that."

she wiped at her cheek, embarrassed to find it wet.

"you were kind. and quiet. and smart. and you looked at me like i was someone worth talking to, not just... another loud girl trying to win."

wonwoo didn't move. didn't blink.

but he was listening.

aeri could feel it.

"i wanted to tell you," she said. "i wanted to stop lying. i even told them i didn't want to do it anymore, that i didn't care about the bet."

she swallowed hard, her voice growing shakier.

"but i was too late. and you heard it the worst way."

for the first time, his eyes softened—barely, but enough for her to see it.

"i'm sorry, wonwoo," she whispered. "i'm so sorry. not just for the bet. for hurting you. for making you feel like none of it meant anything."

he looked down then, at the edge of the table. his fingers fidgeted with the pencil. and finally—finally—he spoke.

"did it?" his voice was quiet. rough.

she blinked.

"mean something?" he clarified. "or are you just saying this because you feel guilty?"

aeri's chest tightened. "i'm saying this because it meant everything."

his eyes met hers again.

"i liked you," she said, voice trembling. "i still do. i didn't plan it. i didn't expect it. but it's real."

for a long moment, he just stared at her. and then he let out a breath.

"you really hurt me," he said quietly.

tears welled in her eyes again, but she nodded. "i know."

"i trusted you," he added. "and that's not... something i do easily."

"i know."

his hand rested on the edge of the table, close to hers but not quite touching. "i felt stupid. like i was a joke."

"you weren't," she said, her voice firm despite the tears. "you were never a joke."

the silence returned—but this time, it wasn't empty. it was thick with everything unsaid, everything still sitting between them.

finally, he asked, "why'd you come back?"

aeri looked at him, really looked. "because i couldn't live with myself if i didn't try. even if you hate me. even if you never forgive me. i just wanted you to know the truth."

wonwoo studied her for a while longer. his eyes searched hers, as if trying to see whether she meant it.

and slowly—almost imperceptibly—he nodded.

"okay," he said.

aeri blinked. "okay?"

"i'm not saying everything's fine," he said, voice low. "but i believe you."

her breath hitched.

"i don't know where we go from here," he admitted. "but... i'm not walking away. not yet."

and for the first time in days, something in her chest loosened.

hope.