The next morning, Soo-kyung and I woke up. I had stayed over the night before. We started getting ready for work, and she lent me one of her dresses and her makeup.
"Are you ready, Hye-jin?" Soo-kyung asked, grabbing her purse and coat. "Yes, I'm ready. Let's go," I said, leaving the room with my things. "You look good. The dress I gave you suits you very well."
We left her apartment and headed to the company. "Hye-jin, how do you plan to get revenge on Eun-ho? You're rushing things, aren't you?"
"I don't know, Soo-kyung, but this won't end so easily. I have to think of something."
We entered the company and swiped our IDs on the scanner to get into the office.
"Kang Hye-jin!!"
We heard someone shout my name, so Soo-kyung and I turned around. "Damn it... it's Eun-ho. We better go, Hye-jin," Soo-kyung said, tugging at my sleeve. "No... let's let him talk," I said calmly, crossing my arms and waiting for Eun-ho to say what he had to say.
"Hye-jin... How dare you show up at my house like that? Are you crazy or what?!" I let out a laugh as I listened to Eun-ho.
"There's no doubt you're a hypocrite. You were the one who slept with another woman. You're a damn cheater, Choi Eun-ho! A damn bastard!"
"Okay, I was an idiot, Hye-jin, but I love you so much. I can't stop thinking about you."
"I was a fool, Hye-jin, but I love you so much. I can't stop thinking about you."
"I was a fool, Hye-jin, but I love you so much. I can't stop thinking about you."
"I was a fool."
I was a fool. I ... "Eun-ho, please go. I don't want to see you," I replied, turning to leave. Eun-ho grabbed my wrist, squeezing it tightly. "No! You're not going anywhere. You can't just leave me like this."
"L-let go of me, Eun-ho! Y-you're hurting me!" I stammered, gasping in pain.
"What's going on here?" Mr. Park asked from the doorway of his office.
"Mr. Park..." I said as Eun-ho released my arm and bowed his head, as did Soo-kyung and the others.
"Why are you arguing here?... Have you forgotten you're at work?" "I'm so sorry, Mr. Park..."
"Everyone back to your posts now... Miss Kang, to my office."
Mr. Park said, a little annoyed by the shouting earlier. I put my things away and headed to the office.
"Tell me, Mr. Park... how can I help you?" "I said, bowing my head, looking at the floor, my hands clasped in front of my stomach.
"What happened outside earlier?" Mr. Park asked, sitting down at his desk and clasping his hands. "Well... something personal happened between Mr. Choi and me."
"Why are you suddenly calling him Mr. Choi? You used to call him something special... it's unusual for you to address him like that," Mr. Park asked, turning his gaze to me.
"There was a problem, between Mr. Choi and me, that's all."
"Why are you addressing him so formally? You always speak to him affectionately."
I remained silent, closing my eyes. "Don't worry, Miss Kang, you don't need to tell me. I respect your privacy."
"My wedding is canceled. I'm not marrying Mr. Choi anymore," I said in a serious, expressionless tone. It was true that it hurt that Eun-ho had betrayed me like that, but I had to stay strong for now.
"I see. I won't ask why the wedding was canceled because it's none of my business, but I'm very sorry about your situation, Miss Kang."
"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Park... By the way, I'll have the report ready as soon as possible, which is due tomorrow," I said.
"That's not necessary, Miss Kang... I'll give you more time to finish it. I know that the situation you're going through has distracted you a bit... so don't rush it," Mr. Park replied, looking me in the eyes. Noticing the way he was looking at me, I felt an inexplicable sensation. "Alright, thank you for the extra time you gave me, but I'll still try to finish it as soon as possible."
Leaving Mr. Park's office, I went to my cubicle where my things were. I sat down and turned on my computer.
"Hye-jin, how did it go? What happened in Mr. Park's office?" Soo-kyung asked, approaching me. "Oh, it wasn't anything important. I just wanted to know why we had that fight earlier," I said, continuing to work on the report. "Eun-ho is crazy for coming here to cause you trouble."
"You're right, Soo-kyung. He's a damn bastard, but let's not talk about him anymore. I'll deal with this later," I said as a message from Eun-ho arrived. It said:
[We need to talk]
"Eun-ho wants to talk to me," I said. I put my phone down on the desk to get back to work, but it kept buzzing with messages. "He's being really persistent..."
"But why? What does he want now?" Soo-kyung asked. "I'm not sure... but I have a feeling this isn't going to end anytime soon."
"I'm not sure... but I have a feeling this isn't going to end anytime soon."
"I'm not sure..." "I confessed while clicking the computer mouse. I had to meet with Eun-ho again. What does he want now? He knows there's nothing between us anymore, so why is he asking me to talk?"
"Hye-jin, are you really going to see him?"
"I don't plan on seeing him. Eun-ho has to leave me alone. I know him; he'll pester me until I give in, but I still have to set boundaries between us."
"If you say so. I still remember when he pestered you in college to talk to him. It was so annoying; just remembering it makes me angry, Hye-jin."
"I know, Soo-kyung. I remember it very well."
★ ~ Sungkyunkwan University. Year 2017 ~★
"Miss Kang Hye-jin! Please do me the honor of going out with me," Eun-ho exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, but I'm sorry." "It's Eun-ho again, Hye-jin. He's such a stalker. He won't leave you alone. Don't you think he's unbearable?"
"Maybe... but he's cute," I said, looking at Eun-ho, who was bringing me a chocolate. He gently took my hand and placed the chocolate in it. "It's a gift from me... Please accept it, Kang Hye-jin..."
"Okay... I'll accept it."
"Thank you so much! I hope you like it.
"Hye-jin, it's time for our next class! Let's go!" Soo-kyung exclaimed, pulling me by the arm toward the classroom, leaving Eun-ho with a satisfied smile.
After class, I stayed in the library studying until late. Exams were coming up, and it was stressful, but all this effort would be worth it.
"Kang Hye-jin," Eun-ho called, holding a banana milk and offering it to me with a polite and kind smile.
"What are you doing here, Eun-ho? I don't have time for your gifts and declarations of love. I need to study." I got up from the table to look for a book I was missing.
"I know, Kang Hye-jin. I know you've been studying here all afternoon."
"Were you spying on me?" I turned to him, looking him in the eyes.
"I've been watching you since 3:45, when Shin Soo-kyung left," he said, leaning against the wall.
"I've been watching you since 3:45, when Shin Soo-kyung left."
"I know you've been studying here all afternoon." "You're crazy... ah!" I cried out. Eun-ho grabbed my waist and pinned me against the wall.
"Yes, I'm crazy. Crazy for you, Kang Hye-jin... Please accept me... I can be the perfect man for you and treat you like a princess."
"What are you talking about?" I stammered.
"I want to build a life with you, Hye-jin. I want to be your boyfriend, your lover, your husband... Everything. I want to be the person you start a family with."
"Eun-ho..."
"I love you, Kang Hye-jin..." he whispered, sealing his words with a kiss and then brushing his nose against mine.
★~ Present Day ~★
"Something I have to admit about Eun-ho is that, despite harassing someone and not giving up... he has his charms."
"Hye-jin... We have to get over it... As your best friend, I'll support you through this. Count on me."
"Thank you so much, Soo-kyung... What would I do without you?"
"Maybe you'd be acting like a crazy woman and kill the bitch who slept with Eun-ho and use him as revenge."
"Do you want to die?"
"I'm just kidding, Hye-jin. You wouldn't do something like that. Just try to clear things up with Eun-ho tomorrow so he doesn't bother you."
"I know, but I have a bad feeling."
"Don't worry, Hye-jin. Whatever happens, I'll support you, and I'm on your side. That's what friends are for."
"Thank you so much, Soo-kyung... You're the best," I said, hugging her.
"I'd be kidding." The next day at lunchtime, I slipped away and headed to the company courtyard where Eun-ho was waiting for me.
"Kang Hye-jin..."
"What do you want now, Eun-ho?"
"Hye-jin... please come back to me. Let's forget everything that happened," Eun-ho said, clasping his hands in supplication. What would he be capable of now? Getting down on his knees?
"But you know very well what you did. You cheated on me, Choi Eun-ho. You slept with another woman just weeks before the wedding. I'm not going to forgive you for this."
"Hye-jin, you can't do this to me. We had everything planned: the wedding, our house, and our children... Do you want all of that thrown away just because of a stupid betrayal?" Hearing those words, I clenched my fists. I felt the blood rush to my head with rage.
"Do this to you? Ha! You ruined everything." Everything was thrown away because of you, that's all I have to say. Goodbye, Mr. Choi, don't look for me.
As I turned to go back to the company, Eun-ho grabbed my wrist tightly, squeezing. "Let go of me, Eun-ho! You're hurting me!" I yelled at Eun-ho as I tried to pry his hand off my wrist.
"Understand, my love, you're the only woman in my life. I can't live without you, and you can't live without me. Don't complicate things, Hye-jin. Come back to me."
"L-let go of me, Eun-ho! Please," I stammered. "I admit my mistake in cheating on you, my love, but I swear it's the last time," he replied. His voice was deep and possessive, to the point that it made me shudder with fear. "Don't be stupid... without me, you're nothing... what will you do alone without a man?"
"You're wrong. I can take care of myself. I don't need you. Now let go of me!"
"I know you're the only woman in my life. I can take care of myself. Now let go of me!"
"I know you're the only woman in my life. I can't live without you. Now let go of me!"
"I know you're the only woman in my life. I can't live without you. Now let go of me!"
"I know you're the only woman in my life. I can take care of myself. I don't need ... can take care of you. Now let go of me!"
"I know you "I won't let you go that easily, Hye-jin. You're mine~ Do you understand?!"
Eun-ho raises his hand as if he wants to slap me. I close my eyes, bracing for the blow.
"Let go of Miss Kang!"
~**To be continued**~