Chapter 5: What He Couldn’t Say Before

“You scared us today,” he said quietly.

“I know,” Nabi replied.

“I’m sorry.”

Jun-seo let out a breath, running a hand through his hair.

“That’s not what I want to hear.”

She looked up at him then.

“Then what do you want, Jun-seo?”

He hesitated.

For the first time since she had known him, Jun-seo looked unsure—almost afraid.

“I want you to stop carrying everything alone,” he said.

“I want you to stop pretending you’re fine when you’re not.”

Nabi stood up slowly.

“You don’t understand,” she said.

“If you get involved—”

“I already am,” he interrupted.

“I’ve been involved since the moment you walked back into my life.”

Silence filled the room.

Jun-seo took a step closer.

“Do you know how hard it was,” he said, his voice low,

“watching you smile while knowing you were breaking inside?”

Nabi swallowed.

“Jun—”

“I told myself it wasn’t my place,” he continued.

“That you didn’t need me. That staying quiet was the safest thing to do.”

He laughed bitterly.

“But today… when you didn’t come back… all I could think was—what if this is the day I lose you without ever telling you the truth?”

Her breath caught.

Jun-seo stood right in front of her now.

“I love you, Nabi.”

The words fell softly—but they shook the room.

“I’ve loved you longer than I should have,” he said.

“Longer than I ever admitted to myself. I love you when you’re strong, and I love you even more when you’re scared.”

Nabi’s eyes filled with tears—but she didn’t let them fall.

“You shouldn’t,” she whispered.

“I come with danger. With scars. With a child who isn’t yours.”

Jun-seo gently lifted her chin so she had to look at him.

“She doesn’t have to be mine by blood,” he said.

“She already feels like my world.”

Her control finally shattered.

“I’m afraid,” Nabi confessed, her voice breaking.

“Everyone I love gets hurt.”

Jun-seo pulled her into his arms without hesitation.

“Then let me be the one who stays,” he said firmly.

“Let me be the one who stands between you and whatever is coming.”

Nabi clutched his shirt, her forehead resting against his chest.

“You don’t know how dark this gets,” she whispered.

“I don’t need to,” he replied.

“I just need to know I’m with you.”

Slowly, hesitantly, Nabi wrapped her arms around him.

Not as a woman pretending to be strong.

But as someone finally allowing herself to be held.

From the doorway, unseen, Duri stood frozen.

“…So that’s it,” he murmured softly, a small smile forming.

“About time.”

Jun-seo rested his chin lightly against Nabi’s head.

“No matter what knocks on your door,” he said,

“I’m here. And I’m not leaving.”

Outside, the wind picked up.

And somewhere in the city, a man smiled—knowing the game had just changed.

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