The cold winter air nipped at Heeseung's face as he stood in front of her apartment door, his fist hovering hesitantly. He had spent the last three days replaying every moment, every word, every misunderstanding. And now he was here, at the one place he swore he wouldn't go unless he was ready to face the storm.

He exhaled sharply, steeling himself, and knocked.

The sound echoed in the hallway, each second of silence afterward stretching unbearably. Then, he heard soft footsteps from inside. The door creaked open, and there she was, Minji.

Her eyes were guarded, her expression a mask of calm that barely hid the turmoil beneath. She didn't say a word, but the faint quiver in her lips betrayed her.

"What do you want, Heeseung?" she asked, her voice clipped, but he could hear the hurt buried beneath it.

"I need to talk to you," he said, his voice trembling. "Please."

Minji crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "What's left to talk about? You made your choice, didn't you?"

Heeseung shook his head, his chest tightening. "I didn't- Minji, I didn't cheat on you. You have to believe me."

A bitter laugh escaped her. "Didn't cheat? I saw you, Heeseung. With her. The way you were looking at her..." Her voice cracked, and she quickly looked away, as if she couldn't bear to see him.

"It's not what you think," he pleaded. "That night, she was just-"

"Stop," Minji interrupted, holding up a hand. Her eyes snapped back to him, now blazing with anger. "Don't insult me by pretending there's some innocent explanation. I saw you with her, Heeseung. The way she touched your arm, the way you smiled at her..."

Heeseung stepped closer, his voice desperate. "She's an old friend from college, Minji. She showed up out of nowhere, asking for help. I was being polite, nothing more. I swear to you, I didn't do anything."

Minji stared at him, her lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, he thought he saw the slightest flicker of doubt in her eyes. But then she shook her head, as if shaking off his words.

"It doesn't matter," she said softly, her voice heavy with finality. "Even if you didn't do anything, Heeseung, I can't unsee what I saw. I can't unfeel the pain at that moment."

"Minji..."

She raised her hand, stopping him again. "I gave you my trust, and for one reason or another, it's broken now. I don't think I can ever look at you the same way."

His heart shattered at her words, the weight of them sinking deep into his chest. "So that's it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're just... giving up on us?"

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away. "I'm not the one who gave up, Heeseung. You did the moment you let her get close enough to make me doubt everything we had."

She began to close the door, but he reached out, holding it open. His voice broke as he spoke. "I love you, Minji. I'll do anything to prove it to you. Just... don't let this be the end."

Her gaze softened for a brief second, but then her walls went back up. She shook her head, her voice steady despite the tears threatening to fall. "Sometimes love isn't enough."

With that, she gently pushed the door shut.

Heeseung stood there, staring at the wooden surface, the chill of the hallway seeping into his bones. He wanted to scream, to punch the wall, to do anything but feel the ache consuming him.

But instead, he turned and walked away, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

Behind the door, Minji sank to the floor, her tears finally spilling over. And though they were apart, both were left wondering the same thing: what might have been, if only trust had held on just a little longer.

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