A/n : 100+ comments for next part.

As we settled into the car, Y/n’s words echoed in my mind, “Let’s go home, my personal driver.”

I couldn’t help the blush creeping up my cheeks. Her sass, that attitude, it was all still there, unchanged by time. I glanced over at her, smiling fondly.

“You know, I always loved that about you. That sass, the way you never took crap from anyone.”

But she didn’t reply.

She just stared out the window, ignoring me. I frowned, and after a moment, I cleared my throat.

“Excuse me?”

She turned her head slightly, her tone cool as she said, “You are excused.”

I chuckled at that, shaking my head. “You know, you said the same thing back then. Remember when I first came to school and asked Hyunsik to move because I wanted to sit next to you? You got mad at me, and later when I came over to your place, I said, ‘Excuse me,’ and you shot back with, ‘You are excused.’ You haven’t changed one bit, my moon.”

Y/n blinked at me, seemingly taken aback. She looked at me, her eyes wide for a moment before she quickly looked away.

I grinned, trying to lighten the mood, “That reminds me, how’s Hyunsik?”

She huffed, crossing her arms. “Personal drivers aren’t supposed to be talking back to their madam like this. And if you’re so concerned about Hyunsik, why don’t you ask him yourself?”

Her tone was sharp, and I could tell she was annoyed. I tried to laugh it off, “Come on, my little one, you’re taking the personal driver act too far. Hey, why are you mad?”

“I’m not mad,” she snapped. “I answered your question. I told you to go and find Hyunsik and ask him how he is.”

I sighed, glancing over at her again. “I can only do that if I know where he is or what he’s doing.”

“Exactly,” she shot back, her voice rising a bit. “That’ll happen only when you actually care enough to find out where he is, or where I am, for that matter. It’s been eight years, Jungkook! Eight years, 96 months, 2,920 days, 70,080 hours, 4,204,800 minutes, and you didn’t even bother to find out if I was alive or not! And now you have the audacity to call me your moon? What does that even mean, your moon?”

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me as I took a left turn. “You’ll know soon enough.”

And with that, I took a left turn on the road, the steering feeling like butter in my palm.

She looked at me, confusion crossing her features. “Where are we going? Home is to the right, Kookoo— I mean Jungkook—” she cut herself off, realizing what she’d said.

I glanced over at her, a playful whine escaping my lips. “You called me Kookoo! From now on, you’re only allowed to call me that, no more Jungkook.”

She huffed, turning her face away from me. “No way. I’m not calling you that.”

I pouted, giving her my best puppy dog eyes. “Please? Come on, my little one, please?”

But she wasn’t budging. I sighed dramatically, reaching forward to pull open the small fridge on the passenger side.

As I did, she leaned back, her breath hitching slightly, and I couldn’t help but smirk at the reaction.

She is so sensitive to my proximity.

I grabbed two ice cream cones and held them out to her. “Fine, but please don’t be mad. Here, take these and throw them at my face if you’re so angry at me.”

She bit hdf tongue, probably recalling the time she threw her ice cream and shoe on my face when we first met.

She muttered under her breath, “This time I’ll shove it up your ass.”

I laughed loudly, the sound filling the car. “Aigoo, my moon has become such a fierce little girl. So cute, even when she’s cursing.”

Her face turned tomato red when she realised that I was hardly bothered by her so-called shallow threat.

But as my laughter faded, a wave of sadness washed over me. I sighed, my voice turning a bit gloomy, “I really did miss it all, didn’t I?”

Y/n noticed the shift in my tone, her expression softening slightly. Before she could say anything, I added, “Maybe I deserve it. I missed 2,920 chances of hearing you call me Kookoo, even if it was just once a day.”

She bit her lip, clearly feeling a bit guilty.

After a moment, she sighed. “Okay, okay! I’ll call you Kookoo, you drama queen.”

I grinned widely, reaching over to gently pinch her cheek. “And you’re my drama king, my little one.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile playing on her lips. “No, but seriously, where are we going?”

I smirked, my eyes focused on the road ahead. “Back in time. I want to pick up things from where we left off.”

Just then, the car rolled into the complex of the mall we had visited eight years ago. Y/n’s eyes widened as she looked around. “Wow, it hasn’t changed at all.”

I glanced around, nodding in agreement. “I should be the one saying that, considering I’m seeing it after eight years.”

Y/n looked at me, her expression a mix of surprise and something else. “So have I.”

I blinked, shocked. “What? You’ve never been here since…?”

She nodded, her voice quiet. “The last time I came here was when you were taken away from me.”

Her words hit me hard, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. I swallowed, trying to find the right words, but before I could say anything, her phone rang, breaking the tension.

I glanced over, seeing the contact name flash on the screen: “Hyunieee ❤️”

Y/n’s voice immediately brightened as she answered the call. “Hey, Hyunsik! What’s up?”

Hyunsik’s voice came through the speaker, “Where are you? I just picked up my clothes, and you really should pick yours too.”

Y/n chuckled, “Well, you’re in luck because I’m near the Emporio mall. I’ll come and grab my dress too.”

I felt a pang of jealousy as she chatted with Hyunsik, but I tried to push it aside.

After all, I had no right to feel that way after all this time. I glanced at her as she finished the call, her smile still in place, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I still had a place in her heart after all these years.

But for now, I would focus on making the most of this moment. I’d waited long enough to be with her, and I wasn’t going to waste a single second of it.

Y/n was right next to me, just like old times. Everything felt surreal, like a dream I had been chasing for so many years, now finally within my grasp.

I parked the car and took a deep breath, glancing at Y/n who was already unbuckling her seatbelt. The thought crossed my mind—this could be the beginning of something new, something beautiful. I was going to ask her out, make her my girlfriend, and very soon, we would be together, just like I had always imagined.

We stepped out of the car, and as we walked towards the mall entrance, our hands brushed against each other. My heart did a little flip, and I felt a blush creeping up my neck. Her touch—it was electrifying, sending shivers down my spine. I glanced at her, biting back a smile as I thought about how I would soon gather the courage to tell her what had been on my mind for so long.

The plan was simple—take her hand, look into those beautiful eyes, and finally confess how I’ve felt all these years. My pulse quickened at the thought. I could already see it—the way her face would light up, the way her lips would curl into that sweet, shy smile I loved so much. We’d finally be together, no more distance, no more longing. Just us.

But then, as we entered the mall, her phone buzzed, breaking the moment. She glanced at the screen and answered, her voice cheerful. “Hey, Hyunsik!”

My stomach twisted at the sound of his name, but I tried to push the feeling aside. It was silly to be jealous. We were all friends, right? But still, there was that lingering unease, that gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Then, I heard Hyunsik’s voice blaring from the phone, way too loud for my liking. He was practically yelling with excitement.

“Finally! After years of persuading, you’ve come to this mall! I was afraid you’d never come here. Imagine my horror if you showed up in regular designer clothes on the big day? It’s a wedding for god’s sake! I had almost lost hope in you.”

The word “wedding” slammed into me like a ton of bricks. My heart skipped a beat, and then another. What did he mean by that? Surely, he wasn’t talking about Y/n’s wedding…right? My mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not when I was so close to telling her everything.

But Y/n’s next words shattered whatever hope I had been clinging to. Rolling her eyes, she responded, “I’m sure you must’ve already picked a very beautiful dress for me from Vera Wang’s outlet here. Am I right?”

Hyunsik laughed on the other end, his voice full of pride. “Of course I have! How could I not? It’s literally you! I’ve picked three beautiful gowns for you for the big day. I need you to try them on and pick the one that suits you the most. If you hadn’t come to the mall today, I was ready to imagine your body in those dresses and pick one myself!”

My heart was pounding in my chest, each beat echoing with a dull ache.

Vera Wang.

Wedding dresses.

The big day. Y/n’s big day. My little one, in a wedding dress, but not for me. Not for us. The realization hit me like a freight train. She was planning a wedding, her wedding, and I wasn’t a part of it.

I froze in my tracks, the weight of everything crashing down on me. The proposal I had planned was forgotten, lost in the haze of confusion and hurt that clouded my mind.

I looked at Y/n, my vision blurring slightly. The heart emoji next to Hyunsik’s name on her phone screen felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

She turned to me, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. “Come on, you were eager to meet Hyunsik, right? Wanted to know how he’s doing? Let’s go. He’s here, and we can all hang out together. Maybe grab some KFC after I pick a dress. You, me, and Hyunie, just like old times.”

Her words cut through me like glass. Friends. That’s what we were. Just friends.

And Hyunsik…when had he even become a friend of mine? I scoffed, unable to hold it in, before my voice broke, the pain seeping through.

The ❤️ symbol next to Hyunsik's name in her phone wasn't helping either.

“Little one, what’s going on? What dress were you talking about?”

She raised an eyebrow, as if the answer was obvious. “The dress for the wedding, duh. What do you think Vera Wang is famous for? I guess you haven’t been around enough to know this mall well. Since you weren’t even in Korea, you wouldn’t have caught up with anything. This mall has a great global designer for wedding dresses. Hyunsik was shopping for himself and me there, though I didn’t come.”

My mind reeled, the world tilting on its axis. I wanted to tell her. Tell her that I knew this mall like the back of my hand.

That I was the one who had built it, had personally approved that designer’s outlet because I had dreamt of buying a wedding dress from there for her one day. But what did it matter now?

All those dreams, those plans—they were slipping away, turning to ash right before my eyes.

Y/n must have seen the confusion on my face, because she sighed, her expression softening a little.

“Ah, Kookoo, you’ve missed out on a lot these past eight years. There’s so much to catch up on—him, me, love, hate, breakups, friendships, careers. It’s okay, you’ll catch up soon. Come on, Hyunie’s waiting, he’s excited.”

Her words were like a dagger to my heart, each one twisting deeper than the last. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. My little one—my Y/n—was getting married. And it wasn’t to me. I had lost her, lost everything I had been holding onto for so long.

We walked in silence after that, my thoughts a chaotic mess, my heart heavy with the weight of everything I hadn’t said, everything I hadn’t done.

I followed her through the mall, each step harder than the last. I could hear Hyunsik’s voice in my head, mocking me, reminding me of what I’d lost.

My fingers itched to reach out to her, to take her hand, to pull her back to me. But I knew, deep down, that it was too late.

As we got closer to the bridal shop, my feet felt like lead. I had to know—had to ask, even if it destroyed me.

My heart was heavy, an ache spreading through my chest that I couldn’t ignore. It didn’t make sense.

The way she hugged me, the way she kept the ring on her finger after all these years—none of it added up.

Was I just a friend to her?

A cherished memory from the past that she could look back on with fondness, nothing more?

The thought gnawed at me, making my insides twist. I wanted to believe there was something more, something deeper between us.

But now, with her wedding looming, I wasn’t so sure. Had I misread everything? Was this all just wishful thinking on my part?

As these thoughts tormented me, my eyes stayed locked on Y/n. I watched as she scanned the crowd, her gaze finally landing on someone.

I didn’t have time to react before she slipped away from me, like water slipping through my fingers. My heart sank as I saw her walking toward a man who had appeared from the crowd.

Her steps quickened, and before I knew it, she was in his arms, hugging him lightly.

I felt like the ground was crumbling beneath me. My heart clenched painfully as I watched her whisper something into his ear, her face close to his.

He seemed surprised, his eyes widening before he nodded in agreement. The familiarity between them was undeniable, and I was rooted to the spot, unable to move, unable to breathe. Was this the man she was marrying? Was he the one who had won her heart while I was away, too far and too late to be a part of her life?

Before I could get a grip on my emotions, Y/n turned back to me with that same easy smile she always had, but now, it felt like it was hiding something. She reached out to me as I approached, her voice light and casual.

“Jungkook, I want you to meet someone,” she said, gesturing to the man by her side. “This is Hyunsik, our old friend.”

I forced a tight-lipped smile, pushing the turmoil in my chest down as I extended my hand. “Hyunsik, it’s been a long time.”

Hyunsik shook my hand firmly before pulling me into a hug, slapping me on the back like we were old buddies.

“Jungkook! Man, you’ve changed a lot. How come this bratty boy suddenly came back to Korea? Did you hear about the wedding and rush back just to push me away?” he teased, a smirk on his face.

I tried to keep my expression neutral, but the joke hit too close to home. I barely managed to force out a chuckle before Y/n nudged him playfully in the ribs. “Oh, come on, Hyunie, don’t be mean like that.”

Hyunsik raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. “Sorry, not sorry. This boy was really mean to me when we were kids. Always hogging you, Y/n.”

Y/n rolled her eyes and shook her head, laughing softly. “Oh, please. We were just kids, Hyunsik. Don’t hold grudges.”

But as they bantered back and forth, I felt like I was watching from behind a glass wall, separated from the warmth and familiarity they shared. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, that the connection I thought we had was slipping away from me.

Y/n suddenly grabbed my arm, pulling me along with a bright smile. “Come on, Kookoo. I need your help picking a dress for the wedding day.”

Hyunsik followed, still grinning, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I’ve already chosen three dresses for her, but now she wants your opinion. She says you’ve got a rich taste.”

I could only nod, letting her drag me through the store, my mind a haze of confusion and hurt.

I was here, physically present, but it felt like my heart was somewhere else, trapped in the past where things were simpler, where I knew Y/n’s feelings without a shadow of a doubt.

The way Y/n was acting, so carefree, so nonchalant, made it all the more confusing. Was this all just a game to her? Did she even know what she was doing to me?

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my jealousy in check. I was losing her, and I didn’t even know why.

[Y/n's POV]

My plan was working perfectly. Jungkook looked so lost, so confused. I wanted him to feel the way I had felt all those years ago—abandoned, uncertain, and hurt. I knew it was cruel, but I couldn’t help it.

He had left without a word, and didn't ever try to contact me, and now, after all this time, he thought he could just waltz back into my life as if nothing had changed?

No way.

Atleast not so easily.

I made a beeline for Hyunsik, practically running into his arms. As I hugged him lightly, I whispered in his ear, “Jungkook is here. Play along. I want him to suffer a bit.”

Hyunsik’s eyes widened, but he quickly nodded, his expression shifting to one of understanding. When we pulled back from the hug, he gave me a quick, conspiratorial wink before turning to face Jungkook, who had just reached us.

I couldn’t help the small smirk that tugged at my lips as I introduced them, keeping my voice light and casual.

Jungkook’s face was a mix of emotions—pain, confusion, and something else I couldn’t quite place.

For a moment, I almost felt guilty, but then I remembered how much it had hurt when he left, how I had cried myself to sleep for weeks, wondering why he never called, never wrote.

I quickly brushed the guilt aside, focusing on the plan. Some mischief is always fun, right?

We entered the sleek, modern storefront of Vang Wera Couture, and I could immediately feel the tension in the air. The saleswomen, glanced our way, their eyes lighting up with that unmistakable gleam of commission potential.

However, their smiles faltered just slightly as they took in our group: two men and one woman. I could almost see the wheels turning in their heads, trying to figure out who the primary customer was and who would be worth their most flattering attention.

One of the saleswomen, a tall woman with a sleek bob and a sharp smile, was the first to approach. “Welcome to Vang Wera Couture,” she greeted us with a sugary smile. “How can I assist you today?”

I glanced over at Hyunsik, who gave me an encouraging nod, then at Jungkook, who was fidgeting slightly.

“Oh, it’s just me,” I replied, giving her a polite smile. “Hyunsik here has already bought his outfit for the wedding, and Jungkook just came from abroad.”

The saleswoman’s eyes widened slightly, her smile growing just a tad more genuine as she realized who the real customer was.

She turned her full attention to me, completely ignoring the boys for a moment. “Of course, Miss. Do you have any color preferences or specific styles in mind for your dress?”

Before I could respond to the saleswoman, a male salesperson sidled up to Jungkook, clearly eager to make a sale of his own. “Sir, are you perhaps the best man?” he asked, his tone oozing with enthusiasm. “If so, I can show you some of our finest gold outfits—perfect for such an occasion.”

I couldn’t help but giggle at the way Jungkook’s face immediately darkened. His jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed at the salesman’s words. Best man? He would rather die than be the best man at someone else’s wedding, especially when it came to his little one's wedding.

The salesman, oblivious to Jungkook’s rising irritation, continued to prattle on about the different options, each more lavish than the last.

But Jungkook wasn’t having it. With a haughty lift of his chin, he interrupted the man’s sales pitch.

“I don’t need any of this,” Jungkook snapped, his voice dripping with disdain. “I already have far better clothing at my disposal—directly from Vera Wang's hands herself. Why would I settle for anything less than perfection, especially from a common outlet like this?”

I could see the fury boiling under the surface, the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides. His pride was wounded, and he lashed out in the only way he knew how—by flaunting his wealth.

But I wasn’t going to let him get away with it.

Before he could say anything else, I reached out and grabbed his ear, tugging hard enough to make him yelp in pain. “Ow, ow, ow!” Jungkook cried out, his bravado evaporating as he tried to pull away from my grip.

“Yah, stop showing off, you brat,” I scolded him with a mocking smile, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “If you keep flaunting your wealth like that, I swear I’ll throw my shoe at your shin. And not your head like last time, because clearly, you’ve got your head up in your dick, which is why you’re always such a dickhead with others.”

The salespeople looked on, utterly flabbergasted by the scene unfolding in front of them. Hyunsik was trying—and failing—to suppress his laughter, his shoulders shaking as he watched me take Jungkook down a peg.

But as I released Jungkook’s ear and looked at his face, my amusement faded. His eyes had changed. They were no longer filled with that stubborn fire I was used to.

Instead, I saw something else—something that made my heart clench with guilt. There was a sadness in his gaze, a deep, aching sorrow that he was trying so hard to hide.

The sharp retorts I had ready on the tip of my tongue died as I saw the way his eyes seemed to glaze over, as if he was somewhere else entirely, lost in a pain that I didn’t fully understand.

“Anyways…” I started, trying to lighten the mood. “Please show him some of your finest collections for the best man. He is, indeed, the best man.”

Jungkook’s mouth opened, a sarcastic comment clearly on the tip of his tongue, but he hesitated, his eyes flicking to me and then back to the salesman.

“I’m not—” he began, but I cut him off with a look that said I wasn’t going to take any more of his nonsense.

He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he gave in, his earlier bravado completely gone. “Fine, whatever,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

The saleswoman, who had been watching the whole exchange with wide eyes, finally found her voice again. “Of course, Miss,” she said, her voice overly cheerful as she tried to smooth over the tension. “We have a wonderful selection of dresses in various shades that would complement the best man’s outfit. Shall we take a look?”

I nodded, forcing a smile as I gestured for her to lead the way. As we followed her deeper into the store, I couldn’t help but glance over at Jungkook. He was trailing slightly behind, his eyes downcast, his usual confidence nowhere to be seen.

The guilt gnawed at me, but I pushed it aside. This was what I wanted, right? For him to feel just a fraction of the pain I had felt when he left?

But now that I was seeing it, now that I was watching him struggle to keep it together, I wasn’t so sure anymore. Maybe I had gone too far.

But he can bear a little pain for a few hours, right? I'm not cruel. I'm just pinching him.

I gave Jungkook a long, measured look, trying to assess the storm brewing behind his eyes.

His silence was louder than words, but I knew exactly how to break it—how to get under his skin just the way I wanted. With a small smile, I reached into my purse and pulled out a Dairy Milk chocolate bar.

It wasn’t just any chocolate; it was the same brand we used to share as kids. The simple, purple wrapper had a way of summoning a flood of memories, ones that I knew Jungkook wasn’t immune to.

His eyes widened slightly as I tore open the wrapper, the familiar crinkling sound filling the air between us. I watched as his expression flickered—first with confusion, then something deeper.

He was remembering, I could tell. The way he shut his eyes for a moment, blinking back whatever emotion was threatening to surface, told me I was right.

I broke off a piece of the chocolate and held it out to him, the smirk on my face fading into something more tender, more persuasive.

“Come on, Kookoo,” I said softly, using the nickname he so dearly loved. “It’s a big day for your friend, huh? You’re not going to let a silly grudge keep you from being there, are you?”

I leaned in a little closer, my voice dropping to a whisper, pulling him in with every word. “Sweeten your mouth with this chocolate and join us, hmm? Participate in our happiness. After all, it’s your friend’s big day.”

Jungkook hesitated, his eyes locked on the piece of chocolate I was holding out to him.

There was a battle going on inside him, I could see it—whether to take the bait or keep up the wall he’d built around himself. And for a moment, I almost felt bad for what I was doing.

Almost.

With a small, internal giggle, I continued to press, loving the way his resolve seemed to be crumbling bit by bit.

Finally, he leaned forward and took the piece of chocolate from my fingers, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Good boy,” I murmured, a satisfied smile playing on my lips. I broke off another piece and held it out to him again, but this time he hesitated longer before accepting it.

As he chewed slowly, I watched the way his expression shifted—first a faint surprise, then something darker, more complex. His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could tell that something wasn’t sitting right with him.

But before I could say anything more, I heard Hyunsik’s voice calling my name from across the store. I turned to see him gesturing to a rack of dresses, clearly trying to decide which ones I might like. I shot Jungkook one last glance, flashing him a sweet smile, before turning to head over to where Hyunsik was standing.

“Be a dear and hold these for me, would you?” I asked, handing Jungkook my phone and purse without waiting for an answer.

I didn’t notice the way his fingers brushed mine as I passed them over; I was already walking away, joining Hyunsik as we sifted through the dresses.

With that, I disappeared into the fitting rooms with the dresses.

[Jungkook’s POV]

The chocolate on my tongue tasted bitter, nothing like the sweet comfort it had once been. I chewed slowly, each bite feeling like it was made of lead, weighing down my heart with every passing second. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

She didn’t get it—didn’t see what I felt for her. How could she just brush everything under the rug of friendship, as if all those years, all those moments, meant nothing more to her than childhood memories?

The same chocolate that had once been a symbol of our bond now felt like a mockery, a cruel reminder of everything I had lost—or maybe never had in the first place.

Y/n sent me a little smile before heading off with one of the saleswomen, her back turned to me as she disappeared into the fitting rooms

. As soon as she was out of sight, the smile on my face fell away, replaced by something darker, heavier. I could feel my heart sinking into the pit of my stomach as I collapsed onto a nearby couch, feeling like the wind had been knocked out of me.

I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t stand by and watch her drift further and further away, slipping through my fingers like sand. I had lost her.

My heart was pounding in my chest, each beat more painful than the last, as I replayed the scene over and over in my head.

Her smile, her words, the way she had so effortlessly pulled me back into her orbit, only to remind me how far away I really was.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the memories, the regrets. But they wouldn’t go away.

I had been holding onto hope for so long, but now…now it felt like there was nothing left. Just emptiness, a hollow ache where my heart used to be.

And then, in the midst of my spiraling thoughts, Y/n’s phone pinged once.

Twice.

Thrice.

At first, I tried to ignore it, but the sound was relentless, pulling me out of my despair. I glanced over at Hyunsik, who was busy sorting through racks of clothes, completely engrossed in his task. He wasn’t paying any attention to the phone.

The phone pinged again, and I groaned, rubbing my temples as the noise grated on my nerves. Without thinking, I picked up her phone and swiped the screen, fully expecting to be greeted by a lock screen.

But to my surprise, there wasn’t one. The phone unlocked immediately, and what I saw on her wallpaper stopped me cold.

It was a picture of us—Y/n and I, as kids.

We were sitting on a park bench, both of us holding ice cream cones, our faces smeared with chocolate and smiles as wide as the sky. The photo wasn’t from that day when she had thrown my shoe on my face, but another day entirely.

A Sunday morning, if I remembered correctly. It was one of those rare, perfect moments, when everything in the world seemed right.

In the picture, I was blissfully licking my ice cream, completely oblivious to anything else.

But Y/n…she wasn’t looking at her ice cream. She was looking at me.

And there was something in her eyes—something that made my heart skip a beat.

How had I missed that?

How had I been so blind?

The phone pinged again, snapping me out of my daze. I blinked, tearing my gaze away from the wallpaper, and looked at the notification. It was a message from someone labeled Cake Decorator.

The preview showed several photos of sample cakes, and a message attached to it:

Ma’am, please finalize the cake design and let me know at the earliest. Also, I’d need the full names of the bride and groom—Hyunsik and Tzuyu for the cake .

My breath caught in my throat.

Tzuyu?

Not Y/n?

For a moment, everything around me seemed to fade away, and all I could feel was the overwhelming relief that washed over me like a wave. I hadn’t lost her. Not completely.

My hands were shaking as I scrolled through the chat, my eyes scanning the messages for more details. And there it was, clear as day.

Y/n was planning the wedding—but she wasn’t the bride. She was just helping out, being the good friend she always was.

The fear, the heartbreak that had been tearing me apart just moments before, began to unravel, replaced by a feeling so pure and powerful that I almost couldn’t believe it.

I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until it escaped in a rush, leaving me feeling lightheaded, like the world had been set back on its axis.

My heart, which had been racing with anxiety, began to slow, each beat steadying me as the truth settled in.

I hadn’t lost her.

At least, not yet.

The world around me seemed to come back into focus, the colors sharper, the sounds clearer. I stared at the phone in my hand, unable to tear my eyes away from the wallpaper, from that moment in time when everything had been so simple, so innocent.

I leaned back on the couch, letting out a deep sigh as I replayed every conversation, every word she had thrown at me since we’d met again.

The way she’d teased me, the way she’d seemed so nonchalant, almost as if it was a game.

And then it struck me, her words —"That’ll happen only when you actually care enough to find out where he is, or where I am, for that matter.”

How had I missed it?

The meaning behind those words?

She was annoyed with me, pushing me to see if I really cared enough to dig deeper.

She’d been trying to get my attention, maybe even punish me a little for all the years I’d spent away from her.

My little moon had been playing a game of her own, and I’d walked right into it without even realizing.

I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped my lips.

Oh, my poor baby.

My little one.

My moon.

If you wanted my attention, you should’ve just asked. I’m all yours now, my moon.

But before that… I’m going to have a little fun with you.

You’ve tormented your poor Kookoo long enough; it’s time I get a bit of revenge.