The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the town as outerbanks strolled through the bustling market, clutching a coffee cup in one hand and a shopping bag in the other. The air was thick with the scent of cinnamon and fresh pastries, a comforting reminder of normalcy. Yet, the nagging ache in her chest remained, a constant reminder of the two-month break she and JJ had agreed upon. They needed space, clarity—time to figure out what was next for them.

As she browsed through the stalls, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, ready to check a message, when her stomach dropped at the sight of the notification. A friend had tagged her in a photo on social media. Curiosity tugged her finger toward the screen—she hesitated before tapping.

What appeared before her felt like a punch to the gut. There was JJ, straddling his motorcycle, looking effortlessly cool as ever, a genuine smile lighting up his face. But it wasn’t just his presence that sent a jolt through her. Sitting snugly against him was another girl, her arms wrapped around his waist, their bodies leaning close, radiating an intimacy that made Y/N’s heart sink into her stomach.

The caption glared at her, “JJ living his best life!” followed by celebratory emojis. Adrenaline rushed through her veins, mixing anger with a sharp jealousy, her heart aching as memories of their shared laughter and late-night talks flooded back.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm brewing inside her. “What happened to taking a break?” she muttered softly to herself, battling the sting of betrayal.

For the first time in weeks, clarity hit her: she didn’t want to be just a memory in JJ’s past. Gathering herself, she turned on her heel, determination setting in. She would confront him—face the truth, no matter how painful it might be. It was time to stop letting uncertainty define her.