Johnny sat in his car outside the house, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.
The morning sun filtered through the windshield, but he barely noticed.
His mind was a mess, bouncing between fear, regret, and the crushing weight of what he was about to do.
He had left without telling Minseo anything. He couldn't bear to face her, knowing that he was about to shatter her heart.
His stomach churned at the thought, but he told himself it was for her sake. For her career. For her future.
Again. It's was the same time as before but this time was another person threatening them. He wanted to fight but her happiness was more important to him.
As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, his phone buzzed.
Unknown number
Don't even think about faking it.
She's laughing with her friends—don't play games with me.
You know what you have to do
Johnny felt sick. His chest tightened, and he leaned back in his seat, staring at the message. Whoever this person was, they were watching. They knew everything.
He closed his eyes, letting out a shaky breath. He had to do it. There was no way out.
☀️ ♥️
Can we meet tonight?
At the park?
Sure. Is everything okay?
Yeah. Just need to talk.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Johnny couldn't focus, couldn't eat.
Every moment felt like an eternity. He stayed away from the house, avoiding Minseo entirely. He didn't want to see her smiling face, knowing it would only make it harder.
The park was quiet, the usual crowds replaced by the soft chirping of crickets. Minseo arrived first, sitting on a bench beneath the light of a streetlamp.
When Johnny walked up, her face lit up with a smile, but it quickly faded when she noticed his expression.
"You look terrible," she said, standing up. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Johnny avoided her gaze, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I... I need to talk to you."
"Okay," she said, her concern growing. "What's going on?"
He hesitated, his throat dry. The words felt like poison on his tongue, but he forced them out. "I don't think I'm ready for a serious relationship."
Minseo blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"I just... I need time. Space," he continued, his voice wavering. "This isn't working for me right now."
Her confusion turned to hurt, her voice trembling. "You're not ready for a serious relationship? Johnny, you asked me to move in with you. You told me you loved me more than anything! What changed?"
He couldn't answer her. He wanted to tell her the truth, to explain everything, but fear held him back.
"Minseo, I'm sorry," he said instead. "I just... I can't do this."
Her tears came suddenly, spilling down her cheeks as she stared at him. "Why? What happened? What did I do wrong?"
"You didn't do anything wrong," he said quickly, reaching out to touch her arm. "It's me. I'm—"
She slapped his hand away, her voice sharp and filled with pain. "Don't. Don't touch me."
"Storm —"
"I'll never forgive you for this," she said, her voice breaking. She turned and walked away, her footsteps quick and unsteady.
Johnny didn't follow her closely, keeping his distance as she walked through the streets.
He couldn't let her out of his sight—not with that unknown person watching. His heart ached with every sob he heard, every time she wiped her face with the sleeve of her hoodie.
When she finally reached her building, he waited until she was inside before he drove off.
This killed him but he was more worried about her safety
Minseo stumbled through the door of the Yumni dorm, her face red and streaked with tears.
Yuka was the first to see her. "Hey! What's wrong?"
Minseo collapsed into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Yuka held her tightly, stroking her back as Yunhee rushed in.
"What happened?" Yunhee asked, panic in her voice.
"I... I don't know," Yuka said, shaking her head. "She just walked in like this."
Minutes later, Misuk and Nari arrived, their faces filled with worry. Together, they led Minseo to the couch, where she clung to them, crying into their shoulders.
"He broke up with me," she choked out between sobs. "He said he wasn't ready for a serious relationship."
"What?" Yunhee exclaimed, her voice sharp. "Are you kidding me? After everything he said to you?"
Yuka's face darkened with anger. "Where is he? I swear, if I see him—"
"No," Minseo interrupted, her voice small. "Don't... don't do anything. Please."
They fell silent, focusing on comforting her instead. Misuk wiped her tears away, while Yunhee fetched a glass of water.
Eventually, Minseo cried herself to sleep, her head resting on Yuka's lap. The girls exchanged worried looks, their hearts heavy for their friend.
Meanwhile, at the NCT dorm, Johnny sat alone in his room, staring at his phone. He was staring at their photos, all of them trying to stop crying.
The weight of what he'd done pressed down on him, suffocating and unbearable.
"I'm sorry," he whispered to the empty room, though he knew it would never be enough.
YOU ARE READING
One more || Johnny
RomanceMinseo, a talented idol with a fierce passion for dance, faces the pressures of fame, heartbreak, and her group's uncertain future. After a scandal forced Johnny, the man she loved, to break her heart, their paths cross again, reigniting unresolved...
