IZ*ONE University [THE REWRITE]

Chapter 9: As you walk your path, darkness may come

Kim Minju's POV

Yujin and I arrived around midnight, the house was quiet with everyone already asleep. After our Ferris wheel ride, we found ourselves in a deep conversation about her feelings for Wonyoung. Yujin understood the girl so well, yet there was a quiet longing in her voice as she expressed how she wished everyone would know they were dating.

I could see it in her eyes—she was grappling with insecurities, especially regarding her family's financial situation and the pressure of being accepted into IZ*ONE U on a track scholarship.

As Yujin headed to her room, which she shared with Wonyoung, I slipped my feet into the pool, seeking clarity. The cool water was refreshing, but my thoughts felt heavy. I recalled how Yujin's smile faded momentarily when she spoke about her struggles, and it struck me how disappointed she seemed.

Her insecurities clung to her like a shadow, and I couldn't help but wonder if she was burdened by the belief that something was wrong with her.

"Why are you like this, Kim Minju?" I whispered to my reflection in the still water. I had to confront the truth—I cared for Yujin deeply; my feelings were unmistakable.

But I was her unnie first and foremost, and I had to push those romantic feelings aside once again. It was painful to see her so vulnerable, and I wished I could do more to ease her burdens. But for now, all I could do was be there for her, constantly reminding her that she was enough just the way she was.

FLASHBACK

"I'm in love with Jang Wonyoung, unnie, and we've been dating since two years ago," Yujin confessed, her voice trembling as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

I felt my breath hitch, a wave of disbelief washing over me. My instincts had whispered that something was going on between them, but I had been so naïve to believe they were only best friends. My heart shattered again, the weight of reality crashing down on me.

"I'll be here to listen, Yujinie," I managed to say, moving to sit beside her. I wrapped my arms around her in a comforting side hug, though my heart felt heavy.

"Unnie, it's just that I know how much pressure Wonyoung's family places on her... especially her mother," she said, frustration and sadness blurring her expression. She ran her fingers through her hair, struggling to contain her emotions. "Her mom also hates my family, but my dad has it worse because what Wonyoung doesn't know is that my parents and her mom used to be those cliché high school trios; her mom dated my dad, but he cheated on her with my mom. Then when he needed somewhere to go, he didn't tell Wonyoung's mom he was married to mine, and he used her to secure a job at their place."

My mind was racing, trying to process all of this. "Woah," I eventually said, still in disbelief. "And Wonyoung never knew?"

"Yes, because her dad doesn't know either, and her mom just pretends she has no past relationship with my parents," Yujin sighed, her shoulders slumping as she hung her head against the windowpane.

I couldn't find the right words. The tangled web of their families sounded like something straight out of a drama, and here I was, utterly shocked and speechless. "That's some family history..." I whispered, grappling with the complexity of it all, feeling lost in this revelation. What could I even say?