choi beomgyu. 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺

61

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
myeonji's house

The question lingered in her mind as she stared at the guitar, its strings a reminder of a past that was both distant and painfully close. She hadn't touched it since she left—Beomgyu's gift, Beomgyu's guitar. He used to strum it softly while they'd sit on her bed late at night, his voice blending with the sound of the strings. His eyes, always so intense when he sang, were now blurry memories she wasn't sure she could trust. Had they ever really broken up? Or had they just... Stopped?

The room felt too still, and Myeonji could hear the distant hum of the city, a far cry from the quiet she'd oddly found in bustling New York. In Seoul, everything was loud—always moving, always changing, and that made her feel small. In New York, it was easier to hide.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from Wonyoung.

"Are you okay? Adjusting well?"

Myeonji sighed, her thumb hovering over the screen. She didn't want to lie, but she also didn't know how to explain it all. Wonyoung had always been her safe place ever since they got close years ago, but this... This wasn't something she could easily share. Not yet. Not until she figured it out herself.

Before she could type a response, a knock echoed from the door.

"Myeonji, you awake?" It was Wonyoung's voice, muffled but unmistakable.

She threw the phone aside and swung her legs off the bed, standing up with a slight groan. "Yeah, come in."

Wonyoung pushed the door open, leaning against the frame with a soft smile. "I was thinking... We could go out tomorrow. Maybe... Catch up with some of your old friends? You know, just ease back into things, you still have their numbers, no?"

Myeonji paused. The thought of seeing everyone again—Taehyun, Yeonjun, Kai, Chaewon, Soobin... Especially Beomgyu—sent a knot tightening in her stomach. She hadn't even thought about the possibility of running into him.

"I don't know..." Myeonji started, voice barely above a whisper. "What if it's weird?"

Wonyoung raised an eyebrow. "Weird? You're overthinking it. You'll be fine. Besides, I think they all missed you."

Myeonji didn't respond immediately. Her gaze drifted toward the guitar again, her heart picking up pace as she thought of the people who had once been her entire world. "I... I don't even know if they'll want to see me, though. I just left without any explanation. Without even saying goodbye. What if—"

"Stop right there," Wonyoung interrupted, pushing herself off the door frame and walking toward her sister. She placed a hand gently on Myeonji's shoulder. "They've always understood you. All of them. Especially Beomgyu." There was a slight pause before she added, her voice softer, "You didn't leave because you wanted to hurt anyone."

Myeonji bit her lip. She hadn't expected her sister to mention him. She wasn't ready to face that yet. It's been years. "Wonyoung, I—"

"Just think about it," Wonyoung continued, her voice almost teasing now. "I think it's time to fix things. You've been running long enough. You can't hide from the past forever."

Myeonji sighed, but then mischievously rolled her eyes to look at her older sister. "Yet you're the one who encouraged me to run off to New York with you." Wonyoung only grinned, somewhat culpable.

Myeonji felt a rush of emotion she hadn't expected—guilt, uncertainty, the old pain that seemed to creep back into her chest every time she thought of Beomgyu. And yet, there was a part of her that was relieved. Maybe, just maybe, this was what she needed.

She sighed, looking at her sister. "You really think so?"

"Definitely," Wonyoung said with a grin. "But tomorrow, okay? It'll be good. Trust me."

Myeonji nodded, forcing a small smile. "Okay."

As Wonyoung left the room, Myeonji returned to her bed and picked up her phone. She hesitated before typing out a quick response to her sister's earlier message:

"Yeah... just thinking. I'll be fine. I guess it's time to face everything."

She put the phone down and stared at the ceiling again, her thoughts swirling. Would tomorrow would be different? There would be no avoiding them. No more running.

And Beomgyu... She would have to eventually see him again. The thought both terrified and excited her.

What if everything had changed? What if the years apart had turned them into strangers? What if they didn't even remember how to talk to each other anymore?

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Myeonji," Wonyoung called, "I read you're message where you awfully lied... You sure you're good? Don't want to talk about it?" She teased, yet concern laced her voice.

Myeonji let out a long breath. "I'm fine. Thanks, Wonyoung."

Her sister paused, then spoke again, quieter this time. "You'll be okay. I'm here at least. You're not alone in this."

Myeonji smiled softly, her heart swelling with the quiet comfort her sister always offered. "I know."

Tomorrow, she would face them all. And maybe, just maybe, she'd find the courage to finally face the one person who still haunted her thoughts.

Beomgyu.

But for tonight, she allowed herself to close her eyes and rest. Tomorrow was a different day.

au/n. yey! hapi neu yer!