I felt my chest tighten at his words, the sting of them hitting harder than I expected. "What are you talking about?" I shot back, my voice rising. "I never agreed to sit around waiting for you to decide when I'm worth your time. Just because I've been obeying your every word and put up with you abuse doesn't mean you get to treat me like this!"
He scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "You knew what you were getting into. Don't act like you didn't."
I took a step closer, anger bubbling up inside me. "I knew things wouldn't be easy with you, but I didn't sign up to be treated like I don't matter. You can't just shut me out and then lash out at me for spending time with someone else. I'm not some puppet you can pull strings on whenever you feel like it."
Jihoon's eyes darkened, his hands balling into fists as he stepped closer. "So that's what this is about? You want more attention? You want me to coddle you like some clingy, lovesick puppy? Grow up, Minji. The world doesn't revolve around you."
My heart pounded in my chest, the heat rising in my face. "No, Jihoon, this is about respect! This is about you treating me like I matter instead of something you can discard whenever you feel like it! You don't get to be possessive when you've barely even let me in."
He sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "Possessive? Don't act like you're some helpless victim here. You're the one who came crawling back, again and again, knowing damn well what this was from the start. Now you want to change the rules because you're not getting what you want?"
I felt my hands shaking, but I refused to back down. "Because I thought you might care! Because I hoped—God, I hoped—that maybe you'd let me in, that maybe this would be different. But all you do is hurt people. You hurt me."
His expression faltered, but only for a split second. "I never asked you to care, Minji. I never asked for any of this."
"Then why keep me around? Why act like you give a damn when you clearly don't?" My voice cracked, and I hated how vulnerable I sounded.
Jihoon stared at me, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Because I don't know what the hell else to do." His voice was low, almost defeated. "Because I'm messed up, and yeah, maybe I hurt you, but I don't know how to stop."
I blinked, stunned into silence. For the first time, I saw something in his eyes other than anger or cruelty—something raw and broken.
"I didn't ask for this either," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper now. "But you—being with you, it's the only thing that makes me feel anything. I know I'm screwing it up, I know I'm pushing you away, but I can't help it."
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I swallowed them back, trying to keep my voice steady. "Then figure it out, Jihoon. Because I can't keep doing this. I can't keep being the only one fighting for something that's already broken."
For a long moment, neither of us said anything. We just stood there, the weight of everything between us hanging heavy in the air.
Finally, Jihoon spoke, his voice barely audible. "I don't want to lose you. But I don't know how to be what you need."
My heart clenched at his words, torn between the love I still felt for him and the pain he kept causing me. "Then maybe you need to decide if you even want to try," I whispered.
I turned to leave, feeling his gaze on my back as I walked toward the door. But just before I reached for the handle, he called out, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it.
"You can't leave… you promised you wouldn't leave."
"If you walk out then this is it, you won't talk to me and I won't talk you. We can finally end this shit whole situation were in." He added.
I watched Minji walk away, my heart racing as the door clicked shut behind him. The silence that filled the room felt suffocating, heavy with everything we'd said and everything left unsaid. I knew I was being unfair, pushing him away while pretending I didn't care. But the truth was, I cared too much—more than I wanted to admit.
I paced the room, running a hand through my hair. My mind replayed our argument, every word we exchanged echoing like a relentless drum. I hated how easily he got under my skin, how I could feel the anger and frustration boiling over, but beneath that, there was something softer, something that made me ache for him.
"Why do I do this?" I muttered to myself, clenching my fists. "Why can't I just let him go?"
He had every right to be angry. I'd been a jerk, shutting him out when all he wanted was to be there for me. But letting him in meant risking my heart, and I didn't know if I could handle that.
I slumped against the wall, sliding down to the floor, the weight of my own feelings crashing down on me. I had been the one to build these walls, but now it felt like they were closing in. I wanted to call him back, to tell him that he mattered, that I didn't want to lose him, but the words stuck in my throat.
"Damn it, Jihoon," I cursed under my breath. "What are you so afraid of?"
I pulled out my phone, staring at the screen, hesitating to text him. I wanted to apologize, to explain that it wasn't his fault I felt like I was losing control. But would he even care?
Would he just roll his eyes and walk away, tired of my endless cycle of push and pull?
With a shaky breath, I opened a new message. My fingers hovered above the screen, but I didn't know what to say. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, peering into the unknown below.
"Minji…" I whispered to myself, feeling the weight of his name. I needed him in my life, but I was terrified of what that meant. What if he walked away for good? What if I lost him to someone else?
I stared at my reflection in the dark screen, searching for an answer that wasn't there. I had to make a choice, but what if it was the wrong one? I wanted to reach out, but every time I thought about it, my fear held me back like chains.
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One month Later:
At the Kim family mansion Jihoon, Hyeon and some of their cousins gather in the basement play room chatting playing cards, video games and some other party games.
The atmosphere in the basement was electric, filled with laughter and the sounds of controllers clicking against the backdrop of competitive banter. Jihoon leaned back in his chair, a smirk on his face as he watched Hyeon dominate yet another round of their favorite racing game.
"Seriously, Hyeon, do you have to be so good at everything?" Jihoon complained, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation.
Hyeon grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "What can I say? Some people are just naturally talented." He paused, looking at Jihoon with a knowing smile. "Maybe you just need to practice more."
Their cousins chimed in, echoing Hyeon's playful jabs, and Jihoon couldn't help but roll his eyes, his annoyance melting into laughter. It felt good to be surrounded by family, to forget the weight of everything that had been going on in his life for a while.
As they switched to a card game, Jihoon found himself enjoying the camaraderie. He had needed this—an escape from the emotional turmoil he had been battling alone for the past month. Minji's absence was a dull ache in his chest, but being here, surrounded by laughter and light-hearted competition, helped ease the pain, if only a little.
"Alright, next round!" one of their cousins shouted, shuffling the cards. "Let's see if Jihoon can finally win something."
"Don't count on it," Jihoon retorted, but he felt a flicker of determination rise within him. He wasn't going to let anyone think he was a lost cause.
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As the party dragged on, Jihoon found a way to sneak up to his room. He tiptoed through the hallway, careful to avoid the creaky floorboards that would give him away. The sounds of laughter and shouting faded behind him as he climbed the stairs, a welcome quiet enveloping him once he reached his sanctuary.
Once inside, he closed the door and leaned against it, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. The dim light from his desk lamp illuminated his room, casting long shadows on the walls adorned with posters and memories. It was a space that felt both familiar and stifling, a reminder of the comfort he had lost over the past month.
He moved to his desk, the clutter of schoolbooks and scattered papers a reflection of his chaotic mind. He picked up his phone, the screen lighting up with messages and notifications he had ignored.
As he scrolled, his heart raced when he saw Minji's missed calls There were three, each one a reminder of the tension and unresolved feelings that lingered between them. Jihoon's chest tightened at the thought of Minji trying to reach out, and he felt a mix of guilt and anxiety wash over him. Why hadn't he answered? Why had he let their connection slip away?
He hesitated before tapping on Minji's contact. The phone rang, each tone amplifying his nerves. What would he even say? Would it be an argument all over again, or something more?
Just as he was about to hang up, another guys voice came through. "Hello?" The guy said.
Jihoon was stunned that he couldn't say anything, "are you Jihoon?" The Guy asked.
"Yes," Hoon replied.
"Well Minji over here is stupidly drunk and his been crying out your name nonstop, can you please come and get him I'll send you the address."
Jihoon's heart sank at the words. "What do you mean he's crying?" he asked, urgency lacing his voice.
The guy sighed, sounding exasperated. "We were at a party, and Minji had a little too much to drink. He's been going on about you and how much he misses you. It's pretty bad, man. He's in no shape to get home by himself."
"I'll be right there," Jihoon said, adrenaline kicking in. "Just send me the address."
"Okay, just hold on," the guy replied, his voice fading slightly as he pulled up the information. Jihoon felt a mix of dread and concern as he waited for the address, his mind racing with thoughts of Minji in distress.
When the guy returned with the address, Jihoon didn't waste a second. He grabbed his jacket and rushed out of his room, ignoring the sounds of the party still going on downstairs. As he navigated through the maze of his house, he felt a deep sense of urgency; he needed to get to Minji.
The drive felt like an eternity. Jihoon's mind replayed the conversation he had just had, the image of Minji crying and drunk eating away at him. He couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and worry that settled in his stomach.
Finally, he arrived at the address, A bar.
TBC