Chapter 21 – The Fight for Us
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1. A Silent Goodbye
Hana woke up alone.
The bed was cold.
Ji-hoon was gone.
Her chest tightened.
Something wasn't right.
She sat up, heart pounding.
Then—she saw it.
A note on her nightstand.
Shaky handwriting.
Don't look for me. Please.
Hana's stomach dropped.
No.
She wasn't going to sit back and wait.
Not when she knew exactly where he was.
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2. The Meeting in the Shadows
Ji-hoon stood in an abandoned warehouse.
Waiting.
The air was thick with tension.
Then—footsteps.
Min-jae stepped out of the darkness.
Smirking.
"You finally came."
Ji-hoon's jaw clenched.
"I told you to leave her out of this."
Min-jae laughed.
"Did you really think I would?"
Ji-hoon's fists clenched.
"I'm ending this."
Min-jae grinned.
"Then let's make it interesting."
A flick of his fingers—
And his men appeared.
Six of them.
Surrounding Ji-hoon.
Min-jae sighed.
"I always wondered if you were really as tough as they say."
He tilted his head.
"Guess we'll find out."
Then—they attacked.
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3. Love in the Fire
Hana ran through the empty streets.
She didn't care if it was dangerous.
If Ji-hoon thought she would stay behind, he was wrong.
She wasn't leaving him alone.
Not again.
She turned a corner—
And stopped.
She could hear it.
The sounds of a fight.
A fist slamming into flesh.
A grunt of pain.
Her heart raced.
She pushed forward—
And then—
She saw him.
Ji-hoon.
Bleeding.
Breathing heavy.
But still standing.
Facing Min-jae.
Alone.
Hana's throat tightened.
Then—Min-jae spoke.
"You just don't know when to stay down, do you?"
Ji-hoon wiped blood from his lip.
"Try harder."
Min-jae lunged.
Ji-hoon moved—
Fast. Lethal.
A fist collided with Min-jae's ribs.
A crack.
A curse.
But Min-jae was just as fast.
His knee slammed into Ji-hoon's side.
Ji-hoon stumbled.
And in that moment—
Min-jae pulled a knife.
Hana's breath caught.
No.
The blade flashed.
Ji-hoon turned—
But he was too slow.
Min-jae struck.
Hana screamed—
And then—
She moved.
Without thinking.
Without hesitating.
Straight into the fire.
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4. The Price of Love
Hana threw herself forward.
Between Ji-hoon and the knife.
She heard Ji-hoon yell—
Felt arms grabbing for her—
But then—
Pain.
White-hot.
Tearing through her side.
Her body froze.
Min-jae's eyes widened.
Ji-hoon's scream ripped through the air.
"HANA!"
She collapsed.
Darkness creeping in.
The last thing she saw—
Ji-hoon.
On his knees beside her.
Hands covered in blood.
Her blood.
His face twisted in horror.
And then—
Nothing.
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5. The Heart That Won't Break
Ji-hoon sat beside the hospital bed.
Watching her.
Waiting.
It had been two days.
Two days of not knowing if she would wake up.
Two days of blaming himself.
The doctors said she would survive.
But that didn't matter.
Because the moment he saw her fall, something inside him broke.
She stirred.
Ji-hoon shot up.
Then—her eyes opened.
Soft. Tired.
She blinked at him.
And then—smiled.
Ji-hoon let out a breath.
Then—he leaned in.
Pressed his forehead to hers.
His voice shook.
"You're an idiot."
Hana chuckled weakly.
"You love me."
Ji-hoon exhaled.
And for the first time—he didn't fight it.
He cupped her face.
Brushed his lips against hers.
Soft. Desperate.
"I do."
Hana's fingers curled around his wrist.
Smiling.
"Then stop trying to fight alone."
Ji-hoon closed his eyes.
She was right.
She always was.
And from now on—
They would fight together.
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End of Chapter 21