A BAD CHAPTER

BEFORE Sohee was chased by Jin Taejoon because of his deadbeat father's debts, he actually enjoyed a slightly normal life.

Dating— it was the thing that helped him keep his sanity.

Working several part-time jobs was tolerable because he had Ahn Yujae back then.

Sohee and Ahn Yujae were high school classmates who drifted apart after graduation.

I cut ties with my old friends when I started working part-time jobs.

Sohee didn't want to feel bad about himself, and he also didn't want to feel jealous of his friends who all went to college.

But, one day, he reunited with Ahn Yujae when they met at the café he used to work at.

Sohee dated his ex-boyfriend for a year before that incident happened.

It was his first shift as a new part-time server at a soup restaurant near Yonhee University when Ahn Yujae and his friends walked in.

The group was drunk, and it was obvious they were there to cure their hang-over.

He wanted to greet them, but he was busy cleaning the table just behind the spot that Ahn Yujae and his companions chose.

His boyfriend and his friends didn't notice him because he had his back on them.

 Sohee didn't mean to, but he couldn't help but listen to the group's conversation because they were pretty loud.

"So, why did our dear Yujae get wasted, huh?"

He was surprised to hear that.

Why would Yujae get drunk? Does he have a problem? But, last night, he told me his friends just forced him to drink…

"Leave Jaejae alone— that poor bastard is too nice for his own good."

Hmm?

Only one person would call Ahn Yujae 'Jaejae,' and that would be Cha Jinha— Ahn Yujae's childhood friend.

"Did our poor Yujae get dumped?"

Sohee didn't want to, but his body moved slower and slower while listening intently to the conversation.

I know this is wrong, but I can't help it.

"I didn't get dump," Ahn Yujae said in a sleepy voice. "But…"

"But what?"

Sohee's heart thumped hard and fast against his chest.

But it wasn't Ahn Yujae who answered his friend's question.

"It's Jaejae who wants to break up with his boyfriend," Cha Jinha said, sighing. "But he feels bad for Park Sohee, so he can't do it."

That made Sohee's entire body turn cold.

Yujae wants to break up with me?

"But why do you want to break up with your boyfriend, Yujae-ya?"

"Right? You were pretty smitten with Park Sohee. Did you fall out of love with him?"

Okay, now Sohee was frozen from where he stood.

"I still love Sohee…"

Ah, shit.

I can hear the 'but' in there.

"But it's tiring being with Sohee," Ahn Yujae confessed in a sad voice. "We can't travel a lot because of his financial situation. Actually, we can't do much when we're together because everything costs money. And he doesn't want me to pay for him. I like spending time with him, but I also want to do a lot of fun things."

Ah.

Hearing that broke Sohee's heart.

It wasn't that he felt bad about himself— he actually felt bad for Ahn Yujae for forcing himself to be with him.

Yujae feels bored because I can't afford the things he wants to do…

"I can handle going on simple dates since I really like being with Sohee," Ahn Yujae said, pausing for a moment before sighing. "But I can't handle it when he vents to me. I don't mind if it's just once or twice. But he only talks about his problems when we're together. And because of his situation, I can't share the good things that happen to me."

Oh.

This time, Sohee's heart broke.

And he felt so fucking bad for himself.

"It's draining me," Ahn Yujae lamented. "I'm tired of hearing Sohee's problems when I just want to talk about positive things. But he needs me, so I find it hard to break up with him."

"Then let me do it for us, Yujae-ya."

When Sohee spoke, all of Ahn Yujae's friends looked up and gasped.

Except for Cha Jinha who just sighed.

"S-Sohee?" Ahn Yujae asked, shocked, as he stood up. "How long—"

"I heard everything," Sohee said as calmly as he could. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop at first. But since I heard my name, I couldn't help but listen. I'm sorry about that."

Ahn Yujae suddenly went pale, panic clearly written in his eyes.

"Yujae-ya, I'm sorry for being selfish— for always trauma dumping on you without caring about your mental health," Sohee said. Of course, he was hurt and bitter. But he quickly realized that Ahn Yujae had the right to feel that way. "And I shouldn't date when I can't afford it, so let's just break up."

It was the right thing to do.

But Sohee still hoped that Ahn Yujae would stop him, that his boyfriend would beg him to stay.

That we'll figure it out together.

But that didn't happen.

Ahn Yujae just burst into tears while keeping his head down. "I'm sorry, Sohee-ya— I really am."

***

A MONTH after Sohee broke up with Ahn Yujae, he heard that his ex-boyriend enlisted.

And he was glad.

After all, it was the time he found out that his father borrowed money from loan sharks.

It was actually embarrassing because the first time Jin Taejoon's underlings chased him, Ahn Yujae's friends saw him running away from the loan sharks.

Sohee got beaten to a pulp.

And the person who helped him get to the hospital was Ahn Yujae's childhood friend.

"Jinha-ssi, thank you for helping me," Sohee said while lying down on a bed in the hospital ward. "I'll pay you later for the bill."

"You don't have to," Cha Jinha, who was standing next to the bed, said. "It's alright."

"I insist— please give me your bank account."

"Well, if you insist."

An awkward silence ensued.

Jinha-ssi doesn't really like me, huh?

"Please don't tell Ahn Yujae about my situation, Jinha-ssi."

"I have no intention of doing that in the first place, Sohee-ssi," Cha Jinha said calmly. "After all, I don't want you to continue being a baggage to Ahn Yujae. I feel sorry for you, but I care more about my friend."

That was the first time Sohee felt so humiliated in his entire life.

I was just glad Yujae wasn't there to witness me being chased by loan sharks.

That was how Sohee's first love and relationship came to an end.

***

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