Yu jin's POV
I don't know why I even checked my phone. Maybe because I was tired of staring at the stairs and pretending I wasn't hearing the silence above.
The screen was still glowing from that one message
Don't leave yet.
Park Min's name.
My brain read it twice before it decided to believe it. Don't leave yet? What did that even mean? Was I supposed to wait here while he argued with his ex about abortions and promises?
I dropped the phone back on the couch. "Yeah, sure," I said to nobody. "I'll just sit here and babysit your trauma."
I waited another minute, maybe two. Then I stood. My body was on autopilot jacket, shoes, bag. I was halfway to the door when I heard footsteps. Two pairs. Slow and heavy.
I turned around, because of course I did.
And there they were.
Park Min and Hana. Coming down the stairs. His hand on her waist, her face close to his neck, both of their lips on each others. Then he stopped halfway down, leaned forward, and kissed her neck.
I didn't move. Not a blink, not a breath. Just watched the two people who'd spent ten minutes yelling about betrayal now making out like they were on some emotional discount honeymoon.
For a second, I thought maybe I was hallucinating. Maybe I took his hangover pills by mistake. But no this was real. Her hand was in his hair, his fingers were shaking a little like he couldn't decide if this was love or regret.
And me? I was just the extra in the background. The guy holding the useless bag of pills and trying not to feel something he shouldn't.
The worst part? My heart actually hurt. Not the "oh no, poor me" kind of hurt. The tight, stupid kind that made my body forget how to function. I had no reason to care but tell that to the thing in my chest that decided betrayal was suddenly a personal hobby.
So I did the mature thing. I picked up my bag, turned toward the door, and made sure it slammed loud enough to break their little romantic bubble.
Before I stepped out, I glanced back once. His eyes met mine while he was still kissing her. They slowly lifted and immediately met mine and he rolled them back while sucking her lips.
And yeah, that did something ugly inside me.
I left before I could figure out what exactly it was.
***
The air outside felt heavier than it should. I walked too fast, like I could outrun the picture burned in my head. My body was still in motion, but my mind had already gone somewhere darker.
All that time I'd been telling myself to chill, to let go, to stop thinking about revenge. To stop turning every memory into a weapon. But standing there, watching him, it was like someone pressed "replay" on everything I was trying to forget.
All of a sudden, I wanted it again the revenge, the plan, the satisfaction of seeing him break the way he broke others.
Maybe that's what he does best. He ruins you quietly until you start ruining yourself for him. I was going to make him beg for me so hard.
***
By the time I got to my apartment, my head was pounding. I didn't even take off my shoes. I went straight to the drawer, grabbed the bottle, and took two of the anxiety pills dry. They tasted like chalk and regret.
My reflection in the TV screen looked like someone halfway through a breakdown and halfway through a comedy routine that wasn't funny anymore.
Then the phone buzzed again.
Min
I swear my body loosened just seeing his name. I hit the video call before I could think twice.
"Papa!" Rin's voice was small and excited. He was wearing his dinosaur pajamas, hair all messed up.
"Hey, little man." My voice came out rough. "Why are you still awake? It's late."
"I waited for you," he said, waving a plastic toy at the camera. "I wanted to show you Rexy got a new tail.Woo Min dady bought me a new toy." And that's Woo Min for you, sweet as always, what will I do without him?
I smiled so wide all my molars could be seen. "Rexy's lucky. I lost mine years ago."
He giggled. The sound actually hurt a little in the good way, like someone pressed pause on the chaos in my head.
Then Woo Min's face appeared beside him. "Hey Jin. You look like you fought a blender."
"I lost," I said. "The blender won."
He laughed softly. "We'll be coming to visit next week. I have an appointment at the hospital there. Thought we'd crash your place for a few days if that's okay."
"We?," I asked.
Rin grinned proudly. "Yes papa, grandma won't be available for a while, she went to harvest on the large piece alongside the other farmers."
"OMG Sure," I said. "Have'nt I just missed you."
Woo Min looked at me a little longer than usual, his expression shifting. "You okay?"
I lied fast. "Yeah. Just tired."
He didn't believe it he never does but he nodded anyway. "We'll see you soon, alright? Try not to drown in caffeine and bad decisions."
"Too late," I said, smiling.
When the call ended, the silence felt heavier again. I dropped my phone on the couch, sat back, and tried to breathe. But the image came again Park Min kissing her. His eyes finding mine like it was nothing. Like he didn't owe anyone a damn explanation. Maybe he didn't. Maybe I was just the fool who thought he was different.
I looked at the pills again. Then at the door.
I could feel the old version of me waking up the one who didn't just take pain, he stored it. Recycled it. Turned it into something sharp.
"Don't leave yet," he said.
Too late, Park Min.
I was already gone.
***
I fell asleep for a few minutes again and then bang bang bang
Then there was a knock on the door. Three soft taps.
I
froze. Another set of knocks slower this time.
And a voice.
"Yu Jin… open up."
Was it him?
Park Min.