the silence between you and jiseok felt unbearable, heavier than the weight of any words left unsaid. the two of you stood in the dim glow of the city lights outside your apartment, the night air crisp, yet it did nothing to cool the ache forming in your chest. his gaze was cast downward, fists clenched at his sides as if he were trying to restrain himself from reaching out—like he always did. but tonight was different. tonight, he wouldn’t.

“this isn’t easy for me,” his voice was quiet, strained. “but we can’t keep doing this.” his words sliced through the air, through you, and suddenly the world around you felt unreal, distant. you took a shaky breath, barely managing to keep yourself standing. “why?” the single word carried everything—pain, confusion, desperation. but he only shook his head, refusing to meet your eyes.

“because i have to.” his voice cracked, and for a second, you thought he might take it back, that he might say this was all a mistake. but then he forced himself to look at you, and what you saw in his eyes was worse than anger or regret—it was sorrow, deep and consuming. he was hurting too. “you’ll be better off without me,” he whispered, as if saying it any louder would shatter him.

your hands trembled, reaching for him before you could stop yourself, but he stepped back, out of reach. “no,” your voice broke. “don’t do this. please, just—” but he was already turning away, jaw tight, shoulders tense like he was holding himself together by the thinnest thread. he didn’t look back, and as he disappeared into the night, you realized he had taken a piece of you with him.