The Breaking Point

Chapter 26: Shattered Promises

The silence between them was fragile, like a sheet of glass on the verge of breaking. Yuna clenched her hands into fists, trying to steady the storm of emotions raging inside her. The moon cast a pale glow over the Han River, reflecting their shadows on the water's surface—two souls caught in the undertow of a past they couldn't outrun.

Hyun's voice was barely above a whisper. "I meant every word, Yuna."

She closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. "And what if I'm too broken to believe you?"

He stepped closer, the warmth of his presence brushing against her skin. "Then let me prove it to you."

Her heart screamed for her to run—to protect herself from the pain of another shattered promise. But a part of her, the part that still held onto the memories of their stolen moments, wanted to believe him. Just this once.

Yuna's phone vibrated in her coat pocket, pulling her back to reality. She hesitated before glancing at the screen. Jun-seo.

Guilt twisted in her stomach. She had spent weeks leaning on Jun-seo, letting his presence steady her when the weight of the past threatened to crush her. But now, standing before Hyun, she felt like she was teetering on the edge of something dangerous—something she wasn't sure she could survive.

Hyun noticed the flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "Is it him?"

She didn't answer. She didn't have to.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "He's been there for you, hasn't he?"

Yuna's throat tightened. "Hyun, this isn't about him."

"Isn't it?" His voice held an edge of desperation. "Tell me, Yuna. Do you love him?"

The question struck her like a bolt of lightning, sending shockwaves through her chest. She opened her mouth to answer—but the truth was, she didn't know. Or maybe, she was too afraid to admit it.

Hyun let out a breath, stepping back. "I don't want to be just another regret in your life."

Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. "Then stop making me choose."

For a long moment, they just stood there—two hearts tangled in a web of past mistakes and unspoken truths. And then, without another word, Hyun turned and walked away, leaving Yuna staring after him, the weight of her choices pressing down on her chest.

The wind carried his last words to her ears, barely audible but cutting deep.

"I just wanted to be enough."

As the night swallowed his silhouette, Yuna realized something terrifying.

No matter which path she chose, someone would end up broken.

Chapter 27: The Breaking Point

The cold air wrapped around Yuna as she stood at the entrance of the lecture hall, her heart beating in an erratic rhythm. She had spent the entire night replaying Hyun's words in her head, the weight of his last confession pressing against her chest like an unbearable burden.

"I just wanted to be enough."

It echoed in her mind, cutting through her resolve like a blade. She thought coming to class would be a distraction, but as soon as she stepped inside, she felt every pair of eyes on her. Whispers filled the air, subtle yet piercing.

"Did you hear? She was with both of them last night."

"Poor Jun-seo… I thought she was serious about him."

"Hyun must be losing his mind."

Yuna clenched her jaw and moved past them, her fingers gripping her books so tightly her knuckles turned white. She found her usual seat near the window, hoping for a moment of peace, but Jun-seo was already there, waiting for her.

"Yuna," he greeted softly, his voice laced with something unreadable.

She swallowed hard. "Jun-seo, I—"

"Were you with him?"

The words made her freeze. She could lie, could tell him it was nothing, but the truth was written all over her face. Jun-seo sighed, running a hand through his hair before shaking his head.

"I just need to know," he continued, his eyes searching hers. "Do you love him?"

The question struck her harder than Hyun's. This wasn't just about her and Hyun anymore—this was about Jun-seo too. The one who had been there, the one who had stayed when she was at her lowest. She owed him an answer, but the truth felt impossible to admit.

"I… I don't know," she whispered, and the pain that flashed across Jun-seo's face made her stomach churn.

He let out a breath, nodding slowly. "That's all I needed to hear."

Before she could stop him, he stood up and walked away, leaving her alone with the weight of her own indecision.

Hyun stood on the rooftop of the university building, hands buried deep in his pockets. He watched the sky, the shades of orange and pink blending into the horizon. He had always come here to clear his mind, but today, the silence felt deafening.

A soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Hyun."

He turned around, and there she was—Yuna, looking at him with eyes full of emotions he couldn't decipher.

"I don't want to lose you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know how to fix this."

Hyun's lips curled into a sad smile. "Maybe we're not meant to be fixed."

Yuna took a hesitant step closer. "Then what are we?"

He studied her for a long moment before shaking his head. "We're a tragedy waiting to happen."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Instead, she simply stood there, staring at the boy she had once thought would be her forever, realizing that love wasn't always enough.

As the evening breeze carried their silence, Yuna understood one thing—no matter what choice she made, someone's heart would shatter.

And maybe, just maybe, that someone was her.

Chapter 28: Shattered Echoes

The campus felt different that evening—quieter, heavier, as if it, too, carried the weight of unspoken words. Yuna walked aimlessly, her mind tangled in the mess of her emotions. Jun-seo's absence was a gaping void, and Hyun's words kept replaying in her head.

"We're a tragedy waiting to happen."

It was true, wasn't it? No matter how much she reached for him, the past kept pulling them apart. And Jun-seo… she had hurt him too. The thought of losing them both made her chest tighten.

She found herself by the art building, where Hyun often spent his time. A part of her hoped he'd be there, that maybe—just maybe—he would tell her she wasn't as lost as she felt. But when she reached the rooftop, it was empty.

A lump formed in her throat. Maybe she was too late.

—

Jun-seo sat in his car, hands gripping the steering wheel. The way Yuna had hesitated… it had told him everything. He had been nothing more than a safe choice, a place to rest when her heart was too tired to fight for what it really wanted.

And yet, he still loved her.

A text notification broke his spiraling thoughts.

Hyun: Meet me at the old bridge. Now.

Jun-seo frowned. Of all the things he expected tonight, this wasn't one of them.

—

The wind was sharp against his skin as Jun-seo approached the bridge. Hyun stood at the edge, staring down at the water below. The streetlights barely illuminated his figure, casting long shadows that stretched into the darkness.

"You're avoiding her," Hyun said without turning around.

Jun-seo exhaled. "What do you want, Hyun?"

Hyun finally looked at him, his eyes unreadable. "I wanted to hate you," he admitted. "I wanted to think you were just standing in my way."

Jun-seo's jaw clenched. "But?"

"But I can't. Because I know that when she looks at you… there's a part of her that wants to stay."

The admission hit Jun-seo harder than he expected. Silence stretched between them, heavy with the reality neither wanted to face.

"She won't choose, Hyun." Jun-seo's voice was quiet but firm. "Because if she does, she loses one of us."

Hyun looked back at the water. "Maybe that's why we have to choose for her."

Jun-seo stilled. "What are you saying?"

Hyun turned to him fully, determination burning in his gaze. "We step back. We let her go."

Jun-seo laughed bitterly. "You think that's what's best?"

"I think it's the only way she'll ever be free."

The words lingered between them, the final thread holding them together unraveling. And as the night stretched on, both of them knew—no matter how much they loved her, they had to let her go.

—

Yuna sat alone in her dorm, staring at her phone. No messages, no missed calls.

Just silence.

And for the first time, she realized—she was truly alone.

To be continued…