Rosalina

You stepped into the cafe, the rich smell of coffee hitting you right away. Today was a big deal—you were meeting Joshua. Your secret boyfriend. Everyone in SEVENTEEN knew, but outside that circle, it was still under wraps.

You settled into a corner table, scanning the room. A few minutes later, the door swung open, and in walked Joshua, dressed all in black with a black mask covering half his face. He looked effortlessly cool, like he just stepped out of a music video.

“Hey!” he called out, his eyes lighting up when he spotted you.

“Hey! You’re late!” you shot back, pretending to be annoyed.

“Had to deal with the guys. They insisted I get you your favorite pastries,” he said, pulling down his mask just enough to flash that smile.

“Lucky me!” you grinned, feeling butterflies.

He leaned in, resting his chin on his hand. “You know I can’t resist spoiling you.”

The vibe was easy as you talked, but deep down, you wished you could just be open about your relationship. Holding hands in public, showing the world you were together—it all felt so tempting.

“Are you okay?” Joshua asked, tilting his head. “You look kinda… lost.”

You sighed, fiddling with your drink. “I just wish we could be more open about this. Hiding it is kinda exhausting.”

He reached across the table, his fingers brushing yours. “I get it. But the guys have our backs, and they’re really good at keeping it low-key. We just need to hang in there.”

“Yeah, but sometimes I want to scream that I’m dating Joshua Hong,” you admitted, half-laughing.

“Can you imagine? Total chaos!” he chuckled, his eyes sparkling.

“Right? But still, it would be worth it,” you said, feeling a little lighter. “I want to celebrate us without feeling like we’re sneaking around.”

“Soon,” he promised, his expression serious. “We’ll figure this out.”

Just then, the door swung open, and in walked Dino, Woozi, and Mingyu, who immediately spotted you.

“There you are! We thought we’d lost you to the coffee!” Dino joked, flashing a grin.

Your heart raced as Joshua leaned back, slipping into 'friend' mode. It felt like a switch had flipped, but you couldn’t help but smile at the guys.

“Yeah, we were just… talking about music,” Joshua said, sounding casual.

“Sure, music,” Mingyu smirked, clearly in on the joke. “Let’s grab a table!”

The energy shifted as they settled in, filling the space with laughter and teasing. It felt good being surrounded by them, knowing they accepted your relationship, even if the world didn’t.

As the group joked around, you caught Joshua’s eye. He gave you that familiar soft smile, and for a moment, it felt like you were the only two people in the room.

Later, after the laughter died down, you leaned in closer to Joshua. “Can we meet again soon? Just us?”

“Definitely,” he replied, his eyes lighting up. “Maybe that new dessert place?”

With every laugh and subtle touch, you felt the thrill of being together. Yet, the question lingered: when would you finally stop hiding?

“Sounds awesome,” you said, your heart racing at the thought.

I was sitting in the library, trying to focus on this book for class, but my brain wasn’t really cooperating. Out of nowhere, I heard footsteps and glanced up to see Wonwoo walking in, hands in his pockets, looking like he owned the place without even trying. He had that relaxed vibe, the one where he seems chill but you know he's got a lot going on inside his head. Typical Wonwoo

He noticed me and gave this small, shy smile — you know, the one where his eyes crinkle a bit, but it’s subtle, like he doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I could feel my heart do a weird little flip, but I tried to play it cool, like always. I wasn’t about to let him see me flustered, even though, let’s be real, I kinda was.

"Hey," he said, sitting down next to me like it was the most normal thing in the world, even though I felt like I was about to explode from nerves.

I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant, and held up my book. "Just studying, y'know, nothing exciting."

He peered at the cover, pushing his glasses up a bit. "That doesn’t seem like something you’d read for fun," he chuckled softly. It was such a Wonwoo thing to say. He wasn’t the type to call you out or anything; he’d just make this small observation and let you figure the rest out.

I laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, well, it’s for school, so it’s not like I have a choice."

Wonwoo nodded, his attention shifting back to his coffee cup. He took a slow sip, staring off into space like he was lost in his own thoughts again. Sometimes I wished I could know what was going on in his head because it always felt like there was this whole other world he lived in that no one else could see.

"So, what’s up?" I asked, breaking the silence before it got weird. "You don’t usually come to the library unless you’re on some kind of mission."

He raised an eyebrow, giving me a side-eye but still smiling a little. "A mission? Really?" He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Maybe I just wanted to hang out."

Now my heart was really racing, but I still played it cool. "Oh, so you’re *that* bored, huh?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, not bored. Just… I like hanging out with you."

Okay, now I was definitely flustered. I could feel my face heating up, but I tried to hide it by looking down at my book, pretending I had to check something. But I could still feel him watching me.

"Anyway," he continued, clearly not noticing (or pretending not to notice) my mini freak-out, "I actually came here to ask if you wanted to grab something to eat after this. There’s this new ramen place downtown, and I heard it’s pretty good."

My brain short-circuited for a second. Was this… was this actually happening? Was Wonwoo asking me to hang out, like, outside of school? Sure, we’d talked a bunch before, but it was always casual, nothing like this. I had to calm down before I said something stupid.

"Uh, yeah, that sounds cool," I said, trying to sound as chill as possible. "I’m down."

He smiled again, this time a bit wider, and it felt like my heart was gonna explode. He stood up, adjusting his backpack. "Cool, I’ll wait for you outside when you’re done."

And with that, he gave a small wave and walked out, leaving me sitting there, staring after him like an idiot. I tried to focus on my book again, but who was I kidding? There was no way I was going to be able to think about anything other than the fact that I was about to go on a ramen date with Wonwoo.

After about ten minutes of pretending to read, I finally closed my book and shoved it into my bag, not caring if I actually finished the assignment or not. I grabbed my things and practically ran out of the library, where I found Wonwoo leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when he saw me and smiled again. How was he so effortlessly cool all the time?

"Ready?" he asked, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"Yep," I replied, probably a little too eager, but whatever.

We walked together to the ramen place, and it was one of those easy, comfortable silences the whole way there. Wonwoo wasn’t the type to force conversation, and I liked that about him. It felt natural, not like I had to fill the silence with random talk just to keep things going.

When we got there, the smell of ramen hit me instantly, and my stomach growled embarrassingly loud. Wonwoo chuckled. "Guess we made it just in time."

We ordered our food and found a table near the window. As we ate, we talked about random stuff — favorite books, music, how stressful school was. It wasn’t anything deep or life-changing, but it felt nice. Being with Wonwoo always felt easy, like I didn’t have to pretend to be someone I wasn’t.

At one point, he looked up from his bowl, noodles hanging halfway out of his mouth, and gave me this amused look. "You’ve got a little something… right there," he said, pointing to his own cheek.

I wiped at my face, but he shook his head. "No, not there. Here." He reached across the table and wiped the spot himself, his touch light and quick, but enough to make me freeze.

"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling like my face was on fire.

He just smiled, going back to his food like it was no big deal, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how close he had been just now.

We finished eating, and as we left the restaurant, Wonwoo turned to me, his hands stuffed into his pockets again. "Today was fun. We should do this more often."

I nodded, still trying to process the fact that this whole day had actually happened. "Yeah, definitely."

He gave me one last smile before turning to head home. "See you tomorrow?" he called over his shoulder.

"Yeah," I called back, watching him walk away.

Jeonghan barged through the door, not even looking around. He hated being home. Hated her. The girl he was forced to marry but didn’t even like.

She was sitting on the couch, pretending to read, like she always did. It was so fake. He knew it. She knew it. They didn’t talk—ever.

It was awkward and silent all the time. He grabbed his jacket and didn’t even care to look at her. “I’m going out,” he mumbled, already halfway to the door. She didn’t say anything, as usual.

What pissed him off the most was that she knew about the other girl. She knew he didn’t love her, and yet she stayed. Never argued. Never cried. It was like she didn’t care, and that annoyed him even more.But the truth was, it did hurt her. Every time he left, her heart broke a little more.

But she never said anything because what was the point? He wouldn’t listen, and she couldn’t leave.Then she started feeling sick—like, really sick. She thought it was stress or something, but when she went to the doctor, they told her she had cancer. She didn’t even cry when they said it. She was just too tired of everything to feel anything anymore.

And of course, she didn’t tell Jeonghan. What would be the point? He wouldn’t care anyway.

She just kept going, pretending everything was okay, even though it felt like her body was falling apart. She focused on her daily routines, even if they were harder each day.

Jeonghan, meanwhile, was out more and more, lost in his own world. He barely noticed how she was slowly fading away. He was too wrapped up in his own mess to care. He kept seeing the other girl, the one who was always there to fill the gaps he had in his life.

But one day, he came home early. He found her curled up on the couch, looking so weak and fragile. The room was quiet, and the sight of her like that hit him harder than he expected.

For a moment, he felt something—guilt, maybe. But it was fleeting, and he pushed it away, not wanting to deal with it.

A few weeks later, things got worse. She was in and out of the hospital, and Jeonghan was forced to see her more often. He saw her like this: weak, hurting, and barely holding on. It was impossible to ignore. The truth started hitting him harder, like a punch in the gut. She wasn’t just his annoying wife; she was a person, someone who was suffering while he was out living his life.

As the days passed, Jeonghan felt a growing sense of regret. He realized too late how much he had taken her for granted. The times he had ignored her, the way he’d been so wrapped up in his own drama—it all came crashing down. He started questioning everything, wishing he could turn back time.

But it was too late. She passed away quietly, and Jeonghan was left with nothing but the weight of his regrets. He tried to comfort himself with the other girl, but it felt hollow. There was no satisfaction in it, no escape from the pain of losing someone he should have cared about all along.

You have hated Joshua Hong since high school. It’s been seven years, and that resentment still burns brightly. Joshua, the heir to one of the most prestigious families in Korea, was always the arrogant, untouchable figure in your life. The mere mention of his name would send you into a fury.

Back in high school, you were the girl who stood up to him, the one who called him out on his privileged behavior. He, in turn, was the guy who enjoyed making your life difficult. The rivalry started with petty arguments and escalated into full-blown confrontations. Your disdain for him was so palpable that your friends often joked about it.

—

When you found out that your family’s financial troubles had reached a breaking point, you were devastated. Your parents had always been supportive, but their debts were too overwhelming to manage alone. The final blow came when they announced their plan to marry you off to Joshua Hong in a desperate bid to save the family from bankruptcy. You were horrified and refused outright.

“No, I will not marry him!” you shouted, your voice trembling with anger and fear.

Your parents tried to reason with you. “It’s the only way we can save the family from financial ruin. Joshua’s family is offering a substantial amount of help in return.”

You shook your head. “I don’t care about the money. I can’t marry him. You know how much I hate him.”

But despite your protests, the marriage was inevitable. The wedding was arranged, and it became a media frenzy. The Hong family’s reputation and your family’s desperation intertwined, creating a spectacle no one could ignore. Your anger simmered beneath the surface, and Joshua seemed just as indifferent, his smile always radiating that same smugness you despised.

The day of the wedding arrived, and you walked down the aisle with a heavy heart. The ceremony felt surreal, and every moment was a stark reminder of how far your life had shifted. Joshua’s gaze met yours with a mix of curiosity and amusement, his eyes glinting with that familiar arrogance.

As you exchanged vows, you felt trapped. Your voice wavered, but you held your ground, determined not to show weakness. Joshua’s responses were polite but detached, and the ceremony ended with the expected fanfare of a celebrity wedding.

The first few days of married life were stifling. Joshua maintained his distance, his behavior as cold as ever. You avoided him whenever possible, focusing on your own routines and trying to adjust to the new reality. Your feelings of resentment were matched only by your loneliness.

—

One evening, you were sitting in the living room, reading a book, when Joshua entered. He looked different—his demeanor was softer, his expression more contemplative. He hesitated before speaking.

“Do you mind if we talk for a moment?” he asked, You glanced up, surprised. “What is it?” ,“I know things have been rough between us,” Joshua began, sitting down on the opposite couch. “I’ve been thinking a lot about our high school days and how I treated you.” You raised an eyebrow. “Really? After all this time, you’re suddenly feeling reflective?” , Joshua nodded. “Yeah. I was a complete jerk back then. I thought I was above everyone, including you. I’m sorry for everything.” ,You were taken aback. “You’re apologizing? Why now?”, “Because I don’t want us to keep hating each other,” Joshua said earnestly. “I know I messed up, and I want to make things right. I’m trying to understand you better and not just be the guy who married you for convenience.”, You were silent for a moment, processing his words. “You think saying sorry will fix everything?” ,“No,” he said, shaking his head. “But it’s a start. I want to show you that I’ve changed. I want us to at least be civil, if not more.” , You studied him, noticing the sincerity in his eyes. “Alright. But if you want to change things, you need to start by actually getting to know me.”, Joshua’s face lit up with a small smile. “Fair enough. How about we start with dinner tonight? Just us, no pretenses.”, You hesitated but then agreed. “Okay. But don’t expect me to be friendly right away.”

The dinner was a mix of awkwardness and tentative conversation. Joshua made an effort to ask about your interests, and you found yourself surprisingly open. As the days turned into weeks, his gestures of kindness, though small, started to chip away at the walls you had built.

—

One evening, as you sat together watching a movie, Joshua spoke up. “You know, I never realized how passionate you are about your hobbies. I always thought you were just another girl with a grudge against me.” , You chuckled softly. “And what did you think of me then?”, “A bit of a troublemaker,” Joshua admitted with a smile. “But now, I see there’s more to you than I ever gave you credit for.”, You were beginning to see Joshua in a different light. “And what about you? What do I see?”, He looked thoughtful. “Maybe a guy who’s trying to make up for past mistakes. Someone who’s not perfect but is trying to be better.”

—

As the weeks passed, the animosity between you began to fade. Joshua’s efforts to connect with you slowly transformed into something deeper. Conversations became easier, and you found yourself laughing at his jokes and enjoying his company. The barriers you had built began to crumble, and you realized that your feelings were changing.

One evening, after a particularly enjoyable dinner, Joshua looked at you with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. “I know this is sudden, but I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”

“What is it?” you asked, curious. , “Do you think we could give this—us—a real chance?” Joshua asked, his voice earnest. “I know it’s not going to be easy, but I really want to see where this could go.” You took a deep breath, feeling the weight of your past resentment lift. “I’m willing to give it a try. But it’s going to take time.” , Joshua’s face softened, and he reached out to take your hand. “I’m willing to wait. I just want us to start over, and this time, to do it right.”