(First-person male POV – Leo)
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDVQkf1t6I
The silence between Ariana and me that night felt heavier than any argument. We walked side by side through the glowing streets of Seoul, yet it felt like a thousand miles stretched between us. She hadn't spoken much since dinner with her father and sister. Her fingers, usually warm and confident in mine, were cold. Distant.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO67CCQyGU
We stopped at the foot of Banpo Bridge, where the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain arched across the water in shimmering waves. People took pictures. Couples leaned on the railing, whispering into each other's shoulders. The world around us was breathtaking yet Ariana’s eyes reflected something far from beauty.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJxmurb0Ib
Leo: You’ve been quiet. Too quiet.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQWnh6aJB1
She didn’t look at me.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJdkfblSba
Ariana: You remember when I told you there were things about my past I hadn't shared?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgL6Tx8Jed
Leo: Yes.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HnEzLFzmf
Ariana: Tonight… you met one of them.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7VCtsrnQn
I frowned. Her father? Her sister?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF1tClXCfO
Leo: What do you mean?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9cnhn66ig
She turned then, her eyes meeting mine, raw with fear.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX0QVOVm2E
Ariana: I wasn’t just invited tonight. I was summoned. My father wanted to remind me of something.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8LRPmR6qQ
Leo: Remind you of what?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL9oaNUzHq
She swallowed.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIJKnDyBww
Ariana: Of a promise. One he expects me to keep.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVPVgjCsNZ
A chill ran through me.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKzrmXNQio
Leo: A promise to him… or to someone else?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNLDbBNn7r
She stepped back slightly not far, but far enough to send a message.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ704H43AgSA
Ariana: Leo… I wasn’t always alone before you. There was someone. Years ago. It ended… or at least, I thought it did.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe7IL4SWHJ
The air seemed to pause.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tTNBf7NkE
Leo: You were engaged?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnYA0SnYCD
Her silence was enough of an answer.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbZh8XiaV0
The next day, she didn’t come to breakfast.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7MVJPDfpv
I waited. Paced. Tried calling.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSYqW7Rvwf
No response.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMozL2d0bW
By noon, frustration got the best of me. I grabbed my jacket and headed to her NGO office. The receptionist looked startled when I walked in.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFlhylUC5z
Receptionist: Leo? She didn’t… tell you?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZXYETgH5h
Leo: Tell me what?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g2iZ5ZpI9
Receptionist: She left early. Said she had something urgent. She’s at a meeting in Gangnam.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMVHyRfmcN
My jaw tightened.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpmeEsuDXv
Leo (thinking): A meeting she didn’t want me to know about.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMDCkeBexD
I left the building. As I reached the main road, my phone buzzed. A message.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJmvWy8i9w
Not from Ariana.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDx1H0UpHt
From an unknown Korean number.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z2EuPCN5D
> Stay in your place if you care about her. Some things aren’t yours to interrupt.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVfIuIE359
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ylWOqak1y
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWyFKhRFsQ
My pulse throbbed.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCdJl5ptEi
I typed furiously: Who is this?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6YNl9R5OX
A reply came instantly.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJKi6b73az
> The man who knew her before you. And the one who won’t let her go again.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBhiUqyYg8
Rage seared through my chest like fire. I started walking faster now, not caring where I was headed, only knowing I couldn’t stand still.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdXHc7d9lK
Whoever he was, he knew Ariana.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU13I9ItLJ0
Whoever he was, he was watching me.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XKcDmizqh
And whoever he was… he was challenging me.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxPvUpmpdy
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP6G5XmUU7
That evening, Ariana finally returned. I was waiting at her apartment doorway.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9QvkUHUpH
She froze when she saw me.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnhlYacAee
Ariana: Leo
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ2J5i3cKv
Leo: Where were you?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj6PfZctl6
Ariana: I needed time to
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKSyHTAIuB
Leo: Time, or him?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jkl6IBXhl
Her breath trembled.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVqjpbw4JM
Ariana: Leo… please don’t make this harder.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoPwHZFHxi
Leo: Then don’t make me guess. Tell me everything.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbf14BYo1W
She stared at me, as if deciding whether to trust me really trust me or push me away for good.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwczZOTYpX
Finally, she whispered.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQivZ7YnZfh
Ariana: His name is Hyun-Woo. We were supposed to be married. Our families arranged it years ago. I left before it happened. I thought he’d moved on.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUffnPQoD0M
She looked away, tears forming.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnCCvZVN77
Ariana: But he hasn't. And now… he wants me back.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDi4Oi9F1y
My heart clenched.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnQdX0PR6k
Leo: And what do you want?
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS7RsDWbyr
Silence. A long, brutal silence.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX0OPS8r1N
Then
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C6qLJpZ7y
Ariana: I want you. But wanting you might cost everything.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz99Yiv4W7
I stepped forward, lifting her chin so she would look at me.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5EBU76lWv
Leo: Then let it cost everything. Because I am not letting him, your father, or anyone else decide what happens to us.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBorFC1eT1
Her tears finally fell not of weakness, but of someone who had been holding her breath for years.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKnjFHXX9i
She didn’t answer with words.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHxKHkmMtp
She stepped into my arms.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1LRfuKsHp
But as I held her close, I knew this wasn’t the end of the storm.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ8Zzq56yl
It was the beginning.
ns216.73.216.134da2
and then Add to home screen.