Scene 4

Comeback

Episode 6: The Unexpected Change

The days that followed Hongshu’s quiet departure from Gwangshuk’s confession were quieter still. She spent most of her time in the background, as she always had, trying her best to avoid the ever-growing tension between herself and the people she cared about. She found comfort in being invisible, lost in her thoughts, even though it didn’t numb the pain that constantly threatened to break through.

But something was shifting—something that Hongshu couldn’t ignore. Gwangshuk was becoming more distant. His conversations with her, though frequent, felt more strained. His attentiveness seemed to fade, replaced with an awkwardness that left Hongshu questioning everything. And yet, he never pulled away completely. He still needed her, in small ways, in ways that sometimes made her believe that maybe there was more than just gratitude in his heart. Maybe. But then again, maybe it was just his guilt trying to make things right.

Shinha, on the other hand, had noticed the change in Gwangshuk too. Their friendship, once easy and seamless, had become complicated. She was still her usual cheerful self, but Hongshu could see the slight frown on her face whenever Gwangshuk was lost in thought, or whenever she caught him looking at her in that distant way.

One afternoon, as Hongshu sat by the school gates, she overheard a conversation between Shinha and Gwangshuk, who was standing a few steps away. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but the words slipped into her ears anyway.

“I think you’ve been avoiding Hongshu,” Shinha said, concern lacing her voice. “You’ve been acting distant lately. Is everything okay?”

Gwangshuk sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know, Shinha. I feel like I’ve messed up with her. I don’t want to hurt her, but I don’t know what to do. I care about her, but I don’t know if it’s the way she wants me to.”

Hongshu’s heart clenched, but she couldn’t bring herself to face them. She knew it was a conversation that needed to happen, but she couldn’t be a part of it. She couldn’t be the one to explain why she’d fallen in love with him all those years ago, or why she couldn’t let go of the hope that maybe—just maybe—he would see her the way she saw him.

She left, walking away from the sound of their voices, leaving the heartache behind as best as she could.

Comeback

Episode 7: The Breaking Point

The tension reached its peak the following week when Gwangshuk approached Hongshu after school. She had been sitting in the library, burying herself in books to avoid the world, but her solitude was interrupted by his voice.

“Haven’t seen you around much,” he said, his tone uncharacteristically soft. He stood awkwardly by the table, unsure of how to start the conversation.

Hongshu didn’t look up from her book. “I’ve been busy.”

“I know you’ve been keeping to yourself lately,” Gwangshuk continued, his gaze lingering on her. “And I get it. I really do. I’ve been confusing, and I don’t blame you for distancing yourself from me. But I need to be honest with you. I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened… and what I said.”

Hongshu set the book down, finally meeting his eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

“I… I don’t want you to feel like I’m just using you. I don’t want to hurt you anymore,” Gwangshuk admitted, his voice faltering. “You’ve been my friend for so long, and I don’t want to lose that. But I also need to be clear. My feelings for Shinha are still real. I can’t change that.”

Hongshu’s heart shattered. She had known it deep down, but hearing him say it aloud made it all the more painful. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but the words that followed came out in a whisper.

“I don’t need your apology, Gwangshuk,” she said softly, her voice betraying the quiet hurt she felt. “I never wanted you to choose me. I just wanted to be close to you. But I’ve always known… I’ve always known that it would never be enough.”

Gwangshuk opened his mouth to speak, but Hongshu stood up abruptly, cutting him off.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” she said, her voice firm. “I’m not angry at you. I’m just… tired.”

With that, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. As she left the school grounds, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. It wasn’t over, but it was the end of a chapter—one she had known was inevitable.

Comeback

Episode 8: The Longest Goodbye

Weeks passed, and the distance between Hongshu and Gwangshuk only grew. He continued to see Shinha, and though they had their awkward moments, their bond seemed unbreakable. Hongshu, for her part, focused on herself. She threw herself into her studies, and though it wasn’t the easiest thing, she started to rebuild her sense of self-worth.

One day, during lunch, Shinha approached her in the cafeteria. Her eyes were downcast, and there was a hesitance in her step that made Hongshu’s heart tighten.

“Honey, can we talk?” Shinha asked softly, sitting down across from her.

Hongshu raised an eyebrow but nodded, keeping her face neutral. “Sure. What’s up?”

“I’ve noticed that you’ve been distant lately. And… I know it’s because of Gwangshuk,” Shinha started, her voice breaking slightly. “I don’t know how to make this right, but I just want you to know that he’s never meant to hurt you.”

Hongshu gave a small, bitter laugh. “You think I don’t know that?”

Shinha winced, clearly not expecting that response. “I’m sorry, Hongshu. I… I never wanted you to feel like this. I care about you, and I don’t want our friendship to fall apart because of him.”

The words hit Hongshu like a cold wave. It wasn’t Shinha’s fault. She couldn’t be angry with her. But Gwangshuk… Gwangshuk was still in her heart, even though she knew he would never be hers.

“I don’t want things to be awkward between us,” Hongshu replied, her voice quieter now. “But I don’t think I can be around Gwangshuk anymore. It’s too hard. I need to move on, and I think that means stepping away.”

Shinha nodded in understanding, but there was sadness in her eyes. “I get it. But I hope you’ll still be my friend.”

Hongshu smiled softly. “Of course. I’m still your friend.”

But deep down, she knew that moving on would take time. It would take distance. It would take everything in her to finally close the door on the one-sided love she had carried for so long.

As Hongshu walked away from the cafeteria, she felt a strange sense of finality. It wasn’t a happy ending. But it was the end of a chapter, and maybe, just maybe, the beginning of something new.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***