Chapter 39
Jeongyeon’s firm and clear eyes always made him give in.
It was like his brain was programmed with one command: “Always give in to Gam Jeongyeon.”
He turned without a word and started walking toward the beach. But just then, a woman’s voice stopped him, grabbing him by the back of the neck.
“Seonghun, don’t you have anything to say to me?”
It was his ex-girlfriend, Seoyeora.
“You knew, didn’t you? That I messed around with Dohoon while we were dating. So why didn’t you ever get mad? Why did you act like it didn’t matter at all?”
Seonghun’s voice didn’t change; he answered flatly, without emotion.
“It’s already over.”
“No, that’s not it. The truth is… you really didn’t care. Even when we were dating, you wouldn’t have been mad if you found out. Right? Because there was someone else in your heart — not me.”
She didn’t dare say it, but the person she meant was Jeongyeon.
She didn’t want her suspicions confirmed. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.
She just wanted to shake Seonghun a little.
But he didn’t seem shaken at all. In fact, he agreed easily.
“You’re right. I betrayed you first. I told you from the start — I wouldn’t be able to focus on you. I had someone else in my heart.”
She hadn’t expected him to admit it so plainly. She had hoped, foolishly, that he might change and grow to love her instead.
It was pointless.
While dating her, every hour, every minute, every second, Seonghun had been thinking about Jeongyeon.
Once, she invited Seonghun to her house for a birthday dinner. She even dressed provocatively, planning to finally take their relationship to the next level.
But before they even started eating, Seonghun suddenly stood up and rushed out.
He had gotten a call from Jeongyeon’s mother — Jeongyeon had been in a motorcycle accident, and her mom couldn’t get there quickly. She asked if Seonghun could go instead.
Without asking for permission or explaining anything, Seonghun ran out.
Watching his back disappear, she felt suspicion growing inside.
The woman in your heart… is it Jeongyeon?
And then it all made sense.
Why Seonghun always broke up with girls quickly. Why he avoided intimacy. Why he never dated the girl he truly cared about.
Because Jeongyeon only thought of him as a friend. And he couldn’t break that bond.
If their friendship broke, their long history would disappear too.
As the pieces came together, her bitterness boiled over.
But she still didn’t want to hear it confirmed. If it was true, her pride would shatter completely.
She was the only daughter of a four-term congressman. She didn’t live in the spotlight, but she worked behind it, helping others shine. She never felt lacking in anything.
She saw herself as better than the spoiled people who lived off their parents’ power — she was proud of doing what she loved and being good at it.
Even if Jeongyeon was more talented, and even if she couldn’t match the time Seonghun and Jeongyeon had spent together…
Still, she was the one dating Seonghun. He was her man.
But watching Seonghun rush off toward Jeongyeon that day had crushed her.
“So, are things going well with that woman?”
It was all she could ask — her only way to confirm it.
“Hah. People really love to stick their noses in. You and I — we’re nothing now. Isn’t it polite to stop caring about someone you’re no longer with? You too, and Dohoon.”
Seoyeora bit her lip in pain. But surprisingly, it was Jeongyeon who felt more shaken.
She felt her heart shatter.
Seonghun had someone in his heart? And she hadn’t noticed at all, even though he was always by her side?
Lately, they didn’t see each other much because of his rising fame. Could someone have taken a place in his heart during that time?
But… if it started even before he dated Seoyeora?
Then he never should’ve dated her in the first place. Even if he warned her in advance, choosing someone else like that was still wrong.
Jeongyeon didn’t have the right to judge other people’s love lives, but she couldn’t help feeling that Seonghun also bore some blame for how badly things had turned out.
As she stood there, realizing the seriousness of the situation…
Buzz, chirp — the sound of cicadas and bugs filled the air from the forest trail.
Then — plop. She felt something land on her head.
It slid down to her shoulder… and suddenly, buzzbuzzbuzz — a cicada screamed near her collarbone.
“AAHHHH!!!”
A cicada had landed on her.
Freaking out, she tried to swat it away — but it slipped right into her t-shirt.
“AAAAAH!!!”
Feeling it moving on her chest made her skin crawl. It was enough to make her go completely insane.
She really looked like a madwoman, jumping and pulling at her shirt.
In the chaos, her body bumped into Dohoon — and he suddenly reached inside her t-shirt to grab the cicada.
She felt his hand near her chest, removing the bug.
It was just as gross and disgusting as the bug itself.
She was so shocked and embarrassed she almost cried.
Stumbling, she pushed away Dohoon’s hand, and it was Seonghun who steadied her by grabbing her shoulders.
“Ahhh…”
The shock was so intense she could barely stand. Or maybe she just didn’t want to anymore.
“You okay?”
Seonghun held her firmly and asked, while she grabbed his arms to calm herself down.
“Ugh… damn it… I really thought I was gonna faint…”
“Take a deep breath.”
She did — in and out — and then looked around, suddenly embarrassed. She had made a scene in front of all three of them.
“Ahem. Okay — geez… That was… something. I need to calm down. I’m going first… whew…”
She needed to get out of there.
Her heart was still racing. And she didn’t want to be in the center of this whirlwind of emotions anymore.
She staggered back toward the walking path, and Seonghun followed quietly.
“You okay now?”
“Ugh… I’m so embarrassed I could die.”
Then she realized her thighs and arms were itchy — mosquitoes.
Figures. Nothing was going right today.
“You didn’t get bit, did you?”
Seonghun shook his head. She scratched her arm and grumbled.
“Why do the mosquitoes always go after me?”
“Maybe your blood tastes better. Come to my room — I have ointment.”
“You didn’t get bit, and you still carry that around? You’re too prepared.”
Why do you think I carry it?
Because in your summers, it always comes in handy.
Your pale arms and legs were always covered in bites. You’d scratch the red spots until they bled. And every time you did, you scratched at my patience, too.
When your fingers touched your skin, strangely… it made my heart itch.
