It was their last night in the city.

  The final business event.

  A formal gala.

  Minra, dressed in an elegant black dress, moved through the crowd.

  Smiling.

  Talking.

  But drinking more than usual.

  Too much.

  Because no matter how much she tried to act normal, something was off.

  Shuun wasn’t texting her anymore.

  And she didn’t know why that hurt so much.

  .

  HyunSeong had told himself he wouldn’t get involved.

  Told himself he was keeping his distance.

  Told himself she wasn’t his concern anymore.

  And yet—

  Yet, when he saw her drinking, saw the way she tilted her head back, sighing like the weight of the world was on her shoulders,

  He knew.

  Knew he wasn’t going to leave her like that.

  Knew he couldn’t just ignore it.

  Even if he wanted to.

  Even if he had every reason to.

  So when she stumbled slightly, he was already there.

  Already steadying her.

  Already taking responsibility like he always did.

  "That’s enough." he murmured. "You’re drunk, Minra-ssi."

  She blinked up at him.

  Then—suddenly—grabbed his wrist.

  "One more drink."

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  HyunSeong frowned.

  "No."

  "One more…!" she insisted, pulling him toward the hotel lounge.

  And somehow, somehow—

  He found himself following her.

  Even when he knew he shouldn’t.

  .

  They sat across from each other.

  Minra’s cheeks were flushed from alcohol.

  Her hands gripping her glass too tightly.

  And then—

  Then, she spoke.

  "You know…" she murmured.

  "My idol got tired of me."

  HyunSeong froze.

  "What?"

  She sighed.

  "Shuun."

  His breath hitched.

  But she didn’t notice.

  Didn’t see the way his fingers curled into his palm.

  Didn’t see the way his jaw tensed.

  Because she was too lost in her own thoughts.

  "He used to talk to me. Used to care."

  Her voice wavered.

  "Now, he doesn’t reply like before."

  "Doesn’t listen like before."

  "I guess I wasn’t worth his time after all."

  HyunSeong, watching her spill out every frustration, felt something inside him snap.

  Because.

  Because.

  ‘You already had someone you liked,’ he thought bitterly.

  ‘Yet you still want to have me?’

  And before he could stop himself—

  Before he could even think—

  His voice dropped.

  "Why are you being like this?"

  Minra looked up, blinking.

  "What?"

  "Do you really like him that much?" his voice was sharp, edged with something dangerous.

  "Or do you just use him to comfort yourself?"

  .

  Minra froze.

  Her eyes widened.

  Then—suddenly—

  They filled with tears.

  And HyunSeong’s chest tightened.

  Because he wasn’t ready for what came next.

  "It’s not about comfort." she whispered.

  "I really like him."

  His breath caught.

  His grip on his glass tightened.

  But then—

  Then, her voice shook.

  "But…" she hesitated.

  "But I don’t know if I should feel this way because…"

  She exhaled shakily.

  And when she looked up at him, her expression was raw.

  "Because I also developed feelings for someone else."

  HyunSeong stilled.

  Completely.

  Because.

  Because.

  Because what?

  She… liked someone else?

  That, of course he knew.

  But hearing for the second made it even worse.

  Minra, oblivious to his inner turmoil, laughed bitterly.

  "I don’t expect you to understand this kind of thing, Mr. Hwa."

  And for some reason—those words hit harder than they should have.

  Because.

  Because he did understand.

  More than she would ever know.

  And so—before he could stop himself,

  Before he could think—

  He confronted her.

  Using the only way he could.

  "What if," he asked slowly, carefully, "it’s because you’re liking someone else that made him distance himself?"

  Minra froze.

  Her grip on her glass tightened.

  Then—

  Her gaze snapped to his.

  And suddenly, she looked… angry.

  Frustrated.

  A little lost.

  And then—she said something he wasn’t expecting.

  "It’s all because of you!"

  HyunSeong stiffened.

  "What?"

  "It’s because of you!" she repeated, her voice rising.

  "Because you keep giving me mixed signals!"

  "Because you keep getting closer!"

  "Because you keep treating me so well that I subconsciously feel something for you!"

  And then—

  Then, the world stopped.

  Because HyunSeong couldn’t move.

  Couldn’t think.

  Couldn’t breathe.

  Because.

  Because.

  Because.

  She liked him.

  She felt something for him.

  And he wasn’t supposed to know that.

  .

  Minra, drunk and emotional, didn’t notice the way he went still.

  Didn’t notice the way his fingers curled against the table.

  Didn’t notice the way his heartbeat pounded in his ears.

  Because she was too caught up in her own emotions.

  But HyunSeong?

  HyunSeong felt everything.

  Felt the way the world tilted beneath him.

  Felt the way everything he had been trying to avoid had just been said out loud.

  And now?

  Now, there was no way to ignore it anymore.

  Because Minra?

  Minra had just confessed.

  And tomorrow, when she woke up—

  She wouldn’t remember a thing.

  But HyunSeong?

  He would.

  And suddenly, he didn’t know what to do with that.

  .

  Chapter 31: "The Confession That Changed Everything"