"I know what you're thinking, but this is a misunderstanding."

"What misunderstanding? Just you being here is proof you're cheating behind my back."

"I swear it's not like that."

"If it's not, then explain. I'll listen."

Just as Chae-yeon was about to speak, Sohui, who was sitting next to her, quickly stood up, pushing her chair back, and said urgently to Si-hyun, "Si-hyun, it really isn't Chae-yeon's fault. She didn't want to come, but I forced her to."

"It doesn't matter if you brought her or some other guy did. She should've refused till the end. How can she go on a blind date when she has a boyfriend?"

From Si-hyun's perspective, it was Sohui's fault for bringing Chae-yeon to a blind date knowing she had a boyfriend, and Chae-yeon was at fault for coming along.

Since he had witnessed everything from the start, he couldn't view this situation positively.

'These deceitful women...'

While Si-hyun was shaking with rage, Sohui hung her head in shame, and Chae-yeon clung to his sleeve.

"Let's talk outside. What are you doing causing a scene here?"

"Why? Embarrassed because people are staring? Well, that's good. At least you feel ashamed."

"I told you it's a misunderstanding. I only came to fill the numbers. I had no intention of participating in the blind date."

"How can I believe that? I saw you ignoring my calls, knowing full well you were at a blind date. Lim Chae-yeon, do you take me for a fool?"

"It's not like that, really. You're jumping to conclusions. I was just..."

Before Chae-yeon could finish her sentence, one of the men from the blind date spoke up.

"He's making all this fuss because he can't control his girlfriend. Unbelievable."

With his hands in his pockets, he leaned back mockingly.

The man sitting across from Chae-yeon spoke up.

"What did you just say?"

Si-hyun leaned in closer as he asked, glaring at the man.

"Did I say anything wrong? Obviously, Chae-yeon came to this blind date because she's not satisfied with her boyfriend."

"You little..."

The man's words further unsettled Si-hyun, who was already on edge.

On any other day, he might have brushed it off, but today, the comment cut deep. Enraged, Si-hyun grabbed the man by the collar.

"What? You want to get hit?"

The grip on the man's collar tightened. It looked like a fight could break out at any moment.

Amid the growing murmurs of other patrons, Chae-yeon pulled on Si-hyun's arm and shouted.

"Stop it!"

"Let go."

Overcome with anger, Si-hyun harshly shook off her hand.

"That's right, Chae-yeon. Let go of me. I'll help you get rid of this guy."

The blind date man also squared up to Si-hyun, but Chae-yeon glared at him and spoke coldly.

"I don't know why you're pretending to be close to me, but you should just shut up."

Her sharp retort left the man dumbfounded.

Chae-yeon was exceptionally beautiful, even among women. Trying to impress her, he realized from her cutting response that he had no chance.

Defeated, the man slumped down, and Si-hyun reluctantly let go of his collar, urged by Chae-yeon's continued pleas.

"Kim Si-hyun, follow me outside."

Chae-yeon headed out of the shop. Since she was the one Si-hyun wanted to confront in the first place, he couldn't refuse.

He apologized to the friend who had informed him about the blind date, feeling bad for causing a scene, then followed after Chae-yeon.

Chae-yeon's destination was 228 Park, which they had passed by earlier.

It was a place with benches arranged in a circular formation around a fountain.

Sprinklers designed to prevent heat waves scattered fine water droplets like mist around the area. Standing at the center with her arms crossed, Chae-yeon glared at Si-hyun and spoke.

"Are you out of your mind? Why are you acting like a lunatic? I told you to stop!"

"This would never have happened if you didn’t go on that blind date."

"No, do you think I went because I wanted to? Sohui begged me to go with her, so I was just sitting there. Is that so wrong?"

"Of course, it's wrong. Sohui has other friends besides you. Why did you have to go? If it were me, I wouldn't have gone out of consideration."

Si-hyun’s indignation was bolstered by the fact that Chae-yeon had attended the blind date, fueling his anger.

Normally, he would have apologized first even if he felt wronged. But he had resolved not to show weakness anymore.

He understood that if he bowed down in this situation too, he'd never escape this lower status in their relationship.

'Through this incident, I need to bring about a change in our relationship.'

If Chae-yeon's explanation turned out to be true, then there might still be room for understanding.

While he initially hadn't trusted what Chae-yeon and Sohui had said, seeing Chae-yeon's attitude towards the blind date man had helped restore a bit of his faith in her.

Taking a deep breath, once, twice.

Si-hyun calmed his anger and controlled his emotions to be as positive as possible. He demanded with a trace of mercy.

"Apologize for what you did. Then I'll let it slide just this once."

Although it wasn't something that could be brushed over with a single apology, there was great significance in Chae-yeon apologizing, given her immense arrogance.

Chae-yeon, who had always maintained the upper hand without ever saying sorry, if she were to apologize sincerely this time, it would suggest that their current relationship could change, Si-hyun thought.

"...Apolo..."

With her head bowed, Chae-yon's lips trembled slightly after hesitating for some time.

"I can't hear you. What did you say?"

Si-hyun urged her to speak up. Chae-yeon’s lips, which had repeatedly opened and closed, finally parted.

"I did nothing wrong. I will never apologize."

"What?"

Si-hyun couldn't believe his ears.

He let out a derisive laugh, not from amusement, but from sheer disbelief.

Going on a blind date despite being in a committed relationship is a severe breach of trust.

Nevertheless, to maintain their relationship, Si-hyun suppressed his anger and offered an easy way to reconciliation—a simple apology.

Si-hyun had already apologized countless times, humbling his pride over and over.

At first, apologies were difficult, but they became easier over time. He had even reached a point where he was grateful if matters could be resolved with a single apology.

However, despite committing an unforgivable act, Chae-yeon refused to acknowledge her fault.

Far from admitting it, she narrowed her eyes and asked in a voice full of distrust.

"More importantly, how did you know I was there? Were you following me?"

"Hey, Lim Chae-yeon..."

Si-hyun's rationality, which had been suppressing his anger, was gradually fading away.

There was a tremor in Si-hyun’s voice, while Chae-yeon's voice grew more confident, as if she felt she had the upper hand.

"You always claim to love me, and now you're even stalking me?"

"Fuck. Enough already!"

Si-hyun's effort to resolve things amicably was in vain.

The fact that she couldn't even offer a simple apology for his sake made him feel more wretched than anything.

With Si-hyun's furious outburst, Chae-yeon took a step back, incredulous.

"Did you just curse at me?"

It was the first time Chae-yeon had ever been cursed at by Si-hyun.

He had always been gentle and kind, but now, seeing him enraged felt like he was a completely different person.

"I became trash to you because you couldn't bear to apologize just once. Don't you think anyone would curse in this situation?"

Si-hyun ran his hand through his hair, seething with anger, while Chae-yeon resorted to her last measure.

"You're really going overboard... Do you want to break up with me that badly?"

Chae-yeon thought.

‘As always, merely hinting at breaking up would be enough to calm Si-hyun down.’

However.

"Are you sure we are even in a relationship?"

"What..."

Si-hyun's response was far beyond Chae-yeon's expectations, and filled with pent-up frustration, he candidly expressed his feelings.

"Other couples are desperate to show their love for each other. But since we've been together, I've never once heard you say you love me..."

Only Si-hyun had unilaterally given his love, while Chae-yeon received it as though it was her right.

Having grown accustomed to this power imbalance, Chae-yeon was puzzled by his words and asked again, as if she couldn't understand.

"So what? Just being able to date me should be enough for you. After being fine all this time, why are you causing a commotion now?"

"Do you think our current relationship is right... No, wait."

Si-hyun decided to change his question.

A curiosity he had kept inside all this time.

A question he had only suffered through internally, fearing the irreversible consequences of voicing it.

"Chae-yeon, do you even like me?"

Upon hearing Si-hyun's question, a ripple spread through Chae-yeon's previously calm eyes.

Her hand holding her handbag trembled, and she simply looked at him, biting her lower lip.

"Why can't you answer?"

Even if it were just an empty sentiment, she could have said she liked him, but Chae-yeon didn't do even that.

And because of that, Si-hyun felt repulsed.

After receiving everything to the end, she couldn't even give a single grain in return.

"Selfish woman."

Mumbling softly, Si-hyun turned around, filled only with disappointment.

He then walked away, turning his back on Chae-yeon toward the bus stop.

One step. Two steps. Just as the pain he had tried so hard to ignore began to swell in his shins, he heard Chae-yeon's shout from behind.

"Hey, Kim Si-hyun! Are you really going to break up with me like this?"

Si-hyun held back the tears threatening to fall and merely turned his head.

And there, through his blurred vision, he saw the face of the woman he had genuinely loved.

"Yes, let's end it. I'm tired of this."

Unreciprocated love. One-sided love inevitably wears one out over time.

The passionate love that once burned so brightly consumed its fuel just as quickly.

Si-hyun tried to keep the spark alive by adding more firewood, but Chae-yeon's cold attitude was like pouring cold water on the flames.

"If you take another step... the moment you do, it's really over."

With Chae-yeon's threat, Si-hyun's feet felt even heavier.

The weight of his last remaining regrets.

It was truly ironic how, even after being treated so harshly, his heart still lingered.

'Since we're breaking up anyway, it wouldn't hurt to rebel just once, right?'

Si-hyun started walking toward the bus stop again.

At the same time, he recalled where Chae-yeon was standing earlier and raised his right fist.

'What's that?'

As if he had hand tremors, his fist shook violently, catching Chae-yeon's attention as she focused on Si-hyun's inexplicable action.

Swoosh.

Only the middle finger of Si-hyun's fist extended toward the night sky.

"Hey!!"

Chae-yeon's voice cracked in surprise.

At that sound, with tears streaming down his face, Si-hyun's lips curled into a smile. With a sense of both triumph and bitterness, he brought his first love to a close.