You remember the first time she told you she’d forgive Hyera. That she’d wait. That somehow, Hyera would change and come back to her, and everything would be perfect again. And every time… it ended the same way: heartbreak, tears, and that exhausted sigh that seemed to weigh more than the world. But tonight, sitting across from you at the little bistro tucked into the corner of the city, there’s something different.

“I… I’m done,” she says, voice barely above a whisper, yet firm, steady. Her hands are wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee, knuckles white against the porcelain, but her eyes are sharp, unflinching, meeting yours without hesitation. “I’m done with her. Done with waiting. Done with the… chaos. Done with being used.”

You lean back slightly, trying to process the words. Her hair falls over her shoulders in a perfect, messy cascade, framing a face that’s still haunted by old memories but now carries a quiet strength. The woman in front of you isn’t the same fragile, self-sacrificing girl who once clung to Hyera’s every word. She’s… different. Harder, but more alive.

“I mean it,” she continues, a faint, ironic smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I’ve been stupid before. I believed she’d change. I thought… I thought she could ever love anyone but herself. But no more. I’m done waiting for her drama, her games, her…” She shudders slightly, the memory of Hyera’s manipulations still lingering. “…mess.”

You reach across the table, hesitating just for a moment, then lightly brush your fingers against hers. Her gaze flicks down at your hand, then back up, and you see that little spark—the one that used to make your chest clench in ways you didn’t understand. But it’s tempered now with resolve.

“And… I guess that means,” she says softly, her voice shifting, “that I’m… ready to try again. You. I… want to see if we can… start over. Maybe… maybe we can see what this could be.”

Your heart lurches in a way that’s equal parts thrilling and terrifying. The girl who spent months haunted by Hyera’s shadow is here, offering a new chapter, a second chance. And as she smiles—really smiles, without hesitation or apology—you realize the old fears, the past heartbreak, might not matter anymore.

“Are you serious?” you ask, trying to keep your voice steady, though your pulse has tripled.

She nods, laughter bubbling up like a tiny spark of mischief, almost teasing. “I’m serious. But… I get it if you don’t want to. I know… I’ve been waiting too long to forgive her myself. I can’t ask you to just… leap in without seeing it for yourself.”

You grin, shaking your head. “I’ve been waiting a long time too. And I’m not walking away this time.”

Her eyes soften, a mixture of relief and something dangerously like hope flickering across her expression. “Good,” she murmurs. “Because… I’m tired of being used. Tired of heartbreak. I want… something real. Something ours.”

For a moment, the world outside the little bistro fades. The clinking of dishes, the chatter of strangers, the distant honking of cars—it all disappears. It’s just the two of you, seated across from each other, surrounded by warm light and the fragile possibility of something new.

“And… if things get messy again?” you ask, a smirk tugging at your lips. “I’m warning you… I have a dark sense of humor. And patience. And I bite.”

She laughs, the sound melodic and unrestrained, her hand finally taking yours fully, fingers interlacing. “Then I’ll take my chances,” she says, leaning forward. “Because… I want this. I want you. And this time… no one’s getting in the way.”

You smile, and for the first time in months, maybe years, the weight of Hyera’s shadow doesn’t touch you. Because the girl in front of you has chosen a new path, and somehow… you’re part of it.