Pairing: Lee Byunghun x Actress!Female Reader (y/n)
Summary: Years after a painful breakup, fate throws them back into each otherâs orbit under blinding lights and whispered regrets. Y/n returns stronger, untouchable, determined to make him feel what she once did.
Warnings: Ex-lovers / second chance romance. Angst heavy. Emotional manipulation (unintentional) Jealousy. Car accident. Alcohol & smoking. Emotional breakdowns.
Author's Note: I didn't want to make my baby byunghun suffer but I couldn't help it. Also NO hate to Min-Jung, it's just a fic. Btw, what's got with our y/n? She's being so different nowadays, no?
Tag list: Lemme know if you want to get tagged.
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The red carpet shimmered under the flood of white lights, flashes popping like distant fireworks as black cars rolled in one after another.
Names were called, cheers rose and fell, laughter mixed with practiced smiles. It was another prestigious award nightâglamorous, predictable, perfectly rehearsed.
Lee Byunghun arrived in a sleek black suit, tailored to perfection, his presence commanding even before he stepped fully out of the car.
Cameras immediately swarmed. Beside him stood Lee Min Jung, elegant and radiant, her hand resting lightly on his arm as if it belonged there. They moved together with ease, a couple long accepted by the public eye.
âMr. Lee! Over here!â
âCongratulations on making your relationship public!â
âHow does it feel attending tonight together?â
Byunghun offered the familiar calm smile, polished from years in the industry. He answered smoothly, words measured, respectful, saying just enough without revealing too much.
Min-Jung smiled beside him, nodding softly, her expression warm as she thanked reporters for their support. The two posed for photographs, flashes reflecting off polished shoes and diamond earrings, immortalizing another perfect celebrity moment.
Around them, fellow actors and actresses arrived, greeting one another with hugs and polite enthusiasm. Compliments were exchanged, laughter echoed, old friends reunited under the glow of fame.
Everything moved forward in its expected rhythmâuntil it didnât.
A black car pulled up at the far end of the carpet.
At first, no one paid attention. Another arrival. Another name.
And time seemed to pause.
She stepped out slowly, heels clicking softly against the carpet, the sound somehow louder than the noise around her. Gasps rippled through the crowd like a sudden wave. Conversations died mid-sentence. Heads turned. Eyes widened.
Gone for more than five yearsâvanished without warning when her career had barely begun, when everyone had called her a rising star, a promising face destined for greatness.
And now she stood there again, under the same lights she had once walked beneath, only this time⊠different.
She was still beautifulâstrikingly soâbut the softness of her youth had been replaced by something sharper, steadier. Confidence sat effortlessly on her shoulders. Her posture was straight, her expression composed, lips curved into a faint, knowing smile as if she had anticipated this very moment.
The girl who once looked overwhelmed by attention was gone. In her place stood a woman who belonged here.
The media reacted instantly.
Cameras swung in her direction with frantic urgency. Paparazzi abandoned their previous subjects, rushing toward her as if pulled by gravity. Microphones were thrust forward, voices overlapping, excitement thick in the air.
Byunghun had been mid-conversation when the sudden shift caught his attention.
The world narrowed to a single point, his breath lodging painfully in his chest. For a second, he genuinely wondered if his mind was betraying himâif this was some cruel trick born from memory and regret.
Standing there, hair framing her face just the way he rememberedâonly now there was no hesitation in her eyes. No uncertainty. Just calm, self-assured poise.
His fingers curled unconsciously, the faintest tightening around Min-jungâs hand. He didnât even realize he had stopped moving until she glanced up at him, confusion flickering briefly across her face before she followed his line of sight.
The cameras had completely encircled y/n now.
âY/N-ssi! You disappeared for over five yearsâcan you tell us where youâve been?â
âWhy leave when your career was just taking off?â
âYou vanished without telling anyone. Do you regret it?â
She paused, letting the questions settle, her gaze sweeping briefly across the sea of flashing lights. Then she smiledâsmall, genuine, unbothered.
âThere was some personal reasons,â she said calmly. Her voice was steady, clear. âI spent most of that time in the United States.â
A murmur rippled through the reporters.
âAnd now?â someone pressed. âWhy return after all this time?â
She let out a soft chuckle, light but confident, as if the weight of the past no longer pressed so heavily on her chest.
âIâm back now,â she said simply. âAnd Iâm not going anywhere this time.â
The crowd erupted again, flashes blinding, questions multiplyingâbut her smile never wavered.
Across the carpet, Lee Byunghun stood motionless, eyes fixed on her as if looking away might make her disappear all over again. Five years collapsed into a single moment, memories rushing back with unforgiving clarity.
And nothingâabsolutely nothingâfelt the same anymore.
Actors and actresses began drifting toward her one by one, drawn by familiarity, curiosity, and genuine warmth. Old co-stars, juniors who had once looked up to her, seniors who remembered her quiet promiseâeveryone seemed eager to greet her.
âY/N! Itâs really you!â
âItâs been so long!â
âYou look incredible.â
She laughed easily, bowing politely, exchanging hugs and handshakes with graceful ease. There was no awkwardness in her movements, no hint of uncertainty. She spoke calmly, confidently, her smile warm but measured, as if she had long since learned how to stand her ground under scrutiny.
It was clearâwhatever she had done during those five years, it had shaped her into someone unshakeable.
Across the carpet, Lee Byunghun hadnât moved.
His gaze stayed locked on her, following every small gesture, every tilt of her head as she spoke to others. Confusion churned in his chest. She hadnât once looked in his directionânot even a fleeting glance.
The thought was absurd. And yet, another possibility cut deeper.
Or is she doing it on purpose?
Before he could dwell on it further, Min-jung lightly tugged at his arm.
âCome,â she said softly, smiling as if this were the most natural thing in the world. âWe should go greet her too.â
He opened his mouth to respondâto stall, to say waitâbut she was already moving, her grip firm as she gently pulled him along. His feet followed before his mind could catch up.
They stopped in front of her.
Min Jungâs smile widened, genuine and bright. âY/N-ssi,â she greeted warmly, bowing slightly. âItâs been such a long time. Welcome back.â
Y/N turned toward them, her expression instantly polite, friendly. âThank you,â she replied, mirroring the bow. âItâs nice to see you.â
And thenâinevitablyâher gaze shifted.
For the first time that night, her eyes met his.
There was no flicker of surprise. No hesitation. No trace of the past reflected there.
âLee Byunghun-ssi,â she said calmly, her tone professional, distant. âItâs been a while.â
The touch was brief, formal. A colleagueâs handshake. Nothing more.
His fingers closed around hers almost on instinct, warmth rushing through him at the contactâbut she pulled back just as quickly, her composure unbroken. To her, he might as well have been any other actor standing on that carpet.
Something twisted sharply in his chest.
Before he could process it, a familiar voice cut in.
Park Seo-joon approached with an easy grin, arms already opening as he stepped forward. âI canât believe youâre really back.â
Without hesitation, he pulled her into a tight hug. She laughed, returning it without discomfort, patting his shoulder affectionately.
âYou havenât changed at all,â she teased. âStill dramatic.â
Byunghunâs jaw clenched.
His hand curled into a tight fist inside his pants pocket, knuckles whitening as he watched them. The ease of their closenessâthe way she didnât stiffen, didnât pull awayâsettled uneasily in his gut. A sharp, unfamiliar jealousy flared, hot and unwelcome.
Had she been like this with others all along? Had he been the only one kept at a distance?
Before the thought could spiral further, a clear announcement echoed across the venue.
âAttention, please. All attending actors and actresses are requested to make their way inside the main hall. The award ceremony will begin shortly.â
The red carpet slowly began to thin as people moved toward the entrance, the nightâs glamour shifting indoors.
Y/N adjusted her posture, offering final smiles and brief goodbyes before turning toward the hallâcalm, composed, already stepping forward into the spotlight once again.
Behind her, Lee Byunghun stood rooted in place for just a second longer, watching as she walked awayâclose enough to touch, yet farther from him than she had ever been.
As the crowd slowly funneled toward the grand hall, the noise and excitement trailing behind them, y/n took a small step back.
âExcuse me for a moment.â she said softly to no one in particular, offering a polite smile before turning away.
She slipped through a side corridor and pushed open the restroom door. The moment it closed behind her, muting the distant chatter and applause, her composure cracked.
She leaned back against the door, palm pressing flat against the cool surface as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. Her breaths came fast and shallow, chest rising unevenly. Her hands fluttered uselessly near her collarbone, fingers trembling as though the air around her had suddenly thinned.
For a terrifying second, it felt like she was suffocating.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
And the memories came rushing in.
Five years it had taken her to bury themâlayer by layer, city by city, pretending they no longer had weight. And yet all it took was one look at him. One handshake. One brief touch.
Everything she had fought to forget came crashing back.
The curtains were half-drawn, sunlight spilling into the quiet apartment they had never told anyone about. The television murmured in the background, forgotten.
Y/n lay curled against Byunghunâs chest, her cheek pressed to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, his arm draped comfortably around her shoulders.
It felt safe. It felt like home.
She shifted slightly, then sat up, turning to face him with a softness in her eyes that made his chest tighten even now, years later.
âWhy donât we tell people?â she asked gently. âAbout us.â
It was subtle, but she felt itâthe way his arm loosened, the way his gaze faltered for just a second before he leaned back, creating space between them.
âWhy are you bringing this up?â he asked lightly, too lightly. âItâs too early.â
Her brows knitted together. âToo early?â she echoed. âWeâve been together for a year.â
She smiled then, hopeful, earnest. âI love you. And you love me. Whatâs the problem?â
He knew she wasnât wrong. That was the worst part.
Still, he shook his head. âYour career is just starting,â he said. âIf we go public now, it could make things difficult for you.â
She frowned, stubborn as always. âI donât care about that.â
He looked at her sharply.
âI just want the world to know that we love each other,â she continued. âThatâs all.â
He reached for the remote, tried to change the channel, tried to change the subjectâbut she didnât let him. She followed his movements, her voice growing firmer, more insistent.
And something in him snapped.
He stood up abruptly, anger flashing across his face as he turned on her. âYou might not care about your career,â he shouted, âbut I do!â
âIâm not some newbie,â he went on, words spilling out before he could stop them. âIâm a top actor. I canât risk years of effort for a one-year relationship.â
The silence that followed was deafening.
She stared at him, disbelief etched into her features, tears gathering in her eyes. âIs that how you see me?â she whispered. âIs that all this is to you?â
He turned his back to her.
That was when she stood, walked up to him, grabbed the front of his shirt and spun him around. Her hands clenched at his collar, her voice shaking with hurt and fury.
âHow can you say something like that?â she demanded. âHow can you think like this when Iâm ready to give up everything for you?â
He shoved her hands away. Hard.
âThis is the truth.â he said coldly.
She wiped at her tears with the back of her hand, nodding slowly as if something inside her had finally broken into clarity.
âYouâll regret this.â she said quietly.
Then she walked out, the door slamming behind her with finality.
She was staring at her reflection in the restroom mirror nowâhands braced against the sink, shoulders rising and falling as she fought to steady her breathing. Her eyes were glossy, but no tears fell.
She straightened slowly, lifting her chin.
You are not here to break down again, she told herself. Not for him.
Her mind flickered to another memoryâstanding alone years ago, phone in her trembling hands, staring at the headline announcing Lee Byunghunâs relationship with Lee Min Jung. How she had laughed bitterly through tears, feeling like a fool for loving someone she could never truly leave behind, while he had moved on so easily.
She had disappeared after that.
Now she was hereâto prove something. To herself more than anyone else.
She smoothed her dress, dabbed lightly beneath her eyes, and forced a calm expression onto her face. When she finally looked up, the woman staring back at her was composed, confident, untouchable.
She squared her shoulders.
Tonight, she wouldnât care.
And with that, y/n turned away from the mirror and stepped back out into the lights.
The ceremony flowed on, seamless and grand. Awards were announced, applause rose and fell in waves, speeches filled with gratitude and practiced humility echoed through the hall. Laughter followed lighthearted jokes from the hosts, the atmosphere glittering with celebration.
Then a familiar name rang out.
âBest Actor of the Year goes to⊠Lee Byunghun!â
Byunghun stood as applause thundered around him. Min Jung rose with him, her face lighting up as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She hugged him tightly, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek in congratulations.
Two rows behind them, y/n watched.
She didnât look away. Her expression remained composed, lips curved into a polite smile as she joined the applause, hands clapping steadily. From the outside, she looked unaffected.
Byunghun, however, felt everything.
The kiss on his cheek felt heavier than it should have. Public. Intimate. Too visible.
Because he knew she was watching.
His body stiffened, discomfort settling into his chest in a way he couldnât explain. Not when this was what he had chosen. Not when he had moved on.
He walked up to the stage, the applause washing over him like distant noise. The award felt solid and cold in his hands as he accepted it, bowed, and stepped up to the microphone.
He thanked the director, the cast, the staff, the fansâsaid all the right things. His voice was steady, his smile practiced. No one in the audience could tell that his mind wasnât fully there.
When he returned to his seat, the weight in his chest only grew heavier.
He couldnât understand it. He had convinced himself that the past was the past. That he had buried it. Or maybeâhe had simply pretended well enough to survive.
His thoughts drifted, uninvited, to the night they broke up.
The sound of the door slamming still echoed in his memory.
He had stood alone in the apartment, the silence roaring in his ears, replaying his own words over and over again. He had known, almost immediately, that he was wrong. That his pride had spoken louder than his heart.
He should have followed her.
He should have apologized.
Instead, he let the night pass.
The next morning, he called her. Once. Twice.
Rising actress y/n reportedly seen at the airport late last night.
After thatânothing. No contact. No explanation. No closure.
And now, years later, she sat only a few rows behind him, alive and radiant and entirely out of his reach.
The urge to turn around, to look at her, to pull her into his arms the way he used toâwarm, familiar, safeâhit him with startling force. He wanted to demand answers, to ask why she left without a word, why she never came back.
He had lost that right the moment he chose his pride over her.
A sudden shift in the room pulled him back to the present.
âAnd now,â the host announced brightly, âthereâs someone very special weâd like to welcome back to the industry.â
âY/N, please come up to the stage!â
Applause filled the hall as she rose gracefully from her seat. Byunghunâs gaze followed her before he could stop himself.
âFive years,â the host continued teasingly as she joined them on stage. âYou disappeared and left us all wondering. Tell usâdid you find someone special while you were in the U.S.?â
She laughed lightly, tilting her head, completely at ease. âThatâs a secret.â she replied playfully.
The host leaned in with exaggerated curiosity. âSo are you going to surprise us all one day by dropping wedding pictures out of nowhere?â
She smiled again, eyes sparkling under the lights. âYou never know.â
She hadnât meant it seriously at all.
But to Byunghun, it felt like his lungs had been punched empty.
The thought of her belonging to someone elseâof her loving someone else, building a life that no longer included himâtwisted painfully inside his chest. The applause around him faded into a dull roar.
He couldnât imagine it.
Her hand in someone elseâs.
Her laughter meant for someone else.
Her foreverâno longer his.
And for the first time that night, Byunghun understood something with terrifying clarity.
The ceremony dissolved into music and laughter as the after-party began. The hall transformedâlights dimmed, bass thrummed through the floor, glasses clinked, bodies moved freely now that the formalities were over. Groups formed and reformed, conversations overlapping, joy spilling easily with every drink poured.
Min Jung tugged gently at Byunghunâs arm, smiling up at him. âCome dance with me,â she urged, already swaying to the rhythm.
He tried. He really did. But his steps were off, his attention fractured. His eyes kept betraying him, flickering past the dance floorâpast herâto the bar.
Y/N stood there with Kim Woo-bin, laughing openly, shoulders relaxed. She slapped her hand against his in mock emphasis, head tipping back as she laughed at something he said. She looked⊠easy. Comfortable. Untethered. Like she belonged exactly where she was.
Byunghunâs chest tightened.
He missed a beat. Then another.
Min Jung noticed. âAre you okay?â she asked softly.
âIâm fine,â he said automatically, though even he could hear the lie in his voice.
A moment later, y/n excused herself, offering Woo-bin a quick smile before turning away. She headed down the corridor toward the restrooms.
Byunghun saw the opening and took it before he could talk himself out of it.
âIâll be right back â he told Min Jung, already stepping away.
He followed y/n quietly, the music fading behind him with every step. His pulse was loud in his ears.
Inside the restroom, y/n stood at the mirror, reapplying her lipstick with practiced precision. She didnât jump when she saw his reflection appear behind her. She didnât stiffen. She didnât even pause.
Byunghun walked closer, stopping a careful distance away. âYou surprised me.â he said, voice low.
She met his gaze in the mirror, unimpressed. âI surprised everyone.â she corrected calmly.
That was what she didnât sayâbut it landed all the same.
He nodded slowly, absorbing the blow. âYouâve changed,â he said. âYouâre not⊠the cute, soft-hearted girl I knew.â
She capped the lipstick, slipped it back into her pouch, and finally turned to face him. Her expression was cool, unreadable.
âPeople change.â she said evenly. âPeople move on.â
The words were sharp in their quietness. Deliberate. Directed.
He swallowed. âMy relationship with Min Jungââ
âMr. Lee,â she cut in smoothly, stepping past him, âIâm not interested in your personal life.â
She reached for the door.
His hand shot out before he could stop himself, fingers closing around her wrist.
Then she pulled freeâfast, forceful, as if his touch burned.
He stared at her, shock flooding his features, as though he hadnât merely touched her but committed something unforgivable. He had expected resistance. Distance. Coldness.
A broken chuckle slipped from his throat. âWhy are you pretending,â he asked quietly, âlike Iâm someone you never met⊠someone you never knew?â
Instead, she looked at himâreally looked at himâeyes steady, voice firm. âDonât touch me again.â she warned. âDonât stop me again.â
Then she walked out, heels echoing down the corridor, leaving Byunghun alone in the restroom, staring at his empty hand as if it no longer belonged to him.
For y/n, life moved forward.
She threw herself into work, into scripts and rehearsals, into early call times and late-night table reads. She didnât allow her mind to linger on the award nightâon the brief, unwanted collision with a past she had already survived once.
If the memories tried to surface, she buried them again beneath routine and discipline.
She had done it before. She could do it again.
Y/N returns with her first drama in five years.
Her new series, co-starring Ji Chang-wook, premiered to immediate success. Just one episode was enoughâsocial media buzzed, clips went viral, and viewers praised her performance relentlessly. Articles spoke of her âmature screen presenceâ her âmagnetic auraâ and, most of all, the chemistry between the leads.
âShe hasnât lost her touch.â
âThey look insanely good together.â
âThis pairing is dangerous.â
Y/n saw the headlines in passing, accepted the congratulations with a soft smile, and moved on to the next schedule.
Byunghun, however, unraveled quietly.
He couldnât escape her.
She was everywhereâon television screens in waiting rooms, on his phone through unsolicited articles, in conversations he overheard on set.
Every praise felt like a twist of the knife. Every mention of her chemistry with Ji Chang-wook made something ugly coil in his chest.
Hated how effortlessly she had reclaimed the spotlight.
Hated how people looked at her nowâwith awe, with admiration.
Hated how natural she looked beside another man.
His frustration bled into everything.
Lost patience during rehearsals.
Answered Min Jung curtly, distracted even when she tried to talk to him.
âYouâve been distant lately.â she said one evening, concern softening her voice.
âIâm just tired.â he replied, not meeting her eyes.
But it wasnât exhaustion.
At night, when the world finally quieted, his thoughts betrayed him. He replayed the award show. The handshake. The way she pulled away from his touch. The calm in her eyes when she warned him not to stop her again.
He wanted to talk to her.
To ask why she left without a wordâthough he knew the answer already.
He had driven her away with his own hands.
What right did he have now?
She was moving forward, building something new, shining brighter than everâwhile he remained trapped in a past he had once thrown away.
And the most painful truth of all settled heavily in his chest: She no longer needed him.
But he had never needed her more.
Another award night arrivedâgrand, glittering, merciless.
The red carpet lit up once again as black cars rolled in, flashes bursting relentlessly. Lee Byunghun stepped out alone this time, dressed immaculately as always, but something about him felt⊠hollow.
Reporters asked about Min Jung, he answered briefly, explaining her absence due to scheduling conflicts, his smile polite but distant.
She looked breathtakingâmore radiant than before, confidence clinging to her like a second skin. The cameras loved her, followed her every step as she walked past Byunghun without even sparing him a glance. For a fleeting second, his eyes followed her instinctively.
Before he could move, Ji Chang-wook appeared, greeting her with easy familiarity. They exchanged smiles, words too quiet to hear, and thenâtogetherâthey walked into the hall.
Byunghun watched from a distance, something dark and sharp coiling in his chest. His jaw tightened as he followed them inside, every step heavier than the last.
The ceremony unfolded with the same elegant rhythmâapplause, acceptance speeches, laughter echoing beneath crystal chandeliers.
Then the host announced, smiling wide,
âBest Couple of the Month goes to⊠Y/N and Ji Chang-wook!â
They rose together, hands brushing naturally as they walked onto the stage. Y/N accepted the award with grace, thanking viewers and staff, her voice steady and warm. When they returned to their seats, Chang-wook leaned closer, murmuring something into her ear.
That sound landed like a final blow.
Byunghun looked away, fingers curling tightly against his palm.
The after-party began soon after, music pulsing through the venue, laughter and chatter blending into a dizzying hum. Y/N tried to stay engaged, but exhaustion crept up on herâmental, emotional, physical.
âIâll be right back.â she excused herself quietly and headed toward the restroom.
This time, he didnât hesitate.
Inside, y/n stood at the mirror, splashing cool water against her wrists, steadying herself. She looked upâand saw him behind her.
Before she could speak, the door clicked shut.
She turned sharply, confusion flashing across her face. âWhat are you doing?â
Something in his eyes had changedâtoo much jealousy, too much regret, too much pain that had nowhere else to go.
He crossed the distance between them in seconds.
His hands grabbed her waist, pulling her flush against him, and before she could react, his lips crashed onto hers.
The kiss was desperate. Hungry. Years of longing poured into itâunrestrained, reckless. She gasped against his mouth, breath stolen, heart slamming violently against her ribs.
For a split second, her body betrayed her.
She shoved him back hard and slapped him across the face.
The sound echoed sharply in the empty room.
âHow dare you?â she hissed, chest heaving, cheeks flushed red with anger. âAre you out of your mind? Leaveânowâbefore I start screaming.â
âYou can scream,â he said hoarsely. âCall whoever you want. Iâm not leaving without talking to you.â
âThereâs nothing to talk about.â she snapped, brushing past him toward the door.
He caught her again, pulling her back and pinning her against the wall. His hands braced on either side of her, face inches from hers.
âI wonât let you go,â he murmured, voice low and raw, âwithout talking.â
For a moment, the walls she had built trembled dangerously.
She inhaled sharply, forced herself steady. âI donât want to talk.â
He kissed her againâslower this time, softer, lips lingering like a confession. âI missed you.â he whispered.
Her resolve cracked. Her hands curled into his jacket unconsciously.
Then she shook her head. âI donât care anymore,â she said, voice breaking despite herself. âItâs too late.â
She shoved him away again, anger surging back. âAnd how dare you do this when youâre still with Min Jung? What kind of person does that make you?â
âI donât love her.â he said immediately.
She let out a hollow chuckle. âReally? You donât love herâbut you went public with her?â
âIt wasnât like that.â he said urgently. âShe proposed. I was angryâhurt. You disappeared without a word, and I needed somethingâsomeoneâto distract myself. I never touched her the way I touched you. I barely even kissed her.â
She scoffed. âYou expect me to believe that?â
âIf I loved her,â he continued, eyes burning, âI would have fought for her. Like I should have fought for you.â
Her gaze sharpened. âBut you didnât. You went public with her because sheâs a top-class actress too, right?â she taunted bitterly. âJust like you said back then.â
He stepped closer again, carefully this time. âI regret that day,â he said quietly. âEvery word. I tried to call you. I swear I did. But you were already goneâto the U.S. You disappeared before I could fix it.â
âI was wrong,â he went on, voice trembling now. âI know that. And nowâI donât care about the world, about reputation, about anything. Iâll do anything. I just need you back.â
This time, there was no pride left in his eyes.
And loveâbare, undeniable, and terrifyingly real.
Y/n dragged a shaky hand through her hair, laughter slipping out of her lipsâbut there was no humor in it.
âYouâre crazy,â she said quietly. âYou really think I can just believe you again?â
Her eyes searched his face, looking for cracks, for lies, for the same hesitation that had once destroyed her. âI donât trust you anymore.â she admitted, voice steady despite the ache underneath.
He stepped closer, careful, as if one wrong move would make her disappear again. âI know,â he said softly. âI know I donât deserve it. But justâgive me one last chance. Let me prove it to you.â
She studied him for a moment too long.
The silence stretched, heavy and unbearable. Then she exhaled slowly and nodded.
âFine,â she said at last. âIâll talk to you.â
Hope flared instantly in his eyesâonly to dim when she continued.
âBut only when youâre single.â
The words landed like a verdict.
âYou can come to me,â she said firmly, âafter you break up with Min Jung.â
For a brief second, Byunghun froze.
The weight of what she was askingâno, demandingâsettled over him. The consequences, the headlines, the fallout. Everything he had once feared.
Immediately. Without hesitation.
âI will,â he said. âIâll leave everything if thatâs what it takes to get you back.â
And for the first time in years, there was no doubt in his voice.
A week passed and Byunghun stood in the middle of Lee Min Jungâs apartment, hands tucked into his coat pockets, heart heavy but resolved. The silence between them felt louder than any argument could have been.
âIâve been thinking,â he said finally, voice low. âFor a long time now.â
She looked at him, already sensing where this was going.
âI donât think I can continue this relationship.â
The words hurtâhe saw it in her eyesâbut she didnât cry. Instead, she nodded slowly, as if confirming something she had always known.
âI figured,â Min Jung said quietly. âYou were never really here.â
âThere was no closeness,â she continued gently. âNo late-night talks. No warmth. No spontaneity. Everything felt⊠planned. Like you were trying to convince yourself more than me.â
She hesitated, then asked the question sheâd been avoiding. âDo you love someone else?â
âI do.â he admitted, guilt thick in his voice. âIâm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. But staying in this would only hurt you more.â
She swallowed hard, then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. The hug was firm, sincereâfilled with acceptance rather than bitterness.
âI hope you find what youâre looking for,â she whispered. âTruly.â
He hugged her back, just as tightly. âYou deserve someone who chooses you completely.â he said.
The moment he stepped outside, cold air hitting his face, he pulled out his phone with trembling hands.
The reply came almost instantly.
Y/N: Letâs start from where it all once ended.
The place where everything had fallen apart.
And maybeâjust maybeâwhere it could finally begin again.
Byunghun had been waiting.
The apartment felt smaller than he rememberedâquiet, heavy with memories that clung to the walls. When the doorbell finally rang, he moved faster than he had in years, heart pounding as he opened the door.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
âCome in,â he said softly, stepping aside.
She entered without hesitation, eyes briefly scanning the familiar spaceâthe couch, the window, the place where everything had once felt safe. He closed the door behind her.
âI broke up....â he said, not wasting time. âI told you I would.â
She turned to face him. âDo you regret it?â
âNo,â he answered immediately. âI donât.â
Hope flickered in his eyes. âDo you believe me now?â
What she said next wiped it away completely.
âNo.â y/n replied calmly. âI donât.â
He frowned, caught off guard.
âAnd honestly?â she continued, voice steady but sharp. âWhat kind of pathetic man do you think you are?â
The words hit harder than any slap.
âDid you really think Iâd just fall for you again?â she asked. âThat Iâd melt the moment you said you regretted it?â
He stared at her, stunned.
âWhen I was in the U.S.,â she went on, âand I saw the news about you and Min Jung⊠I decided to come back.â Her lips curved into a bitter smile. âNot because I missed you. But because I wanted to show you something.â
âI wanted you to feel what I felt,â she said quietly. âIf you could move on, then so could I. That was the point.â
Shock drained the color from his face.
âBut youââ he started.
âI donât love you.â she cut in, eyes unwavering. âI did all this so youâd feel the same pain I once did.â
Something inside him snapped.
He grabbed her arm, desperation spilling over. âYou canât do this,â he said hoarsely. âYou canât justââ
She yanked her arm free instantly, glare blazing. âI already did.â
Silence fell between themâthick, unforgiving.
And for the first time, Byunghun realized that breaking up with Min Jung hadnât been the hardest part.
Losing y/nâtruly losing herâwas.
Y/n walked out of the apartment without looking back.
The moment she reached the parking lot, her steps faltered. She leaned against her car, breath hitching, and then it all spilled out. Silent tears turned into sobs she couldnât hold back anymore. Her chest ached, fingers curling into her coat as she criedâhard, uncontrollably.
She hadnât wanted to say those things.
But fear had spoken for her.
Fear of being hurt again.
Fear of reopening wounds that had taken years to close.
Fear of loving him only to be abandoned all over again.
So she had chosen cruelty. Because cruelty felt safer than vulnerability.
Inside the apartment, Byunghun sat frozen on the couch, elbows resting on his knees, hands hanging limply between them. Her words echoed in his head over and over, each repetition carving deeper.
He never thought she could be that harsh.
But as the shock slowly settled, something else followedâunderstanding.
Maybe this is what I deserve.
Weeks turned into months.
Projects poured in one after anotherâfilms, series, endorsements. Directors praised her discipline, co-stars admired her professionalism. She smiled on sets, laughed during interviews, shined under spotlights like she had never left.
To the world, she looked unstoppable.
To herself, she was surviving.
Lee Byunghun, on the other hand, fell apart quietly.
Instead, he lived in their shared apartment, the place frozen in time. He spent nights staring at her photographsâold selfies, candid shots from secret dates, moments that once felt eternal. He replayed videos, watched them laugh together, rewound them just to hear her voice again.
Once. Twice. Dozens of times.
The calls never went through.
Alcohol replaced sleep. Cigarettes replaced meals. Bottles piled up beside the couch, ashtrays overflowing. Days blurred into nights as he drank himself numb, trying to forget the sound of her voiceâfailing every time.
The man who once ruled screens with ease now struggled to hold himself together when no one was watching.
And loveâlove had become the slowest, cruelest punishment of all.
The rain came down mercilessly that night, blurring the city into streaks of light and shadow.
Byunghun drove aimlessly through it, cigarette burning between his fingers as smoke filled the car. His mind was a prisonâher voice, her laughter, her anger, her tears.
Every memory collided inside his head, loud and unforgiving. He barely noticed how slick the road had become, how his grip on the steering wheel loosened as his thoughts drowned him.
Then everything happened at once.
The car slammed into a tree with a force that stole the air from his lungs.
The news broke within hours.
Social media exploded. Headlines flashed across every channelâLee Byunghun involved in a late-night accident.
Photos of the wrecked car circulated endlessly, speculation running wild. Though reports confirmed his injuries were minor, the damage had already been done.
Across the city, Y/n sat frozen in front of her television.
Her fingers trembled as she switched channels, hopingâprayingâit was a mistake. But it wasnât. His name was everywhere. Her heart dropped to her stomach, breath coming short and shallow as panic set in.
Without thinking, she grabbed her phone.
Every notification, every article confirmed it.
She called his manager on the way down, her voice shaking as she asked where he was. The answer only made her chest ache moreâhe didnât know. He had gone to the hospital, then disappeared without a word.
The call ended, and clarity hit her like lightning.
She knew exactly where he would be.
The rain soaked her by the time she reached the apartmentâtheir apartment.
She didnât hesitate. She banged on the door, heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the storm. Moments later, the door opened.
Byunghun stood there, limping slightly, a fresh bandage on his forehead, bruises blooming beneath his clothes.
âY/nâŠâ he whispered, disbelief softening his voice.
Tears streamed down her face as she took him in, fear and relief crashing together. Before he could say another word, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face against him as sobs tore free.
âI was scared.â she whispered brokenly.
He reacted instantly, arms coming around her, holding her as carefully as he could. âIâm fine,â he murmured, pressing his cheek to her hair. âIâm here.â
She pulled back just enough to cup his face, eyes scanning every inch of him, fingers trembling as she checked the bandage, the bruises. âYouâre okay?â she asked again, needing to hear it.
He nodded. âI didnât think youâd come.â
Her hand struck his chest lightly. âHow could I not?â Her voice cracked. âNo matter how hard I tried⊠I never stopped loving you.â
They apologized at the same timeâwords overlapping, clumsy, honest, raw. All the pain they had caused each other spilled out and dissolved into quiet understanding.
Byunghun leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away.
Their lips met in a kiss filled with everything they hadnât saidâregret, longing, love. He guided her gently toward the bedroom, never breaking contact. She whispered that she had missed him.
âI missed you too.â he replied softly.
She hesitated. âYouâre injuredââ
He smirked faintly, easing her down onto the mattress, hovering over her as he kissed her again, deeper this time. The world outside faded. Rain, fear, months of separationânone of it mattered anymore.
They took their time with each other, relearning familiar touches, moving slowly, reverently. When she whispered his name the way she used to, it felt like coming home.
Later, they lay tangled together beneath the sheets, bodies bare, hearts finally unguarded.
âDonât scare me like that again.â she murmured, fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest.
âThen donât leave me again.â he replied quietly.
He reached for his phone and snapped a picture of themâfaces close, smiles soft.
She laughed weakly. âWhat are you doing?â
âTaking a picture,â he said. âIâm posting it. I donât want to hide us anymore.â
She raised a brow. âWeâre literally naked.â
That earned a real laughâboth of them laughing together for the first time in years.
He kissed her again, forehead resting against hers. âI wonât make the same mistakes again.â
She smiled through tears. âNeither will I.â
âI love you.â he said.
And for the first time in a long while, the storm finally passed.
