Chapter thirty three

Feeling defeated and emotionally drained, Hye-Jin buried her face in her hands, the weight of her heartache crushing her spirit. "I can't, Eun-Ji," she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible through her tears. "I just... I can't face him again. Not after everything."

Eun-Ji's heart ached for her friend as she reached out to gently wipe away Hye-Jin's tears. "Okay, Hye-Jin," she murmured softly, her voice filled with compassion. "Let's get out of here. We'll go somewhere quiet where you can clear your mind."

"You know, there's a get-together tonight with our old classmates," Eun-Ji said tentatively, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Would you... would you like to come with me?"

Hye-Jin hesitated for a moment, her heart torn between the comfort of solitude and the possibility of finding solace among friends. But as she looked into Eun-Ji's eyes, she saw a flicker of hope, a chance to escape the suffocating grip of her own thoughts.