It had only been a few days since I last saw Seon Woo Jin, but it felt as unfamiliar as if we had been apart for months.

With a delighted heart, I unconsciously tried to greet him out of habit, but then hesitated.

‘Why is he here?’

I was supposed to meet Sung Ji Chan. Is it a coincidence…? I thought for a moment, then soon realized.

‘There’s no way it’s a coincidence!’

It was obvious who would pull something like this. Sung Ji Chan. I took out my cell phone and immediately called him.

“Hey!”

− Oh, you startled me.

Startled, my foot. There was no agitation in Sung Ji Chan’s voice at all. I shouted, filled with anger.

“This is your doing, isn’t it!”

− What is?

“You’re asking because you don’t know?”

Then, I heard a snickering laugh from the other end of the receiver. Sung Ji Chan said with an irritating laugh.

− What do you think? Do you like it?

I’m going to kill him…

I seriously felt like hitting him just once. If he was next to me, he would have already been hit. I gnashed my teeth and spat out words like a machine gun.

“Would you like it if you were me? What the hell is this? Did you forget the promise you made with me? Do you think I don’t know why I did such a crazy thing? Is the contract a joke to you? Huh?”

I spoke excitedly, huffing and puffing, but Sung Ji Chan paid no attention at all.

− Don’t be like that. I’m sincerely worried about you two.

“What are you talking about?”

− No, listen.

Here was Sung Ji Chan’s explanation. As Seon Woo Jin’s only friend—what about Ban Ha Min?—he felt sorry for his friend’s unfulfilled love.

Although love doesn’t go the way people want it to, seeing even their good relationship become distorted made his heart ache…

In short, it was nonsense.

I became furious.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I know you’re just doing this because it’s fun, don’t you think I know?”

− Ah, this isn’t working.

His voice was irritating. Sung Ji Chan yawned loudly enough to be felt over the receiver, then spoke in a indifferent tone.

− Well, what can you do? It’s already happened. Now that it’s come to this, just have a good time with Seon Woo Jin.

“I told you I have to go with you!”

− Wasn’t it a date? Can’t you just go with anyone?

“No, you crazy bastard!”

I felt like my insides were going to explode. I fought the urge to throw my cell phone and said to Sung Ji Chan.

“Come out right now. You called Seon Woo Jin out, didn’t you? Apologize to him and say you’re sorry!”

− I can’t. I can’t do that.

“Why!”

− I’m in the hospital right now.

“What? Why are you in the hospital on the weekend!”

− I was admitted on Friday.

I was at a loss for words and my mouth gaped open. Sung Ji Chan calmly continued his explanation.

− I came to get tests done and rest a bit because of my memory loss. I’m going to take it easy and relax.

“They let you be admitted for that kind of thing?”

− What’s wrong with paying money and getting admitted?

I hope he didn’t get admitted because of me. He can’t be that crazy…

I don’t know what’s what anymore. I tried to get angry, but I lost strength and became speechless.

“This is really unbelievable…”

As I muttered, Sung Ji Chan said.

− But I’m sincere in hoping that you two work things out well. You can’t avoid seeing each other forever, you know.

I had nothing to say. I’m really pissed off, but on the other hand, I strangely agreed.

‘Yeah, we can’t go on like this forever.’

I don’t know if I’ll still be in this world a month from now, so I don’t want to maintain this state until then. If I leave with things remaining awkward between Seon Woo Jin and me, I feel like I’ll regret it for a long time.

‘But I didn’t want to suddenly face him unprepared like this either.’

I sighed, looking at Seon Woo Jin standing far away.

“Okay. I’m hanging up for now.”

− Oh, are you finally acknowledging my sincerity? Yes, now you two should go back to how you were before…

I abruptly hung up before Sung Ji Chan could finish his sentence.

‘Now, what should I do?’

I was in a dilemma.

‘For now, I don’t think I can take Seon Woo Jin to see Jin Hae Yul.’

If it was before our relationship became awkward, I could have considered going together, but not now. Seon Woo Jin alone is already giving me a headache, and adding Jin Hae Yul on top of that? It was horrible to even imagine.

I pondered for a moment and came to a conclusion.

‘For now, I should send Seon Woo Jin back and think about it.’

I don’t know if I’ll be able to meet Jin Hae Yul today, but for now, I think I need to solve the Seon Woo Jin problem in front of my eyes first.

Yes, let’s do it step by step.

But even after deciding what to do, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Still, I have to do it.

I took a deep breath and shouted.

“Seon Woo Jin!”

Seon Woo Jin turned his head towards me.

As soon as Seon Woo Jin spotted me, his eyes widened slightly in surprise, then he frowned and muttered.

“…That XXX Sung Ji Chan.”

As expected, Seon Woo Jin also figured out whose doing it was right away. Well, of course.

I approached Seon Woo Jin.

Now that we were face to face, words didn’t come out easily. I glanced at him and hesitantly opened my mouth.

“…Hi.”

Seon Woo Jin stared at my face with a dumbfounded expression for a moment, then burst into a hollow laugh.

“Ha.”

I smiled awkwardly.

‘It’s understandable to be dumbfounded.’

I’m a victim too, you know? Please don’t look at me like that.

Seon Woo Jin had an expression full of irritation as he was lost in thought, then said.

“This is that bastard Sung Ji Chan’s doing, isn’t it?”

I nodded.

“…I was originally supposed to meet Sung Ji Chan.”

But that bastard didn’t show up.

Even without finishing the sentence, we could roughly understand each other’s situation. Seon Woo Jin probably came out because Sung Ji Chan said to meet. Sung Ji Chan must have left out any mention of me. That’s why he has that ‘I was tricked’ expression.

“This is driving me crazy, really.”

Seon Woo Jin took out his cell phone with a murderous expression and called somewhere. It must be Sung Ji Chan. But the other person didn’t answer, and after a while, Seon Woo Jin put down his phone in irritation.

And then.

“…”

“…”

Seon Woo Jin and I just stood there without saying a word.

‘Hmm, what should I do now…?’

I had no plan. This is driving me insane. I don’t think it was this awkward even when I first met Seon Woo Jin.

We just stared at other places, having nothing to say to each other. But we can’t just keep standing like this, so what should we do now?

The one who opened his mouth first in this absurd situation was Seon Woo Jin.

Seon Woo Jin sighed.

“Sorry.”

“Huh? What are you sorry for?”

“I’m sorry about that bastard Sung Ji Chan’s antics.”

Is that something Seon Woo Jin should be sorry for? I didn’t really understand, but I nodded anyway.

Seon Woo Jin glanced at me and said.

“Did you talk to Sung Ji Chan?”

“Oh, uh…”

“What did he say?”

“He said he’s hospitalized right now?”

“What?”

Seon Woo Jin looked genuinely dumbfounded. Understandably so.

“He’s really crazy.”

I agree.

I nodded.

After cursing out Sung Ji Chan, we really had nothing to talk about. Seon Woo Jin must have felt that too, as he sighed and said.

“Then I’ll get going. See you later.”

After saying goodbye, Seon Woo Jin turned around without hesitation.

‘…Huh?’

I feel like I shouldn’t let him go like this.

I stared at his back for a moment, then hurriedly grabbed Seon Woo Jin’s clothes.

“Wait a second.”

Seon Woo Jin turned around and stared down at me intently. I couldn’t meet his gaze, then mustered up my courage and said.

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

I entered a cafe together with Seon Woo Jin.

It was already awkward originally, but being indoors with just the two of us made it twice as awkward. But I have to overcome this! I clenched my fists tightly and said.

“Uh… Have you been well?”

Seon Woo Jin laughed.

“You’re talking like we haven’t seen each other in years.”

I know…

I smiled awkwardly and took a sip of the coffee I ordered.

‘I grabbed him, but now what should I say?’

I impulsively grabbed him wanting to mend our relationship, but I didn’t have anything planned to say.

‘Should I just tell him everything that Sung Ji Chan and I have no relationship?’

It was a spur-of-the-moment thought, but it seemed more plausible than I expected.

‘Wait, is it really okay to say it?’

Sung Ji Chan is the one who threw the first punch anyway, so it should be fine to say it. Our plan was to only deceive Han Ye Won, there was no need to deceive Seon Woo Jin too.

Of course, there was an intention behind deceiving Seon Woo Jin as well… But isn’t it okay as long as I’m fine with it?

Alright, let’s spill everything.

Having made up my mind, I opened my mouth.

“You know, I’m actually not dating Sung Ji Chan.”

Seon Woo Jin paused for a moment.

I emphasized again.

“Really, we have no relationship at all.”

However, contrary to my expectations, instead of answering, Seon Woo Jin just stared at me intently. I flinched at that unreadable gaze.

“That, that was because of Han Ye Won.”

I began to pour out the whole truth to Seon Woo Jin.

Seon Woo Jin listened to me silently. His expressionless face showed no reaction.

“…That’s how it turned out.”

My stammering explanation finally came to an end. I waited for Seon Woo Jin’s words, taking cues from his expression.

Seon Woo Jin had a contemplative look. As always, I couldn’t even guess what he was thinking.

Feeling suffocated and anxious, I spoke first.

“Did you understand?”

“…Ah.”

Seon Woo Jin finally spoke as if he had come to his senses.

“I get what you’re saying.”

His reaction was more lukewarm than I expected. No, is it natural since it’s Seon Woo Jin?

Seon Woo Jin rested his chin on his hand, staring out the window and tapping the table with his fingers. He still seemed to have a lot on his mind.

I decided to wait patiently for Seon Woo Jin’s response. Looking at the situation, going to see Jin Hae Yul today was out of the question, and since it’s the weekend, I have plenty of time.

After waiting, Seon Woo Jin opened his mouth.

“But is that really all?”

“What do you mean?”

“You two saying you were dating.”

Seon Woo Jin looked straight into my eyes and said.

“It’s because of me. Isn’t it?”