Shared Spaces & Hidden Desires • Seungcheol

51 - Alone

YN

The taxi ride home was quiet except for the sound of my own crying. I kept wiping at my face like maybe I could erase the whole night if I just rubbed hard enough. But nothing helped. The ache stayed right in the center of my chest.

He left me.

And I couldn't stop replaying the moment in my head—his chair scraping back, the way he walked out without even glancing at me. I had never felt so small, so unwanted.

By the time the elevator reached the penthouse, I had barely pulled myself together. My makeup was ruined. My heart, worse.

The doors slid open and there he was—pacing the floor, jaw clenched, his hand raking through his hair. He looked up as soon as he heard the elevator chime.

And before I could stop myself, I asked, voice barely steady, "Why did you leave me all alone?"

His eyes softened for the briefest second. But then they hardened again. His voice was low, cold. "You looked pretty comfortable with the waiter," he said bitterly. "Thought maybe I should leave you with him, since he clearly gets more of your attention than I do."

I froze.

"What..." I whispered. "It wasn't like that."

"Wasn't it?" he snapped, stepping toward me. "Because from where I sat, he couldn't stop staring at you, and you just smiled. You let him flirt with you. You laughed."

I swallowed, the tears already welling up again. "I didn't mean to—I was just trying to be polite."

He laughed—cold, humorless. "Yeah, you're always polite. With everyone. That's the problem."

I shook my head quickly. "I didn't want to seem disrespectful—"

"But you didn't mind making me feel invisible?" he interrupted, voice rising. "Last time, it was Jisoo. And I told you how that made me feel. I told you I didn't like how close you were."

"That's..." I said softly, tears starting to slip again. "I wasn't trying to hurt you. I never—"

"But you did," he snapped. "You keep doing it. And I'm just supposed to smile through it? Pretend I'm okay while you act like you're not even mine?"

"I am yours," I cried, voice cracking. "I never wanted you to feel otherwise."

He stepped in closer, and his voice dropped—not soft, but deadly serious. "Are you? Because it's starting to feel like I'm just another guy you tolerate. Like anyone with a halfway decent smile can have your attention."

That did it.

That shattered something deep in me.

My head shot up, and I looked at him for the first time tonight, really looked. My chest heaved with the weight of his words.

"You think I tolerate you?" I whispered, eyes wide. "You think I just... entertain anyone who flirts with me?"

He stared at me, breathing hard, his jaw tense.

I let out a shaky breath, a laugh soaked in heartbreak. "I came home alone and in tears, Seungcheol. Do you even care?"

Silence.

And that was my answer.

I didn't wait for more.

I turned and walked away—fast—ignoring his voice calling, "yn—wait."

I ran upstairs, slammed the door behind me, and locked it.

And when I slid down to the floor, knees pulled into my chest, the tears came again. But this time, they weren't just from guilt.