As Namjoon lay with Hana nestled against him, he felt her soft fingers tracing patterns on his bare chest. The gentle caress sent shivers down his spine, a soothing contrast to the storm brewing within him. He loved these quiet moments together, yet he sensed that Hana was searching for something deeper—answers to the questions swirling around their relationship and his past.

“Namjoon,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “You know I’ve been curious about your ex. I understand things were messy, but… I’d like to know what happened. If you’re comfortable sharing, of course.”

He felt a sudden tightness in his chest. Memories he had buried deep began to surface, darkening his thoughts. As much as he wanted to protect her from his past, he realized that honesty was essential if they were to build a future together.

Taking a deep breath, he squeezed her hips gently, grounding himself in the present moment. “Okay,” he said, his voice low. “But it’s not a pleasant story.”

“I can handle it,” Hana replied, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding. “I want to know you, all of you.”

Namjoon nodded, knowing that he had to open up. “Her name was Minji. We were together for almost four years. I thought we had something special, something that would last a lifetime. We talked about marriage, kids… the whole nine yards.” He paused, a knot forming in his stomach as he recalled the moments they had shared, the dreams they had woven together.

“But everything changed one evening,” he continued, his voice heavy with emotion. “I had planned a surprise for her—a romantic dinner at her favorite restaurant. I was so excited, thinking about how happy she’d be.”

Hana remained silent, her fingers still tracing patterns on his chest, offering her silent support.

“I finished work early and decided to stop by her apartment first to leave some flowers,” he explained, his gaze drifting to the ceiling as the memory unfolded in his mind. “I thought it would be a nice touch, you know? I wanted to show her how much she meant to me.”

The corners of his mouth twitched in a bitter smile as he recalled the excitement he had felt. “But when I got there, I heard noises coming from inside. At first, I thought maybe she was watching a movie or listening to music, but then… I heard voices. Their laughter filled the air, and something in my gut twisted.”

Namjoon swallowed hard, fighting against the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. “I should have just left, but I couldn’t. I was worried. I knocked on the door, and there was no answer. So, I opened it.”

His breath caught in his throat, the image forever seared into his mind. “What I saw will haunt me for the rest of my life. They were on the couch, tangled in each other’s arms—Minji and Jackson Wang.”

Hana gasped, her hand freezing on his chest. “Oh, Namjoon… I’m so sorry.”

“It was like a nightmare,” he continued, his voice trembling. “I stood there, frozen, watching the two people I loved most betray me in the most unimaginable way. It felt like my entire world shattered in an instant.”

He could feel Hana’s heart beating steadily against his side, a soothing rhythm that reminded him he wasn’t alone. But the hurt was still fresh, the pain evident in his voice. “I didn’t know what to do. Part of me wanted to scream, to confront them right then and there, but another part of me just… couldn’t. I felt so humiliated.”

“What happened next?” she asked softly, her eyes filled with concern.

“I finally managed to turn around and leave,” he admitted. “I didn’t even know where I was going. I drove aimlessly for hours, trying to wrap my head around what had just happened. I felt lost, betrayed, and utterly alone.”

He sighed, remembering how he had turned to the bottle in those dark days. “After that, everything fell apart. I confronted Minji a few days later, and she tried to make excuses. She said it was a mistake, that she didn’t mean to hurt me. But how could I ever trust her again? How could I ever see her the same way?”

“Namjoon…” Hana said gently, moving closer and wrapping her arms around his waist. “You didn’t deserve that. You deserve love and loyalty.”

He nodded, but the bitterness still lingered. “After we broke up, I distanced myself from everyone. I thought I could just bury the pain and move on, but it doesn’t work like that. Trust was shattered, and I felt like I’d never be able to love someone again.”

“I can’t imagine how painful that must have been,” Hana said, her voice laced with empathy. “But I want you to know that you can trust me. I’m not Minji, and I would never do anything to hurt you.”

Namjoon’s heart warmed at her words, but the scars of his past remained. “I know that, but it’s hard to shake off the memories. Sometimes, I find myself pulling back, afraid to let anyone in.”

“Then let me help you,” she offered, her eyes bright with sincerity. “We can take our time. You don’t have to rush into anything. I want to support you, to be your partner in healing.”

Her words wrapped around him like a warm blanket, and he felt a flicker of hope ignite within him. “I appreciate that, really. It’s just going to take some time.”

“Take all the time you need,” she said softly, leaning in to plant a gentle kiss on his lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He sighed against her, grateful for her unwavering support. “I didn’t mean to bring the mood down. I just wanted you to understand where I’m coming from.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” she reassured him, her fingers gently stroking his hair. “You’re allowed to feel what you feel, and I’m here to listen.”

Namjoon couldn’t help but smile at her kindness. “You’re too good to me, you know that?”

Hana blushed, a hint of a smile gracing her lips. “I just want you to be happy. You’ve been through so much already.”

“I feel like I’m starting to find happiness again, and that’s because of you,” he admitted, his voice earnest. “I know I have a long way to go, but with you by my side, I feel like I can actually heal.”

She pressed her forehead against his, her eyes sparkling with affection. “We’ll heal together. I promise.”

Namjoon tightened his grip around her waist, feeling the warmth radiating from her body. In that moment, he realized how far they had come together and how much he wanted to protect what they had built.

“Thank you for being patient with me,” he said softly. “I’m learning to trust again, and it feels good to let you in.”

“I’ll always be here for you, Namjoon. No matter what,” Hana replied, her voice steady and filled with conviction.

As they lay wrapped in each other’s arms, Namjoon felt a renewed sense of hope. The journey ahead would undoubtedly be filled with challenges, but he knew he wouldn’t face them alone. With Hana by his side, he could begin to rebuild, brick by brick, until the walls that had once imprisoned him crumbled away completely.

For the first time in a long while, Namjoon allowed himself to dream of a future filled with love and happiness, one where he could finally be free of the shadows of his past. And as he held Hana close, he knew that together, they could create something beautiful.