CHAPTER 56 — WHAT COMES NEXT
Morning didn't feel heavy anymore.
Not after yesterday.
Not after everything was finally out.
—
Jae woke up without that pause.
That moment where she had to remind herself where she was.
—
Because now—
she knew.
—
She was here.
She stayed.
—
And everything that mattered—
knew the truth.
—
She sat up, stretching slightly, glancing around her old room.
Same walls.
Same light.
—
Different feeling.
—
"…Okay."
—
Not a deep realization.
Not dramatic.
—
Just—
ready.
—
—
Downstairs—
the house was already alive.
—
Tita Gema in the kitchen again.
But this time—
she looked up the second Jae walked in.
—
"…You're up."
—
"…Yeah."
—
There was a pause.
—
Then—
Tita Gema walked over.
Adjusted a strand of Jae's hair behind her ear.
—
A small gesture.
—
But it said everything.
—
"…Eat first."
—
Jae smiled slightly.
"…Okay."
—
—
Aries was at the table.
—
"…You sleep?"
—
"…Yeah."
—
"Good."
—
Simple.
—
Angelo walked in a second later.
—
"…We're not having another emotional morning, right?"
—
Jae raised an eyebrow.
"…No."
—
"…Good."
Pause.
"…I don't have the energy."
—
She smirked slightly.
—
Normal.
—
And that—
felt better than anything else.
—
—
Later—
The group chat was already active again.
—
Jae opened it.
—
Percy:
I HAVE A PLAN
—
Yuri:
NO
—
Ci-N:
ABSOLUTELY NOT
—
Felix:
IGNORE HIM
—
Denzel:
TOO LATE
—
Mayo:
WHAT IS IT
—
Percy:
WE'RE ALL GOING OUT TODAY
—
Rory:
WE DO THAT EVERY DAY
—
Percy:
BUT THIS TIME IT'S IMPORTANT
—
Edrix:
WHY
—
Percy:
BECAUSE SHE'S HERE
—
Pause.
—
Jae typed:
—
I'm not a reason for chaos
—
Percy:
YOU ARE EXACTLY THAT
—
Blaster:
FACTS
—
She rolled her eyes.
—
what's the plan
—
Percy:
WE'RE MEETING AT 4
—
Kit:
WHERE
—
Percy:
YOU'LL SEE
—
Yuri:
I DON'T TRUST THIS
—
Jae:
you shouldn't
—
—
She muted it again.
—
Because clearly—
there was no controlling Percy.
—
—
Afternoon—
Jae sat in the living room.
Laptop open.
Working.
—
Keifer walked in.
—
"…You're working here?"
—
"…I have a tour coming up."
—
"Right."
—
He sat across from her.
—
"…Can I hear something?"
—
She looked up.
—
"…You never stop asking."
—
"And you never stop saying no."
—
A pause.
—
Then—
"…Fine."
—
He blinked.
"…Wait, again?"
—
"Don't get used to it."
—
She turned the laptop slightly.
—
Pressed play.
—
The track wasn't finished.
Not polished.
—
But it was alive.
—
And he listened the same way as before.
—
Quiet.
Focused.
—
When it ended—
he leaned back slightly.
—
"…You've changed."
—
She raised an eyebrow.
"…That sounds like an insult."
—
"It's not."
—
A pause.
—
"…You sound… freer."
—
That stayed.
—
She looked at the screen again.
—
"…I think I am."
—
—
Later—
4 PM came faster than expected.
—
And of course—
Percy's "plan" was already chaotic.
—
They ended up at some open area near the city.
—
Food stalls.
Lights.
Music.
—
Everyone already there.
—
"YOU'RE LATE—"
—
"We're on time," Jae said.
—
"NO YOU'RE LATE—"
—
"Shut up."
—
Laughter.
—
—
It didn't take long for everything to fall into rhythm again.
—
Talking.
Moving around.
Arguing over food.
—
Jae stood with Ci-N and Felix at one point.
—
"You're actually staying," Felix said.
—
"…Yeah."
—
"For real?"
—
"…For real."
—
Ci-N nodded.
—
"Good."
—
Again—
simple.
But real.
—
—
At another point—
she ended up next to Aries.
—
Not planned.
—
Just happened.
—
"…You okay?" he asked.
—
She smiled slightly.
—
"…You've asked that a lot."
—
"…Answer it again."
—
"…Yeah."
—
He nodded.
—
"…Good."
—
Pause.
—
"…Proud of you."
—
That one—
she didn't expect.
—
"…For what?"
—
"…For not running this time."
—
She looked at him.
—
Then nodded slightly.
—
"…Yeah."
—
—
Evening—
The sky darkened slowly.
—
Lights came on around them.
—
The energy shifted.
Softer now.
—
Jae stood slightly away from the group.
Watching everything.
—
Keifer walked up beside her.
—
"…You do that a lot."
—
"…What?"
—
"Step back and watch."
—
She shrugged.
—
"…I like seeing things clearly."
—
He nodded.
—
"…And what do you see right now?"
—
She looked at everyone.
—
Percy arguing loudly.
Yuri shaking his head.
Ci-N laughing.
Felix mid-story.
—
Aries and Angelo talking nearby.
—
"…I see… everything where it's supposed to be."
—
A pause.
—
"…And you?" she asked.
—
He looked at her.
—
"…Same."
—
—
Silence.
—
Then—
without overthinking—
he reached for her hand.
—
She didn't pull away.
—
Didn't hesitate.
—
Just let it happen.
—
And somehow—
that felt bigger than anything dramatic.
—
—
Later—
They all sat together.
—
Tired.
But still talking.
—
"…So what now?" Percy asked suddenly.
—
Everyone looked at him.
—
"…What do you mean?" Denzel said.
—
"…Like what happens next?"
—
Jae leaned back slightly.
—
"…We live?"
—
"…That's boring," Percy said.
—
"…You're boring," she replied.
—
Laughter.
—
—
But the question stayed.
—
Not heavy.
—
Just…
there.
—
What comes next?
—
—
That night—
Back at the mansion—
—
Jae stood by the window again.
—
Phone in hand.
—
Tour plans open.
Messages waiting.
—
Everything moving forward.
—
Not paused.
Not stuck.
—
Just—
going.
—
Keifer stepped in quietly.
—
"…You're thinking again."
—
"…Always."
—
He stood beside her.
—
"…About what?"
—
She looked at the screen.
Then at him.
—
"…The future."
—
A pause.
—
"…Scary?"
—
She shook her head.
—
"…No."
—
"…Why?"
—
She smiled slightly.
—
"…Because this time—I'm not facing it alone."
—
That stayed.
—
He nodded.
—
"…Good."
—
Silence.
—
Then—
"…We'll figure it out," he added.
—
Not a promise.
Not a plan.
—
Just—
truth.
—
"…Yeah," she said softly.
—
Because that was enough.
—
—
She looked out again.
—
City lights stretching endlessly.
—
Not overwhelming.
—
Just…
open.
—
And whatever came next—
—
she was ready for it.
One Week Later
—
Time didn't slow down.
It didn't stretch.
It didn't give her extra moments to hold onto.
—
It just moved.
—
And suddenly—
it was time to leave.
—
Jae stood in her room, suitcase open.
Clothes neatly folded.
Half packed.
—
She wasn't rushing.
—
Because this time—
she wasn't running.
—
She picked up another hoodie.
Paused.
Looked around.
—
Same room.
Same memories.
—
But it didn't feel heavy anymore.
—
It felt like something she could come back to.
—
"…You're taking forever."
—
She didn't turn.
—
"You walked in without knocking."
—
"…I live here."
—
She smirked slightly.
—
Keifer stepped in anyway.
Watching her.
—
"…You're really leaving."
—
"…Yeah."
—
A pause.
—
"…I can come with you."
—
She stopped.
Looked at him.
—
"…No."
—
"…No?"
—
She zipped her suitcase halfway.
—
"…You're a distraction."
—
Silence.
—
"…Excuse me?"
—
She smiled.
—
"I have a tour."
—
"…And?"
—
"And I need to focus."
—
He stepped closer.
—
"…I can be quiet."
—
She raised an eyebrow.
"…You?"
—
"…Okay, maybe not."
—
She laughed softly.
—
"…I'll come back."
—
That changed everything.
—
Not goodbye.
—
Just—
later.
—
He nodded.
—
"…You better."
—
A small pause.
—
Then he stepped closer.
—
No hesitation now.
—
His hand rested lightly at her waist.
—
"…Come here."
—
She didn't resist.
—
And when they kissed—
—
it was soft.
Not rushed.
Not heavy.
—
Just certain.
—
When they pulled away—
he rested his forehead against hers.
—
"…Don't take too long."
—
"…Don't miss me too much."
—
"…Too late."
—
She smiled.
—
"…I'll call you."
—
"…You better."
—
—
Airport—
—
Of course everyone came.
—
"YOU'RE LEAVING AGAIN—"
—
"I'm coming back," Jae said.
—
"STILL—"
—
Percy looked offended.
—
"You're acting like I'm disappearing."
—
"YOU DO THAT—"
—
"Not this time."
—
Yuri shook his head.
"…We'll see."
—
Ci-N hugged her tight.
—
"You better come back."
—
"I will."
—
Felix stepped in.
—
"Don't forget us."
—
"Impossible."
—
One by one—
everyone hugged her.
—
Loud.
Messy.
Real.
—
Aries pulled her in next.
—
"…Take care."
—
"…I will."
—
Angelo hugged her.
—
"…Call."
—
"…I will."
—
Tita Gema held her longer.
—
"…Eat properly."
"…Sleep."
"…Don't disappear."
—
"I won't."
—
"…Come back soon."
—
"…I will."
—
Then—
Keifer.
—
No words at first.
—
Just a look.
—
Then—
a quick, quiet hug.
Closer than before.
—
"…Go," he said softly.
—
"…I will."
—
—
Private jet—
—
Percy stared.
—
"…You're actually insane."
—
"…I know."
—
"Take me next time."
—
"No."
—
"RUDE."
—
She laughed.
—
One last look.
—
Then she stepped inside.
—
—
The flight was long.
—
Quiet.
—
She didn't overthink.
Didn't replay anything.
—
She just rested.
—
Because this wasn't an ending.
—
—
Landing—
—
The second she stepped out—
—
"JAE—"
—
She froze—
then smiled instantly.
—
Min-jae.
Jisoo.
Sora.
—
Standing there.
Waiting.
—
She didn't walk.
—
She ran.
—
"YOU'RE BACK—"
—
She jumped straight onto Min-jae.
—
"I MISSED YOU—"
—
"You disappeared for a month—"
—
"I told you I'd be back—"
—
Jisoo pulled her into a hug next.
—
"You look different."
—
"…Good different?"
—
"…Better."
—
Sora joined in.
—
"We had to handle everything without you."
—
"…And you survived?"
—
"…Barely."
—
They laughed.
—
And just like that—
it felt like home again.
—
—
But then—
—
noise.
—
Loud.
Huge.
—
Fans.
—
Thousands.
—
Calling her name.
—
Phones up.
Energy everywhere.
—
Jae paused.
—
Not overwhelmed.
—
Just taking it in.
—
"…Ready?" Min-jae asked.
—
She smiled.
—
"…Always."
—
—
The drive home—
should've been 30 minutes.
—
It took two hours.
—
Traffic.
Fans following.
—
But she didn't complain.
—
Didn't get tired.
—
Because everything felt…
balanced.
—
—
Inside the car—
Jisoo glanced at her.
—
"…So."
—
"…So?"
—
"…You look happy."
—
Jae looked out the window.
—
Then smiled slightly.
—
"…I am."
—
Min-jae noticed that.
—
But he didn't say anything.
—
Didn't ask.
—
Just nodded to himself.
—
Because he understood.
—
—
When the gates of her mansion opened—
—
Jae leaned back.
—
Looking ahead.
—
This life.
That life.
—
Both real.
Both hers.
—
And for the first time—
—
she wasn't choosing one over the other.
—
She was carrying both.
—
And somewhere—
far away—
—
someone was waiting.
—
Not for her to come back broken.
—
But for her to come back stronger.
—
And she would.
—
Because this time—
—
she didn't leave pieces of herself behind.
—
She kept all of them.
—
And that changed everything.