At the playground the same one where Yoon Seojin and the others had first seen Kim Kwangwoon and Hai-an clinging to each other they met again.
The swings creaked softly in the night breeze.
Hai-an froze the moment she saw his face.
"O-Oppa…" Her voice trembled. "What happened to you?"
Kwangwoon didn't answer.
He didn't even look at her properly.
"Why did you call me here?" he asked instead.
Hai-an swallowed.
He clearly had no intention of explaining, so she forced herself to speak.
She told him everything about what happen earlier.
When she finished, Kwangwoon looked down.
"…So Rina's friends know too," he murmured. "Both Hyorim and Jinkyung."
"Yeah…"
He let out a short, bitter laugh then immediately winced, the cut on his lip stinging.
"HAHA… Guess the whole world knows now. Fucking pathetic."
He clicked his tongue. "Ouch."
Hai-an stepped closer, voice shaking. "Oppa… what's going to happen now?"
Kwangwoon touched his bruised face carefully."…What do you mean?"
He asked quietly. "Between you and me?"
She didn't answer.
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "What's the right way to handle this?"
he muttered. "Am I insane? Did I really not see this coming…?"
"You know that idiot Irina was totally in love with you, right? And she didn't even know you were cheating on her."
Kwangwoon pressed his palm to his forehead, visibly troubled. "…Nah. It was only a matter of time."
Hai-an stepped forward and clung to his arm, fear creeping into her voice. "Oppa…"
He glanced down at her hand then gently but firmly pulled away and stood up.
"…Last time, Hai-an,"
he said, turning his back to her, "you said this, didn't you?"
"That you were more afraid of hurting Rina than of people hating you."
Hai-an's eyes widened.
"…!! T–That-"
"…Now that Rina and I are over," he continued, voice steady but strained, "I don't think we should keep seeing each other either."
His fist clenched at his side.
"…Let's stop contacting each other. I can't hurt her more than I already have."
Hai-an stared at his back as he walked away not once looking back.
She took a step forward, trying to speak.
But no words came out.
Her hands clenched tightly against her chest as tears streamed down her face, silent and uncontrollable.
Meanwhile, Seojin walked beside Seol Hyorim, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.
He kept chuckling every few seconds, clearly amused by something.
It didn't take long before it got on her nerves.
"Tch." Seol Hyorim let go of his hand and picked up her pace, huffing as she walked ahead.
Seojin laughed quietly and easily caught up to her.
He reached out, grabbed her hand, and gently pulled her back toward him.
"Hey." His tone shifted, suddenly serious. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
She froze.
When she looked up, his eyes were no longer playful only filled with concern.
Seol Hyorim quickly looked away and pouted instead.
Seojin lifted his hand and brushed his thumb softly over her cheek, which was still faintly red.
"…You told me not to get into fights," he said quietly. "You said you hate seeing me beat someone up that you don't want me to be like your brother."
He wrapped his arms around her, resting his head against her shoulder.
"But you shouldn't get into fights either," he murmured. "I hate seeing you get hurt."
Seol Hyorim smiled and let out a small sigh, her arms sliding around him in return.
"…Okay," she said softly.
"But-"
She suddenly pinched his waist.
"Ow!" Seojin flinched and pulled back, brows knitting in pain as he rubbed the spot.
"You beat that guy, didn't you?" she accused. "You think I wouldn't notice? Your knuckles had blood on them when you were stopping me earlier."
Seojin laughed awkwardly, scratching his waist."You fought someone too, so we're even. Hehe."
She shot him a sharp glare and raised her hand threateningly.
Seojin only smiled, catching her hand before it could land and intertwining his fingers with hers instead.
He smiled and squeeze it a little.
She huffed but didn't pull away.
Hand in hand, they continued walking, their steps falling into the same rhythm.
-
Kwangwoon lay on his bed, staring at the letter in his hands.
To my sweet honey hihi >.<
It's your pretty girlfriend, Rina!
I've written lots of letters for you, my honey, but every time I write one I still get butterflies T.T
This time, for your birthday, I'm challenging myself to write ten letters LOL.
I'm sacrificing my education and class time for this, so you better be deeply moved, okay? -o-
Kwangwoon let out a quiet chuckle and kept reading.
Do you remember when you got my number at the jjimjilbang?
I had a roasted egg in my mouth and couldn't even reply properly LOL.
I wish I had done my makeup and looked prettier that day…
"…Of course I remember," he murmured.
He could still picture it clearly her cheeks puffed out, stuffing her face nonstop, eyes wide and embarrassed.
You were cute, Too cute.
We don't fight like other couples and we get along really well.
I guess that means we're super compatible ><
Even when I get fussy and messy, you always put up with me, right?
Kwangwoon's smile faded.
He stared at the words without blinking.
A memory surfaced.
He was standing near the entrance of Sangji High, students streaming past with backpacks slung over their shoulders.
His eyes kept drifting toward the gate.
Is Rina still not out yet…?
"Kwangwoon oppa…?"
He turned, startled.
"Oh I-Ian."
Hai-an stood there, surprised but smiling faintly.
"What are you doing in front of our school?"
"Ah… well…" He hesitated. "My girlfriend…"
"Aha," she said softly. "Waiting for your girlfriend, huh?"
"…Yeah."
There was a pause.
"It's been a while," Hai-an said. "I'm really happy to see you again."
"Yeah. Same here," he laughed awkwardly. "Haha…"
She tilted her head."So you ghosted me after you got a girlfriend, huh? That kind of hurts."
His body stiffened.
"No it's not like that," he said quickly.
It is, honestly...
"I saw the message too late," he continued, forcing a smile, "and then it felt weird replying, so I just didn't… hehe."
Hai-an flushed slightly. "Really? Then… can I still text you sometimes?"
"Huh?"
She leaned closer. "Don't worry. Just as a friendly little sister. Just to keep in touch."
If I hadn't run into her that day,
he thought bitterly, would nothing have happened?
No.
That was just an excuse.
I could've ignored her messages.
I didn't have to meet her.
I had plenty of chances to fix it.
I just didn't want to lose anyone.
I wanted to have both.
His eyes dropped back to the letter.
Now it's only your first birthday with me,
but I want to spend your second and third too
and many more after that!I'll try to be just as good to you as you are to me.
ILY From your honey. ♡♡♡♡♡
Kwangwoon pressed the letter to his face.
A dark, wet stain immediately spread across the paper.
"Kuh huk…"
His shoulders began to shake.
Tears soaked into the letter, sliding down his cheeks, collecting at his ears as he sobbed uncontrollably.
"Heuuugh…"
His voice broke.
"Rina… I'm sorry… I'm a piece of shit…"
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Kwangwoon, come eat some fruit, son?"
The doorknob rattled.
"Hm? It's locked?" His mother sounded puzzled. "Why'd you lock the door…?"
"…Ah. Oh." She cleared her throat, embarrassed. "Mom didn't mean to interrupt. Sorry, dear."
Kwangwoon's head snapped up.
"Good luck in there, sweetie…"
He shot to his feet, panic flooding him.
"N–No!! It's not like that, Mom!!"
"It's okay," she said gently. "It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"That's not it!!" he shouted, voice cracking. "I said it's not that!!"
But the footsteps were already retreating.
And just like that.
Irina's love came to an end.
-
Hai-an walked alone down the street.
"Ian!"
She looked up.
A chubby boy stood nervously in front of her apartment building, hands clenched at his sides.
"Y–You're late…" he said. "What were you doing?"
"…What?" Hai-an look at him expressionlessly. "Why are you here?"
He swallowed. "You haven't answered my messages for days. Calls, texts you ignored all of them."
She brushed past him and headed for the entrance.
"My phone was taken away."
"Don't lie," he said quickly, following after her. "I know that's not true."
She stopped.
"…Are you a stalker or something?"
"H-How could you say that?!" His voice rose, shaky with anger. "I'm still your boyfriend, aren't I?! Is this really how it ends? At least say it clearly!!"
Hai-an muttered under her breath, annoyed. "Seriously…"
She turned and looked at him.
"Oppa," she said flatly, "are you really that clueless?"
"Huh?"
Her eyes were cold nothing like the shy, gentle girl she always show to him.
"Do I really have to spell it out for you?" she said, voice stripped of all warmth. "Stop clinging. It's annoying."
She turned away and walked inside without looking back.
The boy stood there, frozen, the night swallowing his words.