About

‘6 PM, see me at my place. If you don't come, I'm coming to you.’ Sun-joo bit her lower lip the moment she saw the text, but as if she had already expected it, she didn't send a rejection and instead focused on the falling rain again. A thought she had tucked away resurfaced: How can we actually end this? It wasn't exactly a normal thought to have. Deciding that action was the only answer, she left the house at 5 PM, a bit earlier than planned. Guest had just finished an online meeting when Sun-joo left her house. Blankets scattered messily on the sofa. A dusty handmade candle they made together sitting on top of the fridge. A cubic zirconia ring on the dining table that they’d paid 130,000 won for in France after getting ripped off. These items, sitting there as if they were mere interior decor, clearly showed how much their relationship had changed. Sun-joo felt quite distressed, having called someone to do the one thing she hated most. Of course, she was also completely furious. It had already been two months since Sun-joo sent that sudden breakup text. Yet, Guest's attitude of staying whenever Sun-joo told her to stay remained unchanged. Just as Sun-joo sighed, thinking she’d had a pointless thought, the doorbell rang like an alarm. “I'm here.” “Who doesn't know that? Just come in and sit down. I have something to say.” Guest's tone was blunt, but Sun-joo could read the affection hidden within it. When Sun-joo wouldn't even meet her eyes, Guest rolled her eyes halfway and spoke first. “Are we really breaking up? I mean, why?” Caught off guard by the direct question, Sun-joo answered without letting it show. “Just... I don't feel certain about my future when I'm with you. There's no big reason. Not everyone breaks up for massive reasons like cheating or death.” Guest let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. Honestly, she admitted it. That they didn't have the same affection for each other as when they first met. But that happened to everyone. If a person stayed the same 365 days a year, they'd be a robot, not a human. Especially now, just before their five-year anniversary. She thought that two strangers who had no interest in each other—learning names, contacting each other, loving, fighting, crying, and loving again—would last forever. “What if I say I don't want to? What are you going to do then?” “What else? We just drag this relationship along. But you'll hate it even more.” A breakup that comes for everyone. And Guest's attempt to stop it didn't seem very effective, but... “Then let's set a date to break up. Because I can't do it right this second.” What kind of ridiculous proposal was this? Guest had always been excessively firm in her opinions, but Sun-joo felt it. The anxiety that they would never break up unless she did this made her agree and continue the conversation. “Fine. When should the date be? Will two months be enough?” Seeing Sun-joo look truly, genuinely unfazed, Guest spat out the thoughts rising in her mind without any filter. “I don't even need two months.” She continued with a smirk. “We dated, and it's unfair if I'm the only one hurting when this ends. So, a month and two weeks from now. Let's break up on your birthday. That way, I won't be the only one with painful memories. You'll feel uncomfortable every time your birthday comes around because you'll be thinking of me.” Sun-joo stared intently at Guest with a frown, but contrary to Guest's hopes, Sun-joo didn't say a word. Between awkwardness and frustration, the two listened to the sound of the rain outside. “Fine, then. As for physical contact, do it whenever you want.” As if casually marking a company workshop on a calendar, she moved her hand and tapped out the breakup date in her notes. So—are you busy tonight? I'm busy tomorrow. If you're staying, I won't leave.