The entire night, YN stayed beside Namjoon, her heart a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She watched over him, cradling his head in her lap as he slept peacefully, lost in dreams she could never enter. Her fingertips traced the shape of his face lightly, memorizing every line, every shadow.

Part of her felt a deep, quiet happiness to have him close, like this moment was something rare and precious. Yet, just as strongly, sorrow filled her, the memory of him calling for someone else piercing her heart.

She fought her tears, but the ache inside refused to settle. It hurt to know that the name he murmured wasn't hers, the love he craved wasn't for her. Her silent wish was that someday, he'd look at her with the same longing she felt for him. But that hope felt fragile now, slipping away like sand through her fingers. The hours passed in silence, the weight of her heart making each minute feel longer than the last.

As the first rays of dawn filtered into the room, YN felt her heart ache even more. The sunlight warmed her tear-stained face, making her tears sparkle, reflecting the turmoil inside her. Was she destined only to feel this kind of love-unwanted, unreturned, and unending?

Feeling the sting of his rejection, she carefully moved to leave, knowing that if he woke up to find her there, he'd scold her. As she tried to pull away, Namjoon's grip tightened on her arm. She froze, looking down at him as he held onto her even in his sleep. Her heart fluttered, a small, painful hope flickering within her. She wanted to stay, to keep holding him, but she knew it was foolish.

Her love wasn't enough to keep him, and staying there would only hurt her more.

Finally, she managed to slip away and hurried back to her room, her hands shaking as she closed the door behind her. She stood before the mirror, taking in the sight of herself-her eyes swollen from crying, her cheeks flushed from the hours of silent anguish.

She remembered the days when she'd stand in this exact spot, imagining a life with Namjoon, blushing at the thought of his touch, his words, his presence.

But now, those dreams felt like cruel illusions. Her heart ached as she whispered, "How did I become this...so lost in someone who doesn't even care?"

The memories of Namjoon's confessions about his past relationships flooded back to her. He'd told her before, so many times, that she was just another girl in his world-a distraction, nothing more. She'd clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, she was different. But now, she felt foolish, broken by the harsh reality. She pressed her palms to her face, letting out a strangled sob.

"Why...why am I doing this to myself?" Her voice cracked as she stared at her own reflection. "He told me he didn't care. Why did I keep hoping he would?" Her fists clenched as a wave of frustration hit her. She screamed, releasing all the pent-up anguish, but the sound faded into silence, swallowed by the emptiness of the mansion around her.

In that silence, she felt the depths of her loneliness settle over her like a shroud. She wiped her face, trying to compose herself, when she heard footsteps echoing in the entrance hall below. Startled, she hurried downstairs, hoping despite herself that it was Namjoon.

Instead, she found Jungkook standing in the hall, hands in his pockets, waiting with a relaxed expression. His eyes fell on her as she approached, and she forced a polite smile.

"Good morning" she greeted softly. "You're here for Namjoon?"

He looked her over, his expression indifferent. "Yeah. And you are...?" he asked, his tone casual but his words like knives.

The simple question cut deeper than she expected, striking at the heart of everything she was struggling with.

Who was she to Namjoon? What did she mean to him?

For a moment, she found herself questioning her place here, her purpose. She swallowed hard, trying to hold her emotions together.

"I... I'm YN," she replied, feeling small under his indifferent gaze.

Jungkook glanced around the empty space, then shrugged. "Where is he?"

"He's still sleeping," YN answered, her voice barely steady. Jungkook raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he looked her over again, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Oh, so you're his...last night's one?" he said casually, almost as if he were commenting on the weather.

The insinuation in his tone stung, and YN felt her face pale, her heart sinking further.

"Well," he said with a shrug, "just let him know I was here." He gave her one last glance and turned to leave, his footsteps echoing as he walked out the door.

The moment he was gone, YN felt her legs give way, and she sank to the floor, her hands trembling as the weight of everything came crashing down. Her thoughts spiraled, memories of Namjoon flooding her mind-the stolen glances, the moments they shared, the nights she had spent hoping he'd feel something real for her.

Was she just a face in a crowd to him? A passing phase?

The memories played like a painful slideshow in her mind. She remembered the night Namjoon had stood up for her, facing down Ho Bin with a fierce protectiveness that had made her heart swell with hope. Was that just an illusion too?

Had every word, every touch, every shared moment been a lie?

She clasped her arms around herself, sobs wracking her frame as she crumbled completely. There was nothing left to hide from, no more reasons to hope. She had loved him with everything she had, given him her heart without reservation. But now, that love felt like a curse, something that bound her in pain she couldn't escape from.

"Why did I ever think...?" she whispered to herself, her voice choked with tears. "Why did I believe he could care?"

She closed her eyes, the ache in her heart growing unbearable.

Yet, in the depths of her pain, she realized something she hadn't seen before. She had been holding onto a fantasy-a hope that Namjoon could be someone he wasn't. And in doing so, she had ignored the truth, blinded by her own love for him. She'd been caught up in dreams, forgetting that she was dealing with a man who had never promised her anything.

A hollow ache remained as she pulled herself together, wiping her tears and staring at the empty hallway where Jungkook had left.

She realized she had a choice: she could continue to suffer for a love that wasn't returned, or she could find the strength to move forward without him.

But even as she acknowledged that truth, her heart refused to let go completely.

As YN finally rose from the floor, a steely determination settled over her. She wiped the last of her tears, her gaze hardening as she whispered to herself, "I won't stay in this mansion any longer. I'm not his toy to play with."

She looked around the room that had become her prison, filled with memories of fleeting joy and painful rejections.

"It's over. I'm going back to Canada. I'm leaving him... leaving this behind."

With each step back to her room, YN felt her resolve strengthen. She moved quickly, packing her belongings into a suitcase as memories weighed down on her heart the laughter, the late-night conversations, the hopes she'd carried. But she pushed them away, reminding herself that she deserved more than what Namjoon had given. Every item she folded away felt like shedding a piece of her attachment to him, and with each one, her heart grew a bit lighter, if not still bruised.

Just before leaving, she stood in the center of the mansion, her eyes lingering on the familiar sights. She gazed at the dining table, recalling the nights they had shared meals, the banter, and even the silences that once felt comfortable. The memories clung to her, as though the house itself was trying to keep her there, wrapped in the life she'd tried so hard to create.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned her back on it all. "I won't be a part of his game anymore. I'm not just a chapter in his story." And with that, she walked out the door, the weight of finality pressing down on her.

As she closed the door behind her, the chill of reality set in. YN called for a taxi and climbed in, directing the driver to take her to the airport. She sank into the seat, her mind racing with a mix of heartache and anticipation. This was the end of the path she had hoped would lead somewhere. But if Namjoon couldn't see her worth, she'd learn to see it for herself.

Arriving at the airport, YN felt a pang of loneliness as she waited for her flight. She was leaving behind her dreams and the pieces of herself she'd built around him. The finality of it all threatened to pull her back into sadness, but she steeled herself. This was her choice. Her freedom.

Just then, her phone rang, and she saw Anna's name light up the screen. YN's heart clenched painfully as she remembered the bond they shared. She almost considered not answering, but she didn't want Anna to worry, so she took a deep breath and picked up the call.

"YN!" Anna's cheerful voice came through, bright as ever. "I just wanted to check in on you. How's everything going?"

YN forced a smile, trying to keep her voice steady. "Everything's fine, Anna," she replied, willing herself not to let the tears fall. "Just...thinking of making some changes, you know?"

Anna's laughter brought a familiar comfort, and YN tried to focus on that instead of the ache in her chest. "That's my girl! Always up for an adventure. You deserve all the happiness in the world. YN, Oppa will soon understand you."

YN nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Thank you, Anna," she whispered. "I'm...working on it." She forced herself to sound upbeat, masking the pain behind the mask of casual conversation.

They spoke for a few minutes more, Anna's light-hearted chatter filling the silence as YN responded with small laughs and empty reassurances. Finally, the call ended, leaving YN staring at her phone screen, her fingers shaking. She took a steadying breath, reminding herself she was doing the right thing.

She walked to the check-in counter and collected her ticket, trying to block out the memories that threatened to consume her. Each step toward the boarding gate felt like a small victory.

She had almost forgotten the weight of leaving him behind.

Finally, seated on the plane, YN looked out the window, watching the city grow smaller as they rose into the sky. As the clouds surrounded her, a single tear slipped down her cheek, her chest heavy with both loss and relief. She was leaving behind her happiness, but perhaps, somewhere else, she would find her strength.

This was goodbye.

To be continued