Now that Cha and Jinho were officially a couple, Jinho's devotion was absolute. He showered her with attention, and their days were filled with a constant stream of texts and calls. They went on frequent dates, but Jinho's protective streak began to show. He was strict about her clothes, preferring her to dress simply rather than in anything short or revealing. He was also fiercely possessive; he hated it when other guys messaged her, even if they were just her classmates.
Whenever jealousy took hold, Jinho's face would transform. His brows would knit together in a dark scowl, and he would become cold and difficult to talk to. Yet, even in his anger, Cha couldn't help but think he looked handsome.
One evening, they met near Cha's house. After a brief conversation, Cha turned to leave, but Jinho suddenly grabbed her hand. With a firm tug, he pulled her toward him. Before she could react, he captured her lips in a kiss that lasted only seconds.
Cha stood frozen, the world around her blurring into silence. For those few moments, time stood still. When he finally let go and said his goodbyes, she was still in a daze.
"Goodnight..." he whispered.
That was their very first kiss.
When she got home, they texted late into the night. She admitted how shocked she was—it was her first kiss, and she was glad it was with him. Jinho was overjoyed, thrilled that he was the one to claim that milestone.
"You're a kiss thief!" Cha teased over text. "Well, you are my girlfriend..." he countered.
Cha couldn't sleep that night. Her mind kept replaying the sensation of his lips on hers. It was an indescribable feeling—a mix of nerves and pure, overwhelming happiness. She realized then that when you are kissed for the first time by the person you love, sleep becomes impossible.
As the years passed and they entered college, the distance changed things. Cha moved to a different town for her studies, and Jinho became even more restrictive. He demanded to know her every move. If she missed a single call, he would explode in anger. Because Cha loved him so deeply, she endured it, telling herself that his control was just a sign of how much he cared.
But as Jinho started his own college journey, he found a new circle of friends. Suddenly, the man who demanded all of Cha's time had none for her. He was always "busy." Their calls became short and rushed; he would always promise to call back later but rarely did. Suspicion began to bloom in Cha's heart.
One night, the tension finally snapped. They got into a heated argument about the lack of time in their relationship. In the heat of the moment, the words Cha feared most left Jinho's mouth: "Let's just break up."
Cha's heart shattered. She had poured everything into this relationship, loving him so much that she couldn't imagine a world without him. In her despair, she felt that if he left her, she would rather not live at all. Jinho was her entire world—her very life.
Seeing her spiral into such pain, Jinho took back his words, and they stayed together. But the damage was done. For days, Cha felt physically and emotionally ill from the trauma of nearly losing him.
Eventually, they reconciled. To make up for it, Jinho was sweet again. By this point, Cha was spending her weekends at Jinho's condo instead of going home. But despite the sweet moments, rumors of other women began to surface.
Cha grew suspicious. She asked a friend at Jinho's university to keep an eye on him, and she even visited the campus herself, but no one reported seeing anything unusual. However, the truth came out in an unexpected way. Cha met a girl at a youth event who admitted she had a crush on Jinho—a girl who had been his partner in a dance squad during Intramurals.
When Cha asked the girl about Jinho's behavior at school, the girl looked at her curiously and asked, "Are you his sister?"
Cha felt a surge of indignation. "No... I'm his girlfriend!"
She laughed it off in front of the girl, but inside, she was seething. Just you wait, Mr. Jinho, she thought. You're in big trouble later.
When she finally confronted him, Jinho denied any cheating. He admitted they texted, but only about schoolwork.
"You're a liar!" Cha cried. "Please, believe me... it's only you," he pleaded. "Don't you dare play me, Jinho."
Jinho leaned in and silenced her with a deep, lingering kiss. He finally confessed that while he did text the girl, he never pursued her. He admitted he had a habit of being overly friendly or "playful" with girls, and some mistook his teasing for courtship. He claimed he had distanced himself once he realized the girl was catching feelings.
Because she loved him, Cha chose to believe him, clinging to the hope that he would remain faithful.
Epilogue: Jinho's POV
How do I even start? How am I supposed to kiss her? I'm so nervous... should I ask for permission, or just go for it?
We were sitting on the swings at the playground. I just sat there, watching her, mesmerized. When she got up to say goodbye, I couldn't just let her walk away like that.
I reached out and grabbed her hand, spinning her around to face me. I cupped her face in my hands, leaning in until our lips finally touched. For those few seconds, the world stopped turning. My heart was racing so fast I thought it might burst.
[Chapter 3 End]
Author's Note: First kiss alert! 💋 What did you guys think of Jinho's POV at the end? Should I include more of his perspective in future chapters?
Please Vote, Comment, and Follow me for more updates! Your support means the world to me. See you in Chapter 4! 🙌
Is their love "true love," or is it becoming a bit toxic? I'd love to hear your theories on where their relationship is headed in the next chapter. Thank you for reading! ❤️