At ji won apartment

Chawoon stepped into her house. It was dark, with no lights on. He looked around, confused, and called out, "Ji Won? Where are you? Are you okay?"

He moved through the house, his eyes searching for any sign of her. Suddenly, the lights flickered on.

There she was, standing before him in a beautiful black-and-white dress. The room was decorated with fairy lights and balloons, a perfect setup for a surprise.

"Surprise!" Ji Won exclaimed, her face glowing with excitement.

Chawoon froze, standing in shock. Ji Won walked over, gently took his hand, and made him sit down. She pulled out a single red rose and handed it to him.

"Chawoon," she said softly, "I love you. .....will you be my boyfriend?"

Chawoon blinked, unsure of how to react. "Wait! Ji Won, are you kidding me? What is this?" He stood up abruptly, pacing. "I came here because you were upset . ...Wh..at is going on?"

Ji Won shook her head. "No, Chawoon, I'm not kidding. I love you. I’ve loved you for the past many years!"

Chawoon’s face softened, but his words didn’t match. "Ji Won, I’m sorry if I ever made you feel this way, but I’ve always seen you as my best friend. Just my FRIEND!. Nothing more than that. I can’t accept this."

Ji Won’s expression crumbled. She stood up, her eyes glistening with tears. "Look at me, Chawoon. You don’t love me? ..you see me just as a friend....huh?..... She paused then

She looked at him as she asked"Then who do you love! ?"

"You know I don’t love anyone, Ji Won," Chawoon replied firmly. "I don’t even talk to girls like that."

Ji Won smirked bitterly, clapping her hands. "Oh, really? Then why are you always fighting for her? Why are you always supporting her?"

She threw the rose onto the floor.

"I don’t understand why you always bring her up...sh..," Chawoon began.

But Ji Won cut him off, shouting, "Because she came between us!
"You and I were supposed to be together!"

"Ji Won, no," Chawoon said, his voice pleading. "Please sit down and listen to me. I don’t love her... She is just my classmate..Why are you thinking like this She hasn't come in between us..but your love can!

He looked at her eyes and continued with a soft voice " Try to understand me... I don’t want to lose our friendship because of this one-sided love. You deserve someone better than me, and I’ll help you to find him..please ."

Ji Won’s tears spilled over, but she managed a small nod. "Okay… Please go. I want to be alone now."

Chawoon hesitated before leaving. "Don’t cry for me, Ji Won. You’ll always be my bestie."

He gave her a sad smile and walked out, leaving her behind.

The moment the front door slammed shut, Ji Won collapsed to her knees.

Her trembling hands reached for the decorations she had spent hours preparing ..ribbons, fairy lights, the little note cards with inside jokes. One by one, she tore them down, letting them fall lifeless to the ground like her hope.

Tears poured down her face as she shouted into the empty room, voice raw with pain.

“Chawoon… then why did you fight those boys for me back when we were kids? Why were you always there… always choosing me when you could’ve chosen anyone else?”

She gripped a balloon, her fingers shaking, and it popped in her hand sharp, loud, final.

“You had so many chances,” she cried. “So many girls who liked you… but it was always just me. I was so sure… so sure it was because you loved me.”

Her voice broke into a whisper as she slid down against the wall, burying her face in her hands.

“Ayeshaa…” she murmured, the name cutting like glass. “He said he don't like you really?!...She sigh."but....not me either”

She looked  up at the dim ceiling, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Don't ruin this friendship because of one-sided love..."

Chawoon’s words echoed in her mind, sharp and gentle all at once.

A bitter ache twisted in her chest. Jealousy had crept in quietly, burning her from the inside but beneath it, something deeper tugged at her heart. Something stronger than pride.

She swallowed hard, her voice barely whispering to the empty room.
“But I’m his best friend…”

A pause. A quiet breath.

“I won’t ruin this. I’d rather stay by his side as a friend… than lose him forever.”

And after a moment, softer still, like a hope she was afraid to name:
“…And maybe he’ll fall for me one day too.”

Her eyes fluttered shut, but a new fear crept in one that made her voice fall even softer.

“what if.......Ayesha love him?"

At Chawoon’s House

Kim Min Kyu sat in his room, staring at a photo of Ji Won he had from the childhood . His face was calm, but his words were filled with hidden pain.

"I hope you get all the love you deserve, Ji Won," he whispered. "It hurts to see you love Chawoon, but if you’re happy, then I’m happy too."

The Next Day
at hostel

Ameena tapped her foot impatiently, glancing at the clock. "Chawoon said he’d come. Where is he?"

"Maybe he’s busy," Ayesha replied. "Let’s wait a bit longer."

But at Chawoon’s house

he wasn’t busy. He was lost in thought, replaying last night’s events over and over.

Kim Min Kyu stepped into his room, intending to say goodbye before heading to the company and maybe get some answers about yesterday. But as soon as he opened the door, he noticed Chawoon sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.

Min Kyu frowned slightly.
"Chawoon... what happened?"

Chawoon let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Bro, can you believe this... Ji Won proposed to me yesterday."

Min Kyu’s body stiffened. For a split second, the air around him felt heavier.He blinked, then forced a small smile."Oh... If you said yes, then…..congrats."

Before Chawoon could respond, Min Kyu turned away and walked out quickly, slipping on his sunglasses to hide the sting in his eyes.

Left alone, Chawoon watched the door close behind him. His brows pulled together in confusion.

"...What’s with his reaction?"

At the Hostel

Knock, knock.

Ameena jumped to her feet. "I think that’s Chawoon!"

But when she opened the door, it was Ji Won.

"Can I come in?" Ji Won asked quietly.

"Uh, yes, of course." Ameena gestured for her to sit, glancing nervously at Ayesha.

Ayesha gave Ameena a look, silently asking why Ji Won was there. But Ameena didn’t know either.

"Don’t worry," Ji Won said, breaking the silence. "I just want to ask you something."

"Okay," Ayesha replied cautiously. "What do you want to ask?"

Ji Won took a shaky breath, her fingers curling slightly at her side. The words hovered on her lips, heavy and urgent.

Then, in one quick exhale, she let them go.

"Do you love Chawoon?"

Her voice was fast,almost rushed like she was afraid of the answer.Her eyes remained shut, bracing for whatever came next.

Ayesha stared at her, stunned. "What?!"

Ji Won repeated the question, her voice trembling. "Do you....love him?"

Ayesha shook her head. "Listen, Ji Won. I don’t know why you’re asking this suddenly, but I want to make something clear. Chawoon is yours. I know you love him."

"But he doesn’t love me!" Ji Won cried out, breaking down again.

"What?!" Ameena gasped.

Ji Won wiped her tears, her voice shaking. "He doesn’t love me. He never has.!"

Ayesha handed her some water and hugged her gently.

"Ji Won, listen to me.

She looked at Ji Won, watching her break down over Chawoon.

"Why are you crying over a boy?" she said quietly.

"I thought you were stronger than this. Don’t cry for anyone."

Then she gently grabbed her shoulder, steadying her.

"Let me tell you something Allah teaches us."

Ayesha smiled softly. "Allah takes the best and gives you the best in return. What you don’t get today, something better is waiting for you tomorrow."

Ji Won stared at her, her heart heavy but her mind clearer. She nodded slowly, realizing Ayesha’s kindness.

For the first time, Ji Won admired her, feeling a sense of respect and understanding grow.

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So let's see how there story will end up #secondlead