Chapter 33: Misread Lines
The sky above the Eclipse dorm was slowly fading into soft peach and blue. Soyeon walked next to Taehyun along the paved path near the garden wall, her hands clasped together, fidgeting with her sleeves.
"I wanted to say… I'm sorry," she said finally.
Taehyun glanced at her, silent.
"I shouldn't have said all that this Evening About how you were acting like you'd already lost. About Hana." She let out a breath, her voice quieter now. "It wasn't fair."
Taehyun kept walking, eyes on the horizon.
Soyeon hesitated before continuing, her tone more gentle now. "I know you, Taehyun. You're thoughtful. You hold back when you feel too much. And I made it seem like you were weak or giving up. I didn't mean to corner you like that."
He stayed quiet, but his steps slowed slightly.
She looked at him, eyes soft. "I guess I just needed to know… you're still you."
They stopped walking near the end of the path, where a patch of grass opened up to the back gate.
Then, after a pause, she added lightly, "But it's not like you actually have feelings for Hana, right? I mean… not like that."
Taehyun didn't respond.
Soyeon gave a light laugh to fill the silence. "Right? She's just… someone we're all helping. Someone who's part of our team."
Still no answer.
Taehyun's hands were in his pockets. He stared down at the gravel under his shoes.
"I just thought maybe you needed to hear it from someone who knows you," Soyeon said more gently now, taking a step closer. "Whatever you're feeling—if you're confused or tired—it's not because of her. She's just… comfort. Familiar. That's not love."
She gave him a soft smile, trying to reach him.
Taehyun looked up slowly, his expression unreadable.
But his mind was anything but quiet.
Not love.
Just comfort.
Then why did her voice stay in his mind longer than it should? Why did he notice when she smiled at someone else? Why did it feel like every little moment with her was starting to mean something more?
"Yeah," he said finally, but it came out lower than expected. "Maybe you're right."
But his eyes didn't agree.
Soyeon reached out and gently squeezed his arm, the gesture both comforting and possessive.
"Thanks for the walk," she said, turning back toward the house. "Let's both just… reset."
As she walked away, Taehyun stayed frozen in place, watching her go.
Reset?
He wasn't sure he could.
Not when his heart had already started asking the question his mind was too scared to answer.