"THE END OF LOVE IS NOT THE END OF LIFE.
IT SHOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF UNDERSTANDING THAT
LOVE ENDS FOR A REASON AND LEAVES WITH A LESSON."

Seokjin's car screeched to a halt in front of Yoon Min's neighbourhood. His mind still couldn't process the words from earlier: she was gone. She was leaving because she was convinced she was a threat to his career. His pulse thundered in his ears as he rushed out. The faint hope that she might still be here kept him moving, despite the weight of Manager Yu Beom's words dragging at his chest. He had to find her and stop her.

The hallway felt eerily quiet as he approached her door. He raised his hand to knock but froze when he noticed the small figure curled up by the door, looking lost and confused.

"Frodo?" He breathed, crouching down. The kitten blinked up at him with wide eyes, letting out a soft meow. "What are you doing out here? Where is Yoon Min?"

When no answer came- not that he expected one, he whispered, "Did she leave you behind too?"

Frodo let out a plaintive call in agreement. Without wasting time, he pushed her door open after pressing her passcode. He had been here many times before so he knew her passcode. His breath hitched at the sight before him.

The apartment wasn't empty, not entirely, but it looked hollow. Some of her things were missing, but most of her belongings were still there. As if they were just remnants of a life that had been left behind in a rush.

Before he could process the mystery behind the situation, someone was standing at her doorway, clearing her throat.

"Excuse me but who are you?"

Seokjin turned around and found a woman in her 30s, staring at him most suspiciously. Did she think he was robbing this place or something? Or did she recognize him? But fortunately, she tightened the cardigan around her body and showed no sign of recognition.

In turn, he raised the mask to his nose. "I am looking for the person who lives here."

"Yoon Min?" she asked immediately. "Why are you looking for her? She is gone."

He felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"D-Did she say where she was going?" He asked, barely controlling his frantic heartbeat.

"She is returning to her country. That's what she told me."

The rush of panic surged through him again as the thought of her leaving everything she- they had built together, was unbearable. And on top of that, she was going back to the same haunting place from which she had escaped years ago.

The pieces fell into place with devastating clarity. She hadn't just left- she'd fled. And the fact that she'd left Frodo behind...

"She's not coming back," he murmured to himself, his voice breaking.

"I don't think so either," the woman replied, hearing his words and sighed. "My kids loved her. She was a great babysitter. Too bad she didn't even say goodbye to them before leaving for the airport."

His mind raced. The airport. That's where she must be right now. That's the last place she could be found.

The woman went back to her unit after understanding he was not a stranger. He stood abruptly, glancing around her place, revisiting a hundred memories of them spending time together here. He could hear the sound of her laughter from every corner and feel the unexplainable absence of her warm presence.

Then his gaze fell on Frodo, who seemed to be searching around the room for her, mewing pitifully. He bent down, scooping the kitten into his arms. "I'm sorry," he whispered to the kitten, gently kissing its head and standing up. "I'll find her," he said, more to himself than to the kitten. "I'll bring her back."

With that, he turned on his heel, determination setting his jaw as he bolted for the door. The faint meows of Frodo echoed in his ears, urging him forward. He couldn't let her go-not like this. Not when there was still a chance to fix things.

✦✧✧ - ✧✧✦

It took him more than 30 minutes to reach the nearest airport. Seokjin placed Frodo gently on the passenger seat of his car, the little kitten meowing softly, confused. He gave the small creature a reassuring pat on the head. "Stay here, Frodo," he murmured. "I'll bring Yoon Min back. I promise."

Frodo blinked up at him, seemingly oblivious to the weight of the promise he had just made. With a deep breath, he shut the car door and turned toward the airport entrance.

The automatic doors slid open as he stepped inside, and a wave of doubt crashed over him. What if she's already gone? The thought gnawed at his mind. He scanned the crowded terminal, his heartbeat thundering in his chest. People moved in every direction- families embracing, travellers checking luggage, and announcements echoing over the speakers, but there was no sign of her.

Each passing second felt like an eternity as he rushed through the terminal, his eyes darting frantically. His breaths were shallow, and a cold sweat formed on his brow. Was he too late?

And then, just as he rounded a corner near the waiting area, his steps faltered.

There she was.

Yoon Min sat on one of the benches, her suitcase by her side. Her posture was tense, her gaze fixed somewhere distant, as though she was lost in a world far away from the bustling airport.

Seokjin saw her, sitting there in the waiting area like nothing was wrong, as if she hadn't left him scrambling and terrified for hours. Relief coursed through him for the briefest moment before anger bubbled to the surface, sharp and unrelenting.

Without a second thought, he called out, "Song Yoon Min!"

She flinched at the sound of her name, her head snapping toward him. Her eyes widened, the distant look replaced with sheer surprise. She slowly stood up on her feet, gaping at him.

"Jin-ssi?" she whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the noise around them.

He strode towards her. His fingers wrapped around her wrist, firm and unyielding.

"You are not going anywhere," he muttered through clenched teeth, his voice low but charged with fury. Before she could say a word, he began dragging her along, not caring about her verbal protests.

"Jin-ssi, you are not supposed to be here," she started, but he cut her off, his tone sharper than she'd ever heard it.

"I don't want to hear a word out of you. Let's go back first."

Her steps stumbled as she tried to keep up with his hurried pace. "Let me go, Jin-ssi", she said, her voice sounding tired.

He didn't respond, his grip like iron around her wrist. She tugged again, harder this time. "I said let go of me!"

Her raised voice echoed faintly in the quieter stretch of the hallway they had reached. A few passersby cast them curious glances. The moment her wrist slipped free from his grasp, she stepped back, rubbing the spot where his fingers had been.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice cutting, as though she already knew the answer.

Her words stung more than he expected. He let out a bitter laugh, sharp and biting. "What am I doing here? What does it look like I'm doing?" He stepped closer, his voice trembling as his anger fought against the weight of despair. "I'm trying to stop you from leaving!"

She didn't seem surprised by his response; even if she was, she did a perfect job hiding her reaction.

His chest heaved as he glared at her, "What do you think you're doing? Going back to your family? The same people who treated you like you were nothing? The ones whose cruelty you fought and fought to keep them locked up, and for what? None of them ever loved you." He paused. "And leaving Korea? The place you dreamed of? You're giving it all up like it doesn't matter?"

She flinched but held her ground. "Jin-ssi-"

"Do you even understand what you're doing?" he cut her off. "You worked so hard to get here, to build a life for yourself, and now you're just... leaving? Why?!"

She finally spoke, her voice calm but laced with exhaustion. "I'm not going back to my family."

Her words halted him mid-rant. He blinked, confusion replacing some of his anger.

"One of my closest friends is getting married," she explained, almost detached. "She insisted I be there. And yes, I might visit my family while I'm there, just to see if they've forgiven me for leaving. They've probably disowned me by now, but I need to know." She gave a nervous, hesitant smile. "Either way, I'll have to come back to Korea."

Her calmness disarmed him, and a wave of relief swept through his chest. She was coming back. She wasn't leaving him- not forever. His lips parted to say something, but then her next words shattered the fragile hope in his heart.

"But I can't come back to you. Not anymore."

The air seemed to thicken, suffocating him. Panic clawed its way up his throat. "Yoon Min, no- don't say that." His voice softened, tinged with desperation. "I know the leaked photos scared you. I didn't think Dispatch would follow me; that's on me. But we can be more careful from now on. We'll stay indoors mostly, and even if we go out, we'll-"

"Jin-ssi," she interrupted gently. "We both know this can't go on."

Seokjin stared at her, his breath slowing. He didn't trust himself to speak- not when every word she said made his heart ache in ways he couldn't describe.

She shifted her weight, avoiding his gaze. "When I saw the photos," she began softly, "I was scared, yes. But I didn't think of breaking off our relationship. Not at first." She paused before continuing. "But then your manager and some other important people came to my place."

"They were polite," she assured him quickly. "They didn't threaten me. They just explained. Respectfully. They said they were trying to protect you, and I understand. I really do." She looked up at him. "They said if I truly loved you if I was a true ARMY, I would understand. You've worked so hard. You just got your life back. I can't be the reason you lose it all."

He didn't respond, his silence heavy and suffocating. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"They were right," she continued. "I shouldn't have been selfish. I've always known this wasn't going to last, that you and I live in two completely different worlds. Still, I wanted you. I wanted to love you, I wanted to make you happy, I just wanted to take care of you. Even though I was aware I'd never be good enough for you, I still held on to you. For once, I wanted to be selfish and have you all to myself."

"Stop it," he whimpered, his voice barely audible. "Don't say that."

"I had to listen to them," she insisted, her tone more desperate now. "You don't deserve me at all, Jin-ssi. You deserve someone who can stand by your side without making you choose between your career and your partner. You deserve someone as funny as you, who can keep up with your energy, someone who is gorgeous and very confident." The tears were visible in her eyes. "You deserve someone who can cook for you, who has a nice voice and sings with you, someone who is your level and matches perfectly with your personality. Someone who will not complain about her past or carry any scars on her. And I-I can't be that person. I can't ask you to give up everything for me. I would never forgive myself if you chose me."

His head shook slowly, and finally, he broke. "Yoon Min, stop. Please stop." He stepped closer to her, his hands trembling as they reached out. "How many times do I have to tell you that you're the one for me? How many times do I have to tell you not to degrade yourself like this? How many times-"

"You can't," she interrupted. "You can't fix me, Jin-ssi. Don't you see? You've tried your best, but look at me." She motioned toward herself, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "I will always doubt myself. I will always think I'm not good enough for you, that you pity me. It's my fault- I can't stop these thoughts, no matter how much I want to. I can't fight my insecurities, no matter how hard I try. I can't overcome my trauma."

Her voice broke completely, and she wiped at her face hastily. "I grew up surrounded by chaos, by anger that burned everything in its path. My mother- she destroyed everything she touched, and every day, I'm terrified I'll become just like her. I'll bring that same darkness into your life, and I can't do that to you. If I stay, I'll hurt you, Jin-ssi. And I won't survive knowing I caused you pain. You deserve someone who isn't broken, who isn't afraid to love you. I'm not that person."

His heart shattered at her words, the pain almost physical. The weight of her words threatened to crush him, but he refused to let her spiral deeper into her fears. He reached for her hands, holding them gently, his gaze steady and full of emotion.

"Yoon Min, listen to me," he began, "You don't have to be afraid of yourself as long as I am with you. Don't be scared about our future. Because together, we will build something different. Something safe. No loud anger, no slamming doors, no breaking glass. Our home will be gentle and warm. I'll keep you still, and you'll keep me safe. No fear, no hurt, no worry."

His words faltered as emotion swelled in his throat, but he pressed on. "We've both been broken, but we'll create something whole together. We will heal together and we will raise a family that doesn't need to be healed. And when you start to believe those lies about yourself, I'll remind you of the truth. That you're not a burden. That you're my everything, Yoon Min."

Tears spilt down her cheeks, her walls cracking under the weight of his sincerity. For a moment, it felt like the world had paused, the storm between them quieted by his resolve.

But her determination didn't break, and the sadness in her eyes deepened. She spoke quietly, almost to herself. "You're the kind of man who deserves the world, and I'm not strong enough to give it to you."

His throat tightened as if all the air in the room had vanished. He couldn't believe she was saying these things- things that ripped through his heart and left him feeling helpless. "Yoon Min, you don't get to decide what I deserve. You don't get to put this distance between us just because you think you're saving me. I chose you knowing everything- your past, your fears, your insecurities. And I'd choose you again a thousand times."

"Jin-ssi, you're wrong. T-This is all just a fantasy. What if it doesn't work out? What if the worst happens? What if we end up breaking each other even more? I can't take that risk. I can't drag you into that mess with me. You deserve better than this. You deserve a future, not a constant battle."

Her voice wavered, trembling with the weight of her truth. "If I choose to be with you after today, I will constantly fear for us, wondering if I made the right choice. Because soon, people will know about us. And year after year, they'll rant that you deserve better. They'll tear us apart bit by bit with their words. And God forbid, if I ever act like my mother or if I hurt you and embarrass you, you'll regret this day, this moment. You'll regret choosing me over your career, and resent me one day. You'll realize I wasn't worth the sacrifices."

"I could never resent you," he said firmly, his eyes brimming with tears he refused to let fall. "You don't have to fight alone. Let me be there for you, Yoon Min. Please. I need you. And I'm here, always here, ready to carry us through the worst. Please, don't shut me out. We can fight this together."

Her silence stretched, filling the space between them with a heaviness he couldn't bear. She closed her eyes. "I-I'm so sorry, Jin-ssi..."

His breathing quickened as her words clawed at his heart. His grip on her hands tightened, his knuckles turning white. "Stop it, Yoon Min," he growled. His frustration boiled over, as the desperation took hold. "You just don't want to fight for me! You're choosing the easier option, the one where you give up before you even try. You're so damn stubborn, you can't even see the perfect future we could have!"

She didn't answer. Her silence, her tears, spoke louder than any words. His anger evaporated as quickly as it had come, leaving only despair. "Say something, Yoon Min. Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you're not giving up!"

"I-I'm sorry..."

Seokjin gasped, his shoulders began to tremble as the weight of her words sank in. His tears came suddenly, spilling over his cheeks, his face a mixture of anguish and disbelief. It was the first time he had let her see him cry. It seemed like her heart twisted painfully.

"Jin-ssi..." Her voice cracked, trembling under the weight of her sorrow. Her fingers brushed away his tears, though they only kept falling. "P-Please don't cry. Please... I can't bear it. Seeing you like this-it's breaking me..."

She cupped his face, leaning closer as if her touch could soothe the ache in his heart. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted this. I never wanted to hurt you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You've given me more love than I ever thought I deserved. No one has ever loved me the way you do. And when I started spending time with you, I never imagined... you would heal parts of me I thought were shattered forever. You made me feel like I was worth something- like I was worth everything."

Her voice softened to a tender whisper. "Do you know how many times I've prayed to keep you? How many nights I've begged the universe to make me worthy of you? But the truth is... I'm not. I never was. And I can't hold you back from the life you deserve. From the happiness you could have without me."

Her hands combed through his hair. "Thank you, Jin-ssi. For saving me in a million, quiet, perfect ways I didn't even know I needed to be saved. For showing me what it feels like to be loved without condition. For giving me the courage to believe that I could be better, even if it's not enough."

Tears streamed down her cheeks, caught between love and despair. She exhaled shakily, her hands moving to gently cradle his face. "You're going to be okay, I promise. You'll move on. You'll only remember me for like a week. It'll hurt only for a few days. Then one day, you'll meet someone who'll make you forget I was ever here. Someone who'll love you better than I ever could. I need you to promise me that you'll let her in when she comes. Because you deserve that."

She whispered, her forehead brushing against his, "I wish I could stay, I really do. But this is for the best. You may not see it now, but one day you'll look back and realize it was the right choice. You'll be happy again. I know you will."

But he didn't respond, his eyes squeezed shut as if to block out the moment. His sobs grew quieter, but his tears didn't stop. His hands stayed at his sides, his body stiff against her touch. He couldn't bring himself to lean into her comfort, couldn't accept the finality of her words. He hated that he couldn't argue with her logic, hated that she was right, but most of all, he hated that he couldn't let her go. She was slipping away, and he didn't know how to stop her. Every part of him screamed to fight harder, to argue more, but his heart felt heavy, paralyzed by her rationality.

As if the universe wanted to punctuate their heartbreak, the speaker overhead crackled to life. "Passengers of Flight BG102, please proceed to Gate 16 for boarding." The announcement echoed across the terminal.

Seokjin's breath hitched as if the walls around him were closing in. "Yoon Min..." he whispered, his voice trembling and weak. Tears spilt from his eyes, tracing rivers of despair down his cheeks. "Yoon Min, please..."

She took a step back, her hands brushing over her face to wipe away her tears. She adjusted her luggage, her movements slow and deliberate, as if delaying the inevitable. "Goodbye, Jin-ssi," she whispered, the words barely audible. "Please take care of yourself."

She turned and began walking away, her figure retreating into the crowd. His eyes followed her, wide and unblinking. His heart pounded erratically, each beat a plea he couldn't voice.

"Come back. Come back to me," his mind screamed, over and over.

Suddenly, Yoon Min stopped mid-stride. Her body froze as if caught between leaving and staying. Then, to his utter shock, she turned around.

Her expression was devastatingly sad, her lips trembling as fresh tears welled in her eyes. Before he could even process it, she started running toward him, her small frame colliding with his chest. Arms wrapped fiercely around him, she stood on her toes, holding on as if she might break apart if she let go.

Her sobs broke through again, her tears soaking into his shirt. She kissed his hair, then his forehead, and cupped his face with trembling hands. When she looked into his eyes, her attempt at a smile was heartbreakingly fragile.

"I love you...too."

Those four words struck like a thunderclap. Seokjin's heart stopped. She knew. She always knew. Though he had never said those three words to her- not even at this critical moment- she had understood all along.

Tears poured freely down his cheeks, and before he could think, his arms were around her, lifting her off the ground. He buried his face into her shoulder, his sobs muffled against her. His entire body shook with grief, the realization hitting him like a freight train- this was truly the end. No matter how tightly he held her, she wouldn't stay.

Yoon Min pulled back, gently cupping his face. Her thumb brushed against his wet skin as she smiled, bittersweet and beautiful. "Trust your heart, even if the seas catch fire. Live by love, though the stars walk backwards."

The words carried the weight of their connection, a memory that tied them irrevocably together. That quote, the one she had told him when they first met. As if she wanted him to promise to remember that memory forever. He nodded slowly.

She leaned in and pressed her lips to his, the kiss slow, tender, and tragically pure. It was their longest kiss yet, filled with every unspoken word, every lingering touch, every emotion neither of them could say out loud. He kissed her back, savouring the last moment, knowing he would have to carry its memory forever.

When Yoon Min finally pulled away, it was with a sigh. She took a step back, then another, her eyes filled with an ocean of sorrow.

She turned around again and walked away, her figure becoming smaller with every step. Seokjin stood frozen, his tears falling silently, his mind chanting desperately one more time, "Come back. Come back to me....",

But she didn't look back. Not even once. And with every step she took, she carried away pieces of him he knew he'd never get back.

☆THE FAULT IN OUR STARS☆

THANK YOU FOR READING
╚»★«╝

A/N: *hides behind a box of tissues*

Before I give you the excuse that "this is just realistic storytelling", the Epilogue is on the way and hopefully a little better than... whatever this was.

Are you mad? Upset? Are you gathering your forces and riding at dawn to hunt me down? Because I know I deserve it and I apologize for this unexpected ending. 🥲

Please don't leave me yet. The author's note will be out soon and I promise to explain myself there. Thank you for reading till the end. I love you guys❤️

*runs away dodging flying shoes and angry comments*