The Art of Letting Go Seventeen ANGST Series # | 1: Always Yours, Never With You
Genre: Angst, Hurt, Hidden Relationship, Emotional Break-up
🍒 Choi Seungcheol | Scoups x Reader
Summary: Being the secret girlfriend of SEVENTEEN’s leader, Choi Seungcheol, means learning how to love in silence. While the world celebrates him, you sit alone, on your birthday, your anniversary, and every special occasion. Not because he doesn’t love you, but because he’s never around to show it. You’ve held on for years, telling yourself love is worth waiting for. But even the deepest love can begin to break in the face of loneliness. And this time, you’re the one choosing to walk away.
The sound of your fingers tapping against the side of your coffee mug was the only noise in your quiet apartment.
You checked your phone again, even though you knew. No missed calls. No unread texts.
Just a lock screen photo you hadn’t changed in three years, Seungcheol grinning with one arm wrapped tightly around you, hidden away in the safety of your apartment.
Your eyes stung, but you were too used to the ache to cry now. You set the mug down and stared at the small table you had set earlier that evening.
You still cooked. Still wore the black dress he once said you looked “dangerously beautiful” in. You even lit candles.
But like every other special day, you celebrated it alone.
You told yourself it wasn’t his fault. And maybe it wasn’t. He never intended to hurt you. It was always the schedule. The rehearsals. The tours. The group. The comeback.
You weren’t competing with another person.
You were competing with an entire career.
And the most painful out of all?
The soft beep of your door lock jolted you. You quickly wiped under your eyes and stood, heart racing. The door opened slowly, and there he was, Choi Seungcheol, cap low, mask on, eyes tired. But even through exhaustion, he smiled at you the way he always did.
“Happy Anniversary, love,” he said softly.
Your heart cracked. “You remembered.”
He nodded and stepped inside, removing his shoes like he always did. “Barely made it... practice ran over and—”
“You missed it,” you whispered. “Again.”
“I waited for hours, Cheol. Like I always do. I made dinner, lit candles, dressed up, just like last year. Just like the year before that. And every year... I wait.”
“I’m here now,” he said quickly, walking over to you. “I’m sorry, I swear I didn’t mean to—”
“But you did. You always do,” you said, backing away. “You always mean well. But your love comes in promises, not in presence.”
His expression dropped, hands shaking slightly. “Baby… please don’t say it.”
“I love you, Cheol. God, I love you so much it hurts. But that’s all it does lately. It hurts.”
“No,” he breathed, taking your hands in his. “We can work through this. Just a little longer. I’ll make time. I promise.”
“Don’t,” you said, pulling your hands away. “Don’t make promises you know you can’t keep. I deserve someone who can be there, not just in love, but in life. In real, present moments.”
He looked at you like a man losing his world.
“You're still the only home I know,” he whispered.
“And I’ll always be rooting for you,” you replied, voice cracking. “But I can’t keep breaking just to love you.”
You reached for the necklace he gave you, gently unclasped it, and placed it in his palm.
“I was always yours, Cheol... but you were never really with me.”
You turned before he could see you cry, heading to your room, leaving him in the quiet glow of the candles still flickering on the table. The smell of cold dinner filled the room.
He stood there for a long time, necklace clenched in his fist, lips pressed together as tears finally slid down.
Because for the first time,
And you weren’t waiting anymore.
A/N: Wow! I... It really hurts...
