Chapter 29 – The Strings That Pull Us Back
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1. A Heart That Won't Stay Silent
Hana tried to ignore it.
The ache.
The pull.
The constant whisper of his name in her mind.
Ji-hoon.
It had been a week since he disappeared.
And every day without him felt like something was missing.
She told herself she had made the right choice.
That Kyung-soo was better for her.
Safer.
Easier.
But love was never supposed to be easy.
It was supposed to be worth fighting for.
And deep down—
She knew exactly who she wanted to fight for.
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2. Finding What Was Lost
The rumors spread quickly.
"Ji-hoon got into a fight."
"He dropped out."
"He left town."
But none of them were true.
Hana knew where to find him.
She always did.
So, she ran.
Through the city.
Through the memories.
Until she reached the small apartment complex on the outskirts of town.
His place.
She climbed the stairs.
Knocked.
Waited.
Nothing.
Then—
The door creaked open.
And there he was.
Ji-hoon.
Disheveled. Eyes empty.
Like he had given up.
Like he had lost something important.
Hana's heart clenched.
Because she knew—
That something was her.
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3. A Love on the Edge
Ji-hoon stared at her.
Silent.
Still.
Like he wasn't sure if she was real.
Hana swallowed.
Took a step forward.
He took a step back.
Her chest tightened.
"You left," she whispered.
He exhaled, looking away.
"You moved on."
Her brows furrowed.
"Is that what you think?"
Ji-hoon laughed bitterly.
"I don't think. I know."
Hana clenched her fists.
"Then you don't know me at all."
Silence.
Heavy. Unspoken.
Then—
She took another step.
Closer.
Until there was no space left between them.
Ji-hoon's breath hitched.
Hana reached up.
Touched his face.
His skin was warm.
Familiar.
Home.
"I never moved on," she whispered.
Ji-hoon's eyes darkened.
Then—
His lips crashed against hers.
Desperate.
Needy.
Like he had been starving for this.
For her.
For them.
And Hana knew—
No matter what happened next,
She would never let him go again.
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End of Chapter 29