My Ex-Boyfriend is Sold Out

Unable to bear the growing sense of betrayal, Si-hyun sent one final message.

—

Me: So, So-hee’s place is a wine bar?

—

Scrape!

Chae-yeon stood up suddenly, looking around frantically.

Then her eyes met Si-hyun’s.

Seeing his furious gaze, Chae-yeon froze in place, her mouth slightly agape.

“What the… how did you know I was here, Kim Si-hyun?”

Under the influence of alcohol, a rosy blush colored her cheeks.

Seeing her up close, Si-hyun’s brows furrowed even further.

Even as arrogant as Chae-yeon was, she couldn’t keep her composure in this situation. As he approached, her pupils began to tremble.

“What are you doing here? Weren’t you with just the girls? So why are you sitting across from these guys?”

Si-hyun barely held back his urge to overturn the entire scene.

Glancing at her table, he sneered.

“I don’t need an explanation to figure it out. Three guys, three girls, all paired up. Only an idiot wouldn’t know.”

Chae-yeon flinched, averting her gaze as she rubbed her arm with her opposite hand.

“I know what you’re thinking, but this is a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding? The fact that you’re here already says you were secretly cheating.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not that.”

“Then explain. I’ll listen.”

Just as Chae-yeon opened her mouth, So-hee, sitting next to her, jumped up with enough force to push her chair back. She spoke urgently to Si-hyun.

“Si-hyun, this isn’t Chae-yeon’s fault. I was the one who forced her to come. She didn’t want to be here.”

“Whether it was you or some other guy who brought her here, she should’ve refused. Who goes on a blind date when they’re already in a relationship?”

To Si-hyun, So-hee was equally to blame for dragging her along, and Chae-yeon was at fault for going along with it.

And given that he’d witnessed the entire scene unfold from behind, he couldn’t view this situation favorably.

“Evil women…”

While Si-hyun seethed with anger, So-hee lowered her head, ashamed, while Chae-yon clutched his sleeve.

“Let’s talk outside. What do you think you’re doing in front of all these people?”

“What’s wrong? Embarrassed that people are watching? Lucky for you. At least you seem to have some shame.”

“I told you it’s a misunderstanding. I just came to fill in for numbers. I never planned on going on a blind date.”

“And how am I supposed to believe that? I watched you ignore my call just because you were on this date. Lim Chae-yeon, do you think I’m a joke?”

“It’s not like that, so stop jumping to conclusions. I just…”

As Chae-yeon tried to continue, one of the men on the date spoke up.

“Why’s he making such a fuss when he couldn’t even keep his girlfriend happy? It’s his own fault.”

Leaning back with both hands in his pockets, he was one of the men sitting across from Chae-yeon.

“What did you just say?”

Si-hyun leaned in, glaring at the man, who met his gaze with a defiant glare.

“Did I say anything wrong? Obviously, if Chae-yeon’s here, it’s because she’s not satisfied with you.”

“This bastard…”

Already unstable, the man’s words stirred Si-hyun further.

On any other day, he might’ve let it slide, but today it struck a nerve, and he grabbed the man’s collar in anger.

“Why? Planning to hit me?”

Grip.

His hold tightened, the tension so palpable they seemed ready to fight.

As murmurs from nearby patrons grew louder, Chae-yeon pulled on Si-hyun’s arm, shouting.

“Stop it!”

“Let go.”

Seething with anger, Si-hyun coldly shook off her hand.

“Yes, Chae-yeon, let him go. I’ll help you cut ties with this guy.”

The blind date man was also riled up, but Chae-yeon glared at him fiercely and said,

“I don’t know why you’re acting all buddy-buddy with me, but maybe you should keep quiet.”

The man was taken aback by her sharp retort.

Though he had been trying to impress Chae-yeon, her icy response made him realize he had no chance.

Resigned, he slumped back, and Si-hyun, despite his anger, eventually released the man’s collar due to Chae-yeon’s insistence.

“Kim Si-hyun, come outside.”

Chae-yeon left the restaurant. Since she was the one he had issues with, Si-hyun had no choice but to follow.

After apologizing to the friend who informed him, he trailed after her.

*

Chae-yeon led him to 228 Park, a spot they had passed earlier.

With a fountain in the center and circular benches around it, it was a place to sit.

Sprinklers sprayed a fine mist of water as a heat countermeasure, and Chae-yeon stood there, arms crossed, glaring at Si-hyun.

“Are you insane? Why are you acting like a lunatic? I told you to stop!”

“If you hadn’t gone on that blind date, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“What? Do you think I wanted to go? I was just sitting there because So-hee begged me to come. Is that so wrong?”

“Of course, it’s wrong. So-hee doesn’t have any other friends? Why did you go? If it were me, I wouldn’t have gone out of conscience.”

Si-hyun’s anger over her blind date and his resentment fueled his words.

In the past, he would’ve apologized even when he was in the right, but he had resolved not to show weakness anymore.

He knew that if he backed down again, he’d never escape the submissive role in their relationship.

“This incident needs to change our relationship.”

If Chae-yeon’s claims were genuine, there might be some room for leniency.

Although he hadn’t trusted her or So-hee’s words earlier, her cold response to the blind date guy helped restore a small amount of trust.

One deep breath. Then another.

Si-hyun forced his anger to subside, composing himself as positively as he could before giving her one chance for redemption.

“Apologize, and I’ll let it go just this once.”

A simple apology might not be enough, but a genuine one from the arrogant Chae-yeon would carry weight.

For once, if she, who had always maintained the upper hand without a single “I’m sorry,” sincerely apologized over this, Si-hyun thought it might signal a change in their relationship.

“…I’m sor—”

Her lips trembled faintly, her head lowered, as she hesitated for a moment.

“I can’t hear you. What did you say?”

Urged by Si-hyun to speak louder, Chae-yeon’s lips quivered before she finally opened her mouth.

“I’m not wrong. I’ll never apologize.”

“What…?”

Si-hyun couldn’t believe his ears.

A disbelieving chuckle escaped him.

Going on a blind date while in a relationship is a severe breach of trust.

Yet, for the sake of their relationship, he had suppressed his anger and extended an easy path to reconciliation—a simple apology.

He had swallowed his pride countless times before, apologizing hundreds of times.

At first, apologizing was hard, but over time he’d grown used to it, even grateful for a resolution with just a single apology.

But despite committing an unforgivable act, Chae-yeon refused to admit any fault.

Instead of owning up, her narrowed eyes filled with suspicion.

“More importantly, how did you know I was there? Were you stalking me?”

“Hey, Lim Chae-yeon…”

The rational part of him, barely holding back his anger, began to slip away.

Si-hyun’s voice shook with frustration, while Chae-yeon’s voice gained confidence, as if she had the upper hand.

“You were always saying how much you liked me, and now you’re playing the stalker?”

“For god’s sake, enough already!”

Si-hyun’s attempt to handle things amicably had crumbled.

Realizing she couldn’t even offer a simple apology for his sake left him feeling utterly humiliated.

Realizing his own worth, Si-hyun shouted, causing Chae-yeon to step back, startled, as she asked in disbelief.

“Did you just swear at me…?”

It was the first time she’d ever heard him raise his voice.

He had always been gentle and kind, so seeing him enraged made him seem like a different person.

“You refuse to apologize even though you’re treating your boyfriend like trash? Don’t you think that deserves some anger?”

Si-hyun brushed his hair back, frustrated, while Chae-yeon tried one last desperate measure.

“So, do you want to break up with me?”

Chae-yon thought that, as always, the mere suggestion of breaking up would calm Si-hyun’s anger.

But—

“Are we really even dating?”

“What…”

Si-hyun’s response was far from her expectations, and filled with pent-up frustration, he finally poured out his feelings.

“Other couples can’t wait to show each other affection. But I’ve never even heard you say you like me.”

Si-hyun had poured out his love unilaterally, while Chae-yeon took it for granted.

Accustomed to holding the upper hand, Chae-yeon was puzzled by his words and responded, baffled.

“So what? Isn’t it enough that you get to date me? Why are you making such a fuss now?”

“Do you think our relationship is fine the way it is…? No.”

Si-hyun decided to rephrase his question.

Something he’d only ever wondered in silence, fearing there would be no turning back if he asked.

“Chae-yeon, do you even like me?”

At his question, a ripple ran through Chae-yeon’s once calm gaze.

Her hand, clutching her purse, trembled as she bit her lower lip, staring back at him.

“Why can’t you answer?”

She could have easily said she liked him, even if it wasn’t true, but she didn’t even do that.

This made Si-hyun feel nothing but disgust.

After taking everything he’d given, she couldn’t even give him the slightest reassurance.

“Selfish woman.”

Muttering to himself, Si-hyun turned his back on her, filled with disappointment, and began walking toward the bus stop.

One step. Another. Just as the pain in his shin began to register, he heard Chae-yeon’s voice calling from behind.

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

Holding back tears, Si-hyun turned his head slightly.

Through his blurred vision, he saw the face of the woman he had once loved dearly.

“Yeah, let’s end it. I’m tired of this…”

Unrequited love, a one-sided relationship, eventually wears you out.

A passionate love burns through fuel at a rapid pace.

Si-hyun had tried to keep the flame alive, but Chae-yeon’s cold attitude only poured water on it.

“Just take another step. The moment you do, we’re really over.”

Her threat weighed down his steps even further.

The weight of his last lingering feelings.

It was almost laughable to him that he still had any left after everything.

“Since we’re breaking up anyway, maybe I can push back just this once.”

Si-hyun continued walking toward the bus stop.

At the same time, he thought of Chae-yeon’s position earlier, raising his right hand.

‘What’s this?’

Trembling as if from a tremor, his raised fist caught Chae-yeon’s attention, and she stared, wondering what he was about to do.

Slowly.

Only his middle finger extended toward the night sky.

“Hey!!”

Chae-yeon’s voice cracked in shock.

Hearing it, Si-hyun wiped his eyes and smiled, ending his first love with a mix of bitter satisfaction.