Ember stood tall…at least, she tried to.
Her shoulders stayed straight.Her chin stayed lifted.
But her eyes betrayed her.
They shimmered.Her lips trembled.And then—
💧 A tear slipped down her cheek.
Not loud.Not dramatic.Just quiet, broken tears…the kind that fall when someone has tried too hard for too long.
The salon froze.
Scissors stopped ✂️Hair dryers went silent.Even breathing felt too loud.
Maya whispered, stunned,"…she's crying…"
Candy hid behind Maya's arm like a scared kitten.Mochi clutched her sweater tightly, heart spinning between confusion and pain 💓💥
Elpy stepped closer and gently touched Ember's arm.
"Ember… it's okay—"
Ember shook her head.
"No.It's not okay."
Her voice cracked.
"I tried everything.I tried to keep him.I tried to give him everything."
Another tear fell.
"And still…he ran."
💔
Mochi didn't know what to feel.
Pity?Fear?Jealousy?
And then—
🔔 Ding—dong.
The salon door opened.
Everyone turned.
Laddu walked in.
Hair half-wet 💦A towel around his neckBreathing hard like he'd run a marathon he didn't sign up for 🏃♂️💨
His eyes landed on Ember.
Crying.Right there.In the middle of the salon.
He sighed deeply.
Then said—
"Hello… King Kong."
💥💥💥
The salon exploded.
Maya: "HE DID NOT JUST—"Candy: "OPPA WHY?!" 😭Mochi: "L-LADDU!!"Stylists: collective gasp
But Ember slowly lifted her head.
Tears still clinging to her lashes.
Her voice was calm.Too calm.
"…Are you single?"
💣
Silence crashed down like thunder.
Mochi's breath stopped.Her fingers curled tight.Her heart slammed against her ribs 💔💓
Laddu looked at Ember.
Then—he looked at Mochi.
Not teasing.Not joking.
Begging.
Say it.Stop me.Claim me.
Mochi opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Fear won.
Silence stayed.
Laddu's eyes dimmed… just a little.
He looked back at Ember.
"…Yes.I am."
💔
Ember stepped forward instantly and hugged him tight.
Her arms wrapped around him.
But Laddu—
Did not hug back.
Not even a little.
His arms stayed frozen at his sides, like a tree being attacked by a panda 🐼🌳
Ember whispered, shaking,
"This time…I won't make mistakes.This time… I will respect you."
Everyone watched.
Candy stared at Mochi.Maya stared at Mochi.Even the mirrors seemed to stare at Mochi.
Because her world…
just broke.
Her chest ached.Her throat burned.Her hands trembled.
She watched Ember holding him.
She watched him not holding back.
And still…
She said nothing.
Laddu looked at her one last time.
Pain.Question.Why didn't you stop me?
Mochi looked down.
Too shy.Too scared.Too late.
🚪 Ember Takes Him Away
Ember wiped her tears and grabbed Laddu's hand.
Not gently.Firmly.
Like someone claiming what they believe is theirs.
Maya whispered,"Oh hell no…"
Candy begged,"Unnie… say something…"
Mochi wanted to move.Wanted to shout.Wanted to grab him.
But fear pinned her in place.
Ember pulled Laddu toward the door.
He didn't resist.Didn't pull away.
Only looked back once.
At Mochi.
Waiting.
Mochi opened her mouth—
Nothing.
🔔 Ding—dong.
The door shut.
He was gone.
🖤 Mochi Breaks
Mochi walked home like a ghost.
No words.No tears.Just emptiness.
The moment she reached her room—
CLICK 🔒
She locked the door.
Candy knocked desperately.
"Unnie! Please! Talk to me!"
No answer.
Mochi slid to the floor, hugging her knees, and finally—
She cried.
Silent.Shaking.The kind of cry where you blame yourself.
"I should have spoken…""I should have stopped him…""I should have been brave…"
💧💧💧
Candy ran to their parents and Maya, explaining everything in broken breaths.
Mother covered her mouth.Father's jaw tightened.Maya clenched her fists.
"He betrayed her!" Maya snapped.
Candy nodded."Oppa is BAD! Very bad!"
Mother shook her head slowly.
"You don't understand."
Father added quietly,"He waited. He looked at her."
Candy blinked."…Waited?"
Mother nodded.
"When Ember asked if he was single…he wanted Mochi to answer first."
Maya frowned."So it's Mochi's fault?!"
"No," Mother said gently."She's shy. She's scared. She loves him."
Then she sighed.
"But if you stay silent when it matters…someone else will speak for you."
Candy's voice trembled.
"So… what do we do…?"
Mother placed her hand on Mochi's door.
"Tomorrow, we remind her—he did wrong."
She paused.
"But we also teach her something important."
🌅 Next Morning — Intervention
Mochi sat at the table.
Eyes swollen.Hair messy.Breakfast untouched.
Candy held her hand 🤝Maya placed tissues nearbyFather spoke firmly.
"He was wrong."
Maya nodded."Very wrong."
Candy hugged her."We're on your side, unnie."
Mochi whispered,
"…Then why does it feel like my fault…?"
Mother entered with tea 🍵 and placed it gently in front of her.
"It's not your fault."
Then softly—
"But when he waited for you…and you stayed silent…that is something you must learn from."
Mochi nodded, tears returning.
"…I don't know what to do…"
Mother kissed her forehead.
"You decide.Fight… or let go."
Mochi stared at her untouched food.
Because right now—
She wasn't just losing a boy.
She was losing her courage 💔💭