Yuna:
The sound of the elevator closing still echoed in my ears long after Ethan was gone.
For a few seconds, I just stood there—staring at the empty space, as if he might walk back in and say he forgot something. But he didn't.
He never did things like that.
A quiet sigh escaped me.
"…He just leaves like that," I murmured.
"Get used to it," Elena's voice came from behind me.
I turned slowly.
She was leaning casually against the table again, watching me—not with the sharp curiosity from before, but something softer now. Still observant… but less guarded.
"He always leaves like that," she added.
I crossed my arms slightly.
"That doesn't mean I have to like it."
She smiled faintly.
"Fair."
A moment of silence passed between us.
Then—
She pushed herself off the table and walked a little closer.
"So," she said, tilting her head, "why are you here?"
I frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
"In this house," she clarified. "With him."
Her question felt simple.
But the weight behind it wasn't.
I hesitated.
"…Because I want to be."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
She studied me for a moment.
Then asked something that made my chest tighten—
"Do you love him?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth…
Was complicated.
But my lips moved before my thoughts could stop them.
"Yes."
The word came out steady.
Confident.
A lie.
Elena didn't react right away.
She just looked at me.
Long.
Carefully.
Then she let out a small breath.
"…That's hard to believe."
My eyebrows pulled together.
"Why?"
"Because it's Ethan," she said simply.
"That doesn't explain anything."
She stepped closer, her expression turning more serious.
"He doesn't love people."
My heart dropped slightly.
"…You're wrong."
"Am I?" she asked quietly.
I held my ground.
"Yes."
But even as I said it—
Something inside me wavered.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
"He sleeps with women," she continued, her tone calm but blunt. "Women who are beautiful, confident… like you."
My fingers tightened slightly at my sides.
"But love?" she added, shaking her head. "That's not something I've seen him do."
I swallowed.
"That doesn't mean he can't."
She smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
Then she looked at me more closely.
"I thought you were one of them."
The words hit harder than I expected.
"…What?"
"One of the girls," she said casually. "You know… the kind that stays for a few nights, maybe a week."
My chest tightened.
"He doesn't keep anyone longer than that."
I clenched my hands.
"…That's not what this is."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it?"
"No."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"…How long?"
"What?"
"How long have you been back in his life?"
I hesitated.
"…Not long."
She nodded slowly.
"Then you're still in the early phase."
The irritation inside me grew.
"You're wrong."
"Am I?" she repeated again.
"Yes," I said, more firmly this time.
She watched me.
Then—
Her eyes flicked to my hands.
Clenched.
Tense.
"…You're jealous," she said softly.
I looked away immediately.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I said I'm not."
She didn't argue.
But her small smile said everything.
I hated that she could read me so easily.
---
The tension lingered for a moment.
Then suddenly—
She clapped her hands lightly.
"Alright."
I blinked.
"…What?"
"Let's go shopping."
I stared at her.
"…What?"
She grinned.
"You heard me."
"Why?"
"Because I want to."
"That's not a reason."
"It's enough for me."
I shook my head slightly.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
I hesitated.
Part of me wanted to refuse.
But another part—
Didn't want to stay here alone.
Didn't want to keep thinking about everything she just said.
"…Fine," I sighed.
Her smile widened.
"Good."
---
I went upstairs to change.
My mind still restless, my thoughts still tangled.
But I pushed them aside.
For now.
I chose something simple—but still me.
A short red skirt.
A black top.
And black boots.
Something confident.
Something that made me feel… in control.
When I came down—
Elena looked at me.
And smiled.
"Now that's better."
I rolled my eyes slightly.
"Let's just go."
---
Outside, she tossed me the keys.
"You drive," I said immediately.
"No," she replied, taking them back. "I am."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I like driving."
"…That's not convincing."
"Too bad."
I sighed.
And got into the passenger seat.
---
The drive was surprisingly… easy.
No tension.
No heavy silence.
She played music.
Talked casually.
Like we had known each other longer than just a few hours.
By the time we reached the mall—
I realized something.
I wasn't as uncomfortable anymore.
---
Inside, the mall was bright and lively.
A complete contrast to Ethan's quiet, controlled world.
Elena grabbed my hand suddenly.
"Come on."
"Hey—!"
She pulled me into a store.
And immediately started picking out clothes.
"This," she said, handing me a dress.
"And this."
"And this."
I blinked.
"…Do you plan to buy the whole store?"
"Maybe."
She pushed me toward the trial room.
"Try them."
I sighed.
But I did.
---
When I stepped out in one of the dresses—
She looked me up and down.
"…Hmm."
"What?"
She tilted her head.
"Turn."
I did.
She nodded.
"Good."
"That's it?"
"You want more?"
"Yes!"
She smirked.
"You look good. Happy?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Say it properly."
She laughed.
"Fine. You look beautiful."
I smiled slightly.
"Thank you."
---
We went through more outfits.
Laughing.
Talking.
Arguing over styles.
At one point, she tried something on herself.
"How do I look?" she asked, stepping out.
I looked at her.
"…You look amazing."
She grinned.
"I know."
I laughed.
"You're so confident."
"You should be too."
I looked at myself in the mirror.
"…I'm trying."
She stood beside me.
"You don't need to try. You already are."
I blinked slightly.
That… felt genuine.
---
Time passed quickly.
We bought a lot.
More than I expected.
And somewhere along the way—
The tension from before faded.
Replaced by something lighter.
Almost… friendly.
As we walked out of the store, bags in hand—
She looked at me.
"…I didn't expect this."
"Neither did I," I admitted.
She smiled.
"…You're different."
"From what?"
"From the girls he usually has around."
I didn't know how to respond to that.
So I stayed quiet.
But this time—
I didn't feel insecure.
Not as much.
Because for the first time—
I felt like maybe…
I wasn't just another girl in his life.