I should have said something.

Anything.

Even if it was just "I'm sorry" or "I need time."

But I didn't. I just stood there, watching her walk away.

And I’ve hated myself for that ever since.

That moment keeps playing in my head..

Her voice. Her eyes. The way she smiled, even when she knew she was about to get hurt.

I can’t stop thinking about her.

The truth is — I don’t know if I liked Ju-kyung as much as I thought.

Maybe I just liked the idea of her.

The safety.

The comfort of something I once had.

But with her… it was different.

She didn’t try to impress me. She didn’t pretend. She just saw me.

All of me. The broken parts, the angry parts — and she still wanted me.

And I let her go.

The next day, I looked for her at school.

She wasn’t there.

I waited. One day. Two. A week. Nothing.

Every time my phone lit up, I hoped it was her.

I told myself I would call her, text her, something.

But I didn’t even have the right words.

Now it’s been two weeks.

I can’t do it anymore.

I need to see her.

Even if she slams the door in my face.

Even if she tells me she’s over me.

So I go to her neighborhood.

I stand outside the convenience store where we used to bump into each other.

I wait.

Then I see her.

She’s walking, earbuds in, hands in her jacket.

Same calm face. But when she looks up and sees me — she freezes.

I step forward.

She doesn’t move.

“Hey."

I say, finally finding my voice.

She doesn’t answer.

I take another step.

“I’m sorry. For that day. For not saying anything.”

Still quiet.

“I was stupid."

I admit.

"And scared. But the truth is, I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I regret that moment every single day.”

Her eyes soften, just a little.

I keep going.

“I’m not asking you to like me back. I just needed you to know… I care. A lot.”

She looks down, then back at me.

“You really hurt me, Seo-jun."

she says quietly.

“I know.”

Iwhisper.

“And I’ll spend as long as it takes to fix that. If you let me.”

She’s silent again.

But this time, she doesn’t walk away.

And maybe that’s a start.