As Hana's retreating footsteps disappeared into the shadows, a profound stillness settled over them. The night air, once cool and crisp, now felt cold and heavy, pressing down on Disha and Hoseok as they held onto each other like lifelines. His heartbeat against her cheek, once so steady and reassuring, now felt distant—like the last reminder that they were still here, but something had shifted irreparably.

Disha slowly pulled away, her eyes searching his face. She was bruised and dirty, her skin marred by the battle they'd barely survived. But Hoseok's gaze was different this time—filled with an indescribable sadness, as if he were seeing her for the last time. The fire in her eyes that he always admired had dimmed, replaced by something far more fragile.

"Are you really okay?" Hoseok's voice broke the silence, but it was softer, almost defeated. His thumb traced the bruise on her cheek with such tenderness, but it did nothing to soothe the ache between them.

Disha tried to summon a laugh, to break the heaviness with her usual sarcastic retort, but the words wouldn't come. She was tired. So tired. "I've survived worse... haven't I?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Hoseok's lips twitched, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "You always act like you can handle anything," he whispered. "But... I don't know if even you can handle this."

The weight of his words settled heavily in her chest, and for once, Disha couldn't hide behind her usual bravado. She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked away, blinking back tears that threatened to spill. "I'm not indestructible, Hoseok," she admitted, her voice cracking. "And this time... I don't know if I can survive."

Hoseok's breath hitched. He cupped her face, tilting her chin up so their eyes met, but his touch couldn't stop the tears from falling. "I don't want you to just survive, Disha," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I wanted you to be happy. I wanted to be the reason for that happiness."

A tear slipped down Disha's cheek, but it wasn't from the pain in her body. It was from the realization that despite everything—despite the battles they'd fought and the love they'd finally found—there were some things even love couldn't fix.

"Hoseok..." Her voice was trembling now, and she hated it. She hated how small and helpless she felt. "What are you saying?"

His forehead rested against hers, his breath shaky as if he were trying to hold back his own tears. "I'm saying that I love you. And I'm saying goodbye."

Her heart shattered. "No... no, you can't—" She grabbed onto him as if holding on tighter would stop him from slipping away, but even as she clung to him, she felt him pulling back. There was a resignation in his eyes that she couldn't fight, no matter how much she wanted to.

"I don't want to say goodbye," she whispered, her voice breaking as the tears fell freely now. "Please... please don't leave me."

Hoseok's arms tightened around her for what felt like the last time, his lips brushing her forehead in a kiss that was both a promise and a farewell. "I wish I didn't have to," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "But this is the only way. You have to survive this, Disha. Even if I can't."

The words hung in the air between them, final and irreversible. Disha felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath her, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe.

Before she could protest, before she could beg him to stay, Hoseok placed the pendant in her hand—the artifact that had the power to end it all. His fingers lingered over hers, a silent goodbye.

"You were always stronger than me," he said, his voice a fragile whisper. "You were always meant to survive this."

Disha's tears blurred her vision as she stared down at the pendant, its faint glow a cruel reminder of the weight she now carried alone. "I can't do this without you," she choked, her grip tightening around his hand.

But Hoseok was already slipping away, his form fading into the shadows like a memory she couldn't hold onto. "You have to," he whispered, his voice growing distant. "For both of us."

And then he was gone.

The alley was empty, the silence deafening in its finality. Disha stood there, clutching the pendant to her chest, her body shaking with the sobs she could no longer hold back. The air around her felt hollow, devoid of the warmth and strength Hoseok had always provided.

She was alone now.

The victory they'd fought so hard for felt meaningless without him. And as Disha sank to her knees, the pendant glowing softly in her trembling hands, she realized that survival didn't feel like triumph.

It felt like loss.

Author's Note

Dear Readers,

Thank you for joining me on this emotional journey with Disha and Hoseok. 

Writing this story has been an incredibly personal and bittersweet experience. The theme of love, loss, and sacrifice is something we all face in different forms, and through Disha and Hoseok's story, I wanted to explore how deeply love can shape us, even when it comes with heartache.

There's a rawness to their bond—a connection forged in chaos, strengthened by their will to survive, and ultimately tested by the reality that not every love story has a perfect ending. But even in the face of loss, love remains a powerful force. It can push us to keep going, even when the path ahead seems impossible.

This story is a reminder that sometimes, love means letting go. It's about the strength to move forward when the ones we care about the most are no longer by our side, and the realization that even in their absence, they leave an indelible mark on our hearts.

I hope Disha and Hoseok's journey resonated with you, and I hope you felt the emotional weight of their choices as deeply as I did while writing them. 

Thank you for your support and for allowing me to share this story with you.