Chapter 27 – When a Heart Breaks
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1. The Weight of Silence
The days without Ji-hoon felt like walking through a dream—one where nothing felt real.
Hana went to school. She smiled at So-yeon. She laughed at jokes. She did everything she was supposed to do.
But at night, when she was alone, the silence crushed her.
No more late-night phone calls.
No more forehead kisses.
No more "good morning" texts.
Ji-hoon was everywhere and nowhere all at once.
And it hurt.
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2. Drowning in the Void
Ji-hoon was a mess.
He told himself he was fine. That it was just a break. That Hana would come back.
But every time he saw her across the campus—smiling, laughing—without him…
It felt like his lungs were filling with water.
And then—
One day, he saw her with Kyung-soo.
Talking.
Not flirting, not laughing. Just talking.
But it was enough.
Something inside Ji-hoon snapped.
He turned away before Hana could see him, his hands clenched into fists.
He needed to forget.
Even if just for one night.
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3. A Night of Bad Decisions
The party was loud.
Ji-hoon didn't even know whose house it was. He didn't care.
Someone handed him a drink. He took it.
Another. And another.
The music throbbed in his veins, drowning out the thoughts in his head.
Then—
A girl.
Flirty smile. Soft hands.
She leaned in. Close. Too close.
Ji-hoon didn't move away.
Because in that moment, all he wanted—
Was to feel something other than heartbreak.
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4. The Moment That Changed Everything
Hana wasn't looking for Ji-hoon.
She wasn't.
But when So-yeon dragged her to the same party, she saw him.
And her heart shattered.
Because there he was—
Leaning against the wall.
A girl's hands on his chest.
Her lips just inches from his.
Ji-hoon didn't push her away.
He didn't stop her.
He just stood there.
Hana felt like she couldn't breathe.
She turned and ran.
But not before Ji-hoon saw her.
Not before he realized what he had just done.
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5. The End of Us?
Hana didn't answer his calls.
She didn't respond to his messages.
Because what was there to say?
She gave him space.
And he filled it with someone else.
Ji-hoon showed up at her door three days later.
His eyes were red. His voice hoarse.
"Hana, it didn't mean anything."
Hana's throat ached. "But it happened."
Ji-hoon reached for her hand. "I love you."
Tears burned in her eyes. "Then why did you hurt me?"
Silence.
And in that silence—
Hana got her answer.
Ji-hoon exhaled shakily. "Tell me how to fix this."
Hana's heart screamed at her to forgive him.
But some things… couldn't be undone.
She swallowed hard.
"I don't know if we can."
Ji-hoon's face crumbled.
And for the first time—
Hana saw it.
The moment his heart broke too.
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End of Chapter 27