Chapter Twenty-nine: A Storm Beneath the Surface.

Kang Min Jun's life was starting to feel like it was teetering on the edge of a precipice, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to find his balance. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of confusion and doubt, and it was all beginning to take its toll on him.

 His mother's words from their last dinner kept replaying in his mind, each time with more weight. He tried to push them aside, to focus on the love he had for Soo Jeon, but the doubts were insidious, creeping into his thoughts at the most inopportune moments. He hated that Ji-Eun's name kept coming up, hated that his mother had planted those seeds of uncertainty. But more than anything, he hated that he couldn't seem to shake them off.

 At work, Min Jun's colleagues had noticed the change in him. Normally composed and confident, he now appeared distracted, his mind clearly elsewhere. During meetings, he would lose track of the conversation, and his designs lacked the usual spark that made his work stand out.

 One afternoon, after a particularly unproductive meeting, Min Jun's close friend and colleague, Jae Woo, approached him. Jae Woo had known Min Jun for years, and he could tell that something was wrong.

 "Min Jun, what's going on with you lately? You've been off your game," Jae Woo said, concern lacing his voice.

 Min Jun looked up from his desk, meeting Jae Woo's gaze. He wanted to brush off the question, to tell his friend that everything was fine, but he knew Jae Woo wouldn't buy it. "It's just... a lot on my mind," he finally admitted, his voice heavy with fatigue.

 Jae Woo pulled up a chair and sat down across from Min Jun. "Is it work? Or is it something else?"

 Min Jun hesitated, unsure of how much he wanted to reveal. "It's not work," he confessed. "It's... my relationship. My mom has been saying things, and now I don't know what to think."

 Jae Woo raised an eyebrow. "Things about Soo Jeon?"

 Min Jun nodded. "She keeps bringing up Ji-Eun. It's like she's trying to make me second-guess everything. And the worst part is, it's working. I don't want to doubt Soo Jeon, but I can't help it."

 Jae Woo leaned back in his chair, letting out a low whistle. "Man, that's tough. But you've got to figure out what you want, not what your mom or Ji-Eun wants. Do you love Soo Jeon?"

 Min Jun didn't answer right away. He knew he loved Soo Jeon, but the doubts had muddied his feelings, making it hard to think clearly. "I do," he finally said, though his voice lacked conviction.

 Jae Woo leaned forward, his expression serious. "Then you need to talk to her. Keeping this bottled up is only going to make things worse. She probably senses that something's off already."

 Min Jun knew Jae Woo was right. Soo Jeon had already asked him if something was wrong, and he'd brushed her off with a lie. He hated that he was hiding things from her, but he wasn't sure how to bring it up. The thought of discussing his mother's concerns felt like a betrayal, as if he was questioning their entire relationship.

 Later that evening, as Min Jun drove home, he decided that he needed to talk to Soo Jeon. If their relationship was going to survive, he couldn't keep his worries to himself any longer. He owed it to her—and to himself—to be honest.

 When Min Jun walked into their apartment, Soo Jeon was sitting on the couch, reading a book. She looked up as he entered, her eyes lighting up with a smile that he hadn't seen in days. But as he sat down next to her, she could sense that something was on his mind.

 "Min Jun, is everything okay?" she asked gently, closing her book and setting it aside.

 He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Soo Jeon, there's something I need to talk to you about. It's been weighing on me for a while now, and I can't keep it to myself anymore."

 Soo Jeon's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding settling over her. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

 Min Jun reached for her hand, holding it tightly as if afraid to let go. "It's about us," he began. "Lately, I've been having doubts... not about my feelings for you, but about whether I'm doing the right thing."

 Soo Jeon's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"

 "My mom... she's been talking to me about Ji-Eun," he admitted, his voice tinged with guilt. "She thinks Ji-Eun might be a better match for me, and it's been messing with my head. I don't want to doubt us, but I can't stop thinking about what she said."

 Soo Jeon felt a sharp pang of hurt in her chest. Ji-Eun again. She had thought they were past this, that Ji-Eun was no longer a threat to their relationship. But now, it seemed that the ghost of Min Jun's past was still haunting them.

 "Min Jun," she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her, "Do you want to be with Ji-Eun?"

 "No!" Min Jun replied quickly, shaking his head. "I don't want to be with her. I want to be with you. But my mom... she has a way of getting into my head. And now I'm just... confused."

 Soo Jeon took a deep breath, trying to make sense of everything. She knew that Min Jun's mother had always been close to Ji-Eun, and it hurt to think that she might still be trying to push them back together. But she also knew that Min Jun's feelings for her were real, and she wasn't going to let this come between them.

 "Min Jun, I understand that your mom wants what she thinks is best for you. But you're the one who has to decide what that is. I can't compete with your past, and I don't want to. All I want is to build a future with you."

 Her words were like a balm to Min Jun's troubled soul. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close as if afraid to lose her. "I'm sorry, Soo Jeon," he whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry for letting this get to me. I love you, and I don't want to lose you."

 Soo Jeon hugged him back, her heart aching for him. "I love you too, Min Jun. We'll get through this together. Just promise me that you'll talk to me when something's bothering you. We're a team, and we have to face these things together."

 Min Jun nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with Soo Jeon by his side, he felt like they could overcome anything. The doubts and distractions would come and go, but their love was strong enough to withstand them.

 As they sat there in each other's arms, the storm that had been brewing beneath the surface began to calm. For the first time in weeks, Min Jun felt a glimmer of hope that they would come out of this stronger than ever.