Mingyu paced the length of the practice room, his chest tight with anticipation. Isa had texted him earlier, demanding a meeting after rehearsal. It wasn’t unusual for her to call him out, but this time, he was ready to end what had been lingering between them a relationship he never should’ve started.

When Isa walked in, her posture radiated authority. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, her eyes scanning him with a mix of frustration and curiosity.

“What’s so urgent, Mingyu? Another crisis I don’t know about?” she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

He stopped pacing and turned to face her, his jaw set. “We need to talk. About us.”

Isa raised an eyebrow, her arms dropping to her sides. “Us? What about us?”

“This isn’t working,” Mingyu said bluntly. “It hasn’t been for a long time. We both know it.”

Her expression hardened. “Are you serious right now? You’re breaking up with me because of her, aren’t you?”

“This isn’t about Yunjin,” Mingyu said firmly, though her name hanging in the air made his heart race. “This is about us. We’re not happy, Isa. We’ve been holding on for the sake of convenience, not because it’s real.”

Isa scoffed, her eyes narrowing. “Convenience? That’s what you’re calling this? After everything I’ve done for you?”

Mingyu ran a hand through his hair, frustration boiling over. “You’ve done a lot for me, Isa. And I’m grateful for that. But what we have isn’t love it’s control. I can’t keep living like this.”

Her face fell for a brief moment before she masked it with cold indifference. “Fine. Do whatever you want, Mingyu. But don’t come crying to me when this ‘freedom’ of yours blows up in your face.”

Without another word, Isa stormed out, leaving Mingyu standing alone. He exhaled deeply, the weight of their broken relationship finally lifting off his shoulders.

Later that evening, Mingyu found himself texting Yunjin again.

Mingyu [9:17 PM]:
Are you free? I need to see you.

Her reply came quickly.

Yunjin [9:19 PM]:
Where?

---

They met at Han River, a spot far enough from the bustling city where they could steal a moment of peace. Yunjin arrived bundled in a long coat, her breath visible in the crisp night air. Mingyu was already waiting, his tall figure leaning against the railing.

As she approached, he turned, and the sight of her brought a soft smile to his lips. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm.

“Hey,” she replied, her cheeks flushed from the cold or maybe from seeing him.

They stood in silence for a moment, the gentle sound of the river flowing in the background. Mingyu finally broke the silence.

“I ended things with Isa,” he said, his voice steady.

Yunjin’s eyes widened, surprise flickering across her face. “You… did?”

He nodded. “It wasn’t fair to her. Or to me. And definitely not to you.”

She bit her lip, her emotions swirling. “Mingyu, you didn’t have to do that for me”

“I didn’t do it just for you,” he interrupted gently. “I did it because I want to be honest about what I feel. And what I feel… is something I can’t ignore anymore.”

Yunjin’s heart pounded as he stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “Yunjin, I don’t care about the risks anymore. I don’t care what the media says or what the fans think. All I care about is us you and me. I want to try. Even if it’s hard, even if it’s messy. I want this.”

Her breath hitched as his words sank in. She hesitated for a moment, then reached up to brush her fingers against his cheek. “You’re insane,” she whispered, a soft laugh escaping her lips.

“Probably,” he admitted with a grin, his hand covering hers. “But I’ve never felt more certain about anything.”

Before she could respond, he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both tender and electrifying. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them and the quiet rhythm of their hearts.

When they pulled apart, Yunjin rested her forehead against his, a shy smile playing on her lips. “Mingyu… this isn’t going to be easy.”

He chuckled softly. “Since when has anything in our lives been easy? But I’d rather fight through it with you than live without you.”

Yunjin closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her. For the first time in weeks, she felt a glimmer of hope a fragile yet undeniable promise of something worth fighting for.

As they walked along the river, their hands brushed before finally intertwining. The shadows of their figures stretched along the path, their connection glowing quietly against the darkness of the world around them.

For the first time, it felt like they were writing their own story, one chapter at a time.

To be continued...