How long can you hold on to love when letting go feels like the only choice left?
They used to dream of forever.
Now, they share borrowed days, awkward silences, careful touches, and quiet moments spent pretending nothing has changed.
Y/N thought she was prepared to let go of Yunho, the man she still loves more than herself. Their marriage is slowly falling apart, tangled in misunderstandings, unspoken feelings, and a secret she’s vowed to carry alone. She tells herself this ending is what he wants… after all, he already seems ready to move on without her.
So when she unexpectedly asks for one more week together before signing the divorce papers, Yunho agrees. Even if he hesitates. Even if neither of them can say the words they’ve left unsaid.
With every passing day in these final moments, every soft smile, every fleeting touch, every shared memory. They’re reminded of the love they once promised would never fade.
And beneath the warmth of his hand and the quiet weight of his gaze, she wonders:
Was she wrong to believe he’s already let go?
Before their time runs out, can they rewrite their ending
or will this love remain only a glimpse of us?
Pairing: Jeong Yunho x Fem!Reader
Other Character: mainly Ateez and named characters
Short Introduction of Ateez for this fic
Genre: +18, eventually smut, angst, romance, love story, slow-burn, tangled emotions, linger feelings, married couple AU, slice of life, melancholic romance, hurt-comfort, One-Week-Left Trope, Lovers-to-Strangers, secret and lies, non-idol Ateez (to add every chapter)
Warnings: will put every chapter if needed
Chapters: Prologue, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 , Part 7, Part 8 , Part 9, PArt 10, Part 11 (to add later)
Disclaimer: I'm not a professional writer, nor have I studied literature formally. I'm just an INFJ with a lot of ideas and imagination. My friends often tell me I have a talent for creating storylines, but writing them has always been a challenge for me.
The storyline of this fanfiction has been sitting in my drafts for about ten years, back when I was still in college. It might sound cliché or feel familiar to other fanfictions or stories, but I assure you this comes purely from my imagination. I’ve also tried writing this plot on other platforms, in different languages and with different characters.
Please keep in mind that English is not my first language, so I hope you’ll be understanding if there are mistakes in my grammar.
A/N: Writing fanfiction has always been part of my bucket list. I’ve been a frustrated writer for over a decade, and after two years of reviewing and rewriting this story, I’m finally publishing it here. For me, this is a huge step toward one of my personal dreams. so please be kind. If you happen to find any mistakes or feel something needs correcting, don’t hesitate to message me. I’m genuinely open to constructive feedback, especially if it can help me improve my writing.
If you'd like to be tagged for updates, feel free to DM me.
Thank you so much for giving this story a chance.
A Glimpse of Us is very close to my heart. It’s a story about love that lingers even when everything else seems to fall apart. It’s about quiet heartbreak, unspoken words, and the ache of pretending to be okay while carrying a secret no one else knows.
As you read, please keep in mind: not every chapter will make sense right away. There are things Y/N cannot say just yet… things Yunho doesn’t understand… and truths that won’t come to light until the very end. This isn’t simply a story about divorce or second chances. It’s about the delicate threads we hold onto and the weight of loving someone, even as you’re learning how to let them go.
Thank you for being here and sharing this journey with me. One particular author from this platform has been my biggest inspiration to write again. She writes so beautifully, with so much heart and care in every story she shares. I hope, in my own way, this story can reach you too.
Pairing: non-idol yunho x fem! reader
Other characters will appear: Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, Jongho, Mention of Nabi, Mention of y/n
Genre: +18, eventually smut, suggestive, angst, romance, love story, slow-burn, tangled emotions, lingering feelings, married couple AU, slice of life, melancholic romance, hurt-comfort, One-Week-Left Trope, Lovers-to-Strangers, secret and lies, quiet grief & lingering love, themes of quiet heartbreak non-idol Ateez, Third person POV
Summary: The strongest relationships do not always break loudly. Sometimes, they fall apart in silence. A single confession was enough to destroy everything they thought they knew.
When Hongjoong calls everyone together late at night, old tensions rise to the surface as Yunho finally reveals the truth behind his marriage, his betrayal, and the mistake that may have cost him everything. But as the night spirals deeper into anger, regret, and heartbreak, the group realizes some wounds may already be too deep to fix.
Content & Trigger Warnings: 18+, purely fanfiction, self-harm, suicide attempt, altercation, harming someone, strangulation, punching, hospital, patient, mention of medication, distress, manipulation, obsession, crying, cheating, divorce, lies, mental health, angst.
WC: 5,000+
Marks: Yunho, Y/N, Other Characters, 'silent thought'
A/N: Hi, I'm back with another chapter 🙏 Thank you for keeping this series on your read ⋆｡‧˚ʚ ୨ৎ ɞ˚‧｡⋆❤︎ I think I only have 2-3 chapters before the finale.
previous chapter ♡ next chapter
The city outside Hongjoong’s office window glowed in streaks of gold, orange and white, the skyline shimmering beneath the darkening evening sky. Normally, the sight calmed him.
Years ago, it reminded him that all of them had made it. Every sleepless night, every failed investment, every risk they took together had become something real.
Now it only made his chest feel unbearably heavy.
Hongjoong sat motionless behind his desk, elbows resting on the armrests of his chair while his fingers tapped slowly against the leather. His laptop screen had long gone dim, untouched for almost an hour. Meetings had ended. Employees may have gone home. Even the building itself felt quieter.
But his mind refused to rest.
Yunho.
Y/N.
The names alone were enough to tighten his jaw.
It had been almost two weeks.
11 days to be exact, since he learned that Yunho cheated. Last Monday, Seonghwa showed up at his office looking like he had aged years overnight after learning their friend’s betrayal. One week without a secretary is hell after he fired Iseul; he handles everything on his own since his COO, aka Yunho, decided to go MIA. One week of unanswered calls, ignored messages, and unbearable silence from people who once shared everything with each other.
Hongjoong hated silence.
Especially this kind.
The kind that slowly rotted relationships from the inside.
His fingers stopped tapping.
Something was wrong.
Not just wrong. Worse.
Because Seonghwa was hiding something from him. Hongjoong knew him too well not to notice. Seonghwa always became quieter whenever he carried burdens he could not share yet.
And Mingi?
That bastard had not answered a single phone call in three days.
Hongjoong leaned back heavily against his chair, rubbing a tired hand over his face. Exhaustion settled deep into his bones.
He hated this.
Hated watching the family he built slowly crack apart.
People outside always thought their circle was simply friendship. Just successful men who happened to stick together after years of knowing one another.
But it was more than that.
Much more.
They were brothers.
Not by blood, but by fate.
They had watched each other fail, bleed, cry, survive. They built each other from nothing. Every success one of them had was celebrated by all of them. Every heartbreak became everyone’s burden.
And Hongjoong…
He carried all of them like they were his responsibility.
Not because anyone asked him to.
But because he loved them.
As the oldest, everyone naturally leaned toward him. Trusted him. Followed him.
One word from him and everyone listened.
Not out of fear.
Never fear.
Respect.
Trust.
Because Hongjoong never spoke unless it mattered.
And right now?
It mattered.
“Okay,” he muttered quietly to himself before finally grabbing the desk phone. His expression hardened with resolve. “This is enough.”
Two weeks were enough.
Press one.
The line rang once before connecting immediately.
“Hongjoong.”
Seonghwa’s calm voice echoed through the speaker.
Hongjoong did not waste time.
“Gather everyone tonight at Amicus. Eight p.m. sharp.”
No explanation.
No discussion.
That alone was enough.
Then he ended the call.
—
On the other side of that floor building, Seonghwa lowered his phone slowly while standing inside his office. He stared at the disconnected line for a second before sighing softly.
Captain mode Hongjoong .
Serious.
Very serious.
Honestly, he expected this sooner.
Seonghwa pulls out his phone from the pocket of his office coat. His fingers moved quickly over the group chat.
Everyone, later at Amicus. Sharp 8 PM.
From Captain.
Simple.
Straightforward.
Dangerous.
Because whenever Hongjoong personally gathered everyone without context, it usually meant somebody had fucked up badly.
And this time?
Everyone has their own suspect.
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
Wooyoung’s phone vibrated loudly against the kitchen counter.
He glanced down while chewing a slice of steak that he had just cooked before he lazily grabbing it.
The moment he read the message, his expression immediately changed.
“Oh, fuck.”
San looked up from beside him, still holding his own phone.
Clearly, he had received it too.
The two stared at each other silently for a second before sighing at the exact same time.
“What the fuck is going on?” Wooyoung groaned dramatically, throwing himself backward against the chair. “Captain only gathers us like this when someone really fuck up.”
San only shrugged slightly, though his face looked just as troubled.
“I don’t know.”
But honestly?
He had guesses, but only suspicion.
Without another word, San grabbed his phone and called the manager of Amicus.
“Hello,” he spoke calmly. “Close the branch at seven-thirty tonight. Make sure everyone leaves before eight. We’ll be using the place privately.”
A pause.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Call ended.
Wooyoung narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“You think this is because of Mingi’s altercation with Hyung's secretary?”
“Maybe.”
“You think Seonghwa hyung messed up again? He looks bad this week while dining at a restaurant.”
San sighed quietly.
“Maybe.”
Wooyoung groaned louder.
“I hate when everyone starts acting mysterious. I swear this family is exhausting.”
San almost laughed.
Almost.
Because honestly, none of this felt funny anymore.
“But you love us. Too much.”
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
Across town, Yeosang wiped sweat from his jaw with a towel while stepping off the treadmill.
His muscles burned pleasantly after almost two hours of training.
His phone buzzed from inside his gym bag.
He reached for his Yeti tumbler first, drinking half the cold water in one go before finally checking the message.
A slow smirk appeared on his lips.
“This is going to be fun.”
He tossed the phone back carelessly before climbing onto the treadmill again.
Another few kilometers before tonight’s chaos.
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
Far from the city noise, Jongho sat quietly on the dock with a fishing rod balanced expertly in his unmoving hand.
The lake rippled softly beneath the evening wind.
Peaceful.
Until his phone vibrated inside his vest pocket.
The sudden movement caused him to twitch slightly.
“Ah, shit.”
Annoyed, he pulled out the phone and checked the message.
His brows furrowed immediately.
“Mingi?” he muttered.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
“Or Wooyoung?”
Honestly, either answer sounded believable.
Somebody definitely fucked up.
Again.
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
Meanwhile, inside a dark condo buried in silence, Yunho barely reacted when loud knocking echoed through his front door.
He remained sprawled across the bed with one arm covering his eyes.
His head pounded violently after another drunk night.
The room smelled like alcohol and exhaustion.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
He ignored it.
Eventually it would stop.
It always did.
Then suddenly—
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
The door unlocked.
Yunho sat up too quickly in panic.
For one stupid second, hope exploded violently inside his chest.
Y/N.
This condo is his safe haven that he only shares with his wife. But right now, this is far from comfort and safety. The chaos inside is unfolding.
He stumbled off the bed too fast, dizziness crashing over him instantly. His vision blurred and he nearly collapsed back onto the mattress.
Then a deep voice shattered the illusion.
“Get up and fix yourself. We need to go to Amicus at eight.”
Mingi.
Of course.
Yunho closed his eyes briefly.
Right.
Besides you, Mingi also knew the password.
“I don’t want to go,” Yunho muttered weakly, voice rough from days of isolation.
Truthfully, he had no idea about the message.
His phone battery had died days ago.
He never bothered charging it.
Because deep down, he already knew you would never call him again.
And because another person wouldn’t stop calling.
Iseul.
The thought alone made his stomach twist violently.
His mind drifted unwillingly to what happened the morning after you signed the divorce papers.
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
“I’m done with us.”
*SLAP*
The sound cracked violently through the condo.
Iseul stared at him in disbelief after hitting him hard across the face.
“No!” she screamed. “No, Yunho, you don’t mean that!”
But Yunho simply looked at her blankly.
No anger.
No sadness.
Nothing.
“I’m done with us,” he repeated coldly.
Iseul instantly dropped to her knees, clutching his legs desperately.
“No, please! Please, Yunho!”
Her tears fell quickly.
Too quickly.
“You can keep this condo,” Yunho continued emotionlessly. “And everything inside.”
He doesn’t want to keep anything in this condo that reminds him of Iseul and the life they once planned together. Disgust twisted inside him as memories resurfaced of how he once dreamed of building a family with her here.
“Please don’t leave me,” she sobbed louder. “I need you.”
Yunho almost laughed.
Need.
Right.
The more she cried, the more disgust he felt toward himself.
Because now he could finally see everything clearly.
She did not need him.
She needed what he could provide.
Money.
Security.
Comfort.
The same way back then in college.
Out of nowhere, she came back after failing in New York.
Three divorces from wealthy men, and suddenly she remembered him again.
And the worst part?
He let her in.
Like a complete idiot.
“I’ll send a generous amount to your account for emotional damage,” he mocked bitterly.
“Yunho!” she cried. “What do you mean? I don’t care about money! I need you!”
“Stop acting.”
His voice turned sharp enough to cut glass.
“I know exactly why you came back. I know everything now.”
Iseul froze slightly.
Yunho stepped closer.
“Be thankful I’m still giving you more than what you deserve.”
The tears disappeared from her face almost instantly.
Fake.
Everything fake.
She stood abruptly, wiped her fake tears, and tried slapping him again.
But this time Yunho caught her wrist before impact.
His eyes darkened dangerously.
“One more slap and I’ll throw your ass out of this building with nothing.”
For the first time, fear crossed her expression.
But she still laughed mockingly.
“Do you think your pitiful wife will accept you again after you betrayed her with your ex. Never!”
Something snapped inside him.
Before he realized what he was doing, Yunho shoved her harshly against the wall and wrapped his hand around her throat.
“What did you call her?”
His voice terrified even himself.
Iseul clawed desperately at his wrist.
“Y-Yunho—”
Rage consumed him completely.
He had never touched a woman like this before.
Never.
But hearing your name out of her mouth and turning his pain into mockery shattered whatever control he still had left.
“Ack—Yun—”
Her face turned red.
Her eyes widened in real fear.
And suddenly Yunho let go.
Iseul collapsed coughing violently against the wall while clutching her throat.
Yunho stared at his own trembling hand.
Horrified.
What the fuck did I just do?
He stepped backward slowly.
“I never want to see you again.”
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
Inside the car afterward, his hands shook violently against the steering wheel.
Even now, remembering it made his stomach churn.
He scared himself.
Truly scared himself.
What if he lost control again?
What if next time somebody got hurt because of him?
So he isolated himself.
Locked himself away from everyone.
Because maybe he had already become the worst version of himself.
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
“I didn’t ask if you wanted to go.”
Mingi’s voice dragged him back to the present.
“You’re going whether you like it or not. Captain said so.”
Yunho groaned quietly into his hands.
“Seonghwa hyung told me to drag your ass there personally if needed,” Mingi added.
Silence.
Then Mingi’s expression softened slightly.
“Yunho… this is your chance to explain yourself.”
Yunho laughed bitterly.
Explain?
What explanation even existed for betrayal?
But then Mingi spoke again.
“And I need to tell you something about Y/N.”
Yunho’s head snapped upward instantly.
“What?”
Hope.
Fear.
Desperation.
All at once.
“What is it?” he asked quickly.
Mingi leaned casually against the wall.
“I’ll tell you later.”
Yunho stared at him in disbelief.
“Yah!”
“Get dressed first.”
“Mingi.”
“Nope.”
“Mingi, I swear to God—”
“It’s important,” Mingi interrupted calmly. “Now go shower before you smell like a dying brewery.”
Yunho cursed loudly under his breath.
“Fuck.”
But despite the irritation burning through him, he still pushed himself off the bed and headed toward the bathroom.
Because anything connected to you still controlled him completely.
And Mingi knew it.
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
One by one, the boys arrived at Amicus that night.
Just like Captain said.
Sharp eight.
The private room upstairs was already prepared before they arrived. The warm lights hanging above the wooden table gave the place a cozy atmosphere, but tonight, none of them noticed it. The air felt strange. Heavy. Like something bad was waiting for them the moment they stepped inside.
Heavy.
Hongjoong was already there first.
Seated at the center of the long table with his arms crossed, his untouched beer sitting in front of him. His expression alone was enough to make anyone nervous.
Seonghwa stood beside the window quietly scrolling through his phone, though every few seconds his eyes drifted toward Hongjoong. He knew this mood. Hongjoong only became this silent when he was deeply upset.
Of course, San and Wooyoung arrived together.
The moment Wooyoung stepped inside, he immediately frowned.
“Why does this already feel like a funeral?” he muttered while dropping into the chair beside San.
San sighed quietly.
Wooyoung groaned dramatically. “I swear if this is about Mingi's altercation with your secretary Hyung—"
“It’s not me,” Mingi’s voice suddenly interrupted from the doorway.
Everyone turned.
Mingi stepped inside first, shoulders tense, expression exhausted.
And behind him—
Yunho followed slowly.
The entire room fell silent.
No one missed the way Yunho kept his hood low over his face. The way his hands stayed shoved inside his pockets. The way his shoulders looked heavier than they had ever seen before.
Even Jongho, who arrived seconds later while complaining about traffic, stopped speaking completely after seeing him.
“What the hell…” Jongho whispered.
Yunho looked terrible.
Not just tired.
Destroyed.
Even from a distance, they could see how wrecked he looked. Pale skin. His eyes were swollen and red beneath the hood. Lips dry and cracked. His movements slow and lifeless.
Like he had not slept properly in days.
“What the hell happened to you?” Wooyoung asked
Yunho didn’t answer.
Mingi quietly took the seat beside him while Yunho lowered himself into the chair like even sitting exhausted him.
Nobody spoke at first.
The silence stretched painfully around the room.
Yeosang leaned back against his chair, narrowing his eyes slightly at Seonghwa while studying everyone.
Jongho looked suspiciously between Mingi and Wooyoung.
“It’s usually one of you two causing problems.”
“Shut up,” Wooyoung snapped automatically.
San rubbed his face tiredly with the mockery of the two youngest.
But Hongjoong still said nothing.
His eyes stayed locked on Yunho.
And Yunho…
Yunho stared right back at him.
Like he already knew.
Seonghwa noticed it too.
The guilt.
The fear.
The shame sitting heavily inside Yunho’s eyes.
Then finally, Hongjoong moved.
Slowly, he reached toward the metal bucket in the center of the table and grabbed a bottle of beer.
The soft clink of glass against metal suddenly sounded deafening.
Everyone immediately stiffened.
Because in their circle, there was an unspoken rule.
Whoever received the first bottle…
Was the one who fucked up.
Hongjoong popped the cap open with one clean motion before sliding the bottle toward Yunho.
Straight toward Yunho.
The bottle stopped directly in front of him.
Wooyoung inhaled sharply.
Jongho’s eyes widened.
Yeosang actually sat up properly for the first time that night.
And San looked genuinely stunned.
“What the hell, Bro?” San finally muttered.
Because out of everyone in their circle, Yunho was the last person they expected to fucked up something.
Out of all eight of them, Yunho had always been the most stable. The most patient. The one who loved hardest.
Especially when it came to you.
Everyone knew how much Yunho loved you.
Or at least…
They thought they did.
Hongjoong leaned back slightly.
“Dare to explain everything?”
The question hung heavily in the air.
Yunho stared at the beer bottle for several seconds before laughing bitterly under his breath.
He gulped a big amount.
Honestly…
He did not know where to begin.
How do you explain ruining the best thing that ever happened to you?
How do you explain becoming the person you hated most?
His fingers tightened slowly around the cold bottle.
“I don’t know where to start,” he admitted quietly.
“Then start from the beginning,” Seonghwa said gently. “We have a long night. Just be honest.”
His calm voice eased the tension slightly.
One by one, the others slowly grabbed their own bottles.
No jokes.
No teasing.
Just tension.
Yunho swallowed hard before finally beginning.
“As you all know, my wife and I were trying to get pregnant this year. But one day... one day, I don’t know why, it felt like something was telling me to check the bottom drawer of our closet. And that’s where I found a bottle of contraceptive pills.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Wooyoung blinked first.
“…What?”
Wooyoung can't believe it because he knows how much you want to have a child.
Yunho stared down at the table, unable to meet anyone’s eyes.
His jaw clenched painfully.
“We had a huge fight after that. I felt betrayed, and instead of listening to her… I refused to hear her out.”
He laughed softly, but there was nothing remotely happy about the sound. It was bitter. Empty.
Thinking about it now, if he had only listened… maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe he would not be sitting here right now, confessing the destruction of his marriage to the people who had become part of both your lives.
His eyes slowly turned red again.
“I thought she didn’t want children with me.”
San frowned immediately while Seonghwa quietly lowered his gaze.
“I thought…” Yunho’s voice cracked slightly. “I thought maybe she stopped seeing a future with me. Maybe she already gave up on us long before I realized it.”
Wooyoung leaned forward, disbelief written all over his face.
“So instead of talking to her properly, you just assumed shit?”
Yunho nodded once.
“At that time, I chose my pride over listening to her explanation. Added to that, we barely saw each other because of work anymore. Every time we came home, we were already exhausted. We stopped communicating properly without even realizing it.” He inhaled shakily. “I became selfish. I kept waiting for the right timing to talk about it, to fix us… but the timing never came.”
His voice sounded rough and exhausted.
“And slowly… our marriage started falling apart. Mostly because of me.”
The room remained painfully quiet.
Because none of them had ever imagined your marriage was struggling that badly. Outside, both of you still looked perfectly fine together. Still in love. Still normal.
No one noticed the shift in your relationship.
No one noticed how much both of you were already drowning.
“Then Iseul came back.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
“I let her into my life again,” Yunho corrected himself quietly, almost like he hated the words the moment they left his mouth.
Mingi rubbed his face heavily while Hongjoong’s expression darkened.
Yunho glanced briefly toward him.
“I had no idea she applied as your secretary, Hyung. Then one day, you introduced her to me at the office…” He swallowed hard. “Honestly, it was one of the biggest shocks of my life because she was the last person I ever expected to see again after what she did to me before.”
His fingers tightened around the beer bottle.
“At first, I wanted nothing to do with her,” Yunho admitted. “I ignored her. Pretended she wasn’t there. I thought I could keep my distance.”
“But she knew exactly how to get inside my head.”
Wooyoung frowned immediately.
“Wait. Iseul is your ex?” His eyes widened. “Your ‘ex’?”
Mingi sighed deeply. “Yeah. The infamous ex.”
Yeosang stared at Yunho in disbelief.
“For real?” he deadpanned. “What a downgrade, Hyung.”
Jongho immediately looked disgusted.
“That’s crazy.” He shook his head. “Honestly, that’s worse than eating your own shit.”
Yunho let out another bitter laugh.
“You think I don’t know that?”
Nobody answered.
Because honestly…
The disappointment in Yunho’s own voice already sounded worse than any insult they could throw at him.
“She comforted me during the worst part of my marriage. Or at least I thought she did.” His voice became quieter. “But now I realize she was poisoning my mind slowly. Feeding every insecurity I had. Making me believe Y/N and I had no future anymore.”
His fingers curled tighter around the bottle before taking another long gulp.
“I late realize she kept feeding my anger too. Making me believe Y/N stopped loving me.”
Mingi closed his eyes briefly.
The room suddenly felt suffocating.
“And I let her.”
Those four words hurt the most.
Because Yunho knew.
Nobody forced him.
Nobody manipulated him into completely betraying you.
At the end of the day, He still made the choice himself.
“I became weak,” he whispered. “After months of misunderstandings and poor communication with my wife… I let myself fall into temptation.”
“And two weeks ago…”
His breathing hitched.
“I served Y/N divorce papers.”
Silence.
Pure silence.
Then suddenly—
*CRACK*
The sound echoed violently through the room.
Wooyoung’s fist slammed directly into Yunho’s face, sending his head snapping sideways from the impact.
The chair screeched loudly backward.
“Wooyoung!”
San immediately grabbed him around the waist before he could attack Yunho again.
“What the fuck, Yunho?!” Wooyoung shouted, tears already burning in his eyes. “How could you do that to her?!”
Yunho did not fight back.
Did not even react.
Blood slowly dripped from the corner of his mouth as he lowered his head quietly.
Because honestly…
He thought he deserved worse.
“Enough!”
Hongjoong’s voice cut sharply through the chaos.
Everything froze instantly.
Wooyoung was breathing heavily, fists trembling violently, while San continued holding him back.
Seonghwa finally spoke carefully.
“We’re here to understand the situation first.”
Wooyoung laughed bitterly.
“What’s there to understand? He cheated on Y/N and gave her divorce papers!”
His voice cracked hard at the end.
Because he loved you like his REAL sister.
All of them did.
You were not just Yunho’s wife.
You were family.
Seonghwa sighed softly before continuing.
“I know everyone’s angry. Trust me, I am too. But let him finish first.”
Wooyoung aggressively wiped his face before finally sitting back down.
San quietly wrapped an arm around him, comforting him silently while Wooyoung tried calming his breathing.
The room fell painfully silent again before Yunho inhaled shakily once more.
“I thought she wanted the divorce too,” he whispered. “Because she accepted it so easily.”
His voice cracked harder this time.
“She agreed too easily.”
Everyone looked at him.
“She didn’t fight me,” he whispered brokenly. “That’s why I thought maybe she was just waiting for me to do that.”
His shoulders trembled slightly.
“She even rejected my asset division. She only asked me for one week.”
Mingi slowly lowered his gaze.
“One week to stay and pretending we still loved each other.”
Wooyoung’s expression twisted painfully.
And Yunho…
Yunho finally broke.
His shoulders trembled violently as tears spilled freely down his face.
“At first, I thought she just wanted to change my mind. I thought she wanted me to come back to her,” he admitted shakily. “But she said she just wanted us to separate peacefully…”
His breathing became uneven.
“She didn’t want us to hate each other at the end.”
San quietly looked away while Jongho clenched his jaw.
Because somehow…
That sounded exactly like you.
Selfless.
Kind.
And now, hearing everything from Yunho himself, the reality finally sank into all of them.
Even while getting your heart destroyed—
You were still protecting Yunho.
And that realization alone made everyone feel sick.
“But during that week…” Yunho laughed shakily through tears. “I realized how fucking blind I was. I realized how fucking stupid I became.”
Nobody interrupted him now.
Because the regret in Yunho’s voice was devastating.
Yunho was crying openly now.
Raw.
Broken.
“While I was busy destroying our marriage with my pride and weakness… she continued loving me with every piece of herself.”
His voice shattered completely.
“And the worst part is… she never stopped caring for me even when I gave her every reason not to.”
Wooyoung quietly wiped his tears beside San.
Yunho continued through sobs.
“And I realized too late that she’s still the only person I’ve ever truly loved.”
The room fell silent again.
Heavy.
Heartbreaking.
Because this wasn’t just guilt anymore.
This was grief.
"Are you still seeing Iseul?" Hongjoong can't help but ask
"No. Not anymore" Yunho answered too quickly.
Upon mentioning her name Yunho looked at his trembling hand again. The memory of him losing control was still engraved in his mind.
"I recently found out that he planned everything. She applied as your secretary on purpose, Hyung.”
"I already ended whatever connected us."
He took a shaky breath before continuing again.
“After months of misunderstandings, it only took me four days…” He laughed bitterly through tears. “Just four fucking days to realize that I didn’t want to leave Y/N. That I still love her. That I never stopped loving her.”
His hands reach for the beer bottle and gulp another one.
“We went to Gwangju for my brother’s engagement. And during that trip… everything became clear to me.” His eyes turned red again. “That was when I realized how wrong I was for choosing Iseul. I didn’t want the divorce anymore. I was already planning everything in my head, how to tell her.”
He swallowed hard.
“I planned that the moment we got back to Seoul, I would fix us. I would tell her she didn’t need to sign the papers anymore.”
His lips trembled.
“But I think destiny was already against us.”
The room grew quieter.
“Something really bad happened.”
Everyone stiffened immediately.
Yunho’s throat became painfully dry from the memory alone.
That night at the beach was still the worst moment of his life.
And he never wanted to experience something like that ever again.
“What happened?” Hongjoong asked immediately, his voice serious now.
Yunho looked down at the table again.
“She collapsed again.”
The room instantly froze.
“What?” Hongjoong asked again, louder this time.
“She had a breakdown… a panic attack that caused temporary memory loss,” he whispered.
Seonghwa frowned deeply almost immediately.
“That’s not normal.”
“That’s exactly what I said.” Yunho nodded shakily. “Her doctor said it was caused by severe stress and panic attacks, but…” His eyes darkened with fear. “I know she’s hiding something bigger.”
The waiver you signed still bothers him because he doesn't understand why you needed one.
"I know someone better. We can ask for a second opinion just to make sure she's fine," Seonghwa suggests
It makes sense that he knows someone that they can trust since Seonghwa is from the family of Doctors.
Mingi immediately looked at Yunho, his expression tightening with disbelief.
“You never told me about this. About her condition.”
“That’s why I asked you to watch over her,” Yunho replied desperately, his voice cracking under the weight of guilt. “She already signed the divorce papers. She told me that if I didn’t submit them, then she would do it herself.”
His chest rose sharply as if even breathing had become painful.
“We were both emotional that night, and I didn’t want to push her into another episode. I was scared she’d collapse again, so I left her with you.”
Mingi stared at him for a long moment before letting out a frustrated laugh that held no humor.
“You think I can read minds?” he snapped. “How was I supposed to know she was having breakdowns? You didn’t tell me anything, Yunho!”
The room became tense again.
Everyone could feel the panic slowly settling deeper into the atmosphere.
Mingi dragged a rough hand through his hair before speaking again, calmer this time but still visibly upset.
“We talked that night,” he muttered quietly. “And she told me she accepted a project in Hawaii.”
The entire table went still.
Mingi swallowed before continuing.
“She said she was planning to stay there permanently after the divorce was settle.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Unbelievable.
“What?” Wooyoung blurted out first, eyes widening in shock.
Yunho looked like the ground had been ripped out from beneath him.
“What do you mean… permanently?” His voice came out barely above a whisper.
Mingi finally looked at him directly.
“She asked me to take care of you and be with you after the divorce." He pointed to Yunho
“She told me she still loves you,” he said quietly. “But she doesn’t want to chain you down because she knows you’d throw everything away for her if she asked.”
That was it.
Yunho completely broke apart.
A painful sob tore violently from his chest, so raw and broken that even Yeosang had to look away for a second.
The sound alone was heartbreaking.
Weeks of guilt, fear, regret, and longing finally crashed into him all at once.
Because after spending days convincing himself that maybe you no longer loved him…
Now he was hearing the exact opposite.
You still loved him.
You still chose him.
Even while walking away.
Mingi continued quietly, his own voice softer now.
Everyone looked at him.
"I told her that I will do what she asks me for, but she needs to promise me to finish the project first. Clear her mind. If she really wanted space, then fine. But I told her not to end the marriage completely.”
He paused before adding,
“And when she wasn’t looking…” A small bitter smile crossed his face. “I tore the divorce papers.”
Yunho froze.
For several seconds, he could only stare at Mingi like he could not process what he had just heard.
Then suddenly he stood up and pulled Mingi into a crushing hug.
Mingi sighed heavily while awkwardly patting his back once.
“Don’t thank me,” he muttered. “I mostly did it for her, not for you.”
Yunho laughed bitterly through tears.
“Still… thank you…”
Across the table, Seonghwa suddenly lifted his head as if something clicked inside his mind.
“Wait…”
Everyone turned toward him.
His brows slowly furrowed together.
“That’s why,” he murmured quietly. “That’s why she mentioned to me about the beachfront house.”
"You knew about her leaving permanently?" There is an accusatory tone in his question.
"No! I didn't know that she had a plan to move out of the country. She just told me that after the divorce, she wants to live somewhere near the beach. She asked me not to tell anyone." Seonghwa confess
The room instantly fell silent again.
Now they know why Seonghwa has been stressing out for the past few days.
And far from anyone's knowledge, Seonghwa spends extra time calling every real estate agent or broker that he knows to inform him if someone in your name will inquire about a place or house.
Of course, he wants to keep tabs on you. He will not let you end up alone just like that. For him, you are his little sister that he never had.
Hongjoong’s expression slowly shifted. The frustration that had been burning in his eyes all night suddenly twisted into something far worse.
Concern.
Real concern.
His jaw tightened.
“When was the last time any of you actually saw her?”
Silence.
No one answered immediately.
Because suddenly…
Nobody knew.
Yunho immediately looked toward Mingi.
Mingi looked right back at him.
Wooyoung’s face slowly paled.
“Wait…” he whispered.
Then suddenly—
“I told you to watch her!” Yunho snapped emotionally, pointing at Mingi with trembling hands. His voice cracked from panic and frustration. “I trusted you to stay with her!”
“And you’re her husband!” Mingi shouted back immediately, all the stress and bottled-up emotions finally exploding out of him. “I thought you’d go back to her the next morning and continue begging! How the hell was I supposed to know that you want me to stay for days?”
“You were the last person with her!”
“And you were the one who left her alone in the first place!”
The panic inside the room started spreading rapidly.
Everyone was speaking at once.
Voices overlapping.
Tension rising.
For the first time that night, the situation finally felt real.
Terrifyingly real.
“Guys!”
Seonghwa’s sharp voice sliced through the chaos instantly while raising one hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
The entire room fell silent immediately.
Everyone turned toward him.
His phone was pressed tightly against his ear while he waited for the call to connect.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting.
It rings once
then
Your call cannot be completed as dialed; please check the number and dial again.
The automated voice answered instead.
Disconnected.
The number was either no longer active… or you had already cut the line completely.
Seonghwa paled and slowly lowered the phone from his ear, and the expression on his face was enough to make everyone’s chest tighten painfully.
Fear.
Real fear.
And suddenly, everyone stood up at the same time.
“What are we waiting for?” Jongho grabbed his jacket quickly from the back of the chair. “Let’s go check on Noona!”
The room instantly exploded into movement.
Chairs scraped harshly against the wooden floor.
Phones were grabbed in panic.
Keys tossed around.
Everyone talking over each other all at once.
“Fuck, we drank,” San cursed under his breath while dragging a stressed hand through his hair. “Who’s driving?”
“I didn’t drink,” Jongho answered immediately.
Yeosang looked at him flatly.
“I literally saw you drinking.”
“I only sipped.” Jongho frowned defensively. “Sip isn’t drinking.”
Then, despite the tension, he leaned dramatically closer toward Yeosang and opened his mouth.
“Smell me.”
Wooyoung stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re insane.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes,” Hongjoong snapped while already reaching for his coat.
Instant silence.
Captain mode again.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Nobody argued.
Nobody interrupted.
Because when Hongjoong sounded like that, everyone listened.
Hongjoong looked directly at Jongho.
“Are you sure?” he asked seriously. “The last thing we need tonight is ending up at a police station.”
Jongho nodded firmly.
“I’m positive. I can’t drink properly after hearing everything. I only took a sip earlier.” He shrugged lightly. “That’s too little for any alcohol detector to catch.”
Hongjoong inhaled sharply before speaking again, calm but firm despite the panic slowly building around them.
“Okay. Listen carefully. We will not fit in one car."
The room stilled immediately.
“Jongho takes Wooyoung’s car with Yunho.”
Everyone nodded without argument.
Mostly because Wooyoung owned the fastest car among them.
“We’ll call for rent drivers and catch up with you two,” Hongjoong continued while pointing toward Jongho and Yunho. “The moment you arrive, call us immediately.”
Wooyoung immediately tossed his car keys across the room without hesitation.
Jongho caught them perfectly with one hand.
“Move,” he muttered before grabbing Yunho roughly by the hoodie and dragging him toward the exit.
Yunho followed without resistance, still visibly shaking.
His face had gone pale again.
Fear was completely consuming him now.
Meanwhile, San was already on his phone trying to book drivers for them.
“Okay, I got one,” he announced quickly. “Fifteen minutes.”
“Same here,” Yeosang added while slipping his phone into his pocket. “Mine’s nearby too.”
Mingi grabbed his jacket silently while Seonghwa tried calling your number again.
Still the same automated voice.
Outside, the cold night air hit all of them at once.
But none of them cared anymore.
Not when panic was settling deeper and deeper inside their chests with every passing second.
Because now, one terrifying thought echoed through every single one of them.
No one knew where you were.
And none of them were prepared for what they might find once they got there.
Pairing: non-idol yunho x fem! reader
Other characters will appear: Mingi, Iseul, Nabi
Genre: +18, eventually smut, suggestive, angst, romance, love story, slow-burn, tangled emotions, lingering feelings, married couple AU, slice of life, melancholic romance, hurt-comfort, One-Week-Left Trope, Lovers-to-Strangers, secret and lies, quiet grief & lingering love, themes of quiet heartbreak non-idol Ateez, Third person POV
Summary: Love finally reached its breaking point.
As emotions finally spill over, Yunho and Y/N find themselves standing on opposite sides of a love. The side where love should be kept going no matter what, and the side where love should be freed. While Yunho fights desperately to hold on, Y/N quietly prepares herself to let go, even if it destroys her in the process. Because sometimes, love is not enough to stop fate from pulling two people apart.
Also, a little backstory of Yunho & Iseul
Content & Trigger Warnings: 18+,purely fanfiction, self-harm, suicide attempt, hospital, patient, mention of medication, distress, manipulation, obsession, crying, cheating, divorce, lies, mental health, angst.
WC: 5,000+
Marks: Yunho, Y/N, Other Characters, 'silent thought'
A/N: Hi, I'm back with chapter 8. The wait is over. I hope you like this short update. I really appreciate you guys for waiting, and I hope you love this chapter. Love you all (˶ > ₃ < ˶)♡
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The words had barely left your lips when the doorbell rang, sharp and jarring, cutting through the air like a blade. Both of you flinched, your raw emotions suspended in the sudden silence.
Yunho’s chest constricted. His stomach twisted violently, his mind snapping to the one person who could ruin this moment further.
Please, God. Not her again. Not now. Not when I’m already falling apart.
You swallowed the lump in your throat, wiping your tears quickly before moving toward the door. Every step felt heavier because somehow you knew who is it.
When you pulled it open, it’s him
“Mingi” Your voice wavered, soft with both surprise and relief.
Mingi stood on the porch, his tall frame dampened by the night air. His eyes flicked to you first, scanning your face, then over your shoulder toward the living room. From where he stood, he only caught a glimpse of Yunho’s back. His broad shoulders were rigid, his head bowed as he faced the window.
Something in Mingi’s expression softened. He didn’t need to see Yunho’s face to know. They’re in the middle of something I shouldn’t touch.
“I can come back later,” Mingi said quietly, his voice careful, almost apologetic.
You shook your head, forcing a steadiness you didn’t feel. “No. Just… wait in your car for ten minutes.”
You told him to visit you, but you didn't expect him to go immediately. Like right now.
Mingi studied you for a moment, then nodded once, respectfully. “Alright.” Without another word, he turned and walked back toward his car, his steps heavy, deliberate.
You closed the door softly, pressing your palm against the wood as if to hold yourself steady. For a moment, you stood there, collecting your breath, before turning back toward the living room.
Yunho was no longer by the window. He sat slumped on the couch now, elbows on his knees, head bowed, hands clasped as though in prayer. His entire body trembled faintly, and though he hadn’t looked up, you knew he was fighting to keep from breaking again.
‘How do I stop her?’ Yunho’s thoughts clawed at him, relentless. ‘How do I make her see that I can’t live without her? That everything I am is because of her?’ His throat burned, his heart thundering painfully in his chest. What if she really wants to let go now…what if she really no longer loves me…then what do I fight for?’
“Yunho.” Your voice broke softly into the silence.
He lifted his head slowly, his eyes bloodshot, rimmed with tears that hadn’t yet fallen. The way he looked at you, his eyes were desperate, pleading, lost, and it made your chest ache until you could hardly breathe.
‘How do I let go of this man? The man I built my life with, the man who is my home? But if not now, then when? If he learns the truth… if he watches me wither away, how will he survive?’ You bit back the sob rising in your throat. ‘Better he hates me now than be destroyed later by me.’
“We are done here. You need to leave now,” you whispered, your hands curling into fists at your sides to stop them from reaching for him.
He blinked, stunned by the finality in your tone. His lips parted, trembling. “Please, Y/N,” he said hoarsely, his voice shattering like glass. “I’ll give you time. Space. Whatever you need. Just… don’t end us like this. Please, let’s not do this.” His words broke into a sob, raw and unguarded.
Your own tears burned at the edges of your eyes, but you forced yourself to meet his gaze. “Yunho, if you still love me or if you even care for me…then let me go. Don’t make this harder than it already is. We’ve hurt each other enough.”
“No,” he rasped, shaking his head violently. His voice cracked as he tried again. “No, don’t say that. We can fix this. I’ll fix this. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it if I have to…just don’t do this, Y/N.”
You flinched, the weight of his desperation almost unbearable. “I’ve already thought about it,” you whispered. Your smile trembled, bitter with pain. “Us. And this… this is what I want. I want to proceed with the divorce. If you don’t submit the papers to the court, then I will.”
His breath caught, his chest caving in as though your words had punched straight through him. He pushed himself to his feet, standing over you with tears streaking his face. “I love you so much, Y/N. Too much to just let this go. If you really want this, then fine—do it. But don’t ask me to stop loving you, because I can’t.” His voice cracked, falling into a whisper. “I’ll never stop.”
His shoulders shook as he stared at you, the pain in his eyes enough to tear you apart.
“Remember this,” he added, his tone breaking but firm, “I will not stop loving you even if you do. Me and Iseul, I’ll end it even if you still want to end us. I don’t deserve anyone other than you. I’ll be better be dead alone than stop loving you. Because it’s always you.” He can’t give you up, but he doesn’t have a choice, because you already want to let go.
Your breath hitched, your hand pressed hard against your chest as though you could hold yourself together. ‘If you only knew how much I love you…If only you knew… if only you knew why I’m doing this. But you can’t. You must not know it..’
Yunho’s thoughts spun in chaos, drowning him. How do I fight for us when she won’t? How do I hold on when the person I love most has already let go? Shame, regret, and despair tangled inside him until he could hardly stand upright.
You swallowed hard, your voice trembling but resolute. “Yunho, listen. This is the path that we will start walking. I want to start a new life without you…and for you to start a new life without me.”
“No,” Yunho whispered, his voice barely audible. His tears blurred his vision, but he forced himself to meet your gaze. “You’re my life. How can I start it if you are already ending it?”
Yunho stood there, tears streaming, your words echoing inside him like the final toll of a bell. His lips parted as though he wanted to fight, to shout, to shake you until you took it back. But the devastation in your eyes told him it would only break you both further.
With a shaky breath, he turned away. Slowly, painfully, he walked toward the door. His hand lingered on the knob, trembling, before he pulled it open. The sound of it closing behind him was soft, almost merciful, but to you, it thundered like the end of the world.
The moment it shut, your knees gave out. You crumpled to the floor, clutching your chest as sobs tore from your throat, raw and unrestrained.
‘This is better. This has to be better. If I keep him here, if I let him stay, he’ll only suffer more when the truth comes out. I can’t do that to him. I can’t let him watch me fade. Better he hates me. Better he thinks I stopped loving him. This way… maybe he can heal.’
Your tears soaked into your palms, your body trembling as you forced yourself to believe the lie. ‘This is mercy. This is love. Letting him go is the only way to save him.’
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
Outside, Yunho paused on the porch, his hands balled into fists at his sides. Every fiber of him screamed to go back in, to hold you, to prove you wrong. But the memory of your collapse, your fragile body breaking under stress, rooted him to the spot.
‘If I push her, if I fight her, I’ll only hurt her more. I can’t be the reason she shatters again. I swore I’d protect her… but all I do is make her cry. Maybe this is what I deserve. Maybe this is karma. I betrayed her once, and now I’ve lost the right to fight for her.’
His vision blurred as he walked toward Mingi’s car. He lifted a trembling hand and tapped against the side window.
Mingi rolled it down, his eyes sharp but gentle, reading Yunho’s face without needing explanation. This is the first time he has seen his best friend like this. Lost. Tired. Defeated.
“Take care of her,” Yunho said, his voice low, hoarse from tears. His jaw tightened as his throat burned. “Please… if something happens, update me. Don’t let her be alone.”
Mingi didn’t ask questions. Didn’t press for details even though he is dying to know. He saw the wreckage in Yunho’s expression, the devastation in his voice, and he understood enough. He gave a single firm nod. “I will.”
Yunho swallowed hard, his chest caving in under the weight of it all. He stepped back from the car, his body heavy, his heart screaming in silence.
‘I’ll leave. For now. Because if I stay, I’ll break her again. She wants freedom, and I… I have no right to chain her to me. I’ll give her what she wants, even if it kills me. Even if it means I lose her forever. Because maybe… maybe she deserves better than me. And maybe this is my punishment for not protecting her when I should have.’ Yunho doubt his self again.
As Mingi’s car headlights cut through the night, Yunho turned away, his face crumpling in anguish. He walked down the dark street alone, each step echoing with the truth he couldn’t outrun.
Inside, you pressed your forehead to the floor, sobbing into the quiet house that still smelled like him.
Both of you drowning in love.
Both of you letting go.
Because fate had already decided.
The door creaked open, and there he was.
“Mingi…” your voice came out weak, breathless, like it might shatter if you said anything more.
His eyes swept over you instantly, taking in your tear-stained cheeks, your trembling frame, the way you were holding yourself as though you might collapse if you let go. Something in his chest cracked. He’d seen you tired before, seen you sad, but this… this fragility was new. And it scared him.
“You… you look…” He stopped himself before finishing. You looked like you were breaking. “Can I come in?”
You nodded faintly. He entered with quiet steps, his gaze flicking toward the living room where Yunho’s absence screamed louder than his presence. The air was still heavy with him, the storm of his grief lingering in the walls.
You and Mingi settled onto the couch. The silence stretched for a moment, thick and suffocating. Then Mingi’s eyes caught on the coffee table. His hand reached out, hesitant, and picked up the folder left there.
When he saw what it was, his face froze. Divorce papers. Signed. Both of you.
“What is this?” His voice broke, eyes snapping to yours, wide with disbelief.
You pressed your lips together, your chest aching.
Mingi’s throat worked, the papers trembling in his hands. “For real, Y/N? Divorce? You both want this?” His voice was louder now, emotional, as though the word itself was foreign coming from his lips.
“Mingi…” you began softly, but he cut you off, his emotions spilling out.
“I know what he did is unforgivable. I know,” his voice cracked, “but this?” He pointed to the papers, his eyes red. “Divorce? I think it’s too much. This—this is both of you giving up.”
“Mingi, you have to understand—”
“Then make me understand!” His voice rose sharply, but his eyes were filled with tears. “You are both my best friends, and yet I know nothing. I’m… I’m disappointed in both of you.”
You inhaled shakily, your heart squeezing. “This is the end of our story, Mingi.”
“That’s it?” His voice shook. “No, I don’t believe you. You both still love each other—I see it, I feel it! So why? Why do you give up now? This isn’t the Y/N I know. You always fought for him, for both of you. You conquered everything before. So why now? Why are you just… letting go?”
His words sliced through you like glass. Your lips quivered, but you forced a whisper. “God knows I fought, Mingi. I fought so hard… but I lost.”
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Finally, you said it… the lie you had prepared, the only shield you could give him. “I’m leaving, Mingi. For good.” not a lie
He blinked, stunned. “Leaving? What are you talking about?”
You tried to smile, but it trembled. “I accepted a client in Hawaii. I’ll be staying there for years and I think it's better if I stay there permanently.” Another lie that you have to keep up.
Mingi’s jaw dropped, his chest tightening. “What? Why so sudden?”
“This isn’t sudden,” you answered softly. “I accepted the offer a month ago.”
“A month?” Mingi repeated, his voice hoarse. “So you already planned this? You already planned to let him go? Or…” his breath hitched
You shook your head firmly, forcing another brittle smile. “Mingi, you know this is where Yunho’s life is.”
“No,” he interrupted, his voice raw. “You are his life, Y/N. You’re his wife. You know that better than anyone. Whatever you wanted, Yunho would have given it to you. Wherever you are, Yunho will be there.”
You closed your eyes briefly, tears burning. “That’s why I let go.” Your smile broke, bitter and fragile. “I know how much he sacrificed to build this dream of his. I was there... supporting him until he made it. If I asked him to give it all up just to follow me… do you think we’d still be happy? We can't even manage to make a child! A fact that still hunts you. Do you think it would work?” You shook your head slowly, tears slipping down your cheeks.
"Don't say that. I know Yunho! He loves you with or without a child."
You wiped your tears before you speak, “I don’t want him to give up everything just because of me. I want to do this for myself. And maybe… if life ever gives us another chance… I won’t let him go again.”
Your chest caved as you whispered the truth you couldn’t hide. “I love him, Mingi. That’s why I’m doing this.” You looked at him, your eyes pleading. Mingi hugs you. The warmth comforts you for a minute. You break from the embrace before you continue talking, “That’s why I want to ask you a favor. Please… take care of him. Always be with him. Help him until he learns to live a life without me.”
Mingi’s vision blurred. His hands tightened around the divorce papers until the edges crumpled. He wanted to scream, to demand answers, to shake you until you told him the whole truth. But the way you looked at him, the quiet resolve, the unbearable fragility. You stole the fight from his chest. You already decided.
He swallowed hard, his throat tight. “If this is really what you want…I will respect your decision, but please don’t divorce him. Finish the project, then comeback” His voice broke. “If you promise, then I’ll do it. I’ll take care of him until you comeback. Because it kills me to see you both like this. To see love break this way.”
You reached over, your hand covering his, your smile trembling but brave. “Thank you, Mingi. That’s all I can ask for.”
Mingi reach the divorce paper and torn it.
"Mingi! What are you doing?"
"I told you. Now keep your promise."
You just nod, but you know it's far from the truth.
Inside, your thoughts screamed louder than your words. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for leaving him, for leaving you all. But this is the only way. If he knew the truth… if you knew the truth… it would destroy all of you. Better that you think I chose this, better that you hate me, than watch me fade in front of you all.
Mingi stared at you, his heart shattering as he whispered, “You both deserved forever.”
And you smiled through your tears, Maybe not in this life.
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
Yunho’s condo was dark when he pushed the door open, the silence so loud it pressed against his ears. He didn’t bother with the lights. He didn’t bother taking off his shoes. He just walked like a man on autopilot. Straight to the cabinet tucked in the corner of his living room.
The bottle of whiskey was there, untouched for months. He grabbed it with shaking hands, twisted the cap off, and lifted it to his lips.
The first burn hit his throat like fire, but he didn’t care. The pain was nothing. Nothing compared to the hollow tearing inside his chest. He tipped the bottle again, gulping mouthful after mouthful until his lungs screamed and his chest ached, until his lips and chin were slick with alcohol.
But the ache didn’t stop. It only grew heavier.
I can’t accept this. His thoughts spiraled as he lowered the bottle, staring blankly at the shadows stretching across the floor. I can’t accept this life without her. I can’t just accept that she wants a divorce.. That she meant it. That smile of hers… it was supposed to be my home. How do I breathe if she takes it away?
He dropped onto the couch, the bottle clattering against the glass table. His hands dragged over his face, pulling at his skin as though he could rip the pain out of himself.
God, what have I done?
His chest heaved, the whiskey warming his veins but failing to dull the regret clawing at him. I was the one who asked for this. I was the one who wanted to be out of this marriage... And now she’s giving it to me and I can’t take it. I don’t want it... How selfish I am... I’d burn the whole world for you to take my love back.
Tears slipped from his eyes, hot and bitter. His fingers curled into fists, digging into his thighs until his nails bit through fabric. I ruined us. Every wrong step, every selfish decision, I did that. And I thought I could live with it. But the moment she looked at me with those eyes, when she smiled and handed me those papers like she was freeing me… I realized I’ve been nothing but blind. A coward.
His mind drifted, unbidden, to Iseul.
Her face. Her voice. Her touch.
His stomach twisted violently, nausea climbing up his throat. He shoved the bottle aside and buried his face in his hands. What the hell was I thinking? Choosing her? Letting her close enough to destroy everything I built with Y/N?
He remembered the way Iseul looked tonight. Desperate, clinging, shameless. The way her voice cracked when she begged him not to cut her off. The way she accused him, demanded his love in the open street, as if it was something she could force out of him.
This isn’t love. This was never love. It was temptation. It was a weakness. It was me trying to fill something I thought was missing when the truth is I already had everything. I had Y/N. And I threw it away.
His chest burned. He reached for the bottle again and drank deeply, his throat raw, his stomach rebelling, but the punishment felt deserved.
Whether Y/N divorces me or not… Iseul is done. She has to be. I can’t even look at her without seeing the cracks she made in my life, the cracks I let her carve into me. How did I let myself get that blind? How could I choose her after everything Y/N and I survived together?
His head dropped back against the couch, the ceiling spinning above him. He let out a harsh, broken laugh that dissolved into a sob.
I had a life before Y/N. A lonely, hollow life. And when she came, everything changed. She gave me love, warmth, a home. She gave me myself back. And yet I… I chose the one who tore me apart. I went back to the poison that broke me once before. And in doing so, I broke her.
His chest convulsed as another sob ripped through him.
God, Y/N… I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve your love, your forgiveness, or even the pain in your eyes. Maybe this is my punishment. Maybe this is karma finally catching up to me.
He reached blindly for the bottle again, clutching it against his chest like it was the only thing keeping him from collapsing completely. But no matter how much he drank, the truth sat like a blade in his gut:
He had already lost you.
And this time, no amount of begging might ever bring you back.
𓂃 ࣪˖.☘︎.˖ ࣪𓂃
BACK STORY OF YUNHO AND ISEUL
The late afternoon sun stretched across the university campus, casting long golden shadows over the pavement. Students lingered in small groups, laughter echoing between buildings, conversations blending into a steady hum of youth and possibility.
It was the kind of day that felt endless. The kind of day where nothing seemed like it could break.
And yet, Yunho stood in the middle of it all, his world narrowed down to a single person.
Iseul
She stood near the arts building, leaning casually against the railing, her long hair catching the sunlight as if it belonged there. She was laughing at something one of her friends said, but even from a distance, Yunho noticed it.
The smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Still, it didn’t matter.
Not to him.
Because to Yunho, she was everything.
His chest tightened, something warm blooming inside him as he watched her. For a moment, he didn’t move. He just stood there, taking her in like she was a scene he wanted to memorize.
She’s beautiful.
The thought came so naturally that it almost scared him. Not because it was new, but because it had never once changed. No matter how many times he saw her, no matter how ordinary the moment, she always felt like something extraordinary.
As if she didn’t quite belong in his world. As if he was the lucky one just for being near her.
He adjusted the strap of his bag and finally started walking toward her. Each step felt steady, but his heart beat just a little faster the closer he got.
What if she’s busy?
What if she doesn’t want to see me right now?
The thoughts were quiet, fleeting, but they were there.
Still, they disappeared the moment she turned. Their eyes met. And just like that, everything else faded.
“Yunho,” she said, her voice light, almost effortless.
His name sounded different when it came from her.
Softer. Like it belonged somewhere it never had before.
He smiled immediately, unable to stop himself. “You’re done with class?”
“Just finished,” she replied, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I was about to leave.”
There was a pause.
“I can walk you,” he said quickly. Too quickly.
As if the offer had been waiting on his lips long before the moment arrived.
Iseul looked at him for a second. Not long. But long enough for something unreadable to flicker in her expression.
Then she smiled.
“Okay.”
That was all it took. A single word. And Yunho felt like he had been chosen.
Their relationship had started simply.
A shared class.
A few conversations.
A moment that turned into something more before he even realized it.
By the time Yunho understood what he felt, he was already in too deep. Because loving Iseul didn’t feel like a decision. It felt like something that just happened.
Something inevitable.
They walked side by side, their pace unhurried. Yunho reached for her bag without thinking, slipping it off her shoulder and onto his.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said.
“I wanted to,” he answered.
And he meant it. Because every small thing he did for her felt right. Like it was exactly where he was supposed to be.
“I have practice later,” he added, glancing at her. “But I have time before that.”
“For me?” she teased lightly.
“Always.”
The word slipped out so easily that he didn’t even notice it. But Iseul did. Her lips curved slightly, but her gaze drifted forward again, distant.
She knew that she had him under her palm. like a dog
Yunho loved her in a way that was quiet, steady, and consuming. It showed in everything, and she benefits a lot.
In the way he waited outside her classes.
In the way he memorized her schedule without trying.
In the way he noticed when her mood shifted, even when she said nothing.
If she was tired, he brought her coffee.
If she was stressed, he stayed with her until she fell asleep, even if it meant going home exhausted.
If she wanted something, anything, he found a way to give it to her.
Because making her happy felt like a purpose. Because loving her felt like something he was meant to do.
I just want her to smile.
That’s enough.
That’s more than enough.
Trying to convince himself.
But love, when it leans too far in one direction, it starts to bend. Even if you don’t notice it at first.
“I’m going to Seoul this weekend,” Iseul said one afternoon, scrolling through her phone.
Yunho looked up immediately. “Seoul? For what?”
“A casting,” she replied, her tone casual. “Just something small.”
His face lit up. “That’s amazing.”
“It’s nothing yet.”
“It’s still something,” he insisted. “You’ve been working for this.”
She glanced at him briefly. There was something in her eyes. Something distant.
“You really think so?”
“I know so.”
He didn’t hesitate. He never hesitated when it came to her.
Until one day Iseul started talking about New York. Not often. But enough.
It always came up casually. Like it didn’t mean everything.
“I want to go there someday,” she said once, scrolling through photos. “Everything feels bigger.”
Yunho watched her quietly.
“Then you will,” he said.
She looked at him, slightly surprised. “You think I can?”
“I know you can.”
And he meant it.
Even if it meant she would be far away.
Even if it meant he had to follow her.
Because if it made her happy.
That should be enough. Right?
But there were things Yunho didn’t see. Or maybe things he refused to see.
The late replies.
The missed calls.
The way she would cancel plans without explanation.
The way her attention felt like something he had to earn.
He noticed it. Of course he did. But every time doubt tried to surface, he pushed it down.
She’s just busy. Don’t overthink it.
She’s chasing her dreams. Be supportive.
Because that’s what love is. Isn’t it?
“Yunho, can you help me with something?”
“Of course.”
Always. No hesitation.
“Can you pick me up?”
“I’m on my way.”
Even if he was exhausted. Even if it meant going out in the rain.
“I need money. Right now.”
“…Okay.”
Even if he didn’t have enough. Even if he had to sacrifice something for it.
He gave.
And gave.
And gave.
Without ever asking for anything back.
Because he believed love meant giving without limits.
Because he believed she would never leave.
Because why would she?
.
.
.
.
.
.
Until she did.
It was a quiet afternoon. Too quiet. Yunho had just finished practice when he realized something was off.
No messages.
No missed calls.
Nothing from her.
A strange unease settled in his chest. That’s weird. He pulled out his phone and called her.
It rang.
And rang.
And rang.
No answer.
He frowned. Maybe she’s busy. But something didn’t feel right. When he arrived at her apartment, the door was locked.
No lights.
No sound.
“Iseul?”
He knocked.
Once.
Twice.
Harder.
Nothing.
A neighbor peeked out. “She left this morning,” they said casually.
Yunho froze. “…Left?”
“Yeah. With luggage. Looked like she was going somewhere far.”
His chest dropped. No. No, that doesn’t make sense. She would’ve told me. His hands trembled as he pulled out his phone again.
Calling.
Texting.
Anything.
Nothing.
That’s when he saw it. A letter with his name on it. His heart stopped. He opened it slowly. Each word cutting deeper than the last.
I chose my dream. I signed a modeling contract in New York.
That was it.
No goodbye.
No explanation.
No closure.
Yunho stood there, staring at the paper. His mind blank. His chest hollow.
What…?
What is this?
She left me.
The realization came quietly. Like something breaking inside him.
His knees gave out. He sank to the floor, the letter crumpling in his grip.
“Iseul…” His voice broke. “…why?”
Days blurred into nights. Nights into something heavier. Something darker. Why did you leave me just like this?
He stopped going out. Stopped answering calls. Stopped being himself.
Until one night… It almost ended.
Thankfully, he didn’t succeed as he planned
His family stayed by his side. They held on to him.
“I hate you so much” Nabi cried on his side of the hospital bed
“I fukking hate you! How dare you try to leave us because of that b!tch” Nabi sobbing nonstop
Ever since, she hasn’t liked Iseul. She always points out what’s wrong with her and the relationship. She sees what he refuses to see.
He realized she’s right all this time.
And slowly…
Painfully…
He learned to breathe again. He learned that some love stories don’t end. They just stop. So Yunho left.
Left Gwangju.
Left the memories of her.
Left that version of himself.
And went to Seoul to start.
Where he learned to stand on his own. Where he started to build a better version of himself. Where he met you.
And learn…
Love was never supposed to feel like losing yourself for someone. It was supposed to feel like loving yourself a little more because someone chose to love you too.
It's been a while. I'm gone for SO long. How are you all?
A lot has happened in my life over the past few months. I lost my long-time job, lost my grandmother, and it caused too much stress and heavy emotion in me that I had to step out of everything. I lost the drive to do what I love. I lost the motivation to write.
But life should not stop living, so
I start to rebuild myself. More self-care.
I got a new job. Much better than the last one.
I start to write again. Not much, but at least I've started.
I read all your comments, and it motivates me to continue writing again. I'm done writing two chapters, and sadly, the update will slow down. Maybe I will post chapters twice or thrice a month. I don't want to rush writing "The Glimpse of Us" for the sake of finishing it. I want to stay on the storyline and how it will end.
I hope you keep supporting this story... and maybe the next one too😏
I will post Chapter 8 maybe tomorrow or next week 🙏 I appreciate your patience with me and for waiting. I love you all and see you all around ♡
