Ecstacy of Love (vsoo)

22. My feelings are genuine.

Edited

The expansive backyard of the Bangtan palace was in full bloom, a vivid display of life and color. The green stretches of grass were dotted with vibrant flowers, their gentle fragrance wafting through the air. It was a place of peace and serenity—normally—but not today.

For Jisoo, the beauty of the scenery did little to ease the tension in her heart as she sat next to Chaeyoung, Minister Park’s bright and charming daughter. The girl, usually a source of joy and warmth, was now a trembling figure consumed by tears. Her delicate hands covered her face, her muffled sobs breaking the stillness of the garden.

"Chae..." Jisoo spoke softly, her hand moving in slow, comforting circles across the younger girl's back. "He didn’t mean it that way. Please, just let it go."

But her words felt hollow, even to herself. How could anyone simply forget words that cut so deep?

Chaeyoung shook her head violently, her sobs intensifying. Her voice came out strained and broken as she spoke through her palms. "How could he say that? I’m not asking him to feel the same way about me! But... but he has no right to mock my love! I... I sincerely love him, unnie. And he just... he just joked about it, as if it meant nothing to him."

Jisoo bit her lip, unsure how to respond. She hated seeing Chaeyoung like this—her bubbly energy now replaced with heartbreak and despair. It hurt to know that the one who caused this pain was none other than someone both of them held in high regard.

"He had no right," Jisoo agreed, her voice firmer this time, though still gentle. "What he said was uncalled for. But Chae, you can’t let his words define your love. You know your heart better than anyone else."

Chaeyoung lowered her hands slightly, revealing red-rimmed eyes and tear-streaked cheeks. Her lips trembled as she looked at Jisoo. "But why, unnie? Why would he say something so cruel? If he didn’t feel the same, he could’ve just told me. Why mock my feelings?"

Jisoo sighed deeply, her mind racing. She had seen the way Chaeyoung looked at him—the admiration, the quiet longing, the genuine love. It wasn’t infatuation; it was something much deeper. Chaeyoung’s love was sincere, pure, and devoid of selfishness.

And yet, he had dismissed it so carelessly.

"I don’t know, Chae," Jisoo admitted, her voice tinged with frustration she rarely let show. "But that doesn’t mean your love is wrong. You’re allowed to feel what you feel, even if he doesn’t see it."

Chaeyoung let out a shaky breath, leaning her head on Jisoo’s shoulder. "Do you think I was too bold, unnie? Was it wrong for me to confess? Maybe he wasn’t ready..."

"No," Jisoo said firmly, stroking Chaeyoung’s hair as if soothing a child. "You did nothing wrong. If anything, you were brave. Love is always a risk, Chae, but it’s never something to be ashamed of."

Chaeyoung’s tears slowed, though her eyes remained downcast. She clung to Jisoo’s words like a lifeline, trying to find solace in the reassurance.

"I just... I don’t understand," she whispered. "I thought he might see me differently. Even if he didn’t feel the same, I thought he’d at least respect my feelings."

Jisoo nodded silently. Chaeyoung’s heartbreak was a stark reminder of how delicate love could be. It could uplift, but it could also destroy. And sometimes, the ones we love the most are the ones who hurt us in ways no one else could.

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Chaeyoung, the pampered and delicate daughter of Minister Park, stepped into the grand Bangtan Palace for the first time, her heart a curious mix of determination and trepidation. The weight of her decision lingered in her mind. She had never ventured out on her own like this, but the thought of her beloved unnie, Sooyaa, being left in the hands of the infamous Gunju Kim Taehyung was unbearable.