Haeyoung wanted to scream at Seongjun, no, to tear into him so viciously he'd never forget it.
She left the hospital with ghost-like steps and headed straight to his apartment.
The front door wasn't even closed. She didn't need to enter the passcode.
The moment she stepped inside and started removing her shoes, Minji's bright, chirpy voice rang out first.
"Ugh, I don't like mackerel stew."
"Oh, please. Woo Minji, how are you ever going to grow if you're that picky?"
"I do grow!"
"What's growing? You're a tiny runt."
"You're annoying, Jo Seongjun."
"Fine, take the beef bone soup instead. I heard it's Hanwoo beef."
"..."
"You don't want beef soup either? Okay, okay. Next time I'll tell your mother-in-law to make short ribs."
"Mother-in-law? She's not even your real mother-in-law. Why call her that?"
"Oh, right. Seo Haeyoung kept nagging me to call her 'Mother,' and I got used to it. That old lady."
Their giggles echoed sharply, drilling into Haeyoung's ears.
Her blood boiled upward as if racing backward through her veins, then suddenly drained, leaving her cold and pale.
Everything felt unreal, as if she were underwater.
"Anyway, old people with no money should just hurry up and die. She told me to take her to the hospital again today. Am I her maid or something? Seo Haeyoung is the worst. She should be grateful I even date her."
"Right? And if things go well for you this time, they'll be getting a celebrity son-in-law."
"Son-in-law? Please."
"You've been dating for six years. You're not going to marry her?"
"She's… not exactly marriage material."
"Why not? She's pretty, though."
"She's suffocating. Her personality is suffocating, her face is suffocating. I want to break up, but I can't."
"Why not? Because of the security deposit?"
"Yeah. If we break up, I'll have to move out immediately. But I'm sure things will go well for me this time, so I'll dump her right away. I'm sick of dating someone so beneath me."
"You don't even like her, but you stay because of money… that's sad. I guess I really do need to take you in."
"…What do you mean?"
At Seongjun's low voice, there was clear anticipation.
"If you're not married by thirty-five… maybe this noona should take care of you."
"Really? No take-backs."
"Mhm. Though I might get married first."
"Hey, get over here."
A burst of laughter erupted, bright, happy, intimate.
Haeyoung forced her heavy legs to move.
One step.
And another.
Inside, she found Seongjun hugging Minji, swinging her around.
Minji hit him with soft, harmless fists as they giggled together, so lost in their happiness they didn't even notice Haeyoung entering.
Really? This is what you call "just friends"?
And you accused me of being jealous and annoying over nothing.
But this, this is what you do with a friend?
It wasn't Minji intruding on their relationship.
It was she, Haeyoung, who had been the intruder all along.
Then her eyes landed on Minji's clothes.
She was wearing the expensive gray T-shirt Haeyoung bought for Seongjun just days ago, when he complained he had nothing to wear.
He said he liked it, but never wore it. When she asked why, he brushed her off.
"I guess we'll have to throw out the beef soup then, since you don't eat it."
"Throw it out? Such a waste."
"It's not like I made it."
The creamy white broth inside the stockpot was poured straight into the sink with a splash.
In Haeyoung's mind, the image of her mother standing all night on aching legs, stirring that very soup…
And then her mother lying unconscious in the ICU…
The scenes overlapped painfully.
Her mother insisting she didn't need help because she didn't want to trouble Seongjun…
Her mother stumbling out the door alone…
Her mother rolling down a hill…
Her mother lying on the freezing asphalt until someone finally found her…
What Seongjun threw away wasn't just soup.
It was Haeyoung.
And her mother.
"Seongjun."
"W-what the—"
He jolted like he'd seen a ghost. Then his eyes darted restlessly, calculating how much she had seen and heard.
"When did you get here? If you came in, you should've said something, standing there silently like a creep…"
"Why did you do it?"
"Throwing the soup away? You know I don't like bone broth. You could've told me you didn't want me to waste it. Dealing with trash is work too, you know? Do you know how annoying food waste disposal—"
"My mom's in the hospital."
"So? I know that."
"She rolled down a hill."
"…What?"
"They said she might die."
His eyes widened, finally, a normal human reaction.
"So you couldn't do that one thing for me? If you didn't want to go, you could've at least called. Because you broke the promise—"
"H-how is that my fault!? I didn't know that would happen!"
The shock on his face twisted quickly into anger.
He raised his voice, as if shouting could erase all responsibility.
"Don't you dare blame me. Your mom's legs are messed up, not because of me. Why accuse me!?"
She had expected, at minimum, some concern.
An apology.
Something human.
"…You bastard."
Tears burst out, hot and uncontrollable.
"Bastard? Are you crazy? Watch your mouth. You're crossing a line."
"Who crossed it first—!"
She couldn't finish.
Minji suddenly stepped between them, blocking her path.
"Unni, are you okay?"
Her large, round eyes crumpled into a pitiful expression.
"You need to calm down. You're too worked up. Please go for now. I'll scold Seongjun."
"What?"
"Seongjun, apologize to Haeyoung unni."
"I didn't do it on purpose…"
"But still! Can't you see how upset she is?"
The same man who glared like he wanted to kill Haeyoung just moments ago shrank instantly at Minji's tone.
Haeyoung stared at both of them.
Was this a joke?
"You can help me later. Come at night. You listen to me about everything else, why do you get so twisted only when it comes to her? Hurry and apologize."
"…Sorry."
The apology was hollow, empty.
Minji grabbed Haeyoung's hand. Her small hand was warm.
"Kind unni, please understand. He didn't mean it."
What are you trying to pull right now?
"Minji-ssi, would you understand if it were you?"
"…What?"
"This is between the two of us. Stay out of it."
Minji's lips trembled, frightened, but she didn't step aside.
Her gentle doe-eyes met Haeyoung's with stubborn resolve.
"He apologized. Isn't that enough? I can't move. Seongjun is my friend. I can't watch you bully him."
"Did you not hear me? My mom might die because of Seongjun."
"He said it wasn't on purpose, and he apologized. You're not even married. No matter how long you dated, this is too much. I've heard everything, you always take your frustration out on him."
Her small shoulders shook as she continued, like she was bravely standing up to a villain.
"Do you know how much he suffers because of you? He told me he can't breathe when he sees you, that he feels suffocated, like you make him feel like garbage."
What did I ever do?
They hadn't even had a proper date recently.
He said he was broke, eating instant noodles every day.
So she packed meals for him, didn't disturb his acting practice, and tiptoed around him until he kicked her out.
"Did he really say that?"
When she stepped forward, Minji gasped sharply as if she saw a monster.
Seongjun grabbed Minji's shoulders protectively.
In his arms, she cried dramatic, glistening tears.
His expression hardened, violent, threatening.
For a moment, she thought he might actually hit her.
"You're unbelievable. Why are you scaring Minji? If you're mad, be mad at me!"
Haeyoung could only stare like a fool.
Their words were so upside-down she didn't even know where to start.
"How was I supposed to know your mom would fall? If you care so much, then take care of your own mother. Why blame me?"
"If you had just called me to say you couldn't go—!"
"Forget it. I'm tired of you making me the villain every time. Just go. We're done. I'm sick of this."
I was supposed to be the one ending this.
"Didn't you hear me? I said we're breaking up. Get out. Are you leaving or not?"
His voice cracked sharp and violent.
Minji clung to his sleeve, half-shielding herself as she looked at Haeyoung with those wide, tear-filled eyes.
Those eyes burned themselves into Haeyoung's memory.
To them…
the monster to be driven out was her.
(End of Chapter 2)
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