The next morning felt strangely quiet.
No rushed footsteps.
No university books scattered across the bed.
No panic about being late.
Jennie didn't go to college.
For the first time since moving to this town, she simply… stayed home.
Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains as she slowly opened her eyes. For a few moments, she remained still, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her body felt heavy, not from exhaustion but from emotions that refused to settle.
The engagement ring on her finger caught the morning light.
Her gaze lingered on it.
A week ago, her hands had been empty.
Now they carried promises she wasn't sure she was ready to keep.
Jennie sat up slowly, brushing strands of hair away from her face. The house was quiet downstairs. Her parents were probably still asleep after the late-night celebration and endless conversations with relatives.
She glanced toward her phone resting on the bedside table.
No messages from Esler.
For some reason, that bothered her more than she expected.
She quickly looked away from the phone, annoyed at herself.
Exactly thirty minutes later, Jennie quietly walked downstairs wearing a simple white sweater and jeans. She didn't leave a note. Didn't tell anyone where she was going.
She just walked out.
The morning air was cool and refreshing. The sky stretched endlessly above her, painted soft blue with clouds drifting lazily across it. For the first time in days, the weather looked peaceful.
Jennie lifted her eyes toward the sky for a moment.
I wish things were this simple inside my head too.
She exhaled softly and continued walking.
A small café stood near the corner of the street, warm lights glowing behind glass windows. The faint smell of coffee and pastries drifted into the air as she pushed the door open.
A familiar voice immediately greeted her.
"Good morning!"
Jennie looked up.
Luna sat near the window, waving enthusiastically like nothing painful had happened in the last few weeks. Beside her sat Min-jun.
Jennie's steps slowed slightly.
Min-jun glanced at her briefly before looking back at the coffee cup in his hands.
"Hi," he said quietly.
Just that.
No smile.
No warmth.
No anger either.
And somehow that hurt more.
Jennie forced herself to walk toward them. "Morning."
Luna immediately stood up and hugged her tightly. "Sit down before things become awkward again."
"They're already awkward," Min-jun muttered under his breath.
Luna shot him a glare. "That's exactly what we're fixing today."
Jennie sat down slowly across from him.
The silence settled almost immediately.
Outside, cars passed by lazily. Inside the café, soft music played in the background while coffee machines hissed quietly. It should have felt comforting.
Instead, Jennie felt trapped between memories and guilt.
Luna took a deep breath dramatically before speaking.
"So," she began carefully, looking between both of them, "I know many things have happened…"
Neither replied.
"But," she continued stubbornly, "I think we should not forget that we're still friends."
Min-jun leaned back slightly.
Jennie stared down at the table.
"You both should act normal," Luna insisted. "Look, both of you are right in your own ways, but ignoring each other isn't helping anyone."
Silence.
Luna's shoulders slowly dropped when she realized neither of them were really listening.
"…Great," she muttered. "Amazing friendship recovery."
Jennie finally spoke.
"Okay."
Both Luna and Min-jun looked at her.
"You're right," Jennie said softly. "I'm really sorry to both of you. I should've told you everything earlier."
Luna blinked in surprise.
Min-jun's expression shifted slightly, though he stayed quiet.
Jennie clasped her hands together nervously. "I actually wanted to say something."
She took a deep breath.
"I agreed because of my parents' pressure," she admitted quietly. "So please… forgive me."
Luna looked stunned.
Min-jun frowned deeply.
"Why?" he asked immediately. "Why didn't you tell us?"
The question carried more hurt than anger.
Jennie looked down. "Because I was scared."
"Scared of us?" Luna asked softly.
Jennie shook her head quickly. "No. Scared that if I said it out loud, it would become real."
The words hung heavily between them.
Min-jun stared at her for a long moment. "You could've trusted us."
"I know."
"You disappeared," he continued quietly. "You stopped answering calls. Messages. Everything."
Jennie swallowed hard. "Because every time I looked at my phone, I felt guilty."
"Guilty?" Min-jun repeated bitterly.
"Yes," she said, finally meeting his eyes. "Because I knew I was hurting you."
Min-jun looked away immediately.
Luna sighed softly, sensing the tension rising again. "Jennie… do you even want this marriage?"
Jennie froze.
The question was too direct.
Too dangerous.
She opened her mouth—but no answer came out.
Because the truth was complicated.
At first, the answer had been simple.
No.
She didn't want it.
But somewhere between the classroom lectures, the quiet concern in Esler's eyes, the careful restraint in his voice, and the way he looked at her like she mattered—
Something had begun changing.
And that scared her most of all.
"I don't know," she admitted finally.
Min-jun's jaw tightened.
Luna noticed instantly.
"Hey," she said quickly, trying to calm the atmosphere. "That doesn't mean she forgot about you."
"But it means she's trying to," Min-jun said quietly.
Jennie's chest tightened painfully.
"That's not fair," Luna argued.
"No," Min-jun replied calmly. "It's reality."
He stood up suddenly, running a hand through his hair.
"I shouldn't have come."
"Min—" Jennie began.
He laughed softly, though there was no humor in it. "You know what hurts the most?"
Neither answered.
"You look tired," he said. "Not happy. Not in love. Just… tired."
Jennie felt tears burn behind her eyes.
"And somehow," he continued, "that makes this even worse."
Luna stood up too. "Min-jun, stop."
But he shook his head slowly.
"I'm trying," he said quietly. "I'm seriously trying to act normal. But every time I look at her ring…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"…I remember I was supposed to be the one beside her."
Silence fell again.
Jennie lowered her head, unable to respond.
Min-jun looked at her for one final moment before quietly sitting back down.
None of them spoke after that.
Not for several minutes.
And strangely, that silence said more than words ever could.
At the university, Esler stood alone in his office.
The lecture had already ended.
Jennie hadn't come.
He noticed immediately.
He tried not to care. Tried convincing himself she probably needed rest after the engagement ceremony.
But concern kept pulling at him.
His gaze drifted unconsciously toward his phone again.
Still nothing.
He leaned back in his chair, loosening his tie slightly.
For the first time in years, he felt distracted during work. Irritated. Restless.
And all because of one girl.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Sir?"
Esler looked up.
One of the students stood outside awkwardly. "Professor, everyone's leaving. Aren't you going home?"
Esler blinked, realizing how long he had been sitting there.
"Yes," he replied quietly. "In a moment."
The student left.
Esler glanced toward the empty seat Jennie usually occupied during class.
Something about its emptiness bothered him deeply.
Meanwhile, back at the café, Luna finally forced both Jennie and Min-jun into lighter conversation.
Childhood memories slowly resurfaced—school fights, failed exams, stolen snacks during lunch breaks. For brief moments, laughter returned naturally.
But pain still lingered underneath everything.
Because all three of them understood something terrifying.
Things could never truly go back to normal again.