The evening arrived far sooner than Ga young had calculated.
It was a dinner, alright, but not the way she had imagined it.
Instead of something private, it was a large, crowded dinner party hosted by one of the most powerful ministers in Seoul. Min jae never told her it would not be a private dinner.
Why would he, anyway?
She forced a polite smile as she greeted every official who passed by, nodding and exchanging pleasantries like she belonged there. Meanwhile, Min jae was already caught in endless conversations with high ranking figures, his attention occupied everywhere but with her.
"I could even find a sugar daddy at this event," she muttered with a frustrated sigh. "Three, even."
Suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder. She turned to see one of the senior waitresses.
"Mr. Hwan asked me to inform you that he will be leaving," the woman said before walking away.
"Leaving?" Ga young scoffed. "Without me?" She snatched her bag from the table and stormed out.
There he was, standing beside his car.
She muttered a string of curses as she walked toward him, but the moment she reached him, her words vanished completely.
"You can stay back if you wish," Min jae said calmly. "I will be leaving first. As for the production, there is a lot lacking. I will send the review to you."
"Yes, sir," she replied with a brief bow.
He exhaled quietly and got into his car.
She had so much to say. Too much.
But nothing came out. She stood there watching him start the engine, wondering if she should just let him leave. She did not have much of a choice anyway.
Then, as if struck by a sudden jolt of energy, she moved.
Before she could stop herself, she found herself standing directly in front of the car.
Min jae hit the brakes, eyebrows lifting as he looked at her.
She exhaled shakily, walked to the front side window, and knocked. He rolled it down, his expression unbothered.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked.
His lips twitched. Not a smile, but not nothing either.
"You can send me an email."
"Why are you being like this?" she said softly, almost sulking. "I really need to talk to you."
He exhaled, stepped out of the car, and leaned against it.
Ga young whispered something that sounded like a prayer before finally lifting her gaze to meet his. She swallowed hard.
"I am sorry," she said.
"Why are you apologizing again?" he asked, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I do not know," she admitted. "But —whenever I see you, I just—" her eyes began watering "I just want to apologize." she paused.
"Look, I do not know what I said the other day or what I did, but one thing I know is that it could not have been a lie. I meant whatever I said."
She lifted her head, fighting to keep herself together.
"I know we have had our differences but I was scared, Min jae. I was so scared of hurting you again that I kept pushing you away over and over."
Her voice cracked as she wiped at her eyes.
"But how am I supposed to learn how to live without you after meeting you again? It is harder than I thought. It is so much more. I cannot do it."
She inhaled shakily.
"I am not asking you to love me. Or even to like me. I do not have the right to. All I want is for you to stop ignoring me. Do not act like I do not exist."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"I thought paying off all my debts would fix everything. I thought I would be fine. But I am worse now, more than ever, because my mind has nothing but you in it."
Her voice broke.
"I thought I was past it. I thought I was over you. But I am not."
She sobbed openly now.
"All I am asking is for you to let me love you again. Please—"
She crumbled.
Min jae could not hold himself back anymore. He never could when it came to her.
He pulled her into his chest, holding her tightly.
"Please," Ga young whispered, breaking further.
He held her closer, gently patting her hair.
"Why?" he murmured, his voice heavy with pain. "Why do you cry so much?"
"I am sorry," she whispered again.
"No. Please, stop apologizing," he said, his own tears slipping free. "You will only break me more."
She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his face.
"You are not allowed to cry," she said softly as she wiped his tears. "Only I am allowed to do that. Please. Do not."
That was all it took.
He pulled her back into his arms and finally broke with her.The night swallowed every sound, leaving only the weight of what had not been said. None of them said anything, just broke into each other, the world was theirs.