"A Glimpse of Hope"

Esther woke up early, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. She had been thinking about Jaekyung nonstop since the previous evening, and she had made up her mind to take a chance. As she went about her morning routine, she started to prepare lunch for Jaekyung's training session. She made his favorite dish, a hearty chicken and rice bowl, and carefully packed it into a container. As she was finishing up, Esther had an idea. She rummaged through her stationery drawer and found a small, pink sticker with a heart on it. She scribbled a quick message on it: "With love, Esther". Her heart was racing as she placed the sticker on the inside of the lunch box, making sure it was secure and wouldn't fall out. Jaekyung was already dressed and ready to go by the time Esther handed him his lunch box. "Thanks," he grumbled, not even looking at her. Esther smiled to herself as she watched him head out the door. She couldn't wait to see his reaction when he opened the lunch box. The hours ticked by, and Esther was busy with her own tasks. She was in the living room, lost in thought, when she heard the sound of Jaekyung's phone ringing. It was one of his training mates, and Esther could hear the conversation clearly. "Hey, Jaekyung, what's this I see in your lunch box?" the voice on the phone said, chuckling. Esther's heart skipped a beat as she heard Jaekyung's friends start to snicker and make comments in the background. "Oooouuuu, Jaekyung, who is this Esther?" one of them teased. Jaekyung's voice was low and even, but Esther could sense the tension beneath the surface. "Just a friend," he said gruffly. But his friends were relentless. "A friend, huh? With a love sticker and a heart?" one of them jeered. "Tell us, Jaekyung, are you getting soft in your old age?" Esther held her breath as Jaekyung's voice changed, becoming tight and controlled. "I'm married," he said abruptly. "I'm happy, and I'm not interested in talking about it." The conversation on the phone ended soon after, with Jaekyung's friends still teasing him good-naturedly. Esther could sense the unease beneath Jaekyung's calm exterior, and she wondered what would happen if his father found out about his relationship. As the door opened and Jaekyung strode in, Esther could see the anger simmering beneath his surface. His eyes flashed with fury, and his jaw was clenched. Esther felt a shiver run down her spine as he locked eyes with her, his gaze piercing. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Esther knew that she had taken a risk, and now she was waiting to see the consequences. Would Jaekyung be angry with her, or would he somehow manage to keep his emotions in check? Only time would tell.