Hana sat cross-legged on her bed, a laptop in front of her, its screen glowing with pictures of wedding venues. She had spent hours scrolling through galleries, reading reviews, and narrowing down the list to a few options she thought were perfect. Her notebook sat beside her, scribbled with notes about the locations, prices, and availability.

Even though she knew Namjoon didn't care much for the wedding details, she wasn't going to stop trying to involve him. He might not ask for her input, but she was determined to include him in every decision. After all, this was their wedding, not just hers.

Taking a deep breath, Hana typed out a message to him, her fingers tapping lightly on the keyboard.

*I've shortlisted a few venues for us to consider. Please take a look and let me know which one you prefer. We'll need to book one soon, so I'd appreciate your input.*

She attached the links to the venues, along with short descriptions of each. There was a charming outdoor garden space that she had fallen in love with, the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening ceremony. Another was a more modern indoor venue, sleek and sophisticated, which she thought might appeal more to Namjoon's minimalist tastes. The third was a grand ballroom in a luxury hotel, perfect for a more traditional wedding.

Hana stared at the screen for a moment after hitting send, her heart already anticipating the cold response she knew she would get. She hoped-desperately-that Namjoon would at least take a few minutes to look at the venues and give her a real opinion. But in the back of her mind, she doubted he'd bother.

As she waited, her phone buzzed with a reminder she had set earlier in the week: *Cake tasting - Saturday, 3 PM.*

Her lips quirked into a half-smile. Hana had been looking forward to this part of the wedding planning. There was something so fun about sampling cakes, imagining how they would look on the big day, and deciding on flavors that would make their guests smile. She quickly typed out another message to Namjoon, knowing full well he might try to brush it off if she didn't remind him.

*Don't forget we have cake tasting on Saturday at 3 PM. It's important that we both go to this, so please make sure you're free.*

Satisfied, Hana set the phone aside and leaned back against her pillows, letting out a long sigh. She loved weddings. She loved everything about them-the romance, the details, the way it all came together to create a magical day. But it was hard to stay excited when she felt like she was doing it all on her own. It was like she was planning a wedding for herself, while Namjoon stood on the sidelines, indifferent to everything that mattered to her.

---

The next morning, Hana woke to a message from Namjoon, short and to the point as usual.

*I'll look at the venues when I have time. The cake tasting-I might have a meeting, but I'll see if I can move it.*

Her stomach clenched. *Might have a meeting*? How could he even consider skipping one of the most enjoyable parts of the process? Hana stared at her phone, her fingers itching to type a response, but she hesitated. She didn't want to argue with him, not through text, not when everything was already so strained between them. But still, the thought of going to the cake tasting alone made her heart ache.

She texted back as calmly as she could manage.

*Please try to make it. It's one of the fun parts of the process, and I think it's important for us both to be there.*

Hana tossed her phone onto the bed and sighed heavily. She hated feeling like she was pleading for his attention. This was supposed to be an exciting time, a time when they could come together and at least attempt to enjoy the experience. But instead, it felt like she was constantly pulling him along, while he gave only what little time and attention he had left over.

She pushed herself off the bed and moved to the kitchen, making a cup of tea to calm her nerves. As she waited for the water to boil, her mind wandered back to their earlier conversations. Namjoon had told his parents that she talked too much, that she was overly involved, but what was she supposed to do? Sit quietly in the background while he made all the decisions?

No, she wouldn't do that. She wasn't going to be a silent bride.

---

Saturday arrived quickly, and Hana found herself standing in front of a bakery, a knot of anxiety twisting in her stomach. She had sent Namjoon a final reminder about the cake tasting the night before, but he hadn't responded. She checked her phone again, glancing at the time. It was five minutes to three, and there was no sign of him.

Her heart sank a little as she pushed open the door, the sweet scent of freshly baked pastries filling the air. The bakery was warm and inviting, with pastel-colored walls and a display case filled with delicate cakes, tarts, and cookies. Hana loved the place already, and part of her wished she could forget about Namjoon's absence and just enjoy herself.

But as she stepped inside, the door chimed behind her, and she turned to see Namjoon walking in. Relief flooded her, but it was quickly tempered by the guarded expression on his face.

"I made it," he said curtly, barely meeting her eyes as he glanced around the shop.

Hana smiled, trying to hide her frustration at how close he had come to skipping out. "I'm glad you could make it."

They were led to a small table in the corner, where several sample cakes were laid out for them. The baker, a cheerful woman with flour smudged on her apron, explained the different flavors and fillings, encouraging them to try each one.

Hana eagerly picked up a fork and dug into the first sample, a rich chocolate cake with raspberry filling. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the taste before turning to Namjoon. "This one is amazing," she said, smiling brightly.

Namjoon took a small bite, his expression neutral. "It's fine," he said after a moment, setting the fork down.

Hana tried not to let his indifference dampen her mood, but it was hard. She wanted him to be excited, to engage with her, to at least pretend like he cared about something as simple as cake. But instead, he seemed like he was just going through the motions, his mind elsewhere.

They moved on to the next cake, a light vanilla sponge with lemon curd. Hana made a note of which one she preferred, keeping her comments brief as Namjoon's disinterest became more apparent.

"Do you like this one?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"It's fine," he repeated, his tone flat.

The word grated on Hana's nerves. *Fine.* Everything was just *fine* with him. She set her fork down, her appetite suddenly gone.

"Is there anything you're actually excited about?" she asked quietly, not looking at him as she stared down at the small slice of cake on her plate. "Anything you want to be a part of?"

Namjoon glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly. "What do you mean?"

Hana swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she fought to keep her emotions in check. "I mean, do you even care about this? The wedding? Us?"

He blinked, as if the question had caught him off guard. For a moment, he said nothing, his expression unreadable. "I'm here, aren't I?" he said finally, his voice low.

"Physically, yes," Hana said, her frustration spilling over. "But emotionally? It feels like you're not even trying. I'm trying to involve you, to make this something we can both enjoy, but it feels like you're just... disconnected."

Namjoon's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking away from hers. "I don't see the point in getting worked up over every little detail. The wedding is just a formality."

"A formality?" Hana echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is our wedding. Our marriage. It's supposed to mean something."

He didn't respond, and the silence between them felt heavy, like a chasm they couldn't cross.

Hana felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let him see how much this hurt. She had always known Namjoon wasn't the romantic type, but she had hoped-prayed-that he would at least try to meet her halfway. Instead, she was left feeling like she was planning a wedding for two strangers, not a couple.

She pushed the plate of cake samples away, her appetite completely gone. "I don't want to do this alone," she said quietly, her voice barely audible. "But that's what it feels like."

Namjoon didn't look at her, his silence stretching on.

And for the first time since they had started this journey, Hana wondered if they would ever find their way to each other.

Author note: So this was the third chapter of the series Hearts in chaos : Into the abyss. How was it? Is it captivating your minds and curiosity? If yes please do give some comments and votes, it really is motivating. Also a shoutout to -jennieverse- and TEEN_FIX for the amazing cover they made. Thanks guys for the support. Happy reading 📖