Chapter 34

Gasp. The noisy mess in her head throbbed with guilt. It felt like a sharp needle had pricked her—stinging hot, like her innermost thoughts had been exposed.

She should be standing tall, confident. But her shoulders wouldn’t straighten. Unlike her, Iseong shamelessly raised his chin.

“Whether I’m a wolf or a bastard, what does that have to do with you? Just go back the way you came—unless you want to get hit.”

Each time Iseong spoke, she squirmed with anxiety. She feared their strange relationship would be exposed through his words.

“What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? If a wolf is drooling next to the woman I was supposed to marry, doesn’t that change everything? Why do you think I gave in to Seo Yeo-ra’s temptation?”

Go Dohun was trembling with rage, unable to suppress his emotions.

“My doubts about your relationship, all that suspicion—it took root deep inside me too. Don’t you feel even a shred of responsibility? For how we ended? You dating Seo Yeo-ra—wasn’t that just a smokescreen?”

It was a perceptive guess. It wasn’t a smokescreen, but he wasn’t wrong—feelings had already taken root. Still, blaming others for his own choices? That couldn’t go unchecked.

“So it’s my fault you fell for Seo Yeo-ra? My fault you got all hot and bothered and messed around? My fault you got dumped? Wow—textbook pathetic. Your ending was always going to be like this. Your heart was too small to handle love.”

“Ha! F*** you. You think you’re so great? If you’re a friend, act like one. Stop interfering in other people’s relationships!”

“So much noise over a relationship that just ended. You’re like a leech—stop clinging. Please.”

In a flash, Go Dohun’s eyes sharpened with fury. He lunged at Iseong and grabbed him by the collar.

“I never liked that sleazy way you looked at her, even while claiming to be just a friend.”

“What, is being handsome a crime? Guys like you are all the same. Bottomless self-esteem and sky-high pride. Hated me being near her, didn’t you? Guys like that always end the same. Like you—over.”

“Who says it’s over? Don’t you know relationships never really end? You’re a damn eunuch. What else would I envy besides your face?”

“Sounds like envy to me.”

“What?”

Go Dohun let go of his collar and raised a clenched fist. But Iseong just smirked cruelly, like the whole thing was amusing.

It looked like it would turn into a full-blown fight—maybe even bloodshed.

She stepped forward and shoved Go Dohun back, placing herself between them.

“Don’t harass my friend. You don’t have the right.”

She could still tell right from wrong.

Yes, Iseong had stepped in without warning. Yes, he’d provoked Go Dohun with his words.

But it was clear who had caused this whole mess. It wasn’t Iseong—it was Go Dohun.

But Go Dohun laughed bitterly, as if he’d been waiting for this.

“See? That’s what’s always bothered me. If we were both drowning, you’d save him first. Just like now.”

“Oh, for God’s sake. Enough with this pathetic nonsense. Just get lost!”

“You want pathetic? Fine, let me say one more thing. You two stay best friends forever, alright? Otherwise, I’ll lose it. Don’t push me. I might just drag Iseong down with me—turn him into the headline villain who stole someone’s girl. One bad story and his image is ruined forever.”

This was her worst fear. The ugliest ending after their breakup. That Iseong would get dragged down into the mud because of her.

The thought of him falling because of her… It was terrifying.

“Do you really have to sink this low?”

But before she could finish, Iseong responded to Go Dohun’s threats.

“Do whatever you want. Call me a bastard instead of a wolf—whatever works. Knock yourself out.”

Where did that confidence come from?

Maybe it was because even if they had become friends with benefits, he didn’t believe they’d go any further. As long as there were no feelings involved, their friendship would remain. She had told him that.

So maybe he was confident they’d stay just friends forever.

If that’s the case, maybe she could raise her head a little too. She looked Go Dohun straight in the eye and spoke clearly.

“Apologize to Iseong properly. You and Seo Yeo-ra—what you did—happened while you were still dating. The guy I knew… he wasn’t someone who’d sell off his conscience.”

“I sold it to the devil. Happy now? F***!”

Dohun swore loudly, shot one last glare at Iseong, and walked away.

What the hell? Where did he get the nerve to act like the victim?

Strangely, though, she didn’t feel anger. She didn’t even feel twisted or bitter.

No matter what insults he threw or what he did—it didn’t shake her anymore. The only thing that shook her was when he threatened Iseong.

That was the only thing she couldn’t allow—letting Iseong be dragged through the dirt.

As Dohun disappeared from sight, Iseong turned to her.

“Is that why you keep pulling away?”

“…What?”

“Why you’re hesitating. Because that asshole threatened you? Because you’re scared to get involved with me?”

“Involved… You mean this FWB thing?”

You said as long as I didn’t develop feelings, we’d always stay friends. But I… I’ve fallen for you. My heart pounds like it’s going to burst when I see you.

But loving alone is lonely. And I’m afraid that this fluttering feeling could be the thing that ruins you.

She left out countless thoughts and said only:

“Yeah. I’m afraid… that helping you might end up hurting you.”

“As long as you don’t have feelings, it’s fine. Then we’ll stay friends. I won’t be hurt.”

What a lie. If we stay friends, I’ll be the one who’s hurt. If I can’t come to you as a man, our ending is inevitable.

If I can’t reach you, that alone is a fall.

Gamjeong’s face darkened. Her lips barely moved as she spoke.

“Then… what about you? Is there even a tiny part of you that feels something for me? Because… if there is, we won’t be able to stay just friends.”

My heart’s already been yours for a long time. I fall for you constantly.

If I say that… would we become strangers? Not friends, not FWB, just… nothing?

You’re scared I might fall for you.

She couldn’t take that risk yet. Not until she was sure her feelings were returned. One wrong move and the fragile ice beneath them could shatter.

She knew her heart tiptoed across that frozen surface. If she stepped wrong—it could all collapse.

“The only reason I react to you like this is… just that. I don’t have feelings for you. So don’t worry.”

Iseong’s response was blunt. A clean kill. Her heart snapped clean in two, a chilling wind whistling through the cracks.

Feelings like this make everything unstable.

I can’t see you as a man. I can’t feel anything. I can’t tremble.

She repeated those words like a mantra in her head.

“That’s good to hear. But then… why do you keep sticking your nose into my mess? I told you—I can handle it. Why make things suspicious?”

“Who cares if that jerk finds it suspicious? He was spewing crap—I couldn’t just stay quiet. I held back from punching him into the ground for your sake.”

“Then hold back more. Why make me look like some idiot who can’t defend herself?”

Because he couldn’t bear it. If someone made her suffer, if someone hurt her—he wanted to wipe them out.

He endured and endured—and that was him holding back.

“You are an idiot. That jerk says he regrets it, says he still loves you. He asked for a kiss, remember?”

Damn. He heard that too. How embarrassing.