The evening air was cool, carrying the faint sounds of distant traffic and laughter from a nearby street. So Hee walked slowly, feeling the weight of the day, when she suddenly bumped into someone familiar.
"Yoo Min Ji?" she said softly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
Min Ji smiled, a gentle warmth in her eyes. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
So Hee nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She hesitated. "Yeah… it has. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to see you. Is there something you need from me?"
Min Ji's smile softened, but her expression grew serious. "So Hee… there's something I need to tell you. Something about Ha Eun."
So Hee's heart skipped, but she shook her head slightly. "I… I'm not curious, Min Ji. I really don't want to think about her anymore."
Min Ji's gaze was firm, yet gentle. "I know, I know. But you need to hear this. I don't want to regret not telling you later. You deserve to know the truth. Please, just… hear me out."
So Hee took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Okay… I'll listen."
Min Ji led her a few steps down the quiet street. "You remember why Ha Eun broke up with you, right?" she began, voice calm but steady.
So Hee nodded, shrugging slightly. "She said she was busy… that it wasn't the right time. That's all I ever knew."
Min Ji shook her head gently. "No. That wasn't the real reason. Ha Eun broke up with you because of a man. A guy who proposed to her. At first, she thought he loved her, that he wanted to marry her. But… she later discovered the truth."
So Hee's stomach tightened, a sharp, uneasy feeling curling inside her chest. "The truth?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes," Min Ji continued. "After more than a year, the guy never talked about marriage. And then… she found out he was married already, with two children,then she broke up with him.
So Hee's hands curled at her sides, her chest tightening with a mixture of anger, disbelief, and the familiar sting of old wounds. "Two years… and I never knew any of this," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Min Ji placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I didn't want to bring this up lightly. I waited… but I couldn't not tell you. You deserve the truth. You weren't at fault, So Hee. Not for a second."
So Hee exhaled slowly, the weight in her chest heavy but somehow lighter than before. She felt a spark of clarity amidst the anger. "I… I can't believe this. I trusted her. I thought… maybe I wasn't enough."
"You were more than enough," Min Ji said softly, squeezing her shoulder. "Ha Eun made her choice. You didn't do anything wrong.
So Hee nodded, absorbing Min Ji's words. A flicker of resolve sparked within her. She had loved, she had been hurt, and now she had the truth. She wouldn't let Ha Eun's choices define her or control her heart anymore.
"Thank you, Min Ji," So Hee said, her voice quiet but sincere. "I… really needed to know."
Min Ji smiled, the warmth returning to her expression. "Of course. I just couldn't keep it from you. And… if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."
So Hee returned the smile, small but genuine. The night seemed calmer, the city lights softer, and for the first time in years, she felt a subtle sense of closure, even if the anger still burned quietly beneath the surface.
The encounter ended there, simple and quiet, but So Hee knew her life had shifted. The truth was out, and with it, the next chapter of her life—and her love—could finally move forward.