Hana had just returned to her tent after sitting by the sea with Nick.
Her body was tired… but her mind wouldn't rest.
She opened the tent flap—
And froze.
Gemmy was standing there.
Eyes red.
Face pale.
Hands shaking.
"Hana… we need to talk."
Her voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
Hana's chest tightened. "Gemmy… what happened?"
Gemmy let out a broken laugh.
"What happened…? You should tell me that."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"I saw you," Gemmy whispered.
Hana froze.
"On the beach. With Nick."
Her breath stopped.
Gemmy stepped closer… tears falling.
"You proposed to him… right?"
Hana couldn't speak.
That silence was enough.
Gemmy's voice shook harder now.
"Then why… why do you still look at Joon-woo like that?!"
Hana's eyes widened.
"I—"
"DON'T lie!" Gemmy cried, finally breaking.
Her voice trembled with pain.
"You love him… don't you?"
Hana's lips parted… but no sound came out.
Because the truth… was too dangerous to say.
Gemmy's tears streamed down.
"He kissed me tonight…" she whispered.
"And you just… watched…"
Hana's heart dropped.
"I didn't—"
"Was I just a backup for him?! And you… what am I to you?!"
Her voice shattered completely.
"My best friend… or my rival?"
That word hit Hana like a slap.
"Gemmy… no… never…"
"Then tell me the truth!"
Silence.
Long.
Painful.
Unbearable.
Hana's voice finally came out… barely a whisper.
"…I don't know what I feel anymore."
Gemmy stepped back like she'd been stabbed.
"That means yes."
Her face crumpled.
"I trusted you… more than anyone…"
Her voice broke into pieces.
"But both of you… looked at each other like I didn't exist."
Hana's eyes filled with tears.
"Gemmy please… listen—"
"Don't," Gemmy said coldly.
That word cut deeper than shouting.
She wiped her tears… but they kept falling.
"…I don't recognize you anymore."
Then she turned…
And walked away.
Leaving Hana standing there…
Breathing like her lungs had collapsed.
🌅 Morning — The Bus Ride
Morning came.
But nothing felt new.
The air was heavy… silent… suffocating.
Students loaded bags onto the bus.
But three people never looked at each other.
Hana tried to approach Gemmy once.
"Gemmy… can we—"
Gemmy walked past her.
Like she wasn't there.
No anger.
No expression.
Just complete… cold distance.
That hurt more than shouting ever could.
On the bus—
Gemmy sat by the window.
Joon-woo beside her.
Hana sat several rows behind… alone.
Nick beside her… quiet… watching everything.
The ride was silent.
No music.
No jokes.
No laughter.
Only tension.
At one moment, the bus stopped suddenly.
Hana almost lost balance.
Nick instinctively held her arm.
Joon-woo saw it.
His jaw tightened.
Gemmy saw him looking.
Her hands slowly curled into fists.
No one spoke.
But everything was breaking.
The entire ride…
Gemmy never once looked back at Hana.
Not even once.
🔥 Afternoon — Engagement Decision
When they returned home…
Gemmy asked Joon-woo to meet her alone.
They stood in a quiet park.
No sea.
No crowd.
No distractions.
Only truth.
She looked at him calmly.
Too calmly.
"Tell me honestly," she said.
"If Hana loved someone else… would you still choose me?"
He froze.
That question had only one real answer.
And they both knew it.
Silence.
That silence confirmed everything.
Gemmy smiled weakly.
"I understand now."
He looked up sharply.
Her voice was steady… but tears kept falling.
"You didn't choose me… because you love me."
"You chose me… because you couldn't have her."
He stepped forward quickly.
"Gemmy—"
She shook her head gently.
"No… don't explain."
Her voice trembled.
"I don't want to be someone's second place."
She removed the ring he had given her family.
Placed it in his hand.
Her fingers shook… but she didn't pull away.
"I cancel the engagement."
The words were soft.
But final.
His chest tightened.
"…Gemmy…"
She smiled through tears.
"I still love you."
That hurt more than anger.
"But I love myself too."
She stepped back slowly.
"If you ever come to me… come because I'm your first choice."
Her voice broke.
"Not because you lost someone else."
Then she turned.
Walked away.
Didn't look back.
Joon-woo stood frozen… holding the ring.
For the first time…
He realized something terrifying.
He was losing everyone.
💔 Emotional Status Now
Hana → lost her best friend
Gemmy → broke her own heart to protect herself
Joon-woo → alone with regret
Nick → watching silently… waiting… hurting too
The love triangle is now broken into four wounded hearts.