Unrequited Heart

On the balcony of the hotel Echelon Grand sat a man in his twenties lost in deep thoughts. He finished the alcoholic drink in the glass and crushed it not giving a damn about his bleeding hands. 

From the balcony of the Echelon Grand Hotel, one could see the entire city, with its bright lights standing out against the night's darkness. Alone, Woo Hyun stood his intense displeasure unabated, even though the chilly air did not help. His normally calm exterior shattered, letting the tension and rage seep through.

The heir to the large conglomerate Echelon Group, which has holdings in the hotel and pharmaceutical industries, Woo Hyun, had a reputation for having a cold, manipulative manner. His penetrating gaze and pointed features were accentuated by an almost continual attitude of remoteness. But tonight, his typically strong command was faltering. A deceitful act had caused the high-stakes project he had been working on for months to collapse, and the defeat was a serious blow to his company as well as his self-image.The deal he had wanted was not closed, all because of a traitor who had exchanged some secret information for some mere bunch of notes and he being responsible for the deal had to bear the blow. He was hellbent on finding the person and make him pay for it. He was standing there lost in thoughts when he noticed a woman in her early twenties arrive there on the balcony. Not sparing her another glance he went back to taking a puff and look at the view.

Si Yoon, was in her early twenties and was majoring in arts and dance at K University and had just finished her dance at the hotel's event space. She stepped onto the balcony for some fresh air and peace before she left the place. As she walked, she could fathom the smell of cigarettes and crunched her nose slightly while looking at the silhoutte of a man who was busy smoking.

However, her eyes widened to see the man's hand bleeding and she cautiously approached him out of concern as she was unable to ignore the sight of his injuries

"Are you okay?" she asked gently, her voice breaking through the silence.

Woo Hyun's eyes hardened with irritation. "What do you want?" he snapped, his voice as cold as the night air.

Si Yoon's eyes flicked to his hands. "You're hurt. "

Woo Hyun's face was a mask of indifference, though the frustration in his eyes betrayed his emotions. "I don't need your help," he said sharply, his tone dismissive. ''Or did you purposely come here to grab my attention.''

Si Yoon's eyes subtly widened and she felt like she was losing her cool. "I just wanted to help." she said, trying to keep her voice calm despite her irritation.

Woo Hyun scoffed, turning his back slightly, his demeanor unyielding. "I don't need your pity. Just leave me alone."

Si Yoon, having had enough of his rudeness, took a deep breath to calm herself. With cautious steps, she set down the first aid package on an adjacent table. Her voice was assertive yet weary as she replied, "If you change your mind, the kit is here." Her footsteps left a faint echo on the hardened stone floor as she walked away to leave the man on his own.

As Si Yoon left, Woo Hyun's gaze lingered on the first aid kit. For a brief moment, he thought about following her, but his arrogance and frustration prevented him. Instead, he chose to take another drag from his cigar, attempting to block off any ideas of her genuine worry. 

Despite his angry refusal, her brief display of compassion left him both irritated and confused. He returned his gaze to the city lighting, the weight of his failed transaction and the new agony in his hands serving as stark warnings of his volatile feelings.

Alone on the balcony, Woo Hyun battled to reconcile his feelings of betrayal, frustration, and the peculiar, brief warmth that came from Si Yoon's concern. The icy aura he had cultivated as a wall felt simultaneously shielding and alienating, forcing him to confront his struggle alone.