Leah stood at the entrance of the hotel, her fingers tightening around the envelope in her hand.
Her half salary.
That was all she had left.
Her eyes lingered on the building for a moment, her chest heavy with emotions she couldn't even explain. Just yesterday, this place had meant everything to her. It was her hope… her only chance.
And now?
Gone.
All because she followed Daniel to that stupid welcome party.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
Look at me now… jobless.
The worst part wasn't even losing the job. It was what came with it. If she had just endured—just one year—she could have applied for help. The company even had a school. She had heard that even VXN studied there.
She had dreams.
Now, everything felt shattered.
Her grip on the envelope tightened.
I wish I lost my job for meeting Taejun… maybe I wouldn't have lost my virginity too, she thought, her lips trembling slightly. Such a stupid fate.
Exhaling slowly, she turned away from the hotel and walked down the street. After a few minutes, she stopped at a nearby store, bought herself a phone and some nice clothes—things she probably shouldn't be spending on right now—but she didn't care.
Maybe she just wanted to feel okay… even if it was temporary.
Stepping back onto the road, where she could get a taxi home
Taejun's POV
The city lights passed by in a blur as the car moved.
I leaned back in my seat, my mind far from the present.
I had just left a modeling audition, but I couldn't even remember how it went.
Because she was still in my head.
Leah.
Her face.
Her eyes.
The way she looked at me that night…
I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.
Forget it.
My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey Taejun," Mia's voice came through. "Please can you tell your driver to turn back and pick me up? My car has an issue, and I don't want my fans to see me."
"Okay," I replied shortly.
We turned back and picked her up. She got into the car, and we continued driving.
Everything was normal.
Until—
I saw her.
Leah.
Standing by the roadside, her hand raised slightly, trying to get a taxi.
"Wait," I said suddenly.
The driver slowed down immediately.
"Taejun, what are you doing?" Mia asked, confused. "You can't just pick a total stranger into your car."
"She's not a stranger," I replied without thinking, my eyes fixed on her.
The car moved closer.
And stopped.
I rolled down the window.
She turned.
Our eyes met.
"Get in," I said.
For a second, she just stared at me.
Then suddenly—
She laughed.
Out loud.
"Sorry… are you talking to me?" she asked, looking around.
A small frown formed on my face.
"You're obstructing my view," I said calmly. "As you can see, I'm trying to get a taxi home."
"Get in," I repeated.
Instead—
She rolled her eyes.
Then she walked past the car, crossed to the other side of the road, stopped a taxi…
And got in.
Just like that.
She left.
I sat there, staring at the empty space she had just been.
Shocked.
Beside me, Mia shifted slightly, about to speak.
I turned and glared at her.
She immediately went quiet.
But my mind wasn't on her.
It was on the girl who just walked away from me like I was nothing.
And for some reason…
That didn't sit well with me at all.
Leah's POV
My heart almost ripped out of my chest.
But I didn't give a damn.
He called me a slut… so what exactly did he want to discuss with a slut?
I hissed softly, turning my face away as my thoughts kept running wild.
Then my mind went back to the lady sitting beside him.
Who is she?
Are they dating?
I frowned slightly.
But wait… I thought I didn't care?
What is wrong with me?
"Ma, we are here," the driver's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I blinked and looked around.
"Oh… here's your money," I said, handing it to him.
He looked at me carefully. "Are you okay?"
"Yes… sure," I replied quickly.
He hesitated. "It's just that… I saw tears in your eyes."
My hand moved to my face immediately.
Tears?
"Oh… I'm fine. Thank you," I said, forcing a small smile before stepping out.
The moment the taxi drove off—
I started laughing.
Loudly.
Like a mad woman.
"Me? Cry? Because of Taejun?" I said between laughs. "Or because he's with another woman?"
My laughter didn't stop…
Even as tears kept falling down my face.
"Leah!"
I heard Sarah's voice from a distance.
She was running toward me at full speed.
"Leah!"
I turned as Sarah rushed toward me, slightly out of breath.
"Leah, Daniel has been waiting for you since," she said quickly. "While I was waiting, I saw him at your place."
I frowned immediately.
"Daniel?" I repeated.
"Yes. He said he's waiting for you. He'll be here soon—"
"Leah
I didn't need to turn to know it was him.
But I did anyway.
And there he was.
Daniel stood a few steps away, his eyes fixed on me. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his gaze… something serious.
For a moment, none of us spoke.
Sarah looked between us, sensing the tension, then quietly stepped back.
Daniel took a step closer.
"Leah," he called again, his voice calmer this time, but still firm.
I stared at him, my emotions still a mess from everything that had happened.
"What do you want?" I asked, my tone flat.
He stopped in front of me, studying my face carefully.
"I've been waiting for you," he said.
I let out a small, dry laugh.
"I didn't ask you to."
Sarah glanced between us again, clearly unsure whether to stay or leave.
Daniel ignored my response.
"We need to talk," he said.
I shook my head immediately. "There's nothing to talk about."
"There is," he insisted.
My chest tightened.
"About what?" I snapped. "About how I followed you to that stupid party and ended up be humiliated Or about how I lost my job because of it?"
Daniel's jaw tightened slightly.
"Leah, that's not what—"
"Then what is it?" I cut him off, my voice rising.
Silence fell for a second.
Sarah shifted awkwardly beside us.
Daniel exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"I didn't know things would turn out like this," he said quietly.
I let out a bitter laugh.
"Of course you didn't."
He looked at me again, his eyes softening just a little.
"That's why I came," he added. "To make things right."
I scoffed.
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Before he could answer—
My mind flashed back.
Taejun.
His face.
His voice.
Get in.
And then—
The girl beside him.
My expression hardened immediately.
I looked away.
"I don't need your help," I said.
Daniel stepped closer. "Leah—"
"I said I don't need it."
My voice was firm this time.
He stopped.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring at me like he didn't recognize the person in front of him.
But I didn't care.
Not anymore.