Night fell quietly over Seoul. The city lights shimmered in the distance as the car carrying Chloe and Sunghoon finally stopped in front of her apartment building. Sunghoon offered to walk her upstairs, but Chloe simply gave him a faint smile and shook her head gently.
"I need to be alone tonight," she said softly.
Sunghoon didn't insist. He just nodded and said quietly, "If you need anything… just call me, okay?"
Chloe returned the nod, then turned and walked inside the lobby. Her steps were slow but steady. Her head was buzzing with noise from the past—Jungwon's gaze, the words left unsaid. And yet, somewhere deep inside, a quiet strength was beginning to form from all the pain.
Once inside her apartment, she slipped off her shoes, dropped her bag on the table, and sank into the sofa. She exhaled deeply, trying to calm her still-racing heart.
Her phone buzzed.
A new message.
From someone she wished she could forget—Selvinalisa.
> "Don't think you've won just because you showed up at the office. Jungwon is mine now. You're just a pathetic leftover. Try showing up again, and I promise your life won't be peaceful."
Chloe stared at the screen for a long time. Silent. No sudden reaction. No panic.
Just... tears. Quiet ones, flowing down her cheeks.
But what was surprising wasn't the tears.
It was the smile.
A small, broken smile. One filled with irony. Pain. But also… clarity.
She slowly set the phone down on the table and leaned back, staring at the ceiling above her.
"I didn't lose, Sel," she whispered to herself. "I just stopped fighting for someone who never really knew who was fighting for him."
Her sobs weren't loud or messy. Just silent rivers of emotion. And beneath all of it… something was beginning to grow.
Resilience.
Moments passed. The stillness in her apartment was broken by a sudden knock at the door.
Knock knock knock…
Chloe's breath caught. She hadn't expected anyone—definitely not now. She wiped her tears hastily and walked cautiously toward the door.
When she opened it, only slightly, her heart skipped a beat.
Jungwon.
Standing there, looking completely unsettled. His eyes searched hers, concern written all over his face.
"Chloe… I saw you from down the street. I—I couldn't just sit at the café. I was worried," he said quickly, eyes scanning her tear-stained face.
Chloe looked down for a second. Her heart pounded wildly. She hadn't imagined he'd come after her.
Steeling herself, she stood straighter.
"I'm fine," she said flatly.
"You've been crying…" he whispered.
Without hesitation, Chloe gave him a lie she hadn't planned—one that came from pure instinct.
"A friend from college just passed away. I got the message earlier."
It was a lie she hated telling. But she knew the truth would only open more wounds she couldn't bear to explain again.
Jungwon blinked, stunned. He stepped forward. "God… Chloe, I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me earlier? I—"
"There's no need," she cut in, voice calm but distant. "I just need to rest."
She turned and walked away, her steps quick and firm. When she reached the door to her bedroom, her hand trembled slightly on the handle. But she didn't turn back. She entered and gently closed the door behind her, leaving Jungwon standing alone in her living room.
Jungwon stood frozen, his thoughts spinning.
Was she really crying over her friend?
Or was it… because of me?
His guilt twisted deeper.
The silence behind that bedroom door felt louder than any scream.
Behind the closed door, Chloe stood still for a moment—then slowly sank to the floor, her back pressed against the wood. She curled her knees to her chest, trying to hold back the sobs threatening to rise again.
Her hand covered her mouth to muffle the sound. But the tears… they fell freely.
She glanced over to her vanity. Sitting on top was a small photo frame—one she used to treasure. A photo of her and Jungwon on their graduation day: Chloe in her cap and gown, Jungwon smiling proudly beside her, holding flowers.
It used to be a memory of a bright future.
Now… it felt like a dream she no longer believed in.
She picked up the frame, holding it tightly to her chest as she whispered,
"How foolish of me… to still miss you."
Meanwhile, outside the bedroom, Jungwon hadn't moved. He was restless, glancing at the door again and again. He thought about knocking. About asking her again what was really going on.
But his feet were stuck. His heart filled with questions.
Was Selvinalisa lying?
Was Chloe really the one who's been misunderstood all along?
He remembered all the times Chloe had stood by him. How patient she'd been. How understanding. And now, the silence between them was deafening.
He finally raised his hand and knocked gently.
"Chloe…" he said softly. "If you need anything… I'm still here."
No answer came.
But inside the room, Chloe wiped her tears again. She looked at the door but said nothing. Her silence wasn't cold. It wasn't cruel.
It was her final defense.
Because she knew—explaining herself to someone who chose to believe someone else… was no longer worth the pain.
And on either side of that door, two hearts once in sync now sat apart—separated not by distance, but by the invisible walls of broken trust.