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The first time Seungcheol saw you, he hadn’t expected you to change his life. 

But you did. 

It was a rainy night, the kind that made the city feel heavy and distant. He had just finished dinner with some friends at a fancy little restaurant tucked away in a quieter part of town. The rain had begun to fall harder as the evening dragged on, and one by one, his friends piled into their cars, eager to leave before the storm worsened. 

Seungcheol, however, didn’t mind the rain. He found something calming about it—something grounding. The cold droplets against the palm of his hand, the soothing rhythm of water hitting the pavement, the way the world seemed to slow down around him. 

He stood under the tent just outside the restaurant’s entrance, letting the scent of rain fill his lungs, closing his eyes for a moment. 

Then he heard it. 

A soft whimper. Barely audible over the sound of the rain, but it made him pause. 

He looked around, confused, until eventually, his gaze landed on you. 

You were sitting against a building, your legs pulled to your chest, arms wrapped tightly around them as your body shook with sobs. The rain pelted you, but you didn’t move. The tears streaming down your face mixed with the water falling from the sky, a miserable portrait of a heartbroken stranger. 

He knew he should’ve minded his own business, just turn and leave. People cried on the streets all the time. It was none of his concern.

But something about you, sitting there so broken and vulnerable in the middle of a storm, kept him rooted in place. The world was pulling at his attention in every direction, but somehow, you were the only thing he could focus on. 

Before he could even second-guess himself, his feet were moving. 

He stepped from under the awning, the rain instantly soaking through his jacket. The cold hit him all at once, but it didn’t matter. All he could think about was getting to you. 

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, his fingers trembling as he made his way toward you. He didn’t know what he was doing, he didn’t know what he would say, but he couldn’t just walk away. 

As he approached, he hesitated, watching you cry. The sight of you so defeated made something inside him twist painfully. You looked like the world had crushed you. 

You looked up, eyes landing on the handkerchief in his outstretched hand, your eyes bleary, tear streaked and swollen, but when they met his, something in Seungcheol’s chest constricted. 

You were beautiful. You were still beautiful even in your sorrow. A raw, unguarded beauty that left him speechless for a moment. He didn’t know why, or how, but your pain felt like it was bleeding into his own heart. 

“Are you okay?” he asked before he could stop himself. 

Your eyes lingered on him for a long time, almost as if trying to assess him. The silence stretched between you, the air thick with unspoken words. You didn’t answer him right away. 

Maybe you were embarrassed. Maybe you didn’t want to be seen like this, so broken and exposed. 

Finally, your voice broke the silence—a soft, bitter laugh escaping your lips. 

“Unless you can turn back time or fix my entire life, I don’t think you can help me.” 

He exhaled a quiet breath, looking down at the handkerchief in his hand, unsure of what to do next. But instead of pulling away or walking off, his feet just planted him beside you. 

“I’m not offering to fix anything,” he said softly, sitting down next to you. “I’m just offering to sit with you. Unless you want to be alone.” 

For a long moment, you didn’t say anything. The rain continued to pour relentlessly, but neither of you moved. You just sat there—two strangers in the storm, caught in your own separate worlds of pain. 

You could have told him to leave. He didn’t belong there, after all, if his tailored suit was anything to go by. He wasn’t supposed to be part of your brokenness. He could have walked away, could have left just like his friends, gone to his life and left you in your misery. 

It would have been easy. 

But instead, you stayed silent, allowing him to sit beside you. 

Neither of you spoke for what felt like hours. The rain grew heavier, colder, but it didn’t matter. 

Seungcheol didn’t ask. He just let you cry, the sound of your sobs blending with the storm, creating an odd sense of peace in that moment. It was like time itself had slowed down, as if the universe had given you this one brief, fleeting moment to be vulnerable—to be sad—and to not have to explain why. 

When you finally stood up, your body tired and cold from the rain, you didn’t thank him. 

You didn’t offer some half-hearted smile. 

You didn’t ask for anything more from him. You simply stood, the weight of your grief still heavy on your shoulders, but with a quiet sense of gratitude for the stranger who had sat with you in the rain as you turned away from him. 

“I hope you heal!” Seungcheol yells out, voice cutting through the rain. You didn’t turn around to acknowledge him, you just continued on your way. 

Seungcheol watched you walk away, unable to explain the way his heart tightened at the sight. 

He didn’t know your name, didn’t know anything about you, but in that moment—the way you let him in for just a few minutes—stayed with him. 

He didn’t realize it then, but that night, he had met the woman who would beautifully torment his thoughts for months to come. 

The months passed, but you never truly left his thoughts. He couldn’t help it. The memory of you sitting in the rain, a stranger yet so familiar in your pain, lingered. And no matter how many times he told himself to move on, to forget about that moment, something about you refused to fade. 

He found himself wondering where you were, if you were doing okay, if you were still hurting. 

There was something about the way your eyes had met his that night—something that made him feel like he should have done more. 

Something that made him want to know you better. 

And then, on one cold evening, it happened. 

He wasn’t prepared for it. He never would have been. 

The second time Seungcheol saw you, it was completely unexpected. 

He had been invited to a gala by Jeonghan, a close friend, who was one of the guest speakers. Jeonghan had been raving about the event for weeks, and despite Seungcheol’s lack of interest in social gatherings, he couldn’t say no to his persistent friend. 

As soon as he entered the small hall, Seungcheol was struck by the extravagance of it all. The space was decked out in shimmering gold accents, white roses arranged in vases on every table and diamond chandeliers that hung from the high ceilings, casting a soft glow on the entire room. 

The sounds of light chatter of Korea’s elite and clinking glasses filled the air as they mingled, exchanging pleasantries in their finest attire. 

Seungcheol had just been about to grab a drink when the sharp click of a microphone cutting through the noise silenced the room. Everyone’s heads turned toward the stage. He glanced up, expecting to see a high-profiler figure or perhaps Jeonghan. 

But his breath caught in his throat when he saw you. 

There you were, standing confidently in front of a podium, dressed in a sleek, form-fitting black dress that complimented your figure perfectly. The dress was elegant but understated, the kind of dress that exuded both professionalism and allure. Your hair was neatly styled, and your expression was calm, focused. The poise with which you stood there made you look every bit the powerful woman in charge. 

For a moment, it felt like time stopped. His eyes couldn’t pull away from you as you spoke. Your voice, smooth and steady, resonated through the room as you welcomed the guests, your words clear and authoritative. 

You weren’t crying anymore. You weren’t the vulnerable, broken stranger he had met that night in the rain so many nights ago. You were strong, poised, and completely in control. 

It took him a second to register, but when he did, it hit him—you were the event manager. 

You weren’t the fragile woman sitting on the sidewalk anymore. You had risen from that and in the process, you had become someone he could never have anticipated. 

He stood there, frozen, watching you. You didn’t seem to notice him in the crowd, too absorbed in the event, too absorbed in your role. But for Seungcheol, the sight of you standing there, the woman you had become, was something that had his heart thumping a little faster than it should. 

As the night progressed, Seungcheol found himself unable to keep his eyes off of you. He couldn’t help but watch as you moved effortlessly through the crowd, overseeing everything with the kind of grace and precision that only someone truly in control could process. 

While others mingled and networked, you stayed behind the scenes, making sure every detail of the gala was running smoothly. 

He wanted to talk to you, to say something. But every time he tried to move through the crowd, you were always a step ahead, surrounded by others, too busy with the event. He told himself it was foolish, that he shouldn’t be trying to catch your attention. But still, he found himself searching for you in every corner of the room, hoping for even a brief moment to speak to you. 

It wasn’t until later in the evening, when the gala had started to wind down and the energy in the room had shifted, that Seungcheol finally found his chance. 

He was standing by the door, this time not in the midst of the crowd, but standing alone out on the terrace. The cool night air seemed to calm everything in the room, and you stood there, leaning against the railing, looking over the city lights. 

For a moment, you looked completely detached from everything, as if you were lost in your thoughts. 

He hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, hands slipping into the pockets of his suit. 

Say something. His mind urged. 

“Fancy seeing you here,” he said before he could stop himself. 

“Dumbass.” He mentally slapped himself. “That’s the best you could come up with?”

You turned slowly at the sound of his voice, your expression unreadable. But when your gaze met his, something flickered in your eyes—recognition, curiosity, maybe even the faintest trace of amusement. 

He swore he felt his breath hitch. 

Your expression remained neutral, but you offered him a small smile. 

“I could say the same to you,” you replied smoothly. “I thought you’d be busy enjoying the gala.” 

He shrugged slightly, eyes scanning your figure, taking in the way the city lights reflected against your skin. 

“I was. But then I saw you standing here,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. 

There was something about you in this moment—alone, away from all the noise that made him feel like he was seeing you for the first time all over again. 

“It’s a little late for a break, isn’t it? Or are you just done with being the event manager for the night?” he asked, teasing lightly, though there was a genuine curiosity behind his words. 

Your lips parted in what almost resembled a chuckle, but it was soft, almost bitter. 

“Just needed a minute to breathe,” you murmured. 

The moment stretched between them, fragile yet charged with something unspoken. The distant murmur of the gala guests inside faded into the background, the occasional clinking of glasses and bursts of laughter feeling worlds away. 

Out here, on the terrace, it was just the two of them. 

The crisp night air carried a soft breeze, stirring the loose strands of your hair, making you look almost unreal under the glow of the city lights. 

Seungcheol watched you carefully, drinking in the sight of you. You looked so different from the last time he had seen you—no longer drenched in rain, no longer trembling and small. 

And he wondered. 

Before he could stop himself. Before he could think better of it, the question was already leaving his lips. 

“Have you healed?” 

The reaction was immediate. He watched as your body tensed, fingers curling slightly at your sides. You hesitated, as if the question had physically knocked the air from your lungs. 

It was the last thing he had said to you before you had walked away that night. 

The night you left him standing there, in the rain, taking a bit of his heart with you. 

You exhaled softly, gaze dropping for a fraction of a second before you lifted your head, forcing a small, brave smile onto your lips. 

“I…” you hesitated, as if you weren’t sure what to say. As if you had never truly let yourself answer that question even in your own mind. 

And then, after a beat, you met his eyes again, that same guarded smile still in place. 

“I’m fine now. I’ve moved on.” You said so simply. 

It was a lie. 

Seungcheol saw it immediately. The way your fingers fidgeted slightly, the way your breath caught just a little too sharply, the way your eyes betrayed you despite the convincing tone in your voice. 

You were trying so hard to make it seem like the past didn’t linger. That it didn’t haunt you. That whatever had once broken you had long since been buried. 

But he saw through it. 

The sadness was still there, tucked away beneath the layers of strength you had built around yourself. 

He wanted to believe you. Wanted to take those words as truth and let them settle in his chest. Then perhaps he could let you go. He’d stop thinking about you. But there was something in your gaze—something quiet and lingering, something that said I’m still learning how to breathe again. 

Seungcheol had never been one to pry, had never been the type to demand answers that someone wasn’t ready to give. And so, even though he knew the truth—that you were still healing, that the scars hadn’t fully faded—he didn’t call you out on the lie. 

You shifted your weight, looking away before exhaling softly. 

“I should… probably get back inside.” you said, nodding toward the ballroom. 

Seungcheol swallowed down the urge to stop you, to ask something—anything, so that you’d stay by his side just a little longer, but he knew it would be wrong of him. 

So he nodded instead, forcing an easy smile. 

“Of course. Don’t let me hold you back.” You nodded in return, taking a step forward toward the doors, but before he could stop himself, the words tumbled out—

“Wait!” you turned back, brows furrowed in confusion.

Seungcheol hesitated for just a second, but then he stepped forward.  “I never got to ask for your name.” 

For a moment, you just stared at him. He wondered if you’d tell him, if you’d brush it off. If you’d just disappear again just like you did the first time. 

But then, in a voice so soft it barely carried over the evening breeze, you said, “My name’s Y/n.” 

Something about hearing it—hearing your name—sent a warmth curling through his chest. 

Seungcheol let a small, boyish smile pull at his lips. “I’m Seungcheol.” 

You gave him a polite nod,

“It was nice seeing you again… Seungcheol…” 

And then you turned, stepping back inside, disappearing into the golden glow of the gala. 

But Seungcheol stood frozen in place, just as he did that first time. 

Your voice lingered in the air, wrapping around him like an invisible thread. 

That night, when he laid in bed staring at his ceiling, when he closed his eyes and let exhaustion pull him under, it was the sound of your voice—soft yet certain, saying his name—that replayed in his mind. 

Again and again. 

Months passed since the night of the gala and Seungcheol couldn’t shake the thought of you. He found himself wondering when he’d see you again. 

And then, on a sunny afternoon, Seungcheol saw you again. 

He realized that it wasn’t just a coincidence anymore—it was fate. 

The cafe was quiet, the kind of peaceful atmosphere that almost begged you to stay a little longer. On his way to meet his friend, he had decided to get a drink, but as he entered the cafe something caught his eyes. 

There, sitting at a table by the window, was you. 

He froze for a second, taking in the sight of you—completely engrossed in your work. He hadn’t expected to run into you again, but here you were, sitting at a small table by the window, working on your laptop. The soft glow of the cafe lights made you look almost ethereal—completely absorbed in your task, and for a moment, Seungcheol forgot about the world around him. 

Time seemed to slow. The air around him felt thick, like everything had faded into the background, and it was just you in his line of sight. 

You were so engrossed in your work, yet so beautiful in your quiet intensity. He watched you absentmindedly tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, and the way your fingers flew over the keys with ease. 

But then reality set back in. He needed to stop looking, to stop getting caught up in something that felt like it was too good to be true. But instead, he found himself at the counter ordering two drinks—one for him, one for you. 

It wasn’t planned, but he didn’t really care. His feet carried him toward your table before he could stop himself. 

He set the drinks down in front of you, causing you to look up, confused at first. He watched as your eyes widened when you saw who it was, and your lips parted as you blinked a few times in recognition. 

“Oh… Seungcheol.” you said, your voice a little soft, a little surprised. 

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.  “We need to stop seeing each other like this,” he teased, trying to make the situation lighter than it was. You raised an eyebrow, your lips twitching in amusement. 

“What do you mean by that?” 

“Well, first there was the rain,” he said, casually sitting down across from you. “Then the gala. And now… this. We’re starting to look like we’re stalking each other.” 

You raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You keep showing up, though. I can’t help it if I just happen to be in the right place at the right time,” you shot back, a sly smile tugging at the corner of your lips. 

“I guess it’s my fault then,” he replied, leaning against the chair casually. “Can’t stop running into you.” 

You laughed softly, the sound light and warm, and for a moment, everything around them seemed to disappear. Just the two of them, in this quiet corner of the cafe, a strange familiarity growing between them. 

Seungcheol glanced down at the watch on his wrist, realizing with a small jolt that he was running late. He had a few things to wrap up for the day, and the last thing he wanted was to leave. A part of him dreaded saying goodbye to you, but he had no choice. 

“Listen,” he said, his voice gentle as he looked at you, “I need to get going, but…” His words faltered for a moment as he hesitated.  “Would you like to go out for dinner with me?” 

He watched as your eyes flickered, and he could almost see the wheels turning in your head. The hesitation was clear—he could feel it in the slight pause that followed his question. He knew you’d been through a lot, and though he didn’t want to push, he couldn’t just walk away without trying. 

“I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, I just…” Seungcheol trailed off, unsure of how to make it sound right. “I just want to spend time with you, to get to know each other better?” 

You looked at him for a long moment, your gaze steady as if weighing the decision in your mind. There was a flicker of uncertainty in your eyes, but also something else—an openness that hadn’t been there the first time he’d met you. Maybe it was the memories of that moment, when he sat beside you in the rain and simply offered you comfort without asking for anything in return. 

After a brief silence, you nodded, your smile small but genuine.  “Okay,” you agreed, a quiet laugh escaping your lips. “Dinner sounds nice.” 

Seungcheol’s heart gave a quick, surprised beat. “Really?” 

You raised an eyebrow at his reaction, amusement dancing in your eyes. “Yes, really. I think I owe you a thank you for, you know, that night,” you said, your voice softer now, as if you were remembering that first encounter too. 

Seungcheol grinned, feeling a strange warmth spreading through him. He wasn’t sure why, but the way you spoke—like there was no burden between you two—made him feel lighter. 

“I don’t need a thank you, but…” He paused, glancing down at his phone. “Let’s exchange numbers then.”  

You reached for your phone, tapping in your number and he followed suit. As he saved your contact, a surge of happiness filled him. He couldn’t help but smile to himself as he saw your name appear on his screen. 

“Well, I’ll text you then. Let’s figure out when,” he said, feeling a bit of that nervous excitement bubbling in his chest. Seungcheol’s stupid grin didn’t fade as he looked at you, feeling giddy, the anticipation of the dinner hanging in the air. 

You nodded, a soft smile still lingering on your lips. “Yeah, sounds good. I’ll be looking forward to it.” 

Seungcheol chuckled, his heart light. He walked out of the cafe, the cool evening air brushing against his face. His steps felt lighter, as if the weight of the day had lifted, replaced by a giddy warmth in his chest. 

He couldn’t help the stupid grin that spread across his face as he made his way down the street, every thought in his mind swirling around you. 

As the days passed, Seungcheol found himself impatiently waiting. Every time his phone buzzed, his heart skipped a beat, hoping it would be a message from you. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this eager to see someone. 

He couldn’t wait to see you again. 

But when the day rolled around, it wasn’t what he had expected. 

The dinner was supposed to be a chance to relax, get to know each other better, but as Seungcheol sat across from you, he couldn’t shake the sense that there was something that you weren’t letting him in on. 

The conversation flowed, casual and light, but the tension in the air was undeniable. Everytime Seungcheol felt like he was peeling back a layer, you’d retreat, closing off like a shell that refused to open. 

He noticed how you smiled, but it didn’t quite reach your eyes. He noticed the way you carefully chose your words, weighing them before they left your mouth. You were guarded. Like you were keeping a part of yourself hidden away—afraid, perhaps, of being hurt again. 

He had learned that much about you from the first time you met—and now he couldn’t help but wonder how many walls had you built around yourself since then. How much had you been through that made you so wary of letting anyone close? 

It was hard to focus on the food in front of him. Instead, he kept his eyes on you, watching the way your fingers grazed your glass, how your smile never quite reached your eyes. He could sense the distance you were keeping, the quiet reluctance in every glance you sent his way. 

As he pulled up to the curb outside your place, Seungcheol couldn’t shake the feeling that this moment was somehow different. His stomach twisted in a way he couldn’t explain, an unsettling sense that he was about to watch something slip away from him. 

“Thank you for dinner. I enjoyed it,” you said, your voice soft but sincere. 

“Yeah… me too…” Seungcheol replied, his tone mirroring the same quiet sentiment. There was a fleeting moment of awkwardness, the kind that had crept into the air between you two during the entire dinner. 

“Well, I should get going now. It’s getting late.” you said after a moment of silence. 

“Yeah…” Seungcheol murmured, unable to mask the reluctance in his voice. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t want you to go—it was just that… this felt different. 

His fingers lingered on the steering wheel as he watched you unbuckle your seatbelt. The silence between you both hung heavily, unspoken words hanging in the air, but neither of you seemed to know how to bridge the gap. 

You opened the door, sliding out of the car with practiced grace, your figure fading as you closed the door softly behind you. 

“Good night, Seungcheol.” you said, your voice almost too quiet now, a hint of something—maybe finality lingering in the words. 

“Goodnight…” He watched you, his eyes tracing your movements, his mind racing as you walked toward your house. 

It was then that it hit him. Watching you walk away felt different. He wasn’t sure what it was, but something in his chest twisted uncomfortably. A tightness he hadn’t expected—a kind of ache that seemed to grip him when he realized that maybe, just maybe, this was it. 

The last time he would see you. 

The thought of that, of never seeing you again, gnawed at him. 

He didn’t want it to end here, not like this. 

He couldn’t let it. 

Without thinking, without considering the consequences, Seungcheol quickly stepped out of the car, the door slamming shut behind him. 

Without thinking, he walked over to you, the pace of his heartbeat quickening as he approached. He grabbed your wrist, gently but firmly, turning you to face him. 

The suddenness of it startled you. Your wide eyes met his, filled with a mix of confusion and something else—something else that made Seungcheol’s chest tighten with the weight of unspoken words. 

“Seungcheol?” you asked, your voice laced with confusion, but Seungcheol didn’t care. 

He didn’t want to lose this moment. He didn’t want to walk away from this, not with the way his heart was racing, not with the way you looked at him. 

He couldn’t lose you now. 

His breath caught in his throat, and he couldn’t stop himself from stepping closer. 

“Tell me you don’t feel it too,” he said, his voice raw, more vulnerable than he’d ever allowed himself to be. 

Before you could speak, his hand gently guided yours to his chest, right where his heart was beating rapidly. 

“Tell me you don’t feel this.” 

A silence fell over you both, the night air thick with the weight of his words. Seungcheol’s heart was racing, and he was almost terrified of what would come next. But he couldn’t stand the idea of never knowing. 

You looked at him, and he saw the hesitation, the fear behind your eyes. You were just as scared as he was, just as unsure about where this would lead. 

And so, Seungcheol waited. And as the seconds stretched on, he felt the world slow, as if everything had led to this single, fragile moment. 

He shook his head, a small, almost disbelieving laugh escaping him. 

“Three times, Y/n…” he paused, his gaze unwavering as he held you there in front of him. 

“Three times the universe has put you in front of me, and you expect me to just walk away again?” 

The night air seemed thicker, and the sounds of the city around them faded into a distant hum. All that was left was the two of you standing in the quiet, the weight of Seungcheol’s confession hanging between you. 

You hesitated, but before you could say anything, he pulled you closer, just enough so he could brush his thumb across your cheek, a silent plea for you to understand what he was trying to say. The walls you’d built up seemed to crumble, piece by piece, and in that instant, Seungcheol felt a flicker of hope. 

“Don’t walk away,” he murmured, his voice quieter now. “Don’t let this be the last time.” 

You looked at him, and for the first time that evening, Seungcheol saw something in your eyes—a softness, a vulnerability that mirrored his own feelings. He saw you. Just like the you he met for the very first time. 

And in that moment, Seungcheol knew one thing for sure; this wasn’t the end. 

No matter how much you tried to walk away, he wasn’t going to let you.

The first time Seungcheol met you, he hadn’t expected you to change his life. 

But you did. 

You turned his carefully structured world upside down. You had been something warm, something real in a life that often felt cold and calculated.

And against all odds, you had become his home. 

But now, that home felt empty. 

He laid in your shared bed, staring at the ceiling, his chest tight with something he couldn't even name anymore. 

Regret? 

Guilt? 

Desperation? 

Maybe all of it at once. 

Seungcheol closes his eyes, and for a fleeting moment, he wasn’t in this cold, empty room. 

He’s somewhere warmer. Somewhere safe. 

It had been a late summer night, the kind where the air was thick with heat, but neither of you had cared. You were both lying on the rooftop of Seungcheol’s home, a shared blanket beneath you, a half-empty bottle of wine beside you, and the city lights stretching endlessly ahead. 

He remembered how you had laid there beside him, eyes scanning the sky, searching for stars that barely peeked through the glowing skyline. 

“There’s one!” you had said excitedly, rolling onto your side to look at him. Your hair cascaded over your shoulder, the faint glow of the city reflecting in your eyes. 

He turned his head toward you, barely sparing the sky a glance. 

“Yeah?” he murmured, his lips curving into a smile. “Where?” 

“Right there,” you whispered, lifting his hand and pointing his finger in the general direction. 

Seungcheol had no idea if there was actually a star there. He hadn’t looked. 

He had been too caught up in the way you were watching him, the way your fingers curled around his hand, holding onto him like you never wanted to let go.

Seungcheol had no idea if there had actually been a star there. He hadn’t cared. 

“You’re not even looking,” you had excused, teasing lilt to your voice.  

“I am,” he had said, and maybe he wasn’t talking about the stars at all. 

You had stared at him for a second longer before laughing, shaking your head as you let go of his hand and flopped back onto your back again. 

“You’re impossible.” 

“And yet, you’re still here.” you had hummed in agreement, reaching for the bottle of wine and taking a sip before passing it to him. 

“Guess that makes me impossible too.” 

He had taken the bottle but never drank. Instead, he had turned onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow just to watch you. The way you looked so at peace, eyes full of wonder, lips slightly parted as if you were lost in thought. 

The way your dress spread around you, how one of your legs bent at the knee as you absentmindedly traced patterns onto the blanket beneath you. 

And before he could stop himself, the words had slipped out—soft, but certain.  “Marry me.” he could see the way your eyes had widened before you laughed, shaking your head.  “Cheol—” 

“No. I’m serious.” He had reached for your hand again, lacing his fingers through yours, holding on just a little tighter. His heart had been pounding, but he had never been more sure of anything in his life.  “Maybe not now, maybe not soon, but one day. One day I want to marry you.” 

He remembered the way you had gone silent. He could still picture the way your gaze searched his, looking for any hint of doubt, any sign that he was saying it just because of the moment. 

But he had meant it. 

Every word. 

And then—slowly, so slowly—a smile had crept onto your lips, soft and knowing.  “Okay.” 

Just that. One word. And it had been enough. 

He had kissed you then, right there under the barely-there stars, pouring every ounce of love he had into it. And in that moment, he had known—this was it. 

This was the feeling people spent their whole lives chasing. 

But now, that warmth, that love—it was all gone. 

And he was alone in the aftermath of it. 

He turned onto his side, reaching out of instinct for the warmth that used to be there. His fingers meeting nothing but cold sheets. The pillows still carry the faintest trace of your scent, but it’s fading, just like everything else. 

His throat tightens. 

“Y/n…” he whispers, barely a breath of sound. A desperate plea to the silence. 

But silence is all that answers him. 

His eyes burn, and he squeezes them shut, willing himself not to break. 

But the weight of it crashes over him anyway. The weight of your absence. 

The weight of all the moments he let slip through his fingers. 

You were gone. 

And it was all his fault. 

Three times. 

Three times, fate had placed you in front of him. 

Three times, he had a chance. 

But he had ruined it and watched you walk away. 

And now, as he laid in the coldness of your once shared bedroom, he knew he couldn’t just sit around and wait for fate to bring you back to him.

This time he was going to find you. 

To fight for you. 

author's note 2: So? What do we all think? Pleast let me know! I would love to hear what all of you have to say. I know, I'm a meanie for leaving you guys hanging yet again, but I promise all of you that a third part is in the works.

You paced back and forth in the bathroom, heart hammering against your ribcage, hands tangled in your hair as you struggled to form a rational thought—any thought—over the storm raging in your mind. 

Your breathing was uneven, your chest rising and falling in rapid succession, but no amount of air seemed to fill your lungs. The walls felt like they were closing in, the fluorescent bathroom light too harsh, making your vision blur as your eyes darted back to the small plastic test sitting on the counter. 

The two faint red lines staring back at you, unblinking. 

You knew that something was wrong when you were two months late for your period. 

You just didn’t think that it would be because of this. 

Your stomach twisted painfully. 

What should I do?

What should I do? 

What should I do? 

Your mind screamed the same question over and over, but there was no answer. Just the deafening silence of the bathroom and the pounding of your own heartbeat in your ears. 

You were pregnant. 

The sentence itself sent another ripple of panic through you, and you pressed a hand to your stomach, as if somehow you could will it all away. 

This wasn’t supposed to happen. You were careful. You both were. But none of that mattered now. 

A choked breath escaped your lips as you turned away from the test, pacing again, trying to push through the storm of thoughts crashing through your mind. 

What are you going to do? 

And more importantly… 

What are you going to tell him? 

Seungcheol… 

You stopped in your tracks, gripping the edge of the sink as the thought of him hit you like a wave. 

Oh god. 

What were you going to say? How were you going to tell him? 

Your fingers curled together against the cool porcelain, your stomach twisting into knots. 

And then, another horrifying thought crept in. 

What would your parents think? 

Your heart sank. 

You knew that your parents would be shocked, maybe even disappointed, but in the end, they would love you. They adored Seungcheol, always telling you how lucky you were to have a man like him. But you weren’t married. You weren’t engaged. 

You could already hear their worried voices, asking what you were going to do. If Seungcheol would stay, if his family would even accept this child. 

And his parents? 

Oh god. His parents. 

Your stomach turned violently. 

They never voiced it outright, never treated you cruelly to your face, but you knew. 

You knew they hated you. 

As cliche as it was, they hated you because of where you came from. 

You weren’t from money like them. You weren’t the daughter of an esteemed politician or a wealthy business mogul. You had no influential family name, no legacy that tied you to their elite world. 

You were simply… you. 

A girl from a humble upbringing, someone who worked hard for everything she had, someone who didn’t belong in their perfect, polished society. 

And yet, somehow, despite all of that, Seungcheol had chosen you. 

Despite their dispproval, despite their whispered remarks and disapproving glances, he loved you. Enough to go against them, enough to stay by your side when they made it clear they wanted someone better for him. 

But now? 

Now you were pregnant with their son’s child.

And if they hated you before, what would they do now? 

Suddenly, the shrill sound of your phone buzzing against the bathroom counter made you jump. Your breath hitched. 

Cheol ♥️

Your pulse skyrocketed at the sight of his name glowing on the screen, the familiar contact photo staring back at you. 

Did he know? 

No, he couldn’t possibly. But why now? Why was he calling you right now, of all times? 

You didn’t move. You just stood there, frozen, watching the phone vibrate as if it were about to explode. A twisted part of you hoped it would just stop ringing. That if you ignored it, the problem—the truth—would somehow disappear. 

But it didn’t. 

The call went to voicemail, and you let out a shaky breath, relief washing over you—only for it to vanish just as quickly when the phone lit up again. 

Cheol ♥️

He was persistent, as always. 

Your fingers trembled as you reached for the phone, hesitant, hovering over the green button. 

Your throat felt tight, like something was lodged in it, but you forced yourself to clear it before pressing answer. 

“Hello?” 

“Hi baby.” His deep voice was warm, affectionate, but laced with concern. 

“Why didn’t you pick up my call?” You swallowed hard. Act normal. 

“Ahh… sorry, I was—” you faltered, scrambling for an excuse. 

“Are you okay?” he asked immediately, his voice softer now. “You sound a little off.” 

Damn it. He always noticed when things were wrong. 

“I’m fine,” you lied, forcing a small laugh. “Just… tired, that’s all.” 

There was a pause on his end, and for a moment, you worried he didn’t believe you. But then he sighed. 

“You’ve been overworking yourself again, haven’t you?” 

You let out another weak laugh, one that didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

“Maybe a little.” 

“Baby… we’ve talked about this. You need to take care of yourself,” he gently scolded, causing tears to well in your eyes. 

The lump in your throat grew as you tried to swallow it down. His voice, so full of warmth and care, only made the guilt claw at your insides even more. He had no idea—no idea what was happening, what you were hiding. 

This was Seungcheol. Your Seungcheol. Sweet, caring, overprotective Seungcheol. The man who loved you more than anything. The man who spent his day running one of the biggest empires in the industry yet he still made sure to call you every day, no matter how busy he was. The man who—

The father of your child. 

“I know…” you murmured, gripping the phone tighter. “I will.” 

“Promise?” 

You hesitated, blinking back the burning in your eyes. You couldn’t even take care of your own emotions right now, let alone yourself. 

“Promise,” you whispered, the word barely making it past your dry lips. 

“Good.” he said, his tone lightening. “Hey, I have to go soon, but let’s have dinner tonight, yeah? I miss you.” 

Your stomach churned. 

“Yeah.” you whispered, even though you had no idea how you were supposed to sit across from him, knowing what you knew now. 

“Great!” His smile was evident in his voice. “I love you baby.” 

You hesitated. 

“I love you too, Cheol.” you murmured. 

You hung up before he could say anything else, staring blankly at the screen as the weight of everything came crashing back down. The phone slipped from your hands, clattering onto the floor, but you barely noticed as you sank down beside it, knees pulling to your chest. 

Tears welled up in your eyes, hot and unrelenting, and for the first time since seeing those two red lines, you let them fall. 

Because you knew. 

No matter how much you loved Seungcheol, no matter how much he loved you—this baby, this life growing inside of you…

It will change everything.

And you weren’t sure if you were ready for that.

“Cheol…” you moaned, hands clutching tightly onto his shoulder as he thrusted into you, his lips pressing hot, open mouthed kisses down your neck. 

He groaned at the way you held onto him, his grip on your waist tightening, anchoring you to him like he never wanted to let go. Every movement of his body was possessive, raw, like he was trying to pull you deeper into him, pulling all of you into his world. 

You wished you could say you didn’t know how you ended up here—underneath him, completely exposed, completely his. But the truth was, you could never say no to him. Not when he looked at you like that, like you were everything to him, like he was lost in the feeling of you—like… you were his whole world. 

But that look, that love in his eyes—it broke you. 

Because underneath the heat, underneath the frantic way your bodies moved together, you knew something had shifted. You could feel it in the way your chest tightened, in the way your heart raced not from pleasure but from guilt.  “Cheol…” you barely recognized your own voice, soft and trembling. 

His movements grew more frantic, more urgent, his hands gripping the backs of your thighs, pulling you impossibly closer, his breath ragged as he murmured your name in between each thrust. 

He kissed you, his hand slipping between your sweaty bodies, rubbing tight circles on your clit, the sensation making you gasp sharply into his mouth. 

“Cheol… please… more.” you begged, your voice trembling with desperation as your hips rocked instinctively against his hand.

Every touch, every movement from him felt like fire and ice colliding inside you. You wanted more, needed more. You wanted to forget everything, wanted to lose yourself in him, in this moment where you didn’t have to think about anything else. 

You gasped as he thrust deeper, his pace breaking through your thoughts and tearing you away from them for a moment. 

But when your eyes met his, it was as if you could see all of it—the love, the trust, the hope he had in you—and it destroyed you. 

But the guilt… it lingered in the back of your mind, gnawing at you with each passing second. You could feel it, deep down, how wrong this all was. But in his arms, with his hands on you, you couldn’t bring yourself to acknowledge the truth. 

That thought—the truth—kept clawing at you, even as his lips trailed over your neck, his breath warm against your skin, the sound of your name slipping from his lips. 

“More, Cheol…” you repeated, voice shaking, the ache inside you growing sharper with every passing moment. 

He didn’t need to be asked again. He moved faster, his body pressing harder into yours, his hand still working, pushing you closer to the edge. His rhythm was perfect, deep, hard, and relentless, making you feel every inch of him, every part of you that belonged to him, even if just for this moment. 

The world outside your shared bedroom seemed to blur, fading away as your body surrendered to him, to the overwhelming pleasure, to the need to feel alive. But deep inside, that nagging voice never stopped. 

You’re lying to him. You’re going to lose him. You’re going to break his heart.

You turned your head slightly, eyes squeezing shut as you pushed his head into the crook of your neck, hugging him tightly in your arms, trying to hold onto him, as if you could stop time. Tears threatened to fall, but you didn’t let them fall. You couldn’t. Not yet. 

You couldn’t at this moment. Now with him so close, his breath hot against your skin, his body moving in a rhythm that sent sparks through every part of you, igniting a wildfire you couldn’t control. 

“Cheol…” you whispered, barely able to get the words out between gasps. His name felt foreign on your tongue now, like a plea, a prayer, a confession you weren’t ready to speak. 

He didn’t notice. He was lost in the moment, in you, and for that, you hated yourself just a little more. Because you couldn’t give him the truth, not when he was so wrapped up in his love for you. 

His pace quickened, his thrusts more urgent, his hands gripping you together, pulling you closer. Your body responded instinctively, the heat inside you building until it became unbearable, every movement pushing you closer to the edge, to the inevitable release you couldn’t hold back anymore. 

His lips found yours again, desperate, hungry, his tongue demanding as he kissed you with an intensity that made you dizzy. 

You gripped his shoulders harder, digging your nails into the muscles beneath his skin as your body tensed, the familiar wave of pleasure starting to crash through you. Your breath quickened, pulse racing, the tight coil of anticipation in your belly tightening, snapping. 

“I love you…” you whispered, your voice breaking as your body trembled beneath him, the wave of ecstasy crashing over you. You held onto him, gasping for air, trying to ground yourself as everything spun into a dizzying whirl of sensation. 

“Y/n…” the sound of your name falling from his lips was the last thing you heard before he delivered a sharp thrust into you before he reached his own release. His body stiffened, his movements slowed, and with one final, deep thrust, he groaned your name, his release following quickly after yours. 

Seungcheol collapses onto you. The both of you breathless and shaking, the sweat slicked skin between you sticking, but neither of you moved. You lay there, wrapping your arms around his body, wanting him close as your mind tried to process the weight of everything. 

The closeness, the rawness, the love that hung thick in the air, all of it so real… and yet so fragile. 

“Baby…” he murmured, pulling back slightly, his brows furrowing as he searched your face. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Your heart stopped. 

“N-nothing.” you forced out, shaking your head too quickly. “I’m just… tired…” 

His dark eyes softened, but they didn’t lose their intensity. 

“You’ve been like this all week,” he said, brushing his thumb over your cheek. His touch was gentle, tender. 

“You barely eat. Barely sleep. Talk to me, baby. What’s wrong?” 

Your throat tightened. 

You wanted to. 

God, you wanted to just say it. 

But the words wouldn’t come. 

Because once they did, you couldn’t take them back. 

So instead, you forced a small smile, fingers tangling in his sweaty hair as you pulled him down, pressing your lips to his before he could question you any further. 

“I just need you.” you whispered against his lips, hoping he wouldn’t hear the shake in your voice. “That’s all.” 

Seungcheol hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to push further. But then he sighed, pressing his forehead against yours. 

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” 

And that was the problem. 

Because you were. 

Or at least… you were thinking about it. 

Pulling into the parking lot, you turned off the ignition, your hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel, knuckles white as you fought to keep your composure. The air inside the car felt stifling, thick with the weight of the decisions you were trying to avoid. You stared out the window, watching the world move around you in a blur, but all you could hear was the pounding of your heart in your ears. 

What was I thinking? you thought, frustration and fear pooling inside your chest. The thought of the conversation that awaited you made your stomach churn. You had barely managed to breathe after your conversation with Seungcheol’s father over the phone, and now you had to face him face to face. 

You closed your eyes, trying to gather yourself. 

This is it. He’s not going to make it easy on you.

You had no idea what he wanted, but you could feel the weight of the conversation hanging over you like a storm cloud that you couldn’t escape. He hadn’t said anything alarming or specific other than wanting to meet with you, but you knew it was something you wouldn’t like. Not when his tone had been so firm, so decisive. 

What could he possibly want from me? 

You sighed and glanced down at your phone as it buzzed again, pulling you from your thoughts. 

It was a text from Seungcheol, just a simple message asking if you were okay. You hesitated before quickly silencing your phone, avoiding the temptation to respond. The last thing you needed was to get lost in another conversation that would only complicate things further. 

You took one final breath before opening the car door. The moment your foot hit the pavement, the chill of the evening air brushed against your skin, and you immediately felt a sense of dread creep into your bones. You walked toward the restaurant, your steps slow, your mind racing with every worst-case scenario you could imagine. 

The restaurant was upscale, the kind of place you would never have chosen for a meeting like this. But it was expected. Seungcheol’s father, with his sharp business sense, had always preferred the quiet luxury of places like this. The door swung open as you approached, and a polite host let you to a private booth in the back. 

As you stepped inside, you saw him already seated, the air around him cold and commanding, even as he sat alone at the table. He hadn’t even glanced up when you entered, his attention on the glass of water in front of him. The smooth, almost intimidating elegance of his presence filled the room. 

You had always felt like a stranger in his world. 

“Miss Y/n.” he finally greeted you with a slight nod, his voice clipped and formal, giving nothing away. 

You sat across from him, your body tense, your nerves threatening to take over. The silence between you stretched, suffocating. There were a thousand things you wanted to say, but none of them felt right. 

His gaze never wavered from you, sharp, calculating, waiting for you to make the first move. 

“You seem… unsettled,” he observed, his voice cold, like he could read the turmoil in your eyes. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him directly, so you stared down at your hands, trying to steady the shaking that you couldn’t control. 

“I—I didn’t expect this,” you said, voice quiet but steady enough for him to hear. 

“You should have,” he responded simply, his eyes narrowing as if this was all part of some plan he had already devised. 

“I let you and Seungcheol be for the past three years but I no longer can do that. Seungcheol’s mother and I both want what’s best for him. And for you. But that means making decisions that protect the future. Your future.” 

You swallowed hard, fighting the wave of panic that began to creep up your throat. You knew where this was going. It was going to be the talk you dreaded. The one that made your blood run cold. 

“My son loves you, Miss Y/n.” His words were pointed, as though trying to remind you of something that didn’t matter in this moment. 

“But love is not enough. Not when there are responsibilities to consider.” 

You flinched, the sharpness in his tone making your chest tighten. The pressure was unbearable, and every word that left his lips seemed to dig deeper into the pit of your stomach. The thoughts of leaving Seungcheol, of walking away from him, began to cloud your mind more than they ever had before. 

You opened your mouth to speak, but the words caught in your throat. 

“You think that’s what this is about? You think this is just about love?” You finally managed, your voice strained. 

Seungcheol’s father leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a slight frown. 

“I think this is about the reality of the situation. You’re not simply dating a man—you’re dating the heir to one of the wealthiest families in this country. You must understand the weight of that. And what it means for both of your futures.”

The weight of his words sank in, leaving you feeling smaller and smaller in your seat. You had always known Seungcheol was different—his family, his world, were always beyond your reach. 

But now, everything is falling apart. 

“And so,” he continued, his tone still firm, “We’ve found a suitable wife for Seungcheol.” 

Your breath caught in your throat as his words echoed in your mind. A suitable wife? 

Does Seungcheol know? The thought flashed through your mind, but you quickly dismissed it. There was no way he would’ve known and not told you. It would have been impossible to hide something like that. 

“He’s to be married soon,” Seungcheol’s father said coldly, his eyes locking with yours, as if to gauge your reaction. 

“This is no longer a matter of feelings. This is about securing the future of the company, the family legacy. And you have no place here.” 

Your stomach churned. The words barely registered, but the weight of them hit you harder than anything else. A suitable wife… you tried to process the thought, but your heart was already breaking. You had known this was coming in some way, but hearing it out loud made it feel so much more final. 

“I—I don’t understand…” you whispered, your voice shaking. 

“Of course you do.” he said, his tone cold and dismissive. “You’re a smart woman. You know what’s at stake here. Seungcheol may love you, but you’re not the one he needs. And the sooner you accept that, the better.” 

His words cut through you like ice, each syllable like a hammer smashing your fragile heart into pieces. 

The silence that followed felt deafening, each second a painful reminder of everything that you had lost. That you’re about to lose. 

You couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. The vision of Seungcheol, the man you loved with all your heart, suddenly seemed like a distant memory. 

Finally, your breath hitched, and with a quiet, defeated nod, you whispered,  “I understand.” 

Seungcheol’s father didn’t look surprised, just coldly satisfied.  “Good.” he said, his voice almost too pleased. “I expect you to make the right decision.” 

You barely heard him, your thoughts still swirling, a whirlwind of emotions crashing against you. And then, as if to remind you just how little your presence mattered in this cold, calculated conversation, he stood up, his tailored suit gliding effortlessly as he buttoned it up. 

“The meal is already paid for,” he said with a quick glance in your direction, voice still firm and uncaring.  “Help yourself.” 

And with that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the quiet restaurant as you were left alone at the table, feeling smaller, emptier, and more alone than ever before.

It didn’t surprise you when you pulled into the familiar driveway. After your conversation with Seungcheol’s father, you couldn’t bear to see Seungcheol, afraid that you would break in front of him. So you drove to the only other place you could think of. 

Your parents’ home. 

After the talk, everything inside you seemed to fall apart. His words, his expectation, the pressure—it felt like a sign that you should leave. You knew it was the logical thing to do, the responsible thing to do. But every fiber of your being screamed against it. 

Because you loved Seungcheol. 

You rang the doorbell, the sound of it echoing in the quiet air. Your heart hammered in your chest, the tears threatening to spill before you even saw your father. 

When the door finally opened, your dad stood there, surprised to see you standing on the other side, but his face quickly softened. 

“Honey? What are you doing here?” he asked, a smile tugging at his lips, though there was an uncertainty in his eyes when he noticed the look in your eyes. 

You froze, your throat tight, unable to get the words out. His warmth, his comfort, everything about your dad seemed to anchor you in a way that nothing else could. But in that moment, your emotions overwhelmed you, the tears finally breaking free as they began to roll down your cheeks. 

Your dad’s face softened even more, concern flooding his features.  “What’s wrong, honey?” he asked, his voice gentle, his arms instinctively reaching out to you. 

“Appa…” you managed to choke out, your voice cracking. The tears came in waves now, spilling from your eyes uncontrollably. You collapsed into his arms, your sobs wracking your body as he pulled you in close. 

He held you tightly, like he always had when you were little, and even though you were an adult now, his embrace still held the same security, the same promise that everything would be okay. 

But you knew deep down that nothing would be okay. 

“Shh,” he murmured, stroking your hair, his voice laced with worry.  “You’re safe here. What’s going on, sweetie? Talk to me.” But you couldn’t. Not yet. You couldn’t bring yourself to say the words. 

The guilt, the confusion, the overwhelming love for Seungcheol—it was all too much. 

You leaned into your father’s arms, needing him more than ever, as your heart shattered just a little more. 

“Appa… I can’t… I don’t know what to do.” 

Your father tightened his hold on you, his arms a sanctuary in the midst of your emotional storm. He didn’t push for answers, didn’t demand an explanation. He just let you cry, knowing that you would come to him when you were ready. 

“You’re pregnant?” Both of your parents speak at the same time. Shock and confusion evident in their voice. You couldn’t bear to look at them, instead, you looked down at the warm mug held in your hands, the steam rising from it like the thoughts swirling in your mind. 

The silence hung heavy between you and your parents.

After you were done crying, your father had ushered you inside, his hands gentle on your back, guiding you towards the living room as he called out for your mother. 

“Sweetie…” your mother said softly, sitting beside you. 

“What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell us?” Her voice was gentle, but there was an edge of concern that you couldn’t ignore. 

Tears stung at the corner of your eyes again as you tried to find the words. You’d never imagined it would come to this. Your life had been so carefully built, and yet it was falling apart in an instant. 

You felt like you couldn’t breathe, like the walls were closing in. You couldn’t even bear to look at them. 

“I—” you started, but your voice cracked, another sob escaping your throat. “I don’t know what to do. Everything is so… complicated.” 

“Does Seungcheol know that you’re pregnant?” Your father asks from across the room. You shake your head shamefully.

“I… I never got around to telling him.” 

“And now his father wants you to leave?” your father repeated your words thoughtfully, trying to grasp the whole situation. 

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to push back the flood of emotions threatening to break free. 

But the weight of it all—Seungcheol’s family, his father’s expectations, the love you had for him, the child growing inside of you—it was all too much. 

Your mother’s eyes softened, and she reached for your hand, her grip firm and steady. 

“We’ll support whatever decision you decide to make. But you have to talk to Seungcheol, sweetie. He needs to know.” You closed your eyes, tears streaming down your face. 

You knew that. 

But you were scared. 

Scared that with everything already falling apart, you’ll lose him too. 

A tired sigh left your lips as you entered your home with Seungcheol. The silence that greeted you felt heavy, the kind that settled deep in your chest, weighing you down. 

It was dark now, the only light coming from the soft glow of the kitchen, where you could hear Seungcheol moving around. Despite not wanting to leave the comfort of your parents’ home, scared to face whatever would be waiting for you, they had urged you to return. 

For Seungcheol’s sake…they’d said. But you knew deep down, it was more for your sake than anyone else’s. 

“You’re home late.” Seungcheol’s voice echoed from the kitchen, light and casual, but there was something in his tone that made your heartbeat a little faster. 

You paused for a moment, standing at the doorway, trying to push back the weight of your emotions. You could already feel the conversation looming, the one that would change everything. 

But for now, you had to fake it. You had to make it seem like things were okay, like you weren’t unraveling inside. 

You looked at him, forcing a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

“Yeah, sorry. I missed my parents and went to visit them.” You said, your voice sounding more convincing than you felt. You walked into the kitchen, watching as he turned to look at you. 

His eyes softened as he placed down the spoon, his movements slow and deliberate. Walking around the kitchen island, he reached for your hand, gently pulling you into his arms. The warmth of his embrace wrapped around you, a fleeting moment of peace in the chaos that lingered just beneath the surface. 

You closed your eyes, letting yourself breathe in the familiar scent of him—the faint trace of his cologne mixed with the aroma of food on the stove. 

It was so normal, so right, yet everything felt off. 

You could feel the weight of what you needed to say pressing down on you, but for now, you just allowed yourself to be in this moment, to hold onto him as if this was enough. 

“I missed you too,” he murmured softly, his voice warm and full of affection.  “Me too…” you trailed off, your words faltering before they could find their place. Your chest tightened, heart aching with the unbearable truth you still hadn’t found the courage to share. 

Trying to push the thoughts away, you forced a smile, looking up at him. 

“How was work?” you asked, attempting to make the conversation light, normal. 

“It was the same.” Seungcheol answered, his tone casual, though you could tell he was trying to read you, as if sensing that something was off. His hand moved to gently cup your cheek, as if he was asking you to tell him what was going on. But you didn’t. 

“What are you making?” you asked, your voice almost too quiet as you peeked over his shoulder at the pot on the stove, trying to distract yourself from the mounting anxiety clawing at you. 

“I was craving some kimchi stew,” he said with a small smile, clearly content with the simplicity of it all. “Do you want to eat with me?” 

The question hung in the air, and for a split second, your stomach twisted painfully. You swallowed hard, feeling the nausea slowly creeping up your throat. 

“No. I ate with my parents. I think I’m going to take a shower and call it a night.” You murmured. 

He nodded thoughtfully

“Okay. I’ll be up there soon,” he replied, his tone was tender, as if he was trying to give you space. 

But the moment you stepped away from him, you felt the distance grow, both emotionally and physically. 

You were still wide awake by the time Seungcheol came into the bedroom. You closed your eyes when he climbed into bed after washing up, hoping to hide the storm of thoughts racing through your mind. The bed shifted under his weight as he settled beside you. 

He shifted closer, his body warm against yours. Without thinking, your arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him into you as you snuggled into his side. 

“Sorry… Did I wake you?” he asked, his voice soft, laced with concern. 

You hummed in response, keeping your eyes closed as you nestled deeper into his embrace. 

“No…” you lied, trying to sound normal, but your voice gave away the uncertainty you felt. 

Seungcheol’s breathing began to even out as he shifted slightly, clearly tired from his day. 

“Are you sure?” he whispered. 

“Yeah,” you whispered back, “I’m fine.” 

Without thinking, your hand slid up his chest, feeling the heat of his skin beneath your fingertips. You kissed him gently at first, testing the waters, before pulling away slightly to gauge his reaction. His eyes opened, meeting yours with a soft gaze, his lips still warm and lingering against yours. 

But you needed more. You needed to feel him, as selfish as that was. 

With a deep breath, you closed the space between you again, kissing him with more urgency, more need, your hands sliding over his chest and down his abdomen. You felt his breath hitch as your hand slid in his shorts, softly stroking his cock. 

Seungcheol groaned softly at the suddenness of it, his hands coming up to your back, pulling you closer against him as you stroked his hardening cock. His lips found your neck, trailing soft, heated kisses down to your collarbone, and you couldn’t help but gasp, the sensation sending a shiver through your body. 

You pulled away, your breath heavy as you met his eyes. His gaze was dark, filled with desire that told you he wanted this just as badly as you did. 

He kissed you again, deeper this time, his hands sliding down to your waist, guiding you to straddle his lap. His grip was gentle but firm, helping you position yourself on top of him. 

You could feel the heat of his body beneath you, your butt pressing against his hardened cock causing him to hiss out in pleasure. Your hands braced on his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as your hips began to move, grinding slowly against him, your breath hitching at the friction. 

Your hand tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel every inch of him. Seungcheol didn’t hesitate. He lifted his arms, allowing you to pull his shirt over his head and throw it aside. 

His torso was now bare beneath you, and you could feel the rapid beat of his heart as he held you close, his hands roaming up and down your back, feeling the tremors that raced through you. 

You felt his breath hitch when you shifted against him, your hips grinding slowly, teasingly, and a low groan escaped from his lips as he gripped your waist tighter, urging you to move more. 

You leaned down to kiss him, this time without holding back, deep and messy, your tongue tangling with his as you pressed yourself closer. His hands gripped your waist, helping you guide the movement as your breath became more erratic, more desperate. 

As you continued to grind against him, the pressure was becoming too much to handle. Your hands slid down his shorts, fingers fumbling slightly, desperate to feel more of him. 

Seungcheol groaned against your lips, his hands moving quickly to pull your shirt over your head, tossing it aside without hesitation. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of you, his hands now running down your back, fingertips grazing the smooth curve of your spine, before hooking onto the waistband of your shorts. 

He kissed you deeply, and in one fluid motion, he helped you discard the rest of your clothes. 

You followed his lead, working quickly to rid him of the remaining fabric between you. His shorts and boxers were tossed aside, and soon, there was nothing separating you both. The heat between your bodies was unbearable. 

A satisfied groan left both of your lips as your bare core met his hardened cock. 

“Baby I need you.” Seungcheol whined, growing desperate. “Let me prep you.” his warm hands cupping your pussy but you swat his hands away. 

“What?” he asked, confused. But when you grab his cock, he closes his eyes in pleasure. 

You settle on your knees, aligning his cock to your pussy. At the feel of your entrance, Seungcheol’s eyes shoot open. 

“Baby– wait— I need to prep—” Before he can finish his sentence, he’s cut off when you sink down on him. 

“Fuck…” he lets out a guttural groan as his cock slowly enters you. Your free hand reaches out, supporting yourself on his chest as you struggle to take all of him, your walls tightening around him. 

Despite the slight burn, you force yourself to keep sinking down on him. 

“Baby…” Seungcheol reaches out to you, knowing you’re struggling. He pulls you down, his hand threading through your hair as his lips crash against yours, hungry and urgent. 

You gasp into the kiss when his thumb brushes against your clit, your walls contracting around him, allowing you to sink further onto him. 

“That’s it, baby…” he whispers encouragingly. 

Unable to take it anymore, wanting to feel all of him, you straighten up, hands bracing on his chest for support when you force the rest of him inside of you, your eyes rolling back when he bottoms out. 

“Fuck… baby…” his hands caress your skin, allowing you to adjust to him. 

Your walls contract around him, throbbing being filled. Taking a deep breath in, you prepared yourself, lightly lifting your hips before sinking back down on him. 

“That’s it… nice and slow.” he says encouragingly, hands caressing your hips. 

“Cheol… feel so good…” you moaned out, the pleasure coursing through your body. 

“I know baby…” bracing your hands on his chest, you ride him, moans leaving your lips at the feel of him dragging your walls. 

Feeling your pace slow down as you grow tired, Seungcheol takes control, his hands find their place on your hips, dragging you up before slamming you back down. You cry out, body giving up, melting against his chest as you try to follow his rhythm. 

Holding his face, you kiss him, the kiss sloppy as your saliva mixes. Seungcheol wraps his arms around your torso, flipping you over so that you are laying on your back. 

You watch as Seungcheol holds his cock, rubbing the mushroom head against your clit causing a shudder to run through your body. Collecting your slick on his cock, he slides back into your warmth. His hands finding purchase on your knees as he spread your legs open, thrusting into you. 

“Hmm… Cheol… more…” you whimpered out, feeling your release coming. 

He grabs your arm, pulling you up and wrapping his arms around you before bringing you both back onto the bed, his big body engulfing you completely. 

He wastes no time, pulling out until the tip of his cock peeked out before pushing back in, a loud moan leaving your lips at the drag. He holds onto you tightly, quickly thrusting into you causing the bed the shake with his movement. 

Your hand finds purchase on his arms, needing to ground yourself. 

Tears blurred your eyes from pleasure as the band in your stomach threatened to snap. 

“Let go for me baby…” Seungcheol whispered into your ear, and listening to his command, the band snapped, your body buzzing from your orgasm, your wall squeezing tightly around Seungcheol’s cock. 

And with a few more thrusts, Seungcheol reaches his high, thrusting deeply into you as he cums with a low groan. 

Your heavy breathing fills the room as you both come down from your highs. 

Seungcheol pulls away, looking down at you,  “Are you okay, baby?” You opened your eyes to look at him, nodding tiredly. “Let me go get something to clean you up, okay?” He makes a move, but you quickly grab his wrist, holding him back. 

“Can you… just hold me?” Seungcheol’s eyes softened before nodding. The bed shifts as he lays down next to you, pulling you flush his naked chest. 

As your post orgasm haze dissipated, the weight of everything came crashing back down on you. 

Tears welled in your eyes, but this time, it wasn’t from the overwhelming relief of being close to him. It was the devastating realization that you had made your decision. 

Being wrapped in his warmth, his heartbeat steady against your ear, only made the decision more painful. You could feel every inch of him surrounding you, but somewhere deep inside, you knew this wasn’t where you were meant to stay. 

The weight of everything had finally caught up with you—the pressure from his family, the looming future you couldn’t be a part of, the love you had for him and the impossible reality of it all. 

You tried to push the thought aside, tried to savor this moment of comfort, but the guilt was unbearable. His arms loosened around you as sleep took him, but you were wide awake. 

As all you could think of was how much it was going to hurt him. You tried to ignore the hurt welling in your chest, the sharp pang of loss before you even let it happen. 

The tears spilled from your eyes, falling silent against his chest, and you realized that no matter how much you loved him, sometimes love wasn’t enough to change everything. 

You couldn’t stay in a life that wasn’t yours to claim, not when it would cost him everything too. 

You knew that it was selfish. Knowing that your child would have to grow up without their father, but you had to leave. 

You had to let go for both of your sakes. 

And you could only hope that your child will learn to accept it. 

Because as much as you loved Seungcheol, as deep as it ran, it wasn’t enough to make it work.

The wheels of your suitcase scraped softly against the hardwood floor as you dragged it toward the front door, the sound deafening in the stillness of the house. Your chest felt tight, like your ribs were caving in around your heart, but you didn’t stop. 

You had made up your mind. 

It was the middle of the day—Seungcheol was supposed to be at work, buried in meetings, unreachable until later tonight. That was the plan. You would be gone by then. 

No confrontation. No painful goodbyes. 

Because if you saw him—if you looked into his eyes and saw the love you were about to destroy, you wouldn’t be able to do this. 

Your hands trembled as you left your suitcase by the door and turned back towards the stairs, your legs heavy like lead as you climbed them. When you stepped into the bedroom—no, his bedroom now—the sight of it stole the breath from your lungs. 

It looked the same. Untouched. As if you hadn’t spent countless nights tangled up with him in these sheets, as if this wasn’t the place where he whispered his love against your skin. But the empty spaces where your belongings used to be told the truth. 

This wasn’t your home anymore. 

Your throat tightened painfully. Your hand drifted to your stomach, smoothing over the barely noticeable swell. A fresh wave of guilt crashed over you, stealing the last of your strength. 

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, voice breaking. “I promise I will take care of you…” 

Would your child ever understand why you had to do this? 

Why you had to rip them away from their father who would have given them the entire world? 

Would they hate you for it? 

You squeezed your eyes shut. No. you couldn't think about that right now. 

You had to leave. 

Grabbing your last bag, you forced yourself to move. Down the stairs, toward the door—-

And then you froze. 

Seungcheol was there. 

Standing in the kitchen, holding the letter you had left behind for him to read once you were gone. Your entire world tilted. 

He wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to see you leave. 

His back was turned to you, his broad shoulders tense, his hand clutching the note so tightly the paper crumbled. The silence in the room felt suffocating, pressing down on you, on him, on everything between you. 

“What is this…?” His voice was low, quiet—but laced with something sharp and unsteady, like a blade on the verge of breaking. 

Your heart slammed against your ribs.  “Seungcheol…” 

Slowly, he turned around. 

And your heart shattered. 

He wasn’t angry. 

He was wrecked. 

His eyes were dark with devastation, his lips slightly parted, like he had forgotten how to breathe. His hands trembled at his sides, the note shaking in his grasp. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was soft but there was something dangerous beneath it, something so fragile. 

You swallowed hard, gripping the strap of your bag so tightly your knuckles turned white. 

“I… what are you doing here?” you stammered. “You’re supposed to be at work.” 

A bitter, humorless laugh escaped him. “Yeah. I was.” 

He took a slow step toward you.  “Answer me,” he said, voice trembling. “Where are you going?” 

You forced yourself to look away. 

“I told you in the note.” He let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. His fingers curled tighter around the letter, crumpling it. 

“This?” His voice cracked. “This tells me nothing.” 

“Seungcheol—” 

“Don’t,” he cut you off, his voice breaking. “Don’t do this.” 

Your throat tightened. 

“Please,” you whispered. “Don’t make this harder.” 

His eyes flashed with something raw, something desperate.  “Why?” His voice shook. “Why are you leaving me? What did I do wrong?” 

Tears burned at your eyes. 

“It’s… not you,” you forced out. “It’s me.”  

A harsh, choked laugh fell from his lips. He looked at you like you had just ripped his heart out. 

“No,” he murmured, his expression crumbling. “No, that’s not true. I know I did something wrong. So tell me.” 

You shook your head, your vision blurring. 

“Seungcheol, please,” you begged, your voice barely above a whisper. “Let me go.” 

His entire body went rigid. 

“Let you go?” he repeated, voice hoarse. “Just like that?” 

You shut your eyes, willing yourself to stay strong. 

“I don’t love you anymore, Seungcheol.” 

The silence that followed was deafening. 

For a moment, there was nothing. No sound. No movement. Just the wreckage of your words settling between you. 

Then— 

A quiet, breathless laugh. 

Disbelieving. Hollow. 

You opened your eyes. 

Seungcheol was staring at you, something unreadable in his expression. His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. 

Then, in a voice so broken it nearly brought you to your knees—

“Do you think I don’t know?” A cold chill ran down your spine.

“Know what?” you whispered. He took a step forward. 

“That you’re pregnant.”

Your breath caught in your throat. The breath in your lungs vanished as your entire body froze as his words crashed over you like a tidal wave. 

No. 

No, no. 

No, no, no. 

He couldn’t—he shouldn’t know. 

You had been so careful, keeping the nausea hidden, making sure he never saw the vitamins tucked away in the nightstand, avoiding his touch whenever his hands lingered too long over your stomach. 

And yet, he knew. 

He had known. 

For how long? Since when? 

Your heart pounded violently against your ribs, and your hands instinctively moved over your barely noticeable bump, as if trying to protect the life growing inside of you—from him, from the world, from this unbearable truth. 

How had he known? How had he just let you suffer in silence? 

Your mind raced, desperately piecing everything together. Every lingerie touch. Every long stare. Every moment where his eyes had softened, as if he was seeing something more than just you. 

Seungcheol took another step, his eyes never leaving yours.  “Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?” he whispered. “That I wouldn’t know?” 

Tears slipped down your cheeks. 

“I—I…” His gaze dropped to your stomach, just for a second before flickering back up to you, 

“I know your body like the back of my hand,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. “I know when something changes.” His hand clenched at his sides. 

“And I know when you’re lying to me.” His words felt like a slap, a cruel reminder of just how deeply he knew you, how intimately he had memorized you. 

A broken sob tore from your lips. 

“So, I’ll ask you again,” he said, trying to sound firm despite his shaking voice. “Why are you trying to leave me?” 

You couldn’t breathe. 

Because I love you. 

Because I can’t let you ruin your life for me

Because your family will never accept me. 

Because I’m scared. 

Because you deserve better. 

The words clawed at your throat, desperate to be spoken, but you couldn’t. 

And Seungcheol—Seungcheol just stood there, waiting. 

Waiting for the answer you couldn’t give. 

The silence between you was suffocating, thick with all the things left unsaid over the past month. Seungcheol stood in front of you, his body taut with desperation, his eyes pleading for an answer. 

“Talk to me,” he begged, voice raw. “Please. Just tell me why you’re doing this.” 

You bit your lip, gripping the strap of your bag so hard your nails dug into your palms. 

“I already told you, Seungcheol. I don’t love you anymore.” 

“Liar,” he breathed, stepping closer. “Look me in the eyes and say that again.” 

Your vision blurred with tears. You tried—you really tried—but the words wouldn’t come. His lips trembled as he exhaled shakily. 

“You’re leaving because of my father, aren’t you?” your breath hitched. 

“He talked to you, didn’t he?” Seungcheol pressed. “He told you something—said something to make you think this is the only way.” 

You shook your head, forcing out a broken laugh. “It doesn’t matter, Cheol.” 

“It does,” he insisted. “Because I love you, and I don’t care what he thinks. You and I—”

“Because you’re getting married!” 

The words ripped from your throat, raw and full of anguish, echoing off the walls like a death sentence. 

And then—silence. 

The kind of silence that crushes you, that drowns you, that makes it impossible to breathe. 

You were shaking, your chest rising and falling erratically as you struggled to contain the storm raging inside you. Your nails dug into your palms, and your throat burned from the sheer force of your voice. 

But Seungcheol… 

He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t flinch. 

You expected shock, denial—anything. Anything that would make this hurt a little less. But all you got was blankness. 

His face was unreadable, emotion wiped clean like he had been expecting this, like your pain meant nothing to him. 

Your stomach twisted painfully. The air between you felt suffocating, unbearable. 

“You knew,” you whispered, a choked breath of disbelief. Seungcheol’s jaw tightened, but he still said nothing. 

“You knew about it…” The realization hit you like a freight train, stealing the last bit of breath from your lungs. 

“And you didn’t tell me?” He swallowed thickly. 

“Baby, listen—” 

“Don’t.” you cut him off, voice trembling. “Don’t call me that.” 

“Just let me explain—” 

“Explain what?” you snapped, tears spilling freely down your cheeks. 

“That you knew you were getting married? That you knew this entire time and still held me, still kissed me, still made love to me like I was the only one?!” Seungcheol clenched his fists, his eyes desperate, pained, but it was too late. 

“You lied to me,” you whispered. “You let me believe…” your voice cracked, the weight of it crushing you. 

“You let me believe we had a chance.” 

“I never wanted this,” he finally said, voice strained. “I never wanted to hurt you.” 

“But you did,” you said, stepping back. “You already did.” 

Seungcheol inhaled sharply, stepping forward as if to reach for you, but you backed away again, shaking your head. 

“No more,” you whispered. “No more lies. No more pretending.” 

The tears kept coming, blurring your vision, making it harder to see him—harder to hold onto the image of the man you had loved so deeply. 

Because the man standing in front of you wasn’t the same. 

And maybe he never was. 

The words burned like acid on your tongue, finally having spat everything out, the room cracking under their weight. 

The pain, the betrayal, the love—it all clashed together inside of you, threatening to rip you apart from the inside out. 

Because this wasn’t just about you anymore. 

It was about the child you carried. 

A child who would never know the warmth of their father’s love. 

A child who would grow up with a mother who made the impossible choice to walk away, even when every part of her wanted to stay. 

Tears blurred your vision as you looked at him, hoping, praying that there was some mistake—that he would deny it, fight for you, beg you to stay. 

But all you saw was that blankness. 

And it shattered whatever fragile hope you had left. 

This was the end. 

There was nothing left to say. 

So you turned away. 

Your legs felt weak, but you forced yourself forward. 

And you left.  Seungcheol didn’t stop you. 

He didn’t chase after you. 

He just stood there, frozen in place, watching as you walked out of his life. 

And as the door shut behind you, sealing your fate, the sob you had been holding in finally broke free. 

Why is loving you so hard?

Why is letting go the hardest part?

Did we love too fast?

A/n: Please let me know what you think :)

Tag List: cherrylovescheol wonu-won choco-scoups

amarssfanfic fffnws-blog niniwife fyeahwonu lukeys-giggle redyrosy milxzcv fairypopcorn xsehnsucht ccrine xsehnsucht jnhthy star-dust17 yonggyucheollie iaypark-blog bettyandveronic eatthatplums gyuhahxx seungcheolswife95 hhwksixjshs monstacheol thedensworld moppuu jeonjkscrybaby hangariiharami acolytees mari-maris-things yawnozone user4963858 luvaerina yoouuuhooo cristy-101 drunkenpalmtrees yesabsolutely123 screechingpastahandseclipse saphire2110 bimbozitas qiinjiu comounlunar choiseungcheolsgf svtviolet kurooleanne 9900z margaux-chiti lcvjun deaddcrow arminxlvr mmessier31 smdlc xoglamourlifexo trippledoublecherry joshuatingz stxck-in-my-mind cherrynsunflowers haeppyfullsun coleeeee08 megseungmin nooniena cherrybabycheol yayyyyyyyyyyyysworld mkgreooo meloooo05 living0livia poiuuiop nahiisworld sooyal oh-snap-q loverosanne mxnglvr asasilentreader emandems10 hannahdiazsblog sugaringcherries syluslittlecrows

You paced back and forth in the bathroom, heart hammering against your ribcage, hands tangled in your hair as you struggled to form a rational thought—any thought—over the storm raging in your mind. 

Your breathing was uneven, your chest rising and falling in rapid succession, but no amount of air seemed to fill your lungs. The walls felt like they were closing in, the fluorescent bathroom light too harsh, making your vision blur as your eyes darted back to the small plastic test sitting on the counter. 

The two faint red lines staring back at you, unblinking. 

You knew that something was wrong when you were two months late for your period. 

You just didn’t think that it would be because of this. 

Your stomach twisted painfully. 

What should I do?

What should I do? 

What should I do? 

Your mind screamed the same question over and over, but there was no answer. Just the deafening silence of the bathroom and the pounding of your own heartbeat in your ears. 

You were pregnant. 

The sentence itself sent another ripple of panic through you, and you pressed a hand to your stomach, as if somehow you could will it all away. 

This wasn’t supposed to happen. You were careful. You both were. But none of that mattered now. 

A choked breath escaped your lips as you turned away from the test, pacing again, trying to push through the storm of thoughts crashing through your mind. 

What are you going to do? 

And more importantly… 

What are you going to tell him? 

Seungcheol… 

You stopped in your tracks, gripping the edge of the sink as the thought of him hit you like a wave. 

Oh god. 

What were you going to say? How were you going to tell him? 

Your fingers curled together against the cool porcelain, your stomach twisting into knots. 

And then, another horrifying thought crept in. 

What would your parents think? 

Your heart sank. 

You knew that your parents would be shocked, maybe even disappointed, but in the end, they would love you. They adored Seungcheol, always telling you how lucky you were to have a man like him. But you weren’t married. You weren’t engaged. 

You could already hear their worried voices, asking what you were going to do. If Seungcheol would stay, if his family would even accept this child. 

And his parents? 

Oh god. His parents. 

Your stomach turned violently. 

They never voiced it outright, never treated you cruelly to your face, but you knew. 

You knew they hated you. 

As cliche as it was, they hated you because of where you came from. 

You weren’t from money like them. You weren’t the daughter of an esteemed politician or a wealthy business mogul. You had no influential family name, no legacy that tied you to their elite world. 

You were simply… you. 

A girl from a humble upbringing, someone who worked hard for everything she had, someone who didn’t belong in their perfect, polished society. 

And yet, somehow, despite all of that, Seungcheol had chosen you. 

Despite their dispproval, despite their whispered remarks and disapproving glances, he loved you. Enough to go against them, enough to stay by your side when they made it clear they wanted someone better for him. 

But now? 

Now you were pregnant with their son’s child.

And if they hated you before, what would they do now? 

Suddenly, the shrill sound of your phone buzzing against the bathroom counter made you jump. Your breath hitched. 

Cheol ♥️

Your pulse skyrocketed at the sight of his name glowing on the screen, the familiar contact photo staring back at you. 

Did he know? 

No, he couldn’t possibly. But why now? Why was he calling you right now, of all times? 

You didn’t move. You just stood there, frozen, watching the phone vibrate as if it were about to explode. A twisted part of you hoped it would just stop ringing. That if you ignored it, the problem—the truth—would somehow disappear. 

But it didn’t. 

The call went to voicemail, and you let out a shaky breath, relief washing over you—only for it to vanish just as quickly when the phone lit up again. 

Cheol ♥️

He was persistent, as always. 

Your fingers trembled as you reached for the phone, hesitant, hovering over the green button. 

Your throat felt tight, like something was lodged in it, but you forced yourself to clear it before pressing answer. 

“Hello?” 

“Hi baby.” His deep voice was warm, affectionate, but laced with concern. 

“Why didn’t you pick up my call?” You swallowed hard. Act normal. 

“Ahh… sorry, I was—” you faltered, scrambling for an excuse. 

“Are you okay?” he asked immediately, his voice softer now. “You sound a little off.” 

Damn it. He always noticed when things were wrong. 

“I’m fine,” you lied, forcing a small laugh. “Just… tired, that’s all.” 

There was a pause on his end, and for a moment, you worried he didn’t believe you. But then he sighed. 

“You’ve been overworking yourself again, haven’t you?” 

You let out another weak laugh, one that didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

“Maybe a little.” 

“Baby… we’ve talked about this. You need to take care of yourself,” he gently scolded, causing tears to well in your eyes. 

The lump in your throat grew as you tried to swallow it down. His voice, so full of warmth and care, only made the guilt claw at your insides even more. He had no idea—no idea what was happening, what you were hiding. 

This was Seungcheol. Your Seungcheol. Sweet, caring, overprotective Seungcheol. The man who loved you more than anything. The man who spent his day running one of the biggest empires in the industry yet he still made sure to call you every day, no matter how busy he was. The man who—

The father of your child. 

“I know…” you murmured, gripping the phone tighter. “I will.” 

“Promise?” 

You hesitated, blinking back the burning in your eyes. You couldn’t even take care of your own emotions right now, let alone yourself. 

“Promise,” you whispered, the word barely making it past your dry lips. 

“Good.” he said, his tone lightening. “Hey, I have to go soon, but let’s have dinner tonight, yeah? I miss you.” 

Your stomach churned. 

“Yeah.” you whispered, even though you had no idea how you were supposed to sit across from him, knowing what you knew now. 

“Great!” His smile was evident in his voice. “I love you baby.” 

You hesitated. 

“I love you too, Cheol.” you murmured. 

You hung up before he could say anything else, staring blankly at the screen as the weight of everything came crashing back down. The phone slipped from your hands, clattering onto the floor, but you barely noticed as you sank down beside it, knees pulling to your chest. 

Tears welled up in your eyes, hot and unrelenting, and for the first time since seeing those two red lines, you let them fall. 

Because you knew. 

No matter how much you loved Seungcheol, no matter how much he loved you—this baby, this life growing inside of you…

It will change everything.

And you weren’t sure if you were ready for that.

“Cheol…” you moaned, hands clutching tightly onto his shoulder as he thrusted into you, his lips pressing hot, open mouthed kisses down your neck. 

He groaned at the way you held onto him, his grip on your waist tightening, anchoring you to him like he never wanted to let go. Every movement of his body was possessive, raw, like he was trying to pull you deeper into him, pulling all of you into his world. 

You wished you could say you didn’t know how you ended up here—underneath him, completely exposed, completely his. But the truth was, you could never say no to him. Not when he looked at you like that, like you were everything to him, like he was lost in the feeling of you—like… you were his whole world. 

But that look, that love in his eyes—it broke you. 

Because underneath the heat, underneath the frantic way your bodies moved together, you knew something had shifted. You could feel it in the way your chest tightened, in the way your heart raced not from pleasure but from guilt.  “Cheol…” you barely recognized your own voice, soft and trembling. 

His movements grew more frantic, more urgent, his hands gripping the backs of your thighs, pulling you impossibly closer, his breath ragged as he murmured your name in between each thrust. 

He kissed you, his hand slipping between your sweaty bodies, rubbing tight circles on your clit, the sensation making you gasp sharply into his mouth. 

“Cheol… please… more.” you begged, your voice trembling with desperation as your hips rocked instinctively against his hand.

Every touch, every movement from him felt like fire and ice colliding inside you. You wanted more, needed more. You wanted to forget everything, wanted to lose yourself in him, in this moment where you didn’t have to think about anything else. 

You gasped as he thrust deeper, his pace breaking through your thoughts and tearing you away from them for a moment. 

But when your eyes met his, it was as if you could see all of it—the love, the trust, the hope he had in you—and it destroyed you. 

But the guilt… it lingered in the back of your mind, gnawing at you with each passing second. You could feel it, deep down, how wrong this all was. But in his arms, with his hands on you, you couldn’t bring yourself to acknowledge the truth. 

That thought—the truth—kept clawing at you, even as his lips trailed over your neck, his breath warm against your skin, the sound of your name slipping from his lips. 

“More, Cheol…” you repeated, voice shaking, the ache inside you growing sharper with every passing moment. 

He didn’t need to be asked again. He moved faster, his body pressing harder into yours, his hand still working, pushing you closer to the edge. His rhythm was perfect, deep, hard, and relentless, making you feel every inch of him, every part of you that belonged to him, even if just for this moment. 

The world outside your shared bedroom seemed to blur, fading away as your body surrendered to him, to the overwhelming pleasure, to the need to feel alive. But deep inside, that nagging voice never stopped. 

You’re lying to him. You’re going to lose him. You’re going to break his heart.

You turned your head slightly, eyes squeezing shut as you pushed his head into the crook of your neck, hugging him tightly in your arms, trying to hold onto him, as if you could stop time. Tears threatened to fall, but you didn’t let them fall. You couldn’t. Not yet. 

You couldn’t at this moment. Now with him so close, his breath hot against your skin, his body moving in a rhythm that sent sparks through every part of you, igniting a wildfire you couldn’t control. 

“Cheol…” you whispered, barely able to get the words out between gasps. His name felt foreign on your tongue now, like a plea, a prayer, a confession you weren’t ready to speak. 

He didn’t notice. He was lost in the moment, in you, and for that, you hated yourself just a little more. Because you couldn’t give him the truth, not when he was so wrapped up in his love for you. 

His pace quickened, his thrusts more urgent, his hands gripping you together, pulling you closer. Your body responded instinctively, the heat inside you building until it became unbearable, every movement pushing you closer to the edge, to the inevitable release you couldn’t hold back anymore. 

His lips found yours again, desperate, hungry, his tongue demanding as he kissed you with an intensity that made you dizzy. 

You gripped his shoulders harder, digging your nails into the muscles beneath his skin as your body tensed, the familiar wave of pleasure starting to crash through you. Your breath quickened, pulse racing, the tight coil of anticipation in your belly tightening, snapping. 

“I love you…” you whispered, your voice breaking as your body trembled beneath him, the wave of ecstasy crashing over you. You held onto him, gasping for air, trying to ground yourself as everything spun into a dizzying whirl of sensation. 

“Y/n…” the sound of your name falling from his lips was the last thing you heard before he delivered a sharp thrust into you before he reached his own release. His body stiffened, his movements slowed, and with one final, deep thrust, he groaned your name, his release following quickly after yours. 

Seungcheol collapses onto you. The both of you breathless and shaking, the sweat slicked skin between you sticking, but neither of you moved. You lay there, wrapping your arms around his body, wanting him close as your mind tried to process the weight of everything. 

The closeness, the rawness, the love that hung thick in the air, all of it so real… and yet so fragile. 

“Baby…” he murmured, pulling back slightly, his brows furrowing as he searched your face. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Your heart stopped. 

“N-nothing.” you forced out, shaking your head too quickly. “I’m just… tired…” 

His dark eyes softened, but they didn’t lose their intensity. 

“You’ve been like this all week,” he said, brushing his thumb over your cheek. His touch was gentle, tender. 

“You barely eat. Barely sleep. Talk to me, baby. What’s wrong?” 

Your throat tightened. 

You wanted to. 

God, you wanted to just say it. 

But the words wouldn’t come. 

Because once they did, you couldn’t take them back. 

So instead, you forced a small smile, fingers tangling in his sweaty hair as you pulled him down, pressing your lips to his before he could question you any further. 

“I just need you.” you whispered against his lips, hoping he wouldn’t hear the shake in your voice. “That’s all.” 

Seungcheol hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to push further. But then he sighed, pressing his forehead against yours. 

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” 

And that was the problem. 

Because you were. 

Or at least… you were thinking about it. 

Pulling into the parking lot, you turned off the ignition, your hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel, knuckles white as you fought to keep your composure. The air inside the car felt stifling, thick with the weight of the decisions you were trying to avoid. You stared out the window, watching the world move around you in a blur, but all you could hear was the pounding of your heart in your ears. 

What was I thinking? you thought, frustration and fear pooling inside your chest. The thought of the conversation that awaited you made your stomach churn. You had barely managed to breathe after your conversation with Seungcheol’s father over the phone, and now you had to face him face to face. 

You closed your eyes, trying to gather yourself. 

This is it. He’s not going to make it easy on you.

You had no idea what he wanted, but you could feel the weight of the conversation hanging over you like a storm cloud that you couldn’t escape. He hadn’t said anything alarming or specific other than wanting to meet with you, but you knew it was something you wouldn’t like. Not when his tone had been so firm, so decisive. 

What could he possibly want from me? 

You sighed and glanced down at your phone as it buzzed again, pulling you from your thoughts. 

It was a text from Seungcheol, just a simple message asking if you were okay. You hesitated before quickly silencing your phone, avoiding the temptation to respond. The last thing you needed was to get lost in another conversation that would only complicate things further. 

You took one final breath before opening the car door. The moment your foot hit the pavement, the chill of the evening air brushed against your skin, and you immediately felt a sense of dread creep into your bones. You walked toward the restaurant, your steps slow, your mind racing with every worst-case scenario you could imagine. 

The restaurant was upscale, the kind of place you would never have chosen for a meeting like this. But it was expected. Seungcheol’s father, with his sharp business sense, had always preferred the quiet luxury of places like this. The door swung open as you approached, and a polite host let you to a private booth in the back. 

As you stepped inside, you saw him already seated, the air around him cold and commanding, even as he sat alone at the table. He hadn’t even glanced up when you entered, his attention on the glass of water in front of him. The smooth, almost intimidating elegance of his presence filled the room. 

You had always felt like a stranger in his world. 

“Miss Y/n.” he finally greeted you with a slight nod, his voice clipped and formal, giving nothing away. 

You sat across from him, your body tense, your nerves threatening to take over. The silence between you stretched, suffocating. There were a thousand things you wanted to say, but none of them felt right. 

His gaze never wavered from you, sharp, calculating, waiting for you to make the first move. 

“You seem… unsettled,” he observed, his voice cold, like he could read the turmoil in your eyes. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him directly, so you stared down at your hands, trying to steady the shaking that you couldn’t control. 

“I—I didn’t expect this,” you said, voice quiet but steady enough for him to hear. 

“You should have,” he responded simply, his eyes narrowing as if this was all part of some plan he had already devised. 

“I let you and Seungcheol be for the past three years but I no longer can do that. Seungcheol’s mother and I both want what’s best for him. And for you. But that means making decisions that protect the future. Your future.” 

You swallowed hard, fighting the wave of panic that began to creep up your throat. You knew where this was going. It was going to be the talk you dreaded. The one that made your blood run cold. 

“My son loves you, Miss Y/n.” His words were pointed, as though trying to remind you of something that didn’t matter in this moment. 

“But love is not enough. Not when there are responsibilities to consider.” 

You flinched, the sharpness in his tone making your chest tighten. The pressure was unbearable, and every word that left his lips seemed to dig deeper into the pit of your stomach. The thoughts of leaving Seungcheol, of walking away from him, began to cloud your mind more than they ever had before. 

You opened your mouth to speak, but the words caught in your throat. 

“You think that’s what this is about? You think this is just about love?” You finally managed, your voice strained. 

Seungcheol’s father leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a slight frown. 

“I think this is about the reality of the situation. You’re not simply dating a man—you’re dating the heir to one of the wealthiest families in this country. You must understand the weight of that. And what it means for both of your futures.”

The weight of his words sank in, leaving you feeling smaller and smaller in your seat. You had always known Seungcheol was different—his family, his world, were always beyond your reach. 

But now, everything is falling apart. 

“And so,” he continued, his tone still firm, “We’ve found a suitable wife for Seungcheol.” 

Your breath caught in your throat as his words echoed in your mind. A suitable wife? 

Does Seungcheol know? The thought flashed through your mind, but you quickly dismissed it. There was no way he would’ve known and not told you. It would have been impossible to hide something like that. 

“He’s to be married soon,” Seungcheol’s father said coldly, his eyes locking with yours, as if to gauge your reaction. 

“This is no longer a matter of feelings. This is about securing the future of the company, the family legacy. And you have no place here.” 

Your stomach churned. The words barely registered, but the weight of them hit you harder than anything else. A suitable wife… you tried to process the thought, but your heart was already breaking. You had known this was coming in some way, but hearing it out loud made it feel so much more final. 

“I—I don’t understand…” you whispered, your voice shaking. 

“Of course you do.” he said, his tone cold and dismissive. “You’re a smart woman. You know what’s at stake here. Seungcheol may love you, but you’re not the one he needs. And the sooner you accept that, the better.” 

His words cut through you like ice, each syllable like a hammer smashing your fragile heart into pieces. 

The silence that followed felt deafening, each second a painful reminder of everything that you had lost. That you’re about to lose. 

You couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. The vision of Seungcheol, the man you loved with all your heart, suddenly seemed like a distant memory. 

Finally, your breath hitched, and with a quiet, defeated nod, you whispered,  “I understand.” 

Seungcheol’s father didn’t look surprised, just coldly satisfied.  “Good.” he said, his voice almost too pleased. “I expect you to make the right decision.” 

You barely heard him, your thoughts still swirling, a whirlwind of emotions crashing against you. And then, as if to remind you just how little your presence mattered in this cold, calculated conversation, he stood up, his tailored suit gliding effortlessly as he buttoned it up. 

“The meal is already paid for,” he said with a quick glance in your direction, voice still firm and uncaring.  “Help yourself.” 

And with that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the quiet restaurant as you were left alone at the table, feeling smaller, emptier, and more alone than ever before.

It didn’t surprise you when you pulled into the familiar driveway. After your conversation with Seungcheol’s father, you couldn’t bear to see Seungcheol, afraid that you would break in front of him. So you drove to the only other place you could think of. 

Your parents’ home. 

After the talk, everything inside you seemed to fall apart. His words, his expectation, the pressure—it felt like a sign that you should leave. You knew it was the logical thing to do, the responsible thing to do. But every fiber of your being screamed against it. 

Because you loved Seungcheol. 

You rang the doorbell, the sound of it echoing in the quiet air. Your heart hammered in your chest, the tears threatening to spill before you even saw your father. 

When the door finally opened, your dad stood there, surprised to see you standing on the other side, but his face quickly softened. 

“Honey? What are you doing here?” he asked, a smile tugging at his lips, though there was an uncertainty in his eyes when he noticed the look in your eyes. 

You froze, your throat tight, unable to get the words out. His warmth, his comfort, everything about your dad seemed to anchor you in a way that nothing else could. But in that moment, your emotions overwhelmed you, the tears finally breaking free as they began to roll down your cheeks. 

Your dad’s face softened even more, concern flooding his features.  “What’s wrong, honey?” he asked, his voice gentle, his arms instinctively reaching out to you. 

“Appa…” you managed to choke out, your voice cracking. The tears came in waves now, spilling from your eyes uncontrollably. You collapsed into his arms, your sobs wracking your body as he pulled you in close. 

He held you tightly, like he always had when you were little, and even though you were an adult now, his embrace still held the same security, the same promise that everything would be okay. 

But you knew deep down that nothing would be okay. 

“Shh,” he murmured, stroking your hair, his voice laced with worry.  “You’re safe here. What’s going on, sweetie? Talk to me.” But you couldn’t. Not yet. You couldn’t bring yourself to say the words. 

The guilt, the confusion, the overwhelming love for Seungcheol—it was all too much. 

You leaned into your father’s arms, needing him more than ever, as your heart shattered just a little more. 

“Appa… I can’t… I don’t know what to do.” 

Your father tightened his hold on you, his arms a sanctuary in the midst of your emotional storm. He didn’t push for answers, didn’t demand an explanation. He just let you cry, knowing that you would come to him when you were ready. 

“You’re pregnant?” Both of your parents speak at the same time. Shock and confusion evident in their voice. You couldn’t bear to look at them, instead, you looked down at the warm mug held in your hands, the steam rising from it like the thoughts swirling in your mind. 

The silence hung heavy between you and your parents.

After you were done crying, your father had ushered you inside, his hands gentle on your back, guiding you towards the living room as he called out for your mother. 

“Sweetie…” your mother said softly, sitting beside you. 

“What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell us?” Her voice was gentle, but there was an edge of concern that you couldn’t ignore. 

Tears stung at the corner of your eyes again as you tried to find the words. You’d never imagined it would come to this. Your life had been so carefully built, and yet it was falling apart in an instant. 

You felt like you couldn’t breathe, like the walls were closing in. You couldn’t even bear to look at them. 

“I—” you started, but your voice cracked, another sob escaping your throat. “I don’t know what to do. Everything is so… complicated.” 

“Does Seungcheol know that you’re pregnant?” Your father asks from across the room. You shake your head shamefully.

“I… I never got around to telling him.” 

“And now his father wants you to leave?” your father repeated your words thoughtfully, trying to grasp the whole situation. 

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to push back the flood of emotions threatening to break free. 

But the weight of it all—Seungcheol’s family, his father’s expectations, the love you had for him, the child growing inside of you—it was all too much. 

Your mother’s eyes softened, and she reached for your hand, her grip firm and steady. 

“We’ll support whatever decision you decide to make. But you have to talk to Seungcheol, sweetie. He needs to know.” You closed your eyes, tears streaming down your face. 

You knew that. 

But you were scared. 

Scared that with everything already falling apart, you’ll lose him too. 

A tired sigh left your lips as you entered your home with Seungcheol. The silence that greeted you felt heavy, the kind that settled deep in your chest, weighing you down. 

It was dark now, the only light coming from the soft glow of the kitchen, where you could hear Seungcheol moving around. Despite not wanting to leave the comfort of your parents’ home, scared to face whatever would be waiting for you, they had urged you to return. 

For Seungcheol’s sake…they’d said. But you knew deep down, it was more for your sake than anyone else’s. 

“You’re home late.” Seungcheol’s voice echoed from the kitchen, light and casual, but there was something in his tone that made your heartbeat a little faster. 

You paused for a moment, standing at the doorway, trying to push back the weight of your emotions. You could already feel the conversation looming, the one that would change everything. 

But for now, you had to fake it. You had to make it seem like things were okay, like you weren’t unraveling inside. 

You looked at him, forcing a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

“Yeah, sorry. I missed my parents and went to visit them.” You said, your voice sounding more convincing than you felt. You walked into the kitchen, watching as he turned to look at you. 

His eyes softened as he placed down the spoon, his movements slow and deliberate. Walking around the kitchen island, he reached for your hand, gently pulling you into his arms. The warmth of his embrace wrapped around you, a fleeting moment of peace in the chaos that lingered just beneath the surface. 

You closed your eyes, letting yourself breathe in the familiar scent of him—the faint trace of his cologne mixed with the aroma of food on the stove. 

It was so normal, so right, yet everything felt off. 

You could feel the weight of what you needed to say pressing down on you, but for now, you just allowed yourself to be in this moment, to hold onto him as if this was enough. 

“I missed you too,” he murmured softly, his voice warm and full of affection.  “Me too…” you trailed off, your words faltering before they could find their place. Your chest tightened, heart aching with the unbearable truth you still hadn’t found the courage to share. 

Trying to push the thoughts away, you forced a smile, looking up at him. 

“How was work?” you asked, attempting to make the conversation light, normal. 

“It was the same.” Seungcheol answered, his tone casual, though you could tell he was trying to read you, as if sensing that something was off. His hand moved to gently cup your cheek, as if he was asking you to tell him what was going on. But you didn’t. 

“What are you making?” you asked, your voice almost too quiet as you peeked over his shoulder at the pot on the stove, trying to distract yourself from the mounting anxiety clawing at you. 

“I was craving some kimchi stew,” he said with a small smile, clearly content with the simplicity of it all. “Do you want to eat with me?” 

The question hung in the air, and for a split second, your stomach twisted painfully. You swallowed hard, feeling the nausea slowly creeping up your throat. 

“No. I ate with my parents. I think I’m going to take a shower and call it a night.” You murmured. 

He nodded thoughtfully

“Okay. I’ll be up there soon,” he replied, his tone was tender, as if he was trying to give you space. 

But the moment you stepped away from him, you felt the distance grow, both emotionally and physically. 

You were still wide awake by the time Seungcheol came into the bedroom. You closed your eyes when he climbed into bed after washing up, hoping to hide the storm of thoughts racing through your mind. The bed shifted under his weight as he settled beside you. 

He shifted closer, his body warm against yours. Without thinking, your arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him into you as you snuggled into his side. 

“Sorry… Did I wake you?” he asked, his voice soft, laced with concern. 

You hummed in response, keeping your eyes closed as you nestled deeper into his embrace. 

“No…” you lied, trying to sound normal, but your voice gave away the uncertainty you felt. 

Seungcheol’s breathing began to even out as he shifted slightly, clearly tired from his day. 

“Are you sure?” he whispered. 

“Yeah,” you whispered back, “I’m fine.” 

Without thinking, your hand slid up his chest, feeling the heat of his skin beneath your fingertips. You kissed him gently at first, testing the waters, before pulling away slightly to gauge his reaction. His eyes opened, meeting yours with a soft gaze, his lips still warm and lingering against yours. 

But you needed more. You needed to feel him, as selfish as that was. 

With a deep breath, you closed the space between you again, kissing him with more urgency, more need, your hands sliding over his chest and down his abdomen. You felt his breath hitch as your hand slid in his shorts, softly stroking his cock. 

Seungcheol groaned softly at the suddenness of it, his hands coming up to your back, pulling you closer against him as you stroked his hardening cock. His lips found your neck, trailing soft, heated kisses down to your collarbone, and you couldn’t help but gasp, the sensation sending a shiver through your body. 

You pulled away, your breath heavy as you met his eyes. His gaze was dark, filled with desire that told you he wanted this just as badly as you did. 

He kissed you again, deeper this time, his hands sliding down to your waist, guiding you to straddle his lap. His grip was gentle but firm, helping you position yourself on top of him. 

You could feel the heat of his body beneath you, your butt pressing against his hardened cock causing him to hiss out in pleasure. Your hands braced on his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as your hips began to move, grinding slowly against him, your breath hitching at the friction. 

Your hand tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel every inch of him. Seungcheol didn’t hesitate. He lifted his arms, allowing you to pull his shirt over his head and throw it aside. 

His torso was now bare beneath you, and you could feel the rapid beat of his heart as he held you close, his hands roaming up and down your back, feeling the tremors that raced through you. 

You felt his breath hitch when you shifted against him, your hips grinding slowly, teasingly, and a low groan escaped from his lips as he gripped your waist tighter, urging you to move more. 

You leaned down to kiss him, this time without holding back, deep and messy, your tongue tangling with his as you pressed yourself closer. His hands gripped your waist, helping you guide the movement as your breath became more erratic, more desperate. 

As you continued to grind against him, the pressure was becoming too much to handle. Your hands slid down his shorts, fingers fumbling slightly, desperate to feel more of him. 

Seungcheol groaned against your lips, his hands moving quickly to pull your shirt over your head, tossing it aside without hesitation. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of you, his hands now running down your back, fingertips grazing the smooth curve of your spine, before hooking onto the waistband of your shorts. 

He kissed you deeply, and in one fluid motion, he helped you discard the rest of your clothes. 

You followed his lead, working quickly to rid him of the remaining fabric between you. His shorts and boxers were tossed aside, and soon, there was nothing separating you both. The heat between your bodies was unbearable. 

A satisfied groan left both of your lips as your bare core met his hardened cock. 

“Baby I need you.” Seungcheol whined, growing desperate. “Let me prep you.” his warm hands cupping your pussy but you swat his hands away. 

“What?” he asked, confused. But when you grab his cock, he closes his eyes in pleasure. 

You settle on your knees, aligning his cock to your pussy. At the feel of your entrance, Seungcheol’s eyes shoot open. 

“Baby– wait— I need to prep—” Before he can finish his sentence, he’s cut off when you sink down on him. 

“Fuck…” he lets out a guttural groan as his cock slowly enters you. Your free hand reaches out, supporting yourself on his chest as you struggle to take all of him, your walls tightening around him. 

Despite the slight burn, you force yourself to keep sinking down on him. 

“Baby…” Seungcheol reaches out to you, knowing you’re struggling. He pulls you down, his hand threading through your hair as his lips crash against yours, hungry and urgent. 

You gasp into the kiss when his thumb brushes against your clit, your walls contracting around him, allowing you to sink further onto him. 

“That’s it, baby…” he whispers encouragingly. 

Unable to take it anymore, wanting to feel all of him, you straighten up, hands bracing on his chest for support when you force the rest of him inside of you, your eyes rolling back when he bottoms out. 

“Fuck… baby…” his hands caress your skin, allowing you to adjust to him. 

Your walls contract around him, throbbing being filled. Taking a deep breath in, you prepared yourself, lightly lifting your hips before sinking back down on him. 

“That’s it… nice and slow.” he says encouragingly, hands caressing your hips. 

“Cheol… feel so good…” you moaned out, the pleasure coursing through your body. 

“I know baby…” bracing your hands on his chest, you ride him, moans leaving your lips at the feel of him dragging your walls. 

Feeling your pace slow down as you grow tired, Seungcheol takes control, his hands find their place on your hips, dragging you up before slamming you back down. You cry out, body giving up, melting against his chest as you try to follow his rhythm. 

Holding his face, you kiss him, the kiss sloppy as your saliva mixes. Seungcheol wraps his arms around your torso, flipping you over so that you are laying on your back. 

You watch as Seungcheol holds his cock, rubbing the mushroom head against your clit causing a shudder to run through your body. Collecting your slick on his cock, he slides back into your warmth. His hands finding purchase on your knees as he spread your legs open, thrusting into you. 

“Hmm… Cheol… more…” you whimpered out, feeling your release coming. 

He grabs your arm, pulling you up and wrapping his arms around you before bringing you both back onto the bed, his big body engulfing you completely. 

He wastes no time, pulling out until the tip of his cock peeked out before pushing back in, a loud moan leaving your lips at the drag. He holds onto you tightly, quickly thrusting into you causing the bed the shake with his movement. 

Your hand finds purchase on his arms, needing to ground yourself. 

Tears blurred your eyes from pleasure as the band in your stomach threatened to snap. 

“Let go for me baby…” Seungcheol whispered into your ear, and listening to his command, the band snapped, your body buzzing from your orgasm, your wall squeezing tightly around Seungcheol’s cock. 

And with a few more thrusts, Seungcheol reaches his high, thrusting deeply into you as he cums with a low groan. 

Your heavy breathing fills the room as you both come down from your highs. 

Seungcheol pulls away, looking down at you,  “Are you okay, baby?” You opened your eyes to look at him, nodding tiredly. “Let me go get something to clean you up, okay?” He makes a move, but you quickly grab his wrist, holding him back. 

“Can you… just hold me?” Seungcheol’s eyes softened before nodding. The bed shifts as he lays down next to you, pulling you flush his naked chest. 

As your post orgasm haze dissipated, the weight of everything came crashing back down on you. 

Tears welled in your eyes, but this time, it wasn’t from the overwhelming relief of being close to him. It was the devastating realization that you had made your decision. 

Being wrapped in his warmth, his heartbeat steady against your ear, only made the decision more painful. You could feel every inch of him surrounding you, but somewhere deep inside, you knew this wasn’t where you were meant to stay. 

The weight of everything had finally caught up with you—the pressure from his family, the looming future you couldn’t be a part of, the love you had for him and the impossible reality of it all. 

You tried to push the thought aside, tried to savor this moment of comfort, but the guilt was unbearable. His arms loosened around you as sleep took him, but you were wide awake. 

As all you could think of was how much it was going to hurt him. You tried to ignore the hurt welling in your chest, the sharp pang of loss before you even let it happen. 

The tears spilled from your eyes, falling silent against his chest, and you realized that no matter how much you loved him, sometimes love wasn’t enough to change everything. 

You couldn’t stay in a life that wasn’t yours to claim, not when it would cost him everything too. 

You knew that it was selfish. Knowing that your child would have to grow up without their father, but you had to leave. 

You had to let go for both of your sakes. 

And you could only hope that your child will learn to accept it. 

Because as much as you loved Seungcheol, as deep as it ran, it wasn’t enough to make it work.

The wheels of your suitcase scraped softly against the hardwood floor as you dragged it toward the front door, the sound deafening in the stillness of the house. Your chest felt tight, like your ribs were caving in around your heart, but you didn’t stop. 

You had made up your mind. 

It was the middle of the day—Seungcheol was supposed to be at work, buried in meetings, unreachable until later tonight. That was the plan. You would be gone by then. 

No confrontation. No painful goodbyes. 

Because if you saw him—if you looked into his eyes and saw the love you were about to destroy, you wouldn’t be able to do this. 

Your hands trembled as you left your suitcase by the door and turned back towards the stairs, your legs heavy like lead as you climbed them. When you stepped into the bedroom—no, his bedroom now—the sight of it stole the breath from your lungs. 

It looked the same. Untouched. As if you hadn’t spent countless nights tangled up with him in these sheets, as if this wasn’t the place where he whispered his love against your skin. But the empty spaces where your belongings used to be told the truth. 

This wasn’t your home anymore. 

Your throat tightened painfully. Your hand drifted to your stomach, smoothing over the barely noticeable swell. A fresh wave of guilt crashed over you, stealing the last of your strength. 

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, voice breaking. “I promise I will take care of you…” 

Would your child ever understand why you had to do this? 

Why you had to rip them away from their father who would have given them the entire world? 

Would they hate you for it? 

You squeezed your eyes shut. No. you couldn't think about that right now. 

You had to leave. 

Grabbing your last bag, you forced yourself to move. Down the stairs, toward the door—-

And then you froze. 

Seungcheol was there. 

Standing in the kitchen, holding the letter you had left behind for him to read once you were gone. Your entire world tilted. 

He wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to see you leave. 

His back was turned to you, his broad shoulders tense, his hand clutching the note so tightly the paper crumbled. The silence in the room felt suffocating, pressing down on you, on him, on everything between you. 

“What is this…?” His voice was low, quiet—but laced with something sharp and unsteady, like a blade on the verge of breaking. 

Your heart slammed against your ribs.  “Seungcheol…” 

Slowly, he turned around. 

And your heart shattered. 

He wasn’t angry. 

He was wrecked. 

His eyes were dark with devastation, his lips slightly parted, like he had forgotten how to breathe. His hands trembled at his sides, the note shaking in his grasp. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was soft but there was something dangerous beneath it, something so fragile. 

You swallowed hard, gripping the strap of your bag so tightly your knuckles turned white. 

“I… what are you doing here?” you stammered. “You’re supposed to be at work.” 

A bitter, humorless laugh escaped him. “Yeah. I was.” 

He took a slow step toward you.  “Answer me,” he said, voice trembling. “Where are you going?” 

You forced yourself to look away. 

“I told you in the note.” He let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. His fingers curled tighter around the letter, crumpling it. 

“This?” His voice cracked. “This tells me nothing.” 

“Seungcheol—” 

“Don’t,” he cut you off, his voice breaking. “Don’t do this.” 

Your throat tightened. 

“Please,” you whispered. “Don’t make this harder.” 

His eyes flashed with something raw, something desperate.  “Why?” His voice shook. “Why are you leaving me? What did I do wrong?” 

Tears burned at your eyes. 

“It’s… not you,” you forced out. “It’s me.”  

A harsh, choked laugh fell from his lips. He looked at you like you had just ripped his heart out. 

“No,” he murmured, his expression crumbling. “No, that’s not true. I know I did something wrong. So tell me.” 

You shook your head, your vision blurring. 

“Seungcheol, please,” you begged, your voice barely above a whisper. “Let me go.” 

His entire body went rigid. 

“Let you go?” he repeated, voice hoarse. “Just like that?” 

You shut your eyes, willing yourself to stay strong. 

“I don’t love you anymore, Seungcheol.” 

The silence that followed was deafening. 

For a moment, there was nothing. No sound. No movement. Just the wreckage of your words settling between you. 

Then— 

A quiet, breathless laugh. 

Disbelieving. Hollow. 

You opened your eyes. 

Seungcheol was staring at you, something unreadable in his expression. His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. 

Then, in a voice so broken it nearly brought you to your knees—

“Do you think I don’t know?” A cold chill ran down your spine.

“Know what?” you whispered. He took a step forward. 

“That you’re pregnant.”

Your breath caught in your throat. The breath in your lungs vanished as your entire body froze as his words crashed over you like a tidal wave. 

No. 

No, no. 

No, no, no. 

He couldn’t—he shouldn’t know. 

You had been so careful, keeping the nausea hidden, making sure he never saw the vitamins tucked away in the nightstand, avoiding his touch whenever his hands lingered too long over your stomach. 

And yet, he knew. 

He had known. 

For how long? Since when? 

Your heart pounded violently against your ribs, and your hands instinctively moved over your barely noticeable bump, as if trying to protect the life growing inside of you—from him, from the world, from this unbearable truth. 

How had he known? How had he just let you suffer in silence? 

Your mind raced, desperately piecing everything together. Every lingerie touch. Every long stare. Every moment where his eyes had softened, as if he was seeing something more than just you. 

Seungcheol took another step, his eyes never leaving yours.  “Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?” he whispered. “That I wouldn’t know?” 

Tears slipped down your cheeks. 

“I—I…” His gaze dropped to your stomach, just for a second before flickering back up to you, 

“I know your body like the back of my hand,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. “I know when something changes.” His hand clenched at his sides. 

“And I know when you’re lying to me.” His words felt like a slap, a cruel reminder of just how deeply he knew you, how intimately he had memorized you. 

A broken sob tore from your lips. 

“So, I’ll ask you again,” he said, trying to sound firm despite his shaking voice. “Why are you trying to leave me?” 

You couldn’t breathe. 

Because I love you. 

Because I can’t let you ruin your life for me

Because your family will never accept me. 

Because I’m scared. 

Because you deserve better. 

The words clawed at your throat, desperate to be spoken, but you couldn’t. 

And Seungcheol—Seungcheol just stood there, waiting. 

Waiting for the answer you couldn’t give. 

The silence between you was suffocating, thick with all the things left unsaid over the past month. Seungcheol stood in front of you, his body taut with desperation, his eyes pleading for an answer. 

“Talk to me,” he begged, voice raw. “Please. Just tell me why you’re doing this.” 

You bit your lip, gripping the strap of your bag so hard your nails dug into your palms. 

“I already told you, Seungcheol. I don’t love you anymore.” 

“Liar,” he breathed, stepping closer. “Look me in the eyes and say that again.” 

Your vision blurred with tears. You tried—you really tried—but the words wouldn’t come. His lips trembled as he exhaled shakily. 

“You’re leaving because of my father, aren’t you?” your breath hitched. 

“He talked to you, didn’t he?” Seungcheol pressed. “He told you something—said something to make you think this is the only way.” 

You shook your head, forcing out a broken laugh. “It doesn’t matter, Cheol.” 

“It does,” he insisted. “Because I love you, and I don’t care what he thinks. You and I—”

“Because you’re getting married!” 

The words ripped from your throat, raw and full of anguish, echoing off the walls like a death sentence. 

And then—silence. 

The kind of silence that crushes you, that drowns you, that makes it impossible to breathe. 

You were shaking, your chest rising and falling erratically as you struggled to contain the storm raging inside you. Your nails dug into your palms, and your throat burned from the sheer force of your voice. 

But Seungcheol… 

He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t flinch. 

You expected shock, denial—anything. Anything that would make this hurt a little less. But all you got was blankness. 

His face was unreadable, emotion wiped clean like he had been expecting this, like your pain meant nothing to him. 

Your stomach twisted painfully. The air between you felt suffocating, unbearable. 

“You knew,” you whispered, a choked breath of disbelief. Seungcheol’s jaw tightened, but he still said nothing. 

“You knew about it…” The realization hit you like a freight train, stealing the last bit of breath from your lungs. 

“And you didn’t tell me?” He swallowed thickly. 

“Baby, listen—” 

“Don’t.” you cut him off, voice trembling. “Don’t call me that.” 

“Just let me explain—” 

“Explain what?” you snapped, tears spilling freely down your cheeks. 

“That you knew you were getting married? That you knew this entire time and still held me, still kissed me, still made love to me like I was the only one?!” Seungcheol clenched his fists, his eyes desperate, pained, but it was too late. 

“You lied to me,” you whispered. “You let me believe…” your voice cracked, the weight of it crushing you. 

“You let me believe we had a chance.” 

“I never wanted this,” he finally said, voice strained. “I never wanted to hurt you.” 

“But you did,” you said, stepping back. “You already did.” 

Seungcheol inhaled sharply, stepping forward as if to reach for you, but you backed away again, shaking your head. 

“No more,” you whispered. “No more lies. No more pretending.” 

The tears kept coming, blurring your vision, making it harder to see him—harder to hold onto the image of the man you had loved so deeply. 

Because the man standing in front of you wasn’t the same. 

And maybe he never was. 

The words burned like acid on your tongue, finally having spat everything out, the room cracking under their weight. 

The pain, the betrayal, the love—it all clashed together inside of you, threatening to rip you apart from the inside out. 

Because this wasn’t just about you anymore. 

It was about the child you carried. 

A child who would never know the warmth of their father’s love. 

A child who would grow up with a mother who made the impossible choice to walk away, even when every part of her wanted to stay. 

Tears blurred your vision as you looked at him, hoping, praying that there was some mistake—that he would deny it, fight for you, beg you to stay. 

But all you saw was that blankness. 

And it shattered whatever fragile hope you had left. 

This was the end. 

There was nothing left to say. 

So you turned away. 

Your legs felt weak, but you forced yourself forward. 

And you left.  Seungcheol didn’t stop you. 

He didn’t chase after you. 

He just stood there, frozen in place, watching as you walked out of his life. 

And as the door shut behind you, sealing your fate, the sob you had been holding in finally broke free. 

Why is loving you so hard?

Why is letting go the hardest part?

Did we love too fast?

A/n: Please let me know what you think :)

Tag List: cherrylovescheol wonu-won choco-scoups

amarssfanfic fffnws-blog niniwife fyeahwonu lukeys-giggle redyrosy milxzcv fairypopcorn xsehnsucht ccrine xsehnsucht jnhthy star-dust17 yonggyucheollie iaypark-blog bettyandveronic eatthatplums gyuhahxx seungcheolswife95 hhwksixjshs monstacheol thedensworld moppuu jeonjkscrybaby hangariiharami acolytees mari-maris-things yawnozone user4963858 luvaerina yoouuuhooo cristy-101 drunkenpalmtrees yesabsolutely123 screechingpastahandseclipse saphire2110 bimbozitas qiinjiu comounlunar choiseungcheolsgf svtviolet kurooleanne 9900z margaux-chiti lcvjun deaddcrow arminxlvr mmessier31 smdlc xoglamourlifexo trippledoublecherry joshuatingz stxck-in-my-mind cherrynsunflowers haeppyfullsun coleeeee08 megseungmin nooniena cherrybabycheol yayyyyyyyyyyyysworld mkgreooo meloooo05 living0livia poiuuiop nahiisworld sooyal oh-snap-q loverosanne mxnglvr asasilentreader emandems10 hannahdiazsblog sugaringcherries syluslittlecrows

You paced back and forth in the bathroom, heart hammering against your ribcage, hands tangled in your hair as you struggled to form a rational thought—any thought—over the storm raging in your mind. 

Your breathing was uneven, your chest rising and falling in rapid succession, but no amount of air seemed to fill your lungs. The walls felt like they were closing in, the fluorescent bathroom light too harsh, making your vision blur as your eyes darted back to the small plastic test sitting on the counter. 

The two faint red lines staring back at you, unblinking. 

You knew that something was wrong when you were two months late for your period. 

You just didn’t think that it would be because of this. 

Your stomach twisted painfully. 

What should I do?

What should I do? 

What should I do? 

Your mind screamed the same question over and over, but there was no answer. Just the deafening silence of the bathroom and the pounding of your own heartbeat in your ears. 

You were pregnant. 

The sentence itself sent another ripple of panic through you, and you pressed a hand to your stomach, as if somehow you could will it all away. 

This wasn’t supposed to happen. You were careful. You both were. But none of that mattered now. 

A choked breath escaped your lips as you turned away from the test, pacing again, trying to push through the storm of thoughts crashing through your mind. 

What are you going to do? 

And more importantly… 

What are you going to tell him? 

Seungcheol… 

You stopped in your tracks, gripping the edge of the sink as the thought of him hit you like a wave. 

Oh god. 

What were you going to say? How were you going to tell him? 

Your fingers curled together against the cool porcelain, your stomach twisting into knots. 

And then, another horrifying thought crept in. 

What would your parents think? 

Your heart sank. 

You knew that your parents would be shocked, maybe even disappointed, but in the end, they would love you. They adored Seungcheol, always telling you how lucky you were to have a man like him. But you weren’t married. You weren’t engaged. 

You could already hear their worried voices, asking what you were going to do. If Seungcheol would stay, if his family would even accept this child. 

And his parents? 

Oh god. His parents. 

Your stomach turned violently. 

They never voiced it outright, never treated you cruelly to your face, but you knew. 

You knew they hated you. 

As cliche as it was, they hated you because of where you came from. 

You weren’t from money like them. You weren’t the daughter of an esteemed politician or a wealthy business mogul. You had no influential family name, no legacy that tied you to their elite world. 

You were simply… you. 

A girl from a humble upbringing, someone who worked hard for everything she had, someone who didn’t belong in their perfect, polished society. 

And yet, somehow, despite all of that, Seungcheol had chosen you. 

Despite their dispproval, despite their whispered remarks and disapproving glances, he loved you. Enough to go against them, enough to stay by your side when they made it clear they wanted someone better for him. 

But now? 

Now you were pregnant with their son’s child.

And if they hated you before, what would they do now? 

Suddenly, the shrill sound of your phone buzzing against the bathroom counter made you jump. Your breath hitched. 

Cheol ♥️

Your pulse skyrocketed at the sight of his name glowing on the screen, the familiar contact photo staring back at you. 

Did he know? 

No, he couldn’t possibly. But why now? Why was he calling you right now, of all times? 

You didn’t move. You just stood there, frozen, watching the phone vibrate as if it were about to explode. A twisted part of you hoped it would just stop ringing. That if you ignored it, the problem—the truth—would somehow disappear. 

But it didn’t. 

The call went to voicemail, and you let out a shaky breath, relief washing over you—only for it to vanish just as quickly when the phone lit up again. 

Cheol ♥️

He was persistent, as always. 

Your fingers trembled as you reached for the phone, hesitant, hovering over the green button. 

Your throat felt tight, like something was lodged in it, but you forced yourself to clear it before pressing answer. 

“Hello?” 

“Hi baby.” His deep voice was warm, affectionate, but laced with concern. 

“Why didn’t you pick up my call?” You swallowed hard. Act normal. 

“Ahh… sorry, I was—” you faltered, scrambling for an excuse. 

“Are you okay?” he asked immediately, his voice softer now. “You sound a little off.” 

Damn it. He always noticed when things were wrong. 

“I’m fine,” you lied, forcing a small laugh. “Just… tired, that’s all.” 

There was a pause on his end, and for a moment, you worried he didn’t believe you. But then he sighed. 

“You’ve been overworking yourself again, haven’t you?” 

You let out another weak laugh, one that didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

“Maybe a little.” 

“Baby… we’ve talked about this. You need to take care of yourself,” he gently scolded, causing tears to well in your eyes. 

The lump in your throat grew as you tried to swallow it down. His voice, so full of warmth and care, only made the guilt claw at your insides even more. He had no idea—no idea what was happening, what you were hiding. 

This was Seungcheol. Your Seungcheol. Sweet, caring, overprotective Seungcheol. The man who loved you more than anything. The man who spent his day running one of the biggest empires in the industry yet he still made sure to call you every day, no matter how busy he was. The man who—

The father of your child. 

“I know…” you murmured, gripping the phone tighter. “I will.” 

“Promise?” 

You hesitated, blinking back the burning in your eyes. You couldn’t even take care of your own emotions right now, let alone yourself. 

“Promise,” you whispered, the word barely making it past your dry lips. 

“Good.” he said, his tone lightening. “Hey, I have to go soon, but let’s have dinner tonight, yeah? I miss you.” 

Your stomach churned. 

“Yeah.” you whispered, even though you had no idea how you were supposed to sit across from him, knowing what you knew now. 

“Great!” His smile was evident in his voice. “I love you baby.” 

You hesitated. 

“I love you too, Cheol.” you murmured. 

You hung up before he could say anything else, staring blankly at the screen as the weight of everything came crashing back down. The phone slipped from your hands, clattering onto the floor, but you barely noticed as you sank down beside it, knees pulling to your chest. 

Tears welled up in your eyes, hot and unrelenting, and for the first time since seeing those two red lines, you let them fall. 

Because you knew. 

No matter how much you loved Seungcheol, no matter how much he loved you—this baby, this life growing inside of you…

It will change everything.

And you weren’t sure if you were ready for that.

“Cheol…” you moaned, hands clutching tightly onto his shoulder as he thrusted into you, his lips pressing hot, open mouthed kisses down your neck. 

He groaned at the way you held onto him, his grip on your waist tightening, anchoring you to him like he never wanted to let go. Every movement of his body was possessive, raw, like he was trying to pull you deeper into him, pulling all of you into his world. 

You wished you could say you didn’t know how you ended up here—underneath him, completely exposed, completely his. But the truth was, you could never say no to him. Not when he looked at you like that, like you were everything to him, like he was lost in the feeling of you—like… you were his whole world. 

But that look, that love in his eyes—it broke you. 

Because underneath the heat, underneath the frantic way your bodies moved together, you knew something had shifted. You could feel it in the way your chest tightened, in the way your heart raced not from pleasure but from guilt.  “Cheol…” you barely recognized your own voice, soft and trembling. 

His movements grew more frantic, more urgent, his hands gripping the backs of your thighs, pulling you impossibly closer, his breath ragged as he murmured your name in between each thrust. 

He kissed you, his hand slipping between your sweaty bodies, rubbing tight circles on your clit, the sensation making you gasp sharply into his mouth. 

“Cheol… please… more.” you begged, your voice trembling with desperation as your hips rocked instinctively against his hand.

Every touch, every movement from him felt like fire and ice colliding inside you. You wanted more, needed more. You wanted to forget everything, wanted to lose yourself in him, in this moment where you didn’t have to think about anything else. 

You gasped as he thrust deeper, his pace breaking through your thoughts and tearing you away from them for a moment. 

But when your eyes met his, it was as if you could see all of it—the love, the trust, the hope he had in you—and it destroyed you. 

But the guilt… it lingered in the back of your mind, gnawing at you with each passing second. You could feel it, deep down, how wrong this all was. But in his arms, with his hands on you, you couldn’t bring yourself to acknowledge the truth. 

That thought—the truth—kept clawing at you, even as his lips trailed over your neck, his breath warm against your skin, the sound of your name slipping from his lips. 

“More, Cheol…” you repeated, voice shaking, the ache inside you growing sharper with every passing moment. 

He didn’t need to be asked again. He moved faster, his body pressing harder into yours, his hand still working, pushing you closer to the edge. His rhythm was perfect, deep, hard, and relentless, making you feel every inch of him, every part of you that belonged to him, even if just for this moment. 

The world outside your shared bedroom seemed to blur, fading away as your body surrendered to him, to the overwhelming pleasure, to the need to feel alive. But deep inside, that nagging voice never stopped. 

You’re lying to him. You’re going to lose him. You’re going to break his heart.

You turned your head slightly, eyes squeezing shut as you pushed his head into the crook of your neck, hugging him tightly in your arms, trying to hold onto him, as if you could stop time. Tears threatened to fall, but you didn’t let them fall. You couldn’t. Not yet. 

You couldn’t at this moment. Now with him so close, his breath hot against your skin, his body moving in a rhythm that sent sparks through every part of you, igniting a wildfire you couldn’t control. 

“Cheol…” you whispered, barely able to get the words out between gasps. His name felt foreign on your tongue now, like a plea, a prayer, a confession you weren’t ready to speak. 

He didn’t notice. He was lost in the moment, in you, and for that, you hated yourself just a little more. Because you couldn’t give him the truth, not when he was so wrapped up in his love for you. 

His pace quickened, his thrusts more urgent, his hands gripping you together, pulling you closer. Your body responded instinctively, the heat inside you building until it became unbearable, every movement pushing you closer to the edge, to the inevitable release you couldn’t hold back anymore. 

His lips found yours again, desperate, hungry, his tongue demanding as he kissed you with an intensity that made you dizzy. 

You gripped his shoulders harder, digging your nails into the muscles beneath his skin as your body tensed, the familiar wave of pleasure starting to crash through you. Your breath quickened, pulse racing, the tight coil of anticipation in your belly tightening, snapping. 

“I love you…” you whispered, your voice breaking as your body trembled beneath him, the wave of ecstasy crashing over you. You held onto him, gasping for air, trying to ground yourself as everything spun into a dizzying whirl of sensation. 

“Y/n…” the sound of your name falling from his lips was the last thing you heard before he delivered a sharp thrust into you before he reached his own release. His body stiffened, his movements slowed, and with one final, deep thrust, he groaned your name, his release following quickly after yours. 

Seungcheol collapses onto you. The both of you breathless and shaking, the sweat slicked skin between you sticking, but neither of you moved. You lay there, wrapping your arms around his body, wanting him close as your mind tried to process the weight of everything. 

The closeness, the rawness, the love that hung thick in the air, all of it so real… and yet so fragile. 

“Baby…” he murmured, pulling back slightly, his brows furrowing as he searched your face. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Your heart stopped. 

“N-nothing.” you forced out, shaking your head too quickly. “I’m just… tired…” 

His dark eyes softened, but they didn’t lose their intensity. 

“You’ve been like this all week,” he said, brushing his thumb over your cheek. His touch was gentle, tender. 

“You barely eat. Barely sleep. Talk to me, baby. What’s wrong?” 

Your throat tightened. 

You wanted to. 

God, you wanted to just say it. 

But the words wouldn’t come. 

Because once they did, you couldn’t take them back. 

So instead, you forced a small smile, fingers tangling in his sweaty hair as you pulled him down, pressing your lips to his before he could question you any further. 

“I just need you.” you whispered against his lips, hoping he wouldn’t hear the shake in your voice. “That’s all.” 

Seungcheol hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to push further. But then he sighed, pressing his forehead against yours. 

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” 

And that was the problem. 

Because you were. 

Or at least… you were thinking about it. 

Pulling into the parking lot, you turned off the ignition, your hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel, knuckles white as you fought to keep your composure. The air inside the car felt stifling, thick with the weight of the decisions you were trying to avoid. You stared out the window, watching the world move around you in a blur, but all you could hear was the pounding of your heart in your ears. 

What was I thinking? you thought, frustration and fear pooling inside your chest. The thought of the conversation that awaited you made your stomach churn. You had barely managed to breathe after your conversation with Seungcheol’s father over the phone, and now you had to face him face to face. 

You closed your eyes, trying to gather yourself. 

This is it. He’s not going to make it easy on you.

You had no idea what he wanted, but you could feel the weight of the conversation hanging over you like a storm cloud that you couldn’t escape. He hadn’t said anything alarming or specific other than wanting to meet with you, but you knew it was something you wouldn’t like. Not when his tone had been so firm, so decisive. 

What could he possibly want from me? 

You sighed and glanced down at your phone as it buzzed again, pulling you from your thoughts. 

It was a text from Seungcheol, just a simple message asking if you were okay. You hesitated before quickly silencing your phone, avoiding the temptation to respond. The last thing you needed was to get lost in another conversation that would only complicate things further. 

You took one final breath before opening the car door. The moment your foot hit the pavement, the chill of the evening air brushed against your skin, and you immediately felt a sense of dread creep into your bones. You walked toward the restaurant, your steps slow, your mind racing with every worst-case scenario you could imagine. 

The restaurant was upscale, the kind of place you would never have chosen for a meeting like this. But it was expected. Seungcheol’s father, with his sharp business sense, had always preferred the quiet luxury of places like this. The door swung open as you approached, and a polite host let you to a private booth in the back. 

As you stepped inside, you saw him already seated, the air around him cold and commanding, even as he sat alone at the table. He hadn’t even glanced up when you entered, his attention on the glass of water in front of him. The smooth, almost intimidating elegance of his presence filled the room. 

You had always felt like a stranger in his world. 

“Miss Y/n.” he finally greeted you with a slight nod, his voice clipped and formal, giving nothing away. 

You sat across from him, your body tense, your nerves threatening to take over. The silence between you stretched, suffocating. There were a thousand things you wanted to say, but none of them felt right. 

His gaze never wavered from you, sharp, calculating, waiting for you to make the first move. 

“You seem… unsettled,” he observed, his voice cold, like he could read the turmoil in your eyes. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him directly, so you stared down at your hands, trying to steady the shaking that you couldn’t control. 

“I—I didn’t expect this,” you said, voice quiet but steady enough for him to hear. 

“You should have,” he responded simply, his eyes narrowing as if this was all part of some plan he had already devised. 

“I let you and Seungcheol be for the past three years but I no longer can do that. Seungcheol’s mother and I both want what’s best for him. And for you. But that means making decisions that protect the future. Your future.” 

You swallowed hard, fighting the wave of panic that began to creep up your throat. You knew where this was going. It was going to be the talk you dreaded. The one that made your blood run cold. 

“My son loves you, Miss Y/n.” His words were pointed, as though trying to remind you of something that didn’t matter in this moment. 

“But love is not enough. Not when there are responsibilities to consider.” 

You flinched, the sharpness in his tone making your chest tighten. The pressure was unbearable, and every word that left his lips seemed to dig deeper into the pit of your stomach. The thoughts of leaving Seungcheol, of walking away from him, began to cloud your mind more than they ever had before. 

You opened your mouth to speak, but the words caught in your throat. 

“You think that’s what this is about? You think this is just about love?” You finally managed, your voice strained. 

Seungcheol’s father leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a slight frown. 

“I think this is about the reality of the situation. You’re not simply dating a man—you’re dating the heir to one of the wealthiest families in this country. You must understand the weight of that. And what it means for both of your futures.”

The weight of his words sank in, leaving you feeling smaller and smaller in your seat. You had always known Seungcheol was different—his family, his world, were always beyond your reach. 

But now, everything is falling apart. 

“And so,” he continued, his tone still firm, “We’ve found a suitable wife for Seungcheol.” 

Your breath caught in your throat as his words echoed in your mind. A suitable wife? 

Does Seungcheol know? The thought flashed through your mind, but you quickly dismissed it. There was no way he would’ve known and not told you. It would have been impossible to hide something like that. 

“He’s to be married soon,” Seungcheol’s father said coldly, his eyes locking with yours, as if to gauge your reaction. 

“This is no longer a matter of feelings. This is about securing the future of the company, the family legacy. And you have no place here.” 

Your stomach churned. The words barely registered, but the weight of them hit you harder than anything else. A suitable wife… you tried to process the thought, but your heart was already breaking. You had known this was coming in some way, but hearing it out loud made it feel so much more final. 

“I—I don’t understand…” you whispered, your voice shaking. 

“Of course you do.” he said, his tone cold and dismissive. “You’re a smart woman. You know what’s at stake here. Seungcheol may love you, but you’re not the one he needs. And the sooner you accept that, the better.” 

His words cut through you like ice, each syllable like a hammer smashing your fragile heart into pieces. 

The silence that followed felt deafening, each second a painful reminder of everything that you had lost. That you’re about to lose. 

You couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. The vision of Seungcheol, the man you loved with all your heart, suddenly seemed like a distant memory. 

Finally, your breath hitched, and with a quiet, defeated nod, you whispered,  “I understand.” 

Seungcheol’s father didn’t look surprised, just coldly satisfied.  “Good.” he said, his voice almost too pleased. “I expect you to make the right decision.” 

You barely heard him, your thoughts still swirling, a whirlwind of emotions crashing against you. And then, as if to remind you just how little your presence mattered in this cold, calculated conversation, he stood up, his tailored suit gliding effortlessly as he buttoned it up. 

“The meal is already paid for,” he said with a quick glance in your direction, voice still firm and uncaring.  “Help yourself.” 

And with that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the quiet restaurant as you were left alone at the table, feeling smaller, emptier, and more alone than ever before.

It didn’t surprise you when you pulled into the familiar driveway. After your conversation with Seungcheol’s father, you couldn’t bear to see Seungcheol, afraid that you would break in front of him. So you drove to the only other place you could think of. 

Your parents’ home. 

After the talk, everything inside you seemed to fall apart. His words, his expectation, the pressure—it felt like a sign that you should leave. You knew it was the logical thing to do, the responsible thing to do. But every fiber of your being screamed against it. 

Because you loved Seungcheol. 

You rang the doorbell, the sound of it echoing in the quiet air. Your heart hammered in your chest, the tears threatening to spill before you even saw your father. 

When the door finally opened, your dad stood there, surprised to see you standing on the other side, but his face quickly softened. 

“Honey? What are you doing here?” he asked, a smile tugging at his lips, though there was an uncertainty in his eyes when he noticed the look in your eyes. 

You froze, your throat tight, unable to get the words out. His warmth, his comfort, everything about your dad seemed to anchor you in a way that nothing else could. But in that moment, your emotions overwhelmed you, the tears finally breaking free as they began to roll down your cheeks. 

Your dad’s face softened even more, concern flooding his features.  “What’s wrong, honey?” he asked, his voice gentle, his arms instinctively reaching out to you. 

“Appa…” you managed to choke out, your voice cracking. The tears came in waves now, spilling from your eyes uncontrollably. You collapsed into his arms, your sobs wracking your body as he pulled you in close. 

He held you tightly, like he always had when you were little, and even though you were an adult now, his embrace still held the same security, the same promise that everything would be okay. 

But you knew deep down that nothing would be okay. 

“Shh,” he murmured, stroking your hair, his voice laced with worry.  “You’re safe here. What’s going on, sweetie? Talk to me.” But you couldn’t. Not yet. You couldn’t bring yourself to say the words. 

The guilt, the confusion, the overwhelming love for Seungcheol—it was all too much. 

You leaned into your father’s arms, needing him more than ever, as your heart shattered just a little more. 

“Appa… I can’t… I don’t know what to do.” 

Your father tightened his hold on you, his arms a sanctuary in the midst of your emotional storm. He didn’t push for answers, didn’t demand an explanation. He just let you cry, knowing that you would come to him when you were ready. 

“You’re pregnant?” Both of your parents speak at the same time. Shock and confusion evident in their voice. You couldn’t bear to look at them, instead, you looked down at the warm mug held in your hands, the steam rising from it like the thoughts swirling in your mind. 

The silence hung heavy between you and your parents.

After you were done crying, your father had ushered you inside, his hands gentle on your back, guiding you towards the living room as he called out for your mother. 

“Sweetie…” your mother said softly, sitting beside you. 

“What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell us?” Her voice was gentle, but there was an edge of concern that you couldn’t ignore. 

Tears stung at the corner of your eyes again as you tried to find the words. You’d never imagined it would come to this. Your life had been so carefully built, and yet it was falling apart in an instant. 

You felt like you couldn’t breathe, like the walls were closing in. You couldn’t even bear to look at them. 

“I—” you started, but your voice cracked, another sob escaping your throat. “I don’t know what to do. Everything is so… complicated.” 

“Does Seungcheol know that you’re pregnant?” Your father asks from across the room. You shake your head shamefully.

“I… I never got around to telling him.” 

“And now his father wants you to leave?” your father repeated your words thoughtfully, trying to grasp the whole situation. 

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to push back the flood of emotions threatening to break free. 

But the weight of it all—Seungcheol’s family, his father’s expectations, the love you had for him, the child growing inside of you—it was all too much. 

Your mother’s eyes softened, and she reached for your hand, her grip firm and steady. 

“We’ll support whatever decision you decide to make. But you have to talk to Seungcheol, sweetie. He needs to know.” You closed your eyes, tears streaming down your face. 

You knew that. 

But you were scared. 

Scared that with everything already falling apart, you’ll lose him too. 

A tired sigh left your lips as you entered your home with Seungcheol. The silence that greeted you felt heavy, the kind that settled deep in your chest, weighing you down. 

It was dark now, the only light coming from the soft glow of the kitchen, where you could hear Seungcheol moving around. Despite not wanting to leave the comfort of your parents’ home, scared to face whatever would be waiting for you, they had urged you to return. 

For Seungcheol’s sake…they’d said. But you knew deep down, it was more for your sake than anyone else’s. 

“You’re home late.” Seungcheol’s voice echoed from the kitchen, light and casual, but there was something in his tone that made your heartbeat a little faster. 

You paused for a moment, standing at the doorway, trying to push back the weight of your emotions. You could already feel the conversation looming, the one that would change everything. 

But for now, you had to fake it. You had to make it seem like things were okay, like you weren’t unraveling inside. 

You looked at him, forcing a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

“Yeah, sorry. I missed my parents and went to visit them.” You said, your voice sounding more convincing than you felt. You walked into the kitchen, watching as he turned to look at you. 

His eyes softened as he placed down the spoon, his movements slow and deliberate. Walking around the kitchen island, he reached for your hand, gently pulling you into his arms. The warmth of his embrace wrapped around you, a fleeting moment of peace in the chaos that lingered just beneath the surface. 

You closed your eyes, letting yourself breathe in the familiar scent of him—the faint trace of his cologne mixed with the aroma of food on the stove. 

It was so normal, so right, yet everything felt off. 

You could feel the weight of what you needed to say pressing down on you, but for now, you just allowed yourself to be in this moment, to hold onto him as if this was enough. 

“I missed you too,” he murmured softly, his voice warm and full of affection.  “Me too…” you trailed off, your words faltering before they could find their place. Your chest tightened, heart aching with the unbearable truth you still hadn’t found the courage to share. 

Trying to push the thoughts away, you forced a smile, looking up at him. 

“How was work?” you asked, attempting to make the conversation light, normal. 

“It was the same.” Seungcheol answered, his tone casual, though you could tell he was trying to read you, as if sensing that something was off. His hand moved to gently cup your cheek, as if he was asking you to tell him what was going on. But you didn’t. 

“What are you making?” you asked, your voice almost too quiet as you peeked over his shoulder at the pot on the stove, trying to distract yourself from the mounting anxiety clawing at you. 

“I was craving some kimchi stew,” he said with a small smile, clearly content with the simplicity of it all. “Do you want to eat with me?” 

The question hung in the air, and for a split second, your stomach twisted painfully. You swallowed hard, feeling the nausea slowly creeping up your throat. 

“No. I ate with my parents. I think I’m going to take a shower and call it a night.” You murmured. 

He nodded thoughtfully

“Okay. I’ll be up there soon,” he replied, his tone was tender, as if he was trying to give you space. 

But the moment you stepped away from him, you felt the distance grow, both emotionally and physically. 

You were still wide awake by the time Seungcheol came into the bedroom. You closed your eyes when he climbed into bed after washing up, hoping to hide the storm of thoughts racing through your mind. The bed shifted under his weight as he settled beside you. 

He shifted closer, his body warm against yours. Without thinking, your arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him into you as you snuggled into his side. 

“Sorry… Did I wake you?” he asked, his voice soft, laced with concern. 

You hummed in response, keeping your eyes closed as you nestled deeper into his embrace. 

“No…” you lied, trying to sound normal, but your voice gave away the uncertainty you felt. 

Seungcheol’s breathing began to even out as he shifted slightly, clearly tired from his day. 

“Are you sure?” he whispered. 

“Yeah,” you whispered back, “I’m fine.” 

Without thinking, your hand slid up his chest, feeling the heat of his skin beneath your fingertips. You kissed him gently at first, testing the waters, before pulling away slightly to gauge his reaction. His eyes opened, meeting yours with a soft gaze, his lips still warm and lingering against yours. 

But you needed more. You needed to feel him, as selfish as that was. 

With a deep breath, you closed the space between you again, kissing him with more urgency, more need, your hands sliding over his chest and down his abdomen. You felt his breath hitch as your hand slid in his shorts, softly stroking his cock. 

Seungcheol groaned softly at the suddenness of it, his hands coming up to your back, pulling you closer against him as you stroked his hardening cock. His lips found your neck, trailing soft, heated kisses down to your collarbone, and you couldn’t help but gasp, the sensation sending a shiver through your body. 

You pulled away, your breath heavy as you met his eyes. His gaze was dark, filled with desire that told you he wanted this just as badly as you did. 

He kissed you again, deeper this time, his hands sliding down to your waist, guiding you to straddle his lap. His grip was gentle but firm, helping you position yourself on top of him. 

You could feel the heat of his body beneath you, your butt pressing against his hardened cock causing him to hiss out in pleasure. Your hands braced on his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as your hips began to move, grinding slowly against him, your breath hitching at the friction. 

Your hand tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel every inch of him. Seungcheol didn’t hesitate. He lifted his arms, allowing you to pull his shirt over his head and throw it aside. 

His torso was now bare beneath you, and you could feel the rapid beat of his heart as he held you close, his hands roaming up and down your back, feeling the tremors that raced through you. 

You felt his breath hitch when you shifted against him, your hips grinding slowly, teasingly, and a low groan escaped from his lips as he gripped your waist tighter, urging you to move more. 

You leaned down to kiss him, this time without holding back, deep and messy, your tongue tangling with his as you pressed yourself closer. His hands gripped your waist, helping you guide the movement as your breath became more erratic, more desperate. 

As you continued to grind against him, the pressure was becoming too much to handle. Your hands slid down his shorts, fingers fumbling slightly, desperate to feel more of him. 

Seungcheol groaned against your lips, his hands moving quickly to pull your shirt over your head, tossing it aside without hesitation. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of you, his hands now running down your back, fingertips grazing the smooth curve of your spine, before hooking onto the waistband of your shorts. 

He kissed you deeply, and in one fluid motion, he helped you discard the rest of your clothes. 

You followed his lead, working quickly to rid him of the remaining fabric between you. His shorts and boxers were tossed aside, and soon, there was nothing separating you both. The heat between your bodies was unbearable. 

A satisfied groan left both of your lips as your bare core met his hardened cock. 

“Baby I need you.” Seungcheol whined, growing desperate. “Let me prep you.” his warm hands cupping your pussy but you swat his hands away. 

“What?” he asked, confused. But when you grab his cock, he closes his eyes in pleasure. 

You settle on your knees, aligning his cock to your pussy. At the feel of your entrance, Seungcheol’s eyes shoot open. 

“Baby– wait— I need to prep—” Before he can finish his sentence, he’s cut off when you sink down on him. 

“Fuck…” he lets out a guttural groan as his cock slowly enters you. Your free hand reaches out, supporting yourself on his chest as you struggle to take all of him, your walls tightening around him. 

Despite the slight burn, you force yourself to keep sinking down on him. 

“Baby…” Seungcheol reaches out to you, knowing you’re struggling. He pulls you down, his hand threading through your hair as his lips crash against yours, hungry and urgent. 

You gasp into the kiss when his thumb brushes against your clit, your walls contracting around him, allowing you to sink further onto him. 

“That’s it, baby…” he whispers encouragingly. 

Unable to take it anymore, wanting to feel all of him, you straighten up, hands bracing on his chest for support when you force the rest of him inside of you, your eyes rolling back when he bottoms out. 

“Fuck… baby…” his hands caress your skin, allowing you to adjust to him. 

Your walls contract around him, throbbing being filled. Taking a deep breath in, you prepared yourself, lightly lifting your hips before sinking back down on him. 

“That’s it… nice and slow.” he says encouragingly, hands caressing your hips. 

“Cheol… feel so good…” you moaned out, the pleasure coursing through your body. 

“I know baby…” bracing your hands on his chest, you ride him, moans leaving your lips at the feel of him dragging your walls. 

Feeling your pace slow down as you grow tired, Seungcheol takes control, his hands find their place on your hips, dragging you up before slamming you back down. You cry out, body giving up, melting against his chest as you try to follow his rhythm. 

Holding his face, you kiss him, the kiss sloppy as your saliva mixes. Seungcheol wraps his arms around your torso, flipping you over so that you are laying on your back. 

You watch as Seungcheol holds his cock, rubbing the mushroom head against your clit causing a shudder to run through your body. Collecting your slick on his cock, he slides back into your warmth. His hands finding purchase on your knees as he spread your legs open, thrusting into you. 

“Hmm… Cheol… more…” you whimpered out, feeling your release coming. 

He grabs your arm, pulling you up and wrapping his arms around you before bringing you both back onto the bed, his big body engulfing you completely. 

He wastes no time, pulling out until the tip of his cock peeked out before pushing back in, a loud moan leaving your lips at the drag. He holds onto you tightly, quickly thrusting into you causing the bed the shake with his movement. 

Your hand finds purchase on his arms, needing to ground yourself. 

Tears blurred your eyes from pleasure as the band in your stomach threatened to snap. 

“Let go for me baby…” Seungcheol whispered into your ear, and listening to his command, the band snapped, your body buzzing from your orgasm, your wall squeezing tightly around Seungcheol’s cock. 

And with a few more thrusts, Seungcheol reaches his high, thrusting deeply into you as he cums with a low groan. 

Your heavy breathing fills the room as you both come down from your highs. 

Seungcheol pulls away, looking down at you,  “Are you okay, baby?” You opened your eyes to look at him, nodding tiredly. “Let me go get something to clean you up, okay?” He makes a move, but you quickly grab his wrist, holding him back. 

“Can you… just hold me?” Seungcheol’s eyes softened before nodding. The bed shifts as he lays down next to you, pulling you flush his naked chest. 

As your post orgasm haze dissipated, the weight of everything came crashing back down on you. 

Tears welled in your eyes, but this time, it wasn’t from the overwhelming relief of being close to him. It was the devastating realization that you had made your decision. 

Being wrapped in his warmth, his heartbeat steady against your ear, only made the decision more painful. You could feel every inch of him surrounding you, but somewhere deep inside, you knew this wasn’t where you were meant to stay. 

The weight of everything had finally caught up with you—the pressure from his family, the looming future you couldn’t be a part of, the love you had for him and the impossible reality of it all. 

You tried to push the thought aside, tried to savor this moment of comfort, but the guilt was unbearable. His arms loosened around you as sleep took him, but you were wide awake. 

As all you could think of was how much it was going to hurt him. You tried to ignore the hurt welling in your chest, the sharp pang of loss before you even let it happen. 

The tears spilled from your eyes, falling silent against his chest, and you realized that no matter how much you loved him, sometimes love wasn’t enough to change everything. 

You couldn’t stay in a life that wasn’t yours to claim, not when it would cost him everything too. 

You knew that it was selfish. Knowing that your child would have to grow up without their father, but you had to leave. 

You had to let go for both of your sakes. 

And you could only hope that your child will learn to accept it. 

Because as much as you loved Seungcheol, as deep as it ran, it wasn’t enough to make it work.

The wheels of your suitcase scraped softly against the hardwood floor as you dragged it toward the front door, the sound deafening in the stillness of the house. Your chest felt tight, like your ribs were caving in around your heart, but you didn’t stop. 

You had made up your mind. 

It was the middle of the day—Seungcheol was supposed to be at work, buried in meetings, unreachable until later tonight. That was the plan. You would be gone by then. 

No confrontation. No painful goodbyes. 

Because if you saw him—if you looked into his eyes and saw the love you were about to destroy, you wouldn’t be able to do this. 

Your hands trembled as you left your suitcase by the door and turned back towards the stairs, your legs heavy like lead as you climbed them. When you stepped into the bedroom—no, his bedroom now—the sight of it stole the breath from your lungs. 

It looked the same. Untouched. As if you hadn’t spent countless nights tangled up with him in these sheets, as if this wasn’t the place where he whispered his love against your skin. But the empty spaces where your belongings used to be told the truth. 

This wasn’t your home anymore. 

Your throat tightened painfully. Your hand drifted to your stomach, smoothing over the barely noticeable swell. A fresh wave of guilt crashed over you, stealing the last of your strength. 

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, voice breaking. “I promise I will take care of you…” 

Would your child ever understand why you had to do this? 

Why you had to rip them away from their father who would have given them the entire world? 

Would they hate you for it? 

You squeezed your eyes shut. No. you couldn't think about that right now. 

You had to leave. 

Grabbing your last bag, you forced yourself to move. Down the stairs, toward the door—-

And then you froze. 

Seungcheol was there. 

Standing in the kitchen, holding the letter you had left behind for him to read once you were gone. Your entire world tilted. 

He wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to see you leave. 

His back was turned to you, his broad shoulders tense, his hand clutching the note so tightly the paper crumbled. The silence in the room felt suffocating, pressing down on you, on him, on everything between you. 

“What is this…?” His voice was low, quiet—but laced with something sharp and unsteady, like a blade on the verge of breaking. 

Your heart slammed against your ribs.  “Seungcheol…” 

Slowly, he turned around. 

And your heart shattered. 

He wasn’t angry. 

He was wrecked. 

His eyes were dark with devastation, his lips slightly parted, like he had forgotten how to breathe. His hands trembled at his sides, the note shaking in his grasp. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was soft but there was something dangerous beneath it, something so fragile. 

You swallowed hard, gripping the strap of your bag so tightly your knuckles turned white. 

“I… what are you doing here?” you stammered. “You’re supposed to be at work.” 

A bitter, humorless laugh escaped him. “Yeah. I was.” 

He took a slow step toward you.  “Answer me,” he said, voice trembling. “Where are you going?” 

You forced yourself to look away. 

“I told you in the note.” He let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. His fingers curled tighter around the letter, crumpling it. 

“This?” His voice cracked. “This tells me nothing.” 

“Seungcheol—” 

“Don’t,” he cut you off, his voice breaking. “Don’t do this.” 

Your throat tightened. 

“Please,” you whispered. “Don’t make this harder.” 

His eyes flashed with something raw, something desperate.  “Why?” His voice shook. “Why are you leaving me? What did I do wrong?” 

Tears burned at your eyes. 

“It’s… not you,” you forced out. “It’s me.”  

A harsh, choked laugh fell from his lips. He looked at you like you had just ripped his heart out. 

“No,” he murmured, his expression crumbling. “No, that’s not true. I know I did something wrong. So tell me.” 

You shook your head, your vision blurring. 

“Seungcheol, please,” you begged, your voice barely above a whisper. “Let me go.” 

His entire body went rigid. 

“Let you go?” he repeated, voice hoarse. “Just like that?” 

You shut your eyes, willing yourself to stay strong. 

“I don’t love you anymore, Seungcheol.” 

The silence that followed was deafening. 

For a moment, there was nothing. No sound. No movement. Just the wreckage of your words settling between you. 

Then— 

A quiet, breathless laugh. 

Disbelieving. Hollow. 

You opened your eyes. 

Seungcheol was staring at you, something unreadable in his expression. His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. 

Then, in a voice so broken it nearly brought you to your knees—

“Do you think I don’t know?” A cold chill ran down your spine.

“Know what?” you whispered. He took a step forward. 

“That you’re pregnant.”

Your breath caught in your throat. The breath in your lungs vanished as your entire body froze as his words crashed over you like a tidal wave. 

No. 

No, no. 

No, no, no. 

He couldn’t—he shouldn’t know. 

You had been so careful, keeping the nausea hidden, making sure he never saw the vitamins tucked away in the nightstand, avoiding his touch whenever his hands lingered too long over your stomach. 

And yet, he knew. 

He had known. 

For how long? Since when? 

Your heart pounded violently against your ribs, and your hands instinctively moved over your barely noticeable bump, as if trying to protect the life growing inside of you—from him, from the world, from this unbearable truth. 

How had he known? How had he just let you suffer in silence? 

Your mind raced, desperately piecing everything together. Every lingerie touch. Every long stare. Every moment where his eyes had softened, as if he was seeing something more than just you. 

Seungcheol took another step, his eyes never leaving yours.  “Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?” he whispered. “That I wouldn’t know?” 

Tears slipped down your cheeks. 

“I—I…” His gaze dropped to your stomach, just for a second before flickering back up to you, 

“I know your body like the back of my hand,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. “I know when something changes.” His hand clenched at his sides. 

“And I know when you’re lying to me.” His words felt like a slap, a cruel reminder of just how deeply he knew you, how intimately he had memorized you. 

A broken sob tore from your lips. 

“So, I’ll ask you again,” he said, trying to sound firm despite his shaking voice. “Why are you trying to leave me?” 

You couldn’t breathe. 

Because I love you. 

Because I can’t let you ruin your life for me

Because your family will never accept me. 

Because I’m scared. 

Because you deserve better. 

The words clawed at your throat, desperate to be spoken, but you couldn’t. 

And Seungcheol—Seungcheol just stood there, waiting. 

Waiting for the answer you couldn’t give. 

The silence between you was suffocating, thick with all the things left unsaid over the past month. Seungcheol stood in front of you, his body taut with desperation, his eyes pleading for an answer. 

“Talk to me,” he begged, voice raw. “Please. Just tell me why you’re doing this.” 

You bit your lip, gripping the strap of your bag so hard your nails dug into your palms. 

“I already told you, Seungcheol. I don’t love you anymore.” 

“Liar,” he breathed, stepping closer. “Look me in the eyes and say that again.” 

Your vision blurred with tears. You tried—you really tried—but the words wouldn’t come. His lips trembled as he exhaled shakily. 

“You’re leaving because of my father, aren’t you?” your breath hitched. 

“He talked to you, didn’t he?” Seungcheol pressed. “He told you something—said something to make you think this is the only way.” 

You shook your head, forcing out a broken laugh. “It doesn’t matter, Cheol.” 

“It does,” he insisted. “Because I love you, and I don’t care what he thinks. You and I—”

“Because you’re getting married!” 

The words ripped from your throat, raw and full of anguish, echoing off the walls like a death sentence. 

And then—silence. 

The kind of silence that crushes you, that drowns you, that makes it impossible to breathe. 

You were shaking, your chest rising and falling erratically as you struggled to contain the storm raging inside you. Your nails dug into your palms, and your throat burned from the sheer force of your voice. 

But Seungcheol… 

He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t flinch. 

You expected shock, denial—anything. Anything that would make this hurt a little less. But all you got was blankness. 

His face was unreadable, emotion wiped clean like he had been expecting this, like your pain meant nothing to him. 

Your stomach twisted painfully. The air between you felt suffocating, unbearable. 

“You knew,” you whispered, a choked breath of disbelief. Seungcheol’s jaw tightened, but he still said nothing. 

“You knew about it…” The realization hit you like a freight train, stealing the last bit of breath from your lungs. 

“And you didn’t tell me?” He swallowed thickly. 

“Baby, listen—” 

“Don’t.” you cut him off, voice trembling. “Don’t call me that.” 

“Just let me explain—” 

“Explain what?” you snapped, tears spilling freely down your cheeks. 

“That you knew you were getting married? That you knew this entire time and still held me, still kissed me, still made love to me like I was the only one?!” Seungcheol clenched his fists, his eyes desperate, pained, but it was too late. 

“You lied to me,” you whispered. “You let me believe…” your voice cracked, the weight of it crushing you. 

“You let me believe we had a chance.” 

“I never wanted this,” he finally said, voice strained. “I never wanted to hurt you.” 

“But you did,” you said, stepping back. “You already did.” 

Seungcheol inhaled sharply, stepping forward as if to reach for you, but you backed away again, shaking your head. 

“No more,” you whispered. “No more lies. No more pretending.” 

The tears kept coming, blurring your vision, making it harder to see him—harder to hold onto the image of the man you had loved so deeply. 

Because the man standing in front of you wasn’t the same. 

And maybe he never was. 

The words burned like acid on your tongue, finally having spat everything out, the room cracking under their weight. 

The pain, the betrayal, the love—it all clashed together inside of you, threatening to rip you apart from the inside out. 

Because this wasn’t just about you anymore. 

It was about the child you carried. 

A child who would never know the warmth of their father’s love. 

A child who would grow up with a mother who made the impossible choice to walk away, even when every part of her wanted to stay. 

Tears blurred your vision as you looked at him, hoping, praying that there was some mistake—that he would deny it, fight for you, beg you to stay. 

But all you saw was that blankness. 

And it shattered whatever fragile hope you had left. 

This was the end. 

There was nothing left to say. 

So you turned away. 

Your legs felt weak, but you forced yourself forward. 

And you left.  Seungcheol didn’t stop you. 

He didn’t chase after you. 

He just stood there, frozen in place, watching as you walked out of his life. 

And as the door shut behind you, sealing your fate, the sob you had been holding in finally broke free. 

Why is loving you so hard?

Why is letting go the hardest part?

Did we love too fast?

A/n: Please let me know what you think :)

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Seokmin was good at many things. 

He was a great dancer, a pretty goofy guy, and, of course, an incredible singer. 

His voice was warm and powerful, the kind that could make an entire crowd go silent in awe or erupt into cheers with just a single note. He had this infectious energy, a laugh that could brighten even the dullest of days and a heart so big that he always put others before himself. 

Whether he was on stage, cracking jokes to lighten the mood, or staying up late to encourage his members when they were struggling, Seokmin was the kind of person who made the world feel a little lighter just by being in it. 

So when he auditioned for the lead role in Excalibur, not expecting much, and had gotten the part, he was over the moon. 

It felt surreal—getting to embody a legendary figure, standing under the bright lights, pouring his heart into every note. Not that he didn’t already do that as DK of Seventeen. 

But it was everything he had dreamed of. Being the lead role for a musical. 

But as the excitement settled in, a creeping realization hit him like a ton of bricks after the first initial script reading. 

There were kissing scenes. 

At first, he brushed it off, thinking, 

“It’s just acting. It’s just a job.” 

But the more he thought about it, the worse it got. Because truthfully? He had never kissed anyone before. And the last thing he wanted was to be awkward or mess it up in front of the entire cast and crew. 

And especially his members whom he knew would tease him for centuries to come if they found out. 

That’s how he ended up here, sitting nervously on your couch, knees bouncing as he avoided your gaze. 

“You… want me to what?” you blinked, wondering if you had heard him correctly. 

Seokmin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, face burning red.  “Teach me how to kiss,” he mumbled, still not daring to meet your eyes. 

Silence stretched between you. Your heartbeat thrummed in your ears as you processed his words. 

Seokmin to you, and DK to the world—a member of Seventeen—Carat’s happy virus—your best friend, wanted you to teach him how to kiss? 

You weren’t sure what was crazier—the request itself or the fact that you were actually considering it. 

You knew that with Seokmin’s career, it would be hard for him to go out and meet someone, let alone be in a romantic relationship. Dating rumors, packed schedules, the constant eyes of the public—none of it made things easy for him. 

But the fact that he was asking you… was insane. 

It wasn’t like you had that much experience to begin with. Sure, you had been in one serious relationship and had a few hookups with others, but that was about it. Still, compared to Seokmin—who had never kissed anyone before—you supposed you were the expert in this situation.

“Nevermind… it was stupid to ask…” he mumbled, voice small, retreating into himself. 

“Minnie. Look at me.” he hesitated before slowly lifting his gaze to meet yours. He looked uncertain, almost embraced, as he sat there in the middle of the living room, hands clenched into fists on his lap. 

You knew you were crazy for even contemplating his request. You could already feel the warmth spreading to your cheeks, the weight of what you were about to do settling in. 

But then when he looked at you—wide, pleading puppy eyes full of nervousness—you knew you were doomed. 

“…Alright,” you sighed, feeling your stomach twist with anticipation. 

His eyes widened slightly, lips parting in surprise. “…Really?” 

You nodded, exhaling slowly. “Yeah… but just this once…” 

Seokmin’s entire body tensed as you climbed onto his lap, carefully settling yourself against him. Your hands rested on his shoulders, anchoring yourself as he hesitantly placed his hands on your waist, barely touching. 

“Is this okay?” His voice was so soft, so unsure, that it made your heart squeeze. 

You nodded, offering him a reassuring smile. “Yeah. It is.” 

For a moment, neither of you moved. The weight of what was about to happen settled over you both, turning the air thick with an emotion you couldn’t quite name. 

His fingers barely pressed against your sides, hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to hold you properly. He was warm beneath your touch, his breath uneven, chest rising and falling just a little too fast. 

You reached up, your palm resting against the side of his neck, feeling the rapid pulse beneath your fingertips. 

“Relax a little, won’t you?” you teased, though truthfully, you were saying it for yourself too. 

Seokmin let out a shaky breath, nodding. “Okay…” “I’m going to kiss you now, alright?” 

His lips parted slightly, and he swallowed hard before nodding again, eyes flickering down to your plump lips just for a second before quickly darting away. 

Sitting on his thighs, you leaned in, tilting your head as your lips met his in a soft, lingering kiss. 

His breath hitched against you, his grip on your waist tensing—but he didn’t move. He just sat there, frozen, letting you take the lead.  

When you pulled away after a few seconds, you searched his face, trying to gauge his reaction. 

“How was that?” you asked, amused at his daze expression 

“That was it?” he blurted, blinking rapidly. 

You couldn’t help but laugh, shaking your head. “What else were you expecting, Minnie? You’re probably just placing a peck on her lips anyways.” 

But he didn’t respond. He just stared at you, brows furrowed slightly, lost in thought. His lips, still slightly parted, were pinker than before, and for a moment, you swore he looked almost… 

Disappointed? 

Then, softly—almost too softly—he asked, “Can… I kiss you?” 

You froze, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. The way his gaze searched yours, not just for permission, but for something deeper. Something neither of you had spoken aloud. 

Your breath hitched. This time, it wasn’t just about practice, was it? There was something in the way he looked at you, something hesitant yet determined. 

You knew the right thing to do was say no. To get off his lap and move on like this was nothing. 

But your body was frozen, your heart hammering so loudly it drowned out all logic. 

“…Yeah,” you whispered, voice barely audible. 

His fingers twitched against your waist as he leaned in, closer this time, his breath mingling with yours. His hand slid up, threading into your hair, cradling your face with a gentleness that sent a shiver down your spine. 

And then, finally, he kissed you. 

The second his lips met yours, warmth spread through your entire body. His touch was gentle but firm, his lips soft but eager. It was hesitant, yes, but there was something undeniably sweet about the way he clung to you, as if afraid to let go too soon. 

Your hand tightened on his shoulder, feeling the slight tension in his muscles. Sensing his hesitation, you took the lead, deepening the kiss just enough to guide him.  Seokmin let out a quiet breath, his grip on you tightening as he followed your movements. The warmth of his hands on your waist grew firmer, fingers pressing into you as if he was finally letting himself feel the moment. 

When you pulled away, your breaths were uneven, chests rising and falling in sync. Your foreheads rested against each other, eyes still closed, as you both tried to steady yourselves. The logical thing to do was to move, to create space—to remind yourselves that this was supposed to be just practice. 

But neither of you could. 

Your hands remained tangled in his hair. The air between you was thick, charged, every unspoken word lingering in the silence. 

Then, almost at the same time, you both opened your eyes. 

Dark brown met yours, searching—asking. And without another though, without hesitation, your lips crashed together again. 

This time, it was different. More urgent. More desperate. 

Seokmin groaned softly as he pulled you closer, his hands sliding up your back before one moved lower, pressing you flush against him. The sudden motion made a surprised squeak escape your lips, but your body reacted before your mind could catch up—your arms tightening around his shoulders, pulling him deeper into you.

The kiss grew hungry, needy, his lips moving against yours with a fervor that sent a shiver down your spine. You could feel him now, every inch of him against you, the heat radiating off his body as his hands continued their slow, possessive exploration of your waist and back.

Your fingers slid from his hair to cup his face, thumbs grazing over his cheeks as you deepened the kiss, pouring every ounce of feeling into it. A soft, breathy moan escaped you as his tongue brushed against yours, the sensation sending a bolt of heat straight through you.

Without even realizing it, your hips shifted, rolling slightly against his lap.

The reaction was instant. Seokmin let out a sharp breath against your lips, his grip on you tightening as his hands dug into your waist. The friction sent a slow, delicious heat pooling in your stomach, making you do it again—this time, more deliberately.

A low groan rumbled in his chest, his hands guiding your movements now, matching your pace as the kiss grew deeper, hungrier. The feeling of his body beneath you, the warmth of his skin, the way he was finally letting himself touch you, to want you—it was intoxicating.

You gasped at the friction, at the feeling of him pressed so intimately against you, your body burning from the inside out. The heat between you was unbearable, consuming, making you reckless. You rocked against him again, this time slower, more intentional, feeling the way his breath stuttered as he broke the kiss just to let out a strangled, needy moan.

“Y/N…” he murmured, his voice wrecked, strained, his forehead dropping against yours. His hands trembled against your waist, fighting for control, but you could feel the way his body betrayed him—his hips shifting up ever so slightly to meet yours, instinct taking over.

The desperation in his touch, in the way he clung to you, only fueled the fire burning inside you. You wanted more. Needed more. Your lips found his again, kissing him deeper, harder, swallowing every shaky breath, every sound he made as you moved against him, your bodies falling into a rhythm that neither of you could stop.

He was completely lost in you, his body reacting to every movement, every sound, every needy grind of your hips.

“Y/N…” he whispered again, his voice laced with something deeper, something undeniable. His hands suddenly gripped your waist tighter, stilling your movements just enough for his lips to move down, pressing open-mouthed kisses along your jaw, down to your neck. The sensation sent a gasp tumbling from your lips, your head tilting back to give him more access as your fingers tugged at his hair. 

The friction between you was intoxicating, sending waves of heat coursing through your body with every slow, deliberate movement. Every roll of your hips sent sparks along your spine, a delicious ache pooling low in your belly. 

You had never felt this before—not like this, not with him. It wasn’t just the physical sensation; it was the way he looked at you, eyes dark and half-lidded, lips parted as though he was completely lost in you. The way his fingers tightened, pressing into your skin as if he were afraid to let go.

A soft whimper left your lips, you could feel his hardened cock under you, the roughness of his jeans and yours brushing against your core that made pleasure ignite. 

You hadn’t expected it to feel this good, hadn’t expected him to make you feel this way.

Seokmin let out a deep, shaky breath, his forehead pressing against your shoulder as his hands gripped your hips tighter, guiding you into a slow but intoxicating rhythm. “More…” he whispered again, voice rough, desperate.

His plea sent another shiver down your spine. You felt drunk on him, on the warmth of his body, on the way he completely unraveled beneath you. Your head tilted back, eyes fluttering shut as you lost yourself in the sensation, in the quiet gasps and groans that spilled from both of you.

His hands trembled slightly as they roamed, fingertips pressing into the curve of your back, pulling you even closer, as if there could possibly be any space left between you. Each grind sent another jolt of pleasure through your body, the heat coiling tighter and tighter until you were sure you’d lose yourself completely.

“M’ so close, Y/n…” he whined. You pulled away from him, staring down at him, seeing his eyes glazed over with pleasure. 

“Yeah? You’re close, Minnie?” you cooed, grinding against him, a moan cutting through your throat as your hips grinded against his, rubbing against your clit perfectly. 

“Hmm… so close…” he pants out, growing needy for release, his fingers digging into the flesh of your butt causing you to grind down more against him.

The band in the pit of your stomach growing intensely tight as you also approached your high. You held onto him, just as he did, both desperate to reach your highs. 

“Seokmin…” you moaned out as the band snapped, your vision blurring as pleasure coursed through your entire body. 

Your body became limp as Seokmin continued to use you, guiding your hips against him, pace fast and unsteady, his rhythm stuttering. 

“Y/n…” A low groan escaping his lips, your hips stilling as he reached his orgasm, ropes of white staining his boxers and jeans. 

You both sat there in silence, the weight of the moment settling around you. Your body still rested against his, your head tucked into the crook of his neck as your chest rose and fell with every heavy breath. The room felt like it was spinning, the buzzing in your ears loud and yet distant at the same time. It was like the world outside of this small space didn’t exist, as if everything had paused—just for you two. 

Seokmin’s hands were still tightly gripping your waist, his fingers slightly trembling, and you could feel the warmth of his body against yours, so close that you couldn’t tell where you ended and he began. the warmth of his body against yours felt like a fire, a comfort and a danger all wrapped up together. His breath was uneven, each exhale warm against your skin, his chest rising and falling in the same chaotic rhythm as yours.

Your head was fuzzy, the feeling of him still lingering in every part of you, every pulse, every soft thrum in your veins. You felt vulnerable and raw, yet you couldn’t bring yourself to move. It was as if the intimacy of the moment had tethered you both in a space where nothing else mattered.

You could feel him shift slightly beneath you, his hand brushing along your back, almost as if he were searching for some kind of reassurance, some kind of grounding in this sea of emotions. You pressed your cheek against his chest, letting the sound of his heart guide you back to something resembling calm.

But there was no ignoring it. No pretending it hadn’t happened. The connection between you both was different now. The way he touched you, the way you both held each other, it all felt like something had changed. 

But was it for the better? Or had you crossed a line that would be impossible to uncross?