The Breakup Between You and Me - Side Story 11. Epilogue 4

Epilogue 4

“So, why are you here?”

I had just returned from a trip and rushed home to talk to Miho. To my surprise, I found her at the coffee shop. My heart sank, especially seeing a large trunk next to her, something she had never brought to Korea before. I brought her home, made her a comforting cup of hot tea, and tried to ask why she came to Korea so unexpectedly. However, every time I asked, she avoided the question.

She glared at him, blaming him for ruining their trip. Now she seemed closer to him than to herself. I gave him a nudge to address the situation, but he just looked away, seemingly clueless.

“Is that him? Let’s go on another trip?”

“…Miho.”

Suppressing my anger, I approached Miho, who was sipping tea.

“What’s happening between you and Mr. Jiu?”

I couldn’t think of any reason that would bring Miho to Korea other than something involving Mr. Jiu.

“Did you two have a fight?”

“…We broke up.”

“What?”

Miho sighed heavily, placing her teacup down.

“Yes, we broke up,” she admitted, avoiding eye contact. Her voice conveyed a mix of sadness and frustration.

I couldn’t conceal my shock. Miho and Mr. Jiu seemed like the perfect couple.

“But you two were so happy together. What happened?”

Miho hesitated, staring into her tea as if searching for the right words.

“Things changed, priorities shifted, and we realized we wanted different things in life. It’s complicated.”

Taking a seat across from her, I tried to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I thought we shared everything.”

Miho looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“I didn’t want to burden you with my problems. And besides, I needed some time to figure things out.”

I nodded, understanding her perspective, but feeling a bit hurt that she hadn’t confided in me sooner.

“You know you can always talk to me, right? I’m here for you.”

She managed a small smile, appreciating the offer.

“I know, and I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I just needed to sort out my feelings.”

Sighing, I realized that sometimes people go through tough times alone, even when they have friends willing to support them.

“So, what now? Are you planning to stay in Korea?”

Miho nodded. “I think I need a change of scenery and some time away. Maybe it’ll help me heal and figure out what comes next.”

I reached out to squeeze her hand gently. “Well, you’re not alone in this. I’ll be here for you, no matter what.”

As we sat in the quiet coffee shop, a mix of emotions flooded over me—sadness for Miho’s broken relationship and determination to support her through the challenging times ahead.

Little did I know that our lives were about to take an unexpected turn, and this impromptu meeting would mark the beginning of a new chapter for both of us.

“Why? What happened?” I inquired, concern furrowing my brows.

“I don’t know, Sooyin. I don’t want to talk about him,” Miho replied, her voice carrying a heavy weight.

Seeing the pain etched across her face, my heart went out to her. Through my own years of grappling with a breakup, Miho had always been there for me, offering comfort and support, even more affected by my heartache than I was.

I wanted to embrace her, understanding that even though we had grown close, the comfort I could offer might not fill the void left by him. I gently patted Miho’s hand.

“Can I stay here?”Miho asked, his friend’s eyes widened, and his face took on a pallid, thin appearance. What had transpired between these two individuals who had always stood firm together, no matter what? In the past, when Miho came to Korea following a disagreement with Jiu, she would either be pursued frantically or reach out to me. However, this time was different; it seemed like they had truly broken up.

“Well then, you can stay,” I offered, attempting to ease the tension.

“…I’m sorry,” he muttered.

I could sense him settling onto the couch across from me. When I met his gaze, he shook his head.

“You know how much I owe you, how you always lend me money when I’m in need, how you take care of my dad’s bills, how you feed me when I’m struggling. I have a long way to go to repay you, so make yourself comfortable.”

“…Yeah. Where should I stay?” she asked, a note of uncertainty in her voice.

“We have plenty of rooms. You can choose whichever one you want,” I reassured her, hoping that in this difficult time, she could find some solace within the sanctuary of our home.

I carefully placed my teacup on the table, hoping it would provide a moment of calm for Miho. She seemed to sense an intense gaze directed at her.

“You can take the second floor,” I suggested, offering a solution.

“If you’re not comfortable in the newlywed house, I’ll find you another place.”

“It’s okay. Really, it’s okay,” I reassured her, sensing her unease.

“Am I in the wrong place?” she questioned.

“No, you’re not. You’re not. Get up. I’ll help you unpack,” I insisted, trying to diffuse the tension.

She shook her head in frustration, and I muttered something about not leaving her alone. Reluctantly, I stood up and lifted Miho’s trunk. I had intended to assist with unpacking, but Miho insisted she was fine and needed some rest, so I headed downstairs. I approached him sulking on the couch.

“Are you really going to do this?” I asked, expressing my frustration.

“What did I do?” he retorted.

“You know how much Miho has helped me, so why do you keep making me feel uncomfortable?” I questioned.

“I’m just telling you the truth. Don’t you think it’s hard for Miho to be around newlyweds? She’ll be reminded of her ex, and that’s why I offered to get her a house.”

He reached out, hugging her waist and rubbing his face against her stomach. Despite the urge to tug on his ears, his wide, beautiful eyes held me back. Instead, I gently stroked his head.

“Be good to my friend. You’re being good to him, okay?” I requested.

“I’m being good to him. I kicked him out when I felt like it,” he grumbled about his virtues. As I rubbed his earlobe, my hand tightened around his waist, emphasizing the unspoken bond between us.

“Miho, let’s cook something delicious,” I suggested.

“Yes,” she agreed, enthusiasm in her voice.

“But first, I’m really sleepy. I’m going to bed,” I announced.

“I’ll put you to bed,” he offered.

I nodded, and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, guiding me as we walked side by side into the room. As if on cue, I fell onto the bed and nestled against his arm pillow. I found myself unable to sleep without him—his warmth, his scent, his touch had become second nature.

“That’s right! We should be careful around Miho for a while,” he suggested.

“Like what?” I inquired.

“Don’t show affection or… things like that” he said, blushing.

She blinked in confusion.

“…What? What!” My voice rose in understanding, and I quickly clamped my hand over his mouth, deeming the topic too embarrassing.

I told him it was ridiculous and asked him to try again.

“No, no. When you do that, you just….” she hesitated.

“Just?” he urged me to continue.

“Just because you’re an animal,” she concluded, and I felt my face explode with embarrassment. His animalistic behavior flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye. His pectoral muscles clenched.

“…Ha. You, really,” he chuckled, and I finally lifted my eyes to look at him, a mixture of embarrassment and amusement playing across his features.

“Who am I to be a beast?” he asked, as I fluttered my eyelids in bewilderment.    

“…We can do it without making a sound, right?” I’m not giving up.    

“How can I do it without making a sound?”

“You’ll do it slowly, really slowly.”

“Even if I do it slowly, it’ll still make a sound.”

“You can just pull the covers over your head.” 

“I used to make good babies in a single room.”

“That was a long time ago.”    

The corners of my mouth twitched. This was how I loved to express my impatience. My toes squirmed and rubbed against his leg. It had become a habit. I rubbed my skin against him before falling asleep.    

“And the problem is….”

“What’s the problem?” I asked, too tired to speak.    

Slowly, “My moans are too loud.”

“I’d said everything I needed to say.”    

“…I can’t hold it in.”

“You can hold it in, right?”

“…It feels so good….”

I shut my eyes tight, unable to speak. He did it for me when I stopped rubbing my feet. When his hand touched my back, the corners of my mouth turned up, and I fell asleep.    

* * *

It’s been almost a month since Miho came to Korea, and during his work hours, we strolled around together, catching up and having a great time. Miho appeared to be enjoying herself as well.

However, there was one person who seemed less than thrilled.

“…So when are you leaving?” he inquired.

“You didn’t even say you were leaving, did you?” she retorted.

“…Tomorrow?”

There was only one person keen on ushering her out, and that person was him. When he suggested Miho should leave, she didn’t even react, steadfast in the knowledge that she was my friend.

“Kimchi stew again?” she asked.

“Yes,” Miho replied.

“Is this the only thing you’re going to eat for the whole month?” I teased.

“But I wanted it so badly, I don’t know how long I held back,” she admitted with a smile, pulling out the kimchi as if unable to resist.

“So when is she going to leave?” he playfully asked.

“I think she’s going to stay,” she replied, indicating that Miho’s presence might become a more permanent fixture in our lives.

“…What?” I responded, well aware of the reasons behind his recent behavior. Since Miho’s arrival, he had limited physical intimacy, feeling uneasy about engaging in more with a friend residing on the second floor, unsure of when she might come downstairs.

“…Haha, Miho, that’s really it,” he chuckled, attempting to brush off the situation.

Feeling the need to intervene, I mumbled that I had to do something and left the kitchen. Glancing back at Miho, who was slicing kimchi, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the recent revelation about her lingering wounds. When she finally spoke up, she attributed their breakup to common boredom.

I, having broken up with him before boredom set in, couldn’t quite grasp the concept, so all I could offer was encouragement for her to stay strong.

“What are you thinking?” he asked, toweling his hair out of his face. Leaning back against the head of the bed, his voice jolted me awake.

“It’s nothing.”

“Why, is something bothering you?” he inquired, sitting at the end of the bed and studying my face. He always wanted to know everything about me. Water dripped from my jet-black hair, and I reached out to grab the ends.

“…Do you think we’ll have a Kwon Tae-ki?” I asked.

“Kwon Tae-ki?” he repeated.

“Yes. I thought Miho and Jiu would never break up,” I confessed, reflecting on the unexpected turns in relationships around us.

He didn’t bother drying her hair; instead, he gently laid her down on the bed and cradled her in his arms. “Are you upset?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m upset,” she admitted.

“They broke up, but they could get back together, just like we did,” he suggested.

“…Still.”

She couldn’t comprehend why she had been crying so much lately.

“It’ll get old. To us, too,” he mentioned, acknowledging the reality that even their relationship might face challenges and changes over time, his words unintentionally bringing tears to her eyes. She didn’t want to entertain the thought.

“We’ll get over it.”

“What if we don’t?” she suddenly became anxious, knowing that many couples break up due to boredom.

“Don’t worry. We’ll get through it one way or another,” he reassured her.

“And boredom may never come. We’ve been through it twice, and I know how hard it is to break up with someone,” he added, offering a sense of optimism and understanding from his own experiences.

She nodded, finding solace in his words.

“I’m sure it’ll work out for Miho, too. Relationships aren’t meant to be broken,” he asserted.

“Do you think Miho and Jiu will get back together?” she questioned.

“Well?” he pondered, leaving the answer open-ended, allowing the uncertainty of the future to linger in the air.

I shook my head as I gazed at his weirdly smiling face. I believe he is concealing something.

“Si-hyuk.”

“Huh?”

“Then why are your hands there?” A hand grips my br*ast. He pulls my bra and twists my n*pples.    

“What did I tell you not to do?” I ask quietly, not sure whether anyone is listening.    

“I’ll just touch them.”

“Uh…”

“No. Never.”

 Never mind, never mind. I hadn’t done it in over a month, and I felt lonely. The hand that had cupped my br*asts slid down and cupped my p*ssy.

To avoid moaning, I gritted my teeth. I pressed my brow into his chest, watching his fingers travel up and down the slice of flesh.    

“You’re wet.”

He smirked, as if I’d done something to wet him. I would have struck him in the forearm if I hadn’t been so busy trying to gather my breath.    

“I think your boobs are getting a little bigger. Did you touch them by yourself?”

“Uh…yeah. No.”

As he climbed up my body and s*cked on my n*pple, I placed my hand up to cover my lips. He yanked his jeans and underwear off and opened her legs wide.    

“I’m not…….”

“I’m not going to, I’m just going to look, see how mine is.”    

My labia split with a crack as my legs opened, my hole tingling just from his look.    His face burrowed between my legs, frustratingly sluggish.

“Wait!”