“Wow, look at you, Seo Jae-ha—totally clueless about being dumped, no immunity at all.”
Ji-hyang wasn’t quite as blunt as Hae-hyun, but it was enough to get under his skin. Jae-ha shot back, sharp and defensive.
“I wasn’t dumped.”
“When people get called out, they always overreact. That’s just human nature.”
“I said I wasn’t.”
His expression hardened as he tore into his curry like it had done him wrong. Across from him, Ji-hyang took a bite of pizza, clearly in no hurry to stop teasing him.
“Sure, keep saying that. But your face says otherwise. That glow of yours? Completely gone.”
Since she shared the most classes with him, Ji-hyang caught on quickly whenever something was off. Her friend, who usually disappeared at lunch with a flimsy excuse about meeting some fling, suddenly insisting on eating with her instead? That was suspicious.
“Maybe I just wanted to eat with you for once.”
He tried to deflect, giving it his best shot.
“Uh-huh. The fact you’re scrambling to cover it up only makes it more obvious.”
Yeah, that excuse didn’t land.
“Wow, no faith in me at all….”
Jae-ha’s voice trailed off as he poked at his food. Saying it out loud felt humiliating, but bottling it up made his chest burn. How was he supposed to explain that the guy he’d been meeting had been openly weighing him against some girl? The more he replayed it, the more absurd it seemed. No one had ever treated him like this.
Unfortunately, living under the same roof meant he still had to face Hae-hyun at home. Hae-hyun made several attempts to talk, testing the waters, but Jae-ha brushed him off each time, pretending to be busy.
What Jae-ha hadn’t expected was realizing how obsessive he could be. Acting indifferent did nothing. The second he became aware they were in the same room, all his focus locked on Hae-hyun. If he let his guard slip even slightly, the urge to interrogate him about “that woman” surged up again. Every little thing—Hae-hyun fiddling with his phone, grinning at a half-written text, zoning out with distant eyes, even his casual comments online—looked suspicious.
Even his breathing felt connected to her. The frustration boiled until it turned black-hot, heat trapped in his chest with nowhere to escape, stoking an endless fire. He was so wound up he worried he might actually grab Hae-hyun by the collar, so as a last resort, he forced himself to go to bed early.
Normally, Hae-hyun would follow as soon as Jae-ha lay down. But this time, he only crept in much later, when he thought Jae-ha was asleep, sliding quietly under the covers. Jae-ha, still wide awake and seething, seriously considered kicking him out of bed. But the thought of the inevitable confrontation afterward drained him, so he shut his eyes and faked sleep. The next morning, he left the house in a rush, like he was running away.
It was humiliating to think he’d actually believed they had a good thing going. He’d convinced himself it was practically the same as dating, assuming of course that Hae-hyun felt the same.
The most infuriating part? Judging by how things were, he was clearly the second choice. That girl Hae-hyun had met already had a boyfriend. If she broke up, he’d go back to her without hesitation. And what about him?
That was the thought that kept looping in his head.
Back when friends confided in him about messy relationship situations, he’d thought, Why can’t they just cut it off cleanly? But now that he was in it himself, he finally understood.
Even though the whole thing was ridiculous, his feelings wouldn’t just vanish. Hae-hyun’s worried looks, his petty complaints, his gentle gestures—they still dug deep into his chest.
That’s why, when he caught Hae-hyun on the phone, he couldn’t demand who he was talking to. Instead, he bolted from the building like a coward. Later, when Hae-hyun asked why he hadn’t answered his calls, he mumbled vague excuses, never giving the real reason.
Not that he had the right to ask anyway. They weren’t even dating.
Realizing how much he actually liked Hae-hyun—only through this humiliating mess—was a first.
“Or maybe you’re just not into him? You tried it out and it was boring?”
“What?”
Excuse me? Who’s the victim here? Jae-ha’s eyebrows twitched in anger. But to his surprise, Ji-hyang looked dead serious.
“I mean, that’s your type, isn’t it? People who are unusual, interesting. Even your exes were all a little eccentric.”
“…Were they?”
Were they really that unusual? Thinking back, nothing specific came to mind. Sure, he was drawn to interesting people, but wasn’t everyone?
“Look, everyone likes a little excitement, but you especially chase it. You’re a high-intensity type. Even your leave of absence proves it. While everyone else took time off for certifications or résumé building, you quit because school was boring. Sometimes I worry you’ll wander into something reckless just because you’re restless.”
Clearly, she’d been thinking this for a long time, because the words spilled out without hesitation. Startled by her sudden psychoanalysis, Jae-ha blinked.
And the more he thought about it, the more she might have a point. Since childhood, he’d had no patience for boredom, losing interest fast and cycling through hobbies constantly. He’d had plenty of flings that fizzled out once he lost steam. Real relationships lasted a little longer, sure—but the results… best left unsaid.
“Anyway, that’s why I figured maybe it was the same this time. It’s been a while, but flings ending? Totally normal.”
“It wasn’t a fling.”
“…What?”
“Just a younger friend, that’s all.”
Ji-hyang’s eyes went wide at his firm denial, like he’d just said something insane. But Jae-ha was resolute. It was the conclusion he’d come to after a night of agonizing.
He wasn’t about to dance to Hae-hyun’s tune anymore. But he also wasn’t going to mope around like some dumped loser. If he suddenly pulled back, Hae-hyun would notice immediately, and realize Jae-ha had figured it all out. He’d know Jae-ha had been hurt. And there was no way Jae-ha was going to show weakness to someone who dared toy with him.
It was petty pride, but he meant it. He refused to let Hae-hyun see him shaken.
Not that he had some grand revenge planned either. He just intended to erase the idea that there’d ever been “something” between them.
He’d act the same as before, just never let things progress. Wrap it up naturally, like nothing had changed. The only difference would be burying one humiliating memory deep in the ground.
And thankfully, no one else knew. Except for him—and Ji-hyang, who’d only guessed.
Jae-ha smirked. That was exactly why he’d had lunch with her today. His crooked, dark smile made her flinch.
“Wh-what’s that look?”
“What fling, Ji-hyang? I’m not even thinking about dating.”
The words were light, but her sharp mind caught the undertone. Her eyes narrowed.
“On the house?”
“Enjoy your lunch.”
He was offering to pay.
Her face lit up instantly.
“Knew it. That’s our Jae-ha—always generous.”
The plan was off to a smooth start.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
What’d you have for lunch?
On his way back to campus, Jae-ha checked his phone and saw the message waiting. Hae-hyun, who’d pouted when he heard Jae-ha was eating with Ji-hyang but accepted it anyway, apparently hadn’t been able to wait and had texted mid-lunch. Seeing the message sitting there, Jae-ha’s lips curled into a crooked grin.
[Me]
Curry
[Ju Hae-hyun]
Somewhere we haven’t been?
[Ju Hae-hyun]
If it was good, take me there next time.
Wow. That brazen move almost made Jae-ha snap, but he forced a deep breath to calm down and typed back sweetly.
[Me]
No, it was bad.
[Me]
That place is a no-go.
Basically a one-star review, unfairly dooming some poor restaurant owner.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
Really?
[Ju Hae-hyun]
Want me to cook for you? I make good curry.
Just days ago, Jae-ha would’ve smiled at that, found it endearing. Now, after everything, it just felt shameless. Smooth as a pro.
Still, if he was volunteering free labor, why refuse? Jae-ha was about to type a reply when a loud voice called out nearby.
“Oh! Jae-ha oppa!”
He lifted his head from his phone. Right ahead, a group of classmates spilled out of a café.
“Hey, Jae-ha hyung.”
“Hi, Ji-hyang unni!”
“Wow, what are the odds? Did you two eat already?”
“Yeah, at the curry-and-pizza place up the street.”
As soon as Ji-hyang confirmed, the group groaned in protest.
“You should’ve eaten with us! We just finished too.”
“Seriously, we should’ve called.”
“Too bad. Are you two heading to the student lounge now?”
“I’ve got class.”
“Library for me.”
With answers tumbling out, someone quickly suggested they at least walk back to campus together. In no time, Jae-ha and Ji-hyang were surrounded, swept along with the group down the street.
“Perfect. Jae-ha oppa, are you going to the MT? I heard Ji-hyang unni already paid, but you haven’t yet?”
