unfinished short story

Because parting is painful

"Subin, let's break up."

"What are you talking about? Are you drunk?"



One night in June, when the rain was pouring down, Choi Soo-bin informed Kang Soo-bin that they were breaking up.

Kang Su-bin answered with a forced smile, thinking it was a joke.



"This is no joke."

".., what did I eat wrong? Why are you like this all of a sudden? Huh?"

"It's just that I don't love you anymore."

"..What, what are you talking about. Until yesterday..!"




Tears were welling up in Kang Soo-bin's eyes. How cruel, indeed. Even after saying those words, Choi Soo-bin calmly wiped Kang Soo-bin's tears.

And not long after, Kang Su-bin opened his mouth and said.



"Okay, let's break up. I'm going home. Take care."



His voice was trembling slightly. His back seemed to be shaking as he turned away. To be precise, it was probably trembling.

Kang Soo-bin seemed to have no regrets, and Choi Soo-bin seemed to truly not love. They went their separate ways.

That day, the rain was falling particularly hard and the air was so humid that it was hard to breathe.

Choi Soo-bin's right shoulder, holding the umbrella, became damp. He had leaned sideways to cover Kang Soo-bin. The wet shirt seemed to reflect Choi Soo-bin's feelings.



**


Kang Soo-bin's hair and clothes were drenched in rain. It felt just like Kang Soo-bin. Rain, tears, or something else dripped onto the floor. Yet, Kang Soo-bin's top remained dry. Thanks to Choi Soo-bin's jacket. Suddenly, a surge of irritation surged through her. This man was affectionate even up until the moment of their separation. She couldn't stop thinking about how he'd taken off his coat and given it to her, saying she was getting caught in the rain when she was just about to leave, and that a summer cold was a sure thing. How could he make it impossible to hate him even when they were parting? He really did hate him. And yet, he loved him. He pretended he didn't have any regrets, but the regret remained, so deep that it left footprints on the path he had walked.



"Damn, why is this house so small?"



A curse escaped my lips. As I recalled my countless grievances against Choi Soo-bin, I found myself back home. It was definitely my home, but it had been so long. Of course, I'd always stayed at Choi Soo-bin's. Choi Soo-bin's house was spacious. Perhaps because he was the heir to a large Korean conglomerate. It was a bit too spacious for the two of us, but I still liked it. It was better than my cramped home, and I loved being with the person I loved. Rainwater kept dripping from my hair and clothes. I walked into the bathroom and threw my clothes in the laundry basket, along with Choi Soo-bin's. Then I washed myself. I wished my thoughts could be washed away like the bubbles that wash away when they touch water.



*



Choi Soo-bin came home staggering after drinking a lot of alcohol that didn't suit her.



When I opened the door and came in, Kang Soo-bin should have been there. But Kang Soo-bin kept appearing before my eyes. I clearly drank alcohol to forget, but instead of forgetting, I kept thinking about it more. It's funny. I said I wanted to break up with her, but she couldn't forget me. I couldn't help but laugh. Choi Soo-bin still loves Kang Soo-bin to death. No matter how much I cry, she won't come back anyway.



"You have no shame, Choi Soo-bin."



He left his last regret to Kang Soo-bin. The jacket he had given her. Yes, that was the end. That really was the end.



-
It's unfinished, and I took out the piece I wrote last summer. I haven't edited it once.