This story is fictional

/

The rippling waves glimmering in the winter sunlight, lonely on that sandy beach,

show the female lead walking alone. Since it’s the seaside, she’s wearing a thick coat, but the cold

cut deep into her skin. This ocean was a place she often came to with Yeonjun, a place where the emerald-colored

memories the two of them shared alone, memories that most people don't know, were kept. Nothing has changed here, huh

If anything’s changed about me, it’s that I broke up with Yeonjun. My nose stings, and for no reason

sniffling, I walked and walked without thinking. The phone that kept ringing had already

been off for a long time. If I sat quietly and looked at the sea, happy memories would

come back. Even though I came to the winter sea without bringing proper clothes and got hit by the fierce waves,

the moment I started remembering how happy I’d been, happy enough not to feel the cold, the female lead’s face

grew darker and darker. Why do I keep thinking about it.. We’re completely over

it, so stop tormenting me, Choi Yeonjun!! The couple ring on my left ring finger

was tucked deep into my coat pocket.

Tears quickly welled up and fell, and she quietly sobbed.

Beside her, three empty cans of beer were rolling around on the sand.

/

Late at night, the female lead boarded a bus to Seoul. As soon as she got on, the bus was warm, so

maybe because of that, or maybe because she’d gotten tipsy, her face flushed, and the moment she sat by the window,

she fell asleep as if fainting. After sleeping soundly for a long while, her head hit the window, and she

opened her eyes, frowning as if in pain. Where am I? The moment she looked at the clock, she was shocked

because it was 10 p.m. What the hell, no way, I slept until now?

She muttered to herself that she must be crazy, and then when she got off the bus at the Seoul terminal,

it was colder than when she’d been at the beach, so she hunched her shoulders and moved inside. The female lead stopped

walking, and someone greeted her and blocked her way. Looking up, the female lead found that his face was somewhat

familiar, but she couldn’t quite remember who he was. The person smiling brightly at her, dimples

showing, was Taehyun.

"Oh? You’re not crying today?"

"Huh? Who.."

Taehyun, who suddenly asked why she wasn’t crying today, looked disappointed when the female lead answered warily, asking who he was. His big eyes drooped as he turned sulky. "You really don’t know me?"

Then he lowered his head until their eyes were inches apart, and thanks to that, the female lead’s eyes, having lost

their place to go, made an awkward expression.

"You were crying in front of the hotel the other day when it was raining,"

"Oh, the umbrella owner! I’ll return your umbrella. Please give me your contact info."

The female lead, who recognized him at once thanks to the umbrella 이야기, looked adorable. And after the surprise of her unexpected

remark passed for a moment, she held out her phone to Taehyun and handed her own phone

to the female lead as well. With a slightly excited heart, Taehyun entered his phone number and saved it as

Kang Taehyun.

"I’m Kang Taehyun."

"My name is Seo Yeoju. There were initials on the umbrella, so

I really wanted to return it. I can’t believe we met like this. I’m so glad."
Just then, Soobin came into view, spotted the female lead talking with Taehyun, and greeted her.

"Yeoju!"

"Oh, Soobin!"

"What, why are you dressed so lightly? And who told you to go to the beach alone, huh?"

"What if someone took you away? Why did you even turn your phone off,
and why would you come back so late at night? Huh?"
"Tch, nagging! You’re worse than my dad, Choi Soobin."

Like he was scolding the lover who made him worry, he pulled her coat closed and took off his scarf,

wrapping it around Yeoju’s bare neck tightly, his brow furrowed, but Soobin kept

looking at Yeoju with eyes full of love. Taehyun, who never missed a thing like that,

became interested in Soobin. Choi Soobin? What? Did he get a new girlfriend in the meantime??

"Oh, I’ll contact you. Goodbye."

"Yes, I’ll be waiting for your message."

After saying his final goodbye to Taehyun, Taehyun stood there blankly, staring until Yeoju disappeared.

Then Yusin, Taehyun’s friend with a pile of luggage in his hands, looked at him in disbelief.

"Hey, Kang Taehyun, you said you came all the way from Gangwon-do to pick me up, so why weren’t you here to get me?

That’s seriously disappointing, bastard."
"Huh? Yusin, when did you get here?"

"I got here ages ago. You told me to come, and then you’re off daydreaming?"

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I just met someone and was happy to see them."

"I saw your eyes. Eyes like you’re in love—who is it?"

"A lost puppy."

"Huh?"

"There’s such a thing, my friend. Come on, let’s go drink."

Putting an arm around the bewildered Yusin’s shoulder, Taehyun hurried him along. Yusin was

puzzled. Those love-struck eyes were something he’d only seen once before, after Shin Jua. The Taehyun

he knew was someone who had failed at his first love, cared about neither women nor giving them a second glance, and after graduation

had drifted around here and there, living like a wanderer, before going back to his family home only about a year ago.

/

On the way home, Soobin and Yeoju. Soobin found himself recalling what had happened earlier. Who was that

man with the big eyes, and why was he looking at Yeoju like that? It bothered him.

"Choi Soob, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about what to eat for a late-night snack?"

"No, I was wondering about that guy who was smiling at you earlier. I was thinking maybe there’s a man I don’t know."

"Ah! He’s the umbrella owner who held an umbrella over me! It was seriously amazing.

Is this what coincidence feels like? I’m going to return the umbrella to him."

Yeoju was excited. With a small sigh, Soobin took her home.
"Yeoju, if you’re having a hard time, make sure you tell me anytime.

If you go off alone without contacting me like today, you’re getting scolded, got it?"

"Aww, thanks to Choi Soobin I can’t go anywhere alone.
Coming back after seeing the sea really cleared my head.

As a friend, I promise I won’t do anything you’re worried about!"
Even though she spoke cheerfully, sadness was lingering in her eyes. Hooking their pinkies together, they
made a promise. Even as a friend, she thought that was fine, because she could stay by his side. The day she decided to protect you,

she thought it didn’t matter what happened to her. She felt like she could take all of your spoiled demands,

your tears, your mistakes. If you never left me for the rest of your life,

then maybe that was just my greed. Bae Gyu’s words came back to her.

Obsession.. The fact that I’m the one wanting you also made me resent myself a little. When I saw

her smiling in front of me, my heart was pounding like crazy. She’s the one who gave me life,

Seo Yeoju, I want you to be my first and last love. How could I possibly not love you?

Still, please keep looking at me for a long time. Even when I’m looking at you, I miss you every day,

because you’re my one and only. If it isn’t you, it won’t do.

It was his bitter monologue, all to himself.

—

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