episode_0014

What on earth is this?

Stepping outside to listen, Ji-won was shouting.

And isn’t that Seong-ah noona over there?

I don’t know why Seong-ah noona is here.

Right now, Ji-won seems to be speaking on my behalf.

Should I say “instead”?

At some point, he was saying the words I should have said.

That’s what being a person is about, after all.

It has to be done someday.

“Hey, stop it, my ears are ringing.”

Ji-won looked surprised at my voice, then started hiding behind me.

Why speak so boldly while hiding like that, pretending to be scared?

“Hey, Kang Ji-hoo, nice to see you. Let’s talk.”

Seong-ah noona said angrily, asking to talk to me.

Do we really have to go somewhere else to talk?

Let’s just end it here.

End it here.

Thinking that way, I suggested going home to talk.

With that in mind, I took Seong-ah noona and headed home.

Ji-won kept holding onto me, telling me to wait in the next room.

This is something I have to finish myself.

“So, what did you want to say?”

I asked Seong-ah noona why she had come to our house.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

There it is again.

She always made a fuss if I didn’t answer her calls since the beginning of our relationship.

Insisting that I answer.

I used to wonder if this was normal at the start of a relationship.

Now I know it’s not.

“It’s because I was eating.”

I simply replied.

They say not even a rock touches you when you’re eating pork stir-fry.

But this person always tries to interfere.

Upon hearing this, Seong-ah noona got angry and said,

“That’s the point! You were eating, so you couldn’t answer!”

“You really want to break up with me!”

There it is again.

Wanting to break up. She often used threats like this.

In the beginning, I thought maybe it was because she didn’t know better, so I apologized every time.

Even when I hadn’t done anything wrong, I apologized, but for some reason, her threats didn’t work on me anymore.

“Okay.”

I nodded with a smile.

Let’s break up. I actually wanted to say that too, so thanks for bringing it up first.

I had been pondering for a few days.

The things Ji-won said about treating me like a slave.

And calling me an emotional trash can…

Ji-won’s words were not wrong.

And I felt that if I continued this relationship, I would also fall apart.

After much thought, I made a decision.

I’m human too, and I want to live comfortably now.

As I finished speaking, Seong-ah noona looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Seeing her expression as if she really wanted to break up, I didn’t know what to say.

I actually agreed, but why is she so flustered?

She was the one who brought up breaking up first.

“No… Hey, that doesn’t make sense!”

Seong-ah noona said to me as if it didn’t make sense.

I don’t really understand what doesn’t make sense.

I did suggest breaking up for real.

Since she seemed to want it first, I just agreed.

In response, Seong-ah noona pointed to the next room and got angry again.

“It’s because of that girl! What did she do to you?”

“Ji-won has nothing to do with it. And how many times do I have to say we’re just friends.”

“How can you just have a friend staying in the same house? Are you living with her?”

I nodded at what she said.

“She had nowhere to go, so she’s staying with me until she finds a place. She’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

Upon hearing this, Seong-ah noona got angry again, saying it was because of my vulgar heart.

I can’t deny having a vulgar heart.

If someone isn’t captivated by that size, then I don’t consider them a man anymore.

“But seriously, what do you want from me?”

“What… What? Seriously? Did you just curse at me?”

“Yes, I did.”

Seong-ah noona started looking at me with a puzzled expression.

I never once cursed at her during our relationship.

To become the perfect boyfriend, Nuna didn’t curse in front of her because she disliked men who cursed.

Since we’re going to break up anyway, why endure it?

“Let me make this clear for the last time. Jiwon is none of your concern. So stop interfering.”

Upon hearing my words, Seong-ah Nuna looked at me and started getting angry again.

“Hey! What did I do wrong? What’s worse than that b****!”

Is she really asking because she doesn’t know?

I’m not sure if I should even bother explaining this.

“It’s when every time something bad happens or someone gossips about someone, if you don’t take my side, you act like I’m the one at fault.”

“And you always do something wrong first but keep saying it’s my fault.”

“Lastly, you clearly promised to meet me at the café, but you were there laughing and chatting with another guy,”

Clearly telling me not to meet Jiwon, she went ahead and met another man.

Did she think I wouldn’t find out if I just let it slide?

“Hey.. That person wasn’t like that.”

“But that doesn’t change the fact that it happened.”

“You told me not to meet Jiwon, yet you met someone else.”

Upon hearing me speak, Seong-ah Nuna couldn’t say a word and started sulking.

“Oh.. damn!!”

She grabbed her bag, opened the front door, and left.

We must have broken up properly, right?

Since I clearly said let’s break up.

We must have parted ways well.

Now… I guess I should rejoin the solo squad.

As I thought that, the door quietly began to open.

Jiwon entered the room, asking if I was okay.

“Jihu, are you okay?”

“Yeah… I’m fine.”

I tried to act fine and smile in front of Jiwon.

“I… really… am fine…”

Strangely, tears started flowing.

I was fine, though.

Constant gaslighting from her. Blaming her mistakes on me.

Even openly doing things similar to cheating.

I don’t understand why my heart hurts.

“Damn… damn..”

Seeing me cry, Jiwon patted my back.

Is this what they call a trial? Despite enduring to become the perfect boyfriend.

Is there still lingering attachment? My heart aches, and tears continue to flow.

**

Jihu said he wants to cry alone, and a day has passed.

I should feel relieved deep down.

We hadn’t been in touch for two months, and it was only our second meeting in two months.

Just two months together and breaking up shouldn’t be such a big deal, I think.

But if Jihu is hurting, what can I do?

Wanting to ask Jihu if he’s okay, I opened his door.

“Haa… haa…”

Jihu’s face was extremely red.

“Ji… Jihu?!”

Jihu doesn’t look good.

No.. this can’t happen!!!

“A red face on a white blanket…! No! If this gets out, it’ll cause a controversy!! Quickly mix in some blue!!”

“This crazy b**** is talking nonsense.. cough!! It’s just a bad cold, my head hurts, so buzz off. Cough!!”

“Just a bad cold, right? Not COVID?”

“Please leave.. no, please leave.”

Jihu really seems to be in a lot of pain.

I can’t just stand here; I need to do something.

At least let’s not be the jerk just standing around.

Taking Jihu, should we go to the hospital? That thought crossed my mind.

But Jihu looks like he can’t move properly right now.

So let’s try to bring down his fever for now.

“Jihu! Here’s a wet towel!”

I placed a wet towel on Jihu’s forehead.

“Hey.. idiot.. at least wring out the water before putting it on.”

“Oh.. I didn’t wring it out.”

“Sorry! Just wait a bit.”

After wringing out the towel in the bathroom, I placed it on Jihu’s forehead.

His expression seemed to improve slightly.

It’s currently 12:20 PM, lunchtime, but Jihu can’t eat anything right now.

I should make something for him!

Heading to the kitchen, I tried to make soft rice porridge.

Simply, I put water and rice in a pot.

And as I turned on the heat…

“Is it mealtime?”

My lunch is sorted, but what about Jihu’s meal?

After much deliberation, I realized that I wasn’t an expert in dying.

“Jihu, can I borrow your wallet?”

“Hey… you thief… Are you challenging a burglar because you’re hurt?”

“Sorry, I’ll pay you back in a few days!”

With Jihu’s wallet in hand, I headed to a nearby porridge house.

Not knowing what kind of porridge Jihu would like, I ordered beef porridge and waited.

“Here’s the beef porridge.”

As the owner handed me the porridge, he asked who was sick.

What should I say at a time like this?

Just… be honest at times like this.

“My friend is sick.”

“Oh, your boyfriend?”

“No… not quite my boyfriend.”

Ah… this isn’t the right time.

Jihu! Just wait a bit! I’m coming!

Thinking of Jihu, I quickened my pace.

I arrived home quickly for Jihu, who must be hungry and waiting for me by now.

“Hey… give me my wallet… We need to go to the hospital.”

Jihu had regained his strength after eating cup noodles at home.

What should I do with this porridge? I wondered.

Jihu just said he would have it for dinner.

But is it okay?

The thought of collapsing alone on the way to the hospital crossed my mind.

“Wait! Do you want me to come with you too?”

I reluctantly decided to accompany him.