Chapter 12: Crossroads
Min-Jun stared down at Seo-Ah, her presence cutting through the fog of his thoughts like a sudden, unexpected breeze. The sight of her standing at the entrance of his family's estate felt almost surreal. He hadn't expected to see her, not tonight, not in this place. But there she was, her eyes locked onto his with an intensity that mirrored his own confusion.
She was dressed simply, but there was an elegance to her that stood out even in the grand surroundings of the estate. The stark contrast between her and the polished, pristine world of the Lee family was like a breath of fresh air.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Min-Jun felt his heart beat faster, the tension of the evening lifting for just a fraction of a second. But then the reality of his surroundings came crashing back. His father's voice echoed in his mind, the persistent pressure of expectation weighing heavily on his shoulders. And yet, Seo-Ah was here, and her presence, as always, seemed to have the power to draw him in.
Min-Jun glanced back at the table. His father was engaged in another conversation with Ji-Hyun, leaving Min-Jun free to make his escape. Without thinking, he stepped away from the balcony, making his way down the marble hallway toward the front entrance.
Seo-Ah noticed him approaching and her lips curled into a small smile, though there was something guarded in her expression, as if she knew how complicated things had become between them.
"Min-Jun," she said softly, her voice cutting through the silence between them. "I didn't expect to find you here."
He stopped in front of her, his eyes searching hers. He had so many questions, so many things left unsaid. But instead of speaking, he simply looked at her, as if waiting for her to explain her sudden appearance.
"I came to see your grandmother," she continued, her gaze softening, though there was a hint of something deeper hidden beneath. "She asked me to bring you something."
Min-Jun's heart skipped a beat, though he wasn't sure if it was from surprise or the brief flicker of hope that danced in his chest. His grandmother. Of course. She was the only one who could have coaxed Seo-Ah here.
"Is she alright?" he asked quickly, his concern rising.
Seo-Ah nodded, the smile on her face not quite reaching her eyes. "She's fine. But she's worried about you."
Min-Jun sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore, Seo-Ah," he admitted, his voice raw with emotion. "This whole world... it's all so suffocating."
Seo-Ah's expression softened further, her eyes full of empathy. "I know," she whispered. "But you don't have to do it alone. You never have to."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Min-Jun allowed himself to let go of the rigid control he always held over his emotions. The walls he had built around himself felt fragile, ready to crumble, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to let them fall, not just yet.
"Seo-Ah," he started, his voice quieter now, "Why are you here? Why did you come?"
Her gaze flickered down to the floor for a moment, almost as if she were trying to find the right words. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, more vulnerable.
"I came because I know how hard it is for you. The pressure. The weight of everything. I wanted to remind you that there's more than this, Min-Jun. More than this family, this legacy, and all the expectations." She stepped closer, her eyes locking with his once more. "You deserve more. You deserve to be happy."
Min-Jun felt his breath catch in his throat. The vulnerability in her words made something shift inside him. He had been so focused on everything he couldn't control — the expectations, the constant battle with his father — that he hadn't stopped to think about what he truly wanted.
But in this moment, with Seo-Ah standing before him, everything seemed to pause. It was as if the entire world outside the estate, the vast empire his family had built, had faded into the background. There was only her.
He didn't know where this path would lead, but standing here, in the quiet of the moment, with Seo-Ah so close, Min-Jun realized that for once, he wasn't ready to let go of something that felt real.
---
Min-Jun and Seo-Ah stood there, neither of them speaking for a long while. The quiet between them was comfortable, yet filled with an unspoken tension. It was the kind of silence that felt like the beginning of something new, but also the end of something that had once been.
Finally, it was Seo-Ah who broke the silence. She glanced back toward the family estate, her eyes scanning the windows as if searching for someone. "I should go," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "Your family... they'll wonder where you've gone."
Min-Jun's heart sank at her words. The thought of returning to the suffocating atmosphere of the dinner, the expectations from his father, the constant pressure — it all felt too much to bear.
"Wait," he said quickly, reaching out to touch her arm, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric of her dress. "Please stay. Just... stay for a little while longer."
Seo-Ah hesitated, her eyes searching his face for a moment before she nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Alright," she agreed softly. "But only for a little while."
They walked together, stepping away from the grand estate and into the cool night air. As they moved toward a small garden at the back of the property, the sound of the dinner conversation faded into the distance. Min-Jun felt the weight of his family's expectations lift, if only for a moment, as he found a fleeting sense of freedom in Seo-Ah's presence.
"Min-Jun," she said, her voice gentle as they walked side by side. "You don't have to follow in anyone's footsteps. Not even your father's. You can make your own way."
Min-Jun stopped, his gaze turning toward her, the intensity of her words settling deep within him. "But how do I do that?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Seo-Ah smiled, a small but knowing smile. "One step at a time."