The night stretched on, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved conflicts. Jihyo leaned against the wall, her phone pressed to her ear, her mother’s voice blending into a chaotic mix of concern and frustration. Meanwhile, Sujae stood a few paces away, his brow furrowed, caught between wanting to support Jihyo and the undeniable presence of Minji in their small living room.

“Jihyo, you can’t just ignore what happened. You need to think about your future!” her mother insisted.

Jihyo clenched her jaw, trying to suppress the rising tide of irritation. “Mom, I am thinking about my future. I chose Sujae. We’re married now.”

“Married? You think that changes anything? You’re still my daughter, and I can’t just stand by and watch you make a mistake.”

At that moment, Minji’s laughter rang out, bright and carefree, a stark contrast to the heaviness of Jihyo’s conversation. It was as if she were mocking the very foundations of Jihyo’s life, and Jihyo felt a flash of anger surge through her.

“Mom, I have to go,” she said, cutting off her mother mid-sentence. “We’ll talk later.”

She hung up, her heart racing, and turned to see Sujae looking at her with concern. “What did she say?” he asked quietly.

“She’s not happy,” Jihyo replied, her voice strained. “She thinks I’m making a mistake.”

“Jihyo, I—”

“Let’s not talk about this right now,” she interrupted, her emotions bubbling just beneath the surface. “You know how she gets. She’ll come around.”

But Sujae’s expression was serious. “I just don’t want you to feel trapped between us. You deserve to be happy.”

Before Jihyo could respond, Minji interjected, holding up her keychain with a playful smile. “Why don’t we just celebrate? You two are newlyweds! I mean, what’s a little fun with a friend?”

Jihyo felt her heart sink at the suggestion. “Minji, I think—”

“Let’s play a game!” Minji cut her off again, her enthusiasm unyielding. “A little game to break the ice. It’ll be fun, trust me!”

Jihyo exchanged a glance with Sujae, who seemed to hesitate, caught between his loyalty to Jihyo and the friendly bond he once shared with Minji. “Okay, what kind of game?” Sujae asked, his tone cautious.

“Truth or dare!” Minji announced, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “It’s perfect for breaking the tension!”

Jihyo’s heart raced. The last thing she wanted was to dive into a game that could unravel their already fragile relationship. But with Sujae’s encouraging nod, she felt pushed into a corner.

“Fine,” Jihyo relented, her voice steady but her heart pounding. “But let’s keep it light.”

As they settled in a circle on the floor, laughter and playful banter filled the room, but Jihyo could feel the weight of her insecurities creeping back in. Minji’s competitive spirit quickly turned the game into something more revealing than she had anticipated.

“Alright, Sujae, truth or dare?” Minji asked, her eyes glinting with a challenge.

“Truth,” Sujae replied, glancing at Jihyo before meeting Minji’s gaze.

“What’s one thing you wish Jihyo knew about you?” Minji asked, her tone deceptively innocent.

Jihyo felt her stomach knot. She held her breath, anticipating Sujae’s response.

Sujae hesitated for a moment and then said, “That I sometimes feel like I’m not enough for her.”

The room fell silent. Jihyo's heart dropped, the words echoing painfully in her chest. Minji’s expression shifted, a glimmer of triumph in her eyes. “Oh! That’s deep. Your turn, Jihyo! Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” Jihyo answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“What’s one thing you’re afraid of in your marriage?” Minji’s question hung in the air, its weight suffocating.

Jihyo’s mind raced. She glanced at Sujae, who was watching her intently, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. “I’m afraid of losing you,” she finally admitted, her voice trembling.

The atmosphere thickened, and Minji’s playful demeanor faltered for a moment. “That’s… sweet,” she said, but Jihyo could see the flicker of something else in her eyes.

“Okay, enough of the heavy stuff!” Minji declared, trying to steer the energy back to lightheartedness. “Let’s get back to the fun! Sujae, dare!”

As Sujae took on Minji’s challenge, Jihyo felt a twinge of discomfort. The playful banter continued, but the earlier warmth of the evening had been replaced by an undercurrent of tension that neither she nor Sujae could ignore.

Finally, as the game progressed, Jihyo’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, a message from her mother lighting up the screen. She glanced at it, and her heart sank. “We need to talk now. It’s about Sujae.”

Jihyo’s mind raced, a knot forming in her stomach. She looked at Sujae, who was laughing at Minji’s latest dare, and she knew that their fragile peace was about to be shattered.

“Excuse me for a second,” she said, getting up to step outside. The cool night air hit her like a wave, and she took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.

As she stood there, staring at the stars, she felt a sense of foreboding wash over her. This was only the beginning of their journey, and already, the shadows of doubt and jealousy were creeping in. Would their love be strong enough to withstand the challenges ahead, or would the cracks continue to deepen?

With a heavy heart, she glanced back toward the apartment, knowing that the path ahead would require more than just love; it would demand trust, courage, and a willingness to confront the shadows lurking in their new life.