Three Days Until the Confession

“I told you I’m already here… Stop calling me. I said I’m driving.”

-I’m just worried… Can you pick up some beer on the way? We’re all out.

“You’ve said that multiple times already. I’ll buy some, so just hang up.”

My slightly raised voice made the Doctor apologize in a hurry.

-Ah, okay… Sorry.

I hung up the phone and chuckled quietly to myself. Lately, the Doctor had been showing the extreme end of her obsession. Whenever I left for work, she would call almost every thirty minutes to ask where I was and when I’d be back. It was her way of cross-checking my location against the tracker on her phone to see if I was lying.

This should be enough to start a huge fight today.

After buying the beer and returning home, I was parking the car when I spotted the Doctor running out with an umbrella. She had lost a lot of weight recently, which looked good on her. It was a shame her breast size had shrunk a bit, though.

I put the gear in park, turned off the engine, and opened the door. The Doctor immediately held the umbrella over me.

“Noona, you’re getting wet.”

“I’m fine. You worked hard today.”

I nodded and gave her an affectionate kiss on the lips, just like lovers would. Then I grabbed her shoulders tightly and pulled her toward me.

“Let’s go inside quickly.”

“Okay.”

Once we were back in the house, I casually tossed off my suit jacket. The Doctor, who had been opening the umbrella, rushed over and helped me take off my tie and dress shirt. As I naturally received her service, I asked,

“You haven’t eaten yet, right?”

“Yeah. You said you ate already.”

“Did you eat, Noona?”

“I did… Go wash up quickly. And since it’s getting cold starting today, don’t walk around in just your underwear. I ordered a new robe, so wear that.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t answer so half-heartedly.”

“I said I got it.”

After showering in the master bathroom, I put on the neatly laid-out robe from the bed and came out to the living room. The Doctor was sitting there with a serious expression, watching the news. I sat down beside her. She crossed her legs on the sofa, and I rested my head on her lap, lying down to watch the broadcast with her.

The Doctor, who had been gently stroking my hair, let out a long sigh.

“The rain just won’t stop… This is going to be a big problem.”

“Why? We’re not really affected by it.”

“Weren’t you watching the news properly? It said tens of thousands of flood victims have appeared.”

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

“I was talking about us.”

At that, the Doctor’s face hardened. She looked down at me intently and said,

“Why would you say something like that? Don’t you feel sorry for those people?”

“Of course I feel sorry for them. But what can we do? It’s a natural disaster. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“That’s true, but…”

“If you keep worrying about every little thing, it’ll just scatter your mind. Just put on some variety shows. Or watch a movie.”

“Alright… But Jihyeok.”

“What?”

“It’s been over ten days since we last went to the lab…”

Finally bringing up the lab.

I sat up and wrapped my arm around the Doctor’s waist. She made a troubled face and tried to pull away.

“Stop that and let’s talk properly.”

“What are you saying? You can’t talk like this?”

“Haa… Fine. We should go back to the lab now and…”

Just as she was about to continue, I turned my head and lightly tapped my cheek with my finger. The Doctor hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and gave my cheek a loud, smacking kiss. With a faint smile, she opened her mouth again.

“Now we…”

“Again.”

I cut her off once more. The Doctor let out a helpless laugh and leaned in again. This time, I turned my head at the perfect moment and caught her kiss on my lips. Her face immediately flushed red.

“Hah… Why are you being like this, seriously…”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I’m trying to have a serious conversation. I’d appreciate it if you’d actually listen.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“We need to go to the lab and make the Device. We can’t keep going on like this. I feel so bad for Silvia and Adele… Let’s go right now and get started.”

“I’m tired today. Work was brutal.”

“Then just watch. I’ll handle everything today. Just observe with your eyes, and starting tomorrow we can—”

The Doctor’s words were cut off. I had blatantly shown I didn’t want to hear any more by fiddling with my phone. She stared at me for a moment, her expression turning sour.

“Can you put your phone away and pay attention?”

No thanks.

I deliberately ignored her cheerful suggestion and played a funny video, giggling at it.

“Song Jihyeok, I told you to turn off your phone.”

When I ignored her again, the Doctor finally snapped. She snatched the phone from my hand.

Perfect. Well done, Doctor.

I frowned deeply and glared at her.

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“Are you really going to keep acting like a child?”

“What… Isn’t that what I should be saying to you?”

When our voices rose against each other, the Doctor flinched.

“What are you talking about?”

“Yesterday and today, you called me every thirty to forty minutes… Do you have any idea how much trouble that caused me? I had an important meeting and the executives were giving me dirty looks because of it. When I didn’t pick up once, you bombarded me with texts… Who’s the one acting like a child here?”

“T-that was because I was worried, but…”

“And today I’m genuinely exhausted and don’t want to leave the house. Why do you only think about yourself? Don’t you think about me at all?”

The Doctor waved her hands frantically.

“That’s not true! I always think about you…”

“The person who always thinks about me is telling me to go to the lab even though I said I’m tired? You could’ve just gone by yourself.”

“Jihyeok, calm down…”

“I’m seriously pissed off. And that’s not the only thing I’m upset about. You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you? I was going to wait until you told me yourself, but I can’t hold it in anymore.”

“What…?”

The Doctor flinched. She licked her lips, as if something had come to mind. She must have remembered the meaningful comment I made during our little argument a few days ago. She asked cautiously,

“Can… Can I ask what you’re talking about?”

“The utility room.”

The Doctor squeezed her eyes shut. She let out a long, defeated sigh and said,

“So you saw…”

“I did. Your wedding photos and albums. There was even a golf club with the name ‘Ed’ on it, right? It wasn’t just lying around—it was hidden in the corner. It looked like someone deliberately tried to conceal it. Why did you do that?”

“That’s…”

“There weren’t any photos or anything like that in your house, so I thought you only missed your husband occasionally and were trying to forget him with words. But that wasn’t the case at all.”

The Doctor sat there with her mouth slightly open, stunned. The sweet atmosphere had flipped in an instant, and she seemed completely flustered. The living room fell ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠silent. The sound of rain hammering against the windows only made the atmosphere more bleak.

After giving her a moment to let her mind spiral, I continued.

“I thought that one husband’s t-shirt was the end of it. When you handed me that shirt last time, I was convinced you had completely moved on. But I guess I was wrong. You should’ve at least told me in advance. If you had, I would’ve tried even harder…”

At that, the Doctor shook her head desperately.

“Jihyeok… You’re misunderstanding. Can’t you just listen to me first? Hear me out… and then judge. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”

“Why is it that you never even pretend to listen to me, but you always want me to listen to you? You’re so selfish. I told you I was tired, didn’t I? I said work was exhausting. So why the hell are you telling me to come watch you work in the lab? And then you want me to listen to you?”

My tone grew louder and louder until curses started spilling out. I was deliberately acting agitated. The Doctor looked utterly shocked—she clearly hadn’t expected me to react this way. She immediately apologized.

“I-I’m really sorry… Jihyeok… I’ll get you some water. Drink it and calm down…”

She must have thought I was genuinely disappointed and furious since I had sworn right to her face. I stood up and pressed hard on my forehead.

“I really love you, but it feels like you only see me as some kind of toy.”

“Why! Why would you say that!? That’s not true!”

The Doctor raised her voice in denial. I said,

“Today was really hard and my head hurts. If I stay here, it’ll only get worse, so I’m going to head back.”

“What…?”

“Let’s take some time apart. I’ll contact you later.”

Let’s take some time. I’ll contact you later.

There are few things more cruel than those words. Especially the part about contacting her later. From the listener’s perspective, it plants a deep fear that they shouldn’t reach out first. If they can’t stand it and call anyway, they worry it will look like they’re obsessed. They’re terrified the other person will hate them for it. But if they stay quiet, they end up anxiously waiting for a call that may never come, suffering in silence.

Of course, people react differently. Some will quietly endure it. Others will call immediately to apologize or fight even harder. Some might even go meet someone else. But the Doctor would probably refrain from contacting me and instead go out searching for me in person. It would happen exactly as I predicted.

I could tell just by looking at her behavior. She had endured loneliness well on her own until now, but ever since we started dating seriously, she had come to absolutely hate being alone. If I—the one who had given water to her dried, cracked heart and helped new love bloom—disappeared, she wouldn’t last even two days.

“Jihyeok! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Let’s have a serious talk! Just sit down, please sit… I’ll listen to you first!”

The Doctor grabbed my arm and shouted desperately. She wouldn’t even last a single day, let alone two.

When one person holds all the initiative in a relationship, they can create any situation they want. And if they possess a card that could shatter the relationship—a truly powerful one—then no matter what they attach to it, they can naturally drag the other person onto their stage.

This current situation was part of that plan. Honestly, it didn’t have to escalate this far. It’s perfectly natural for a widow to miss her husband. If they had a good marriage, it makes sense she would keep his belongings. But the important part was that the Doctor had hidden it from me.

I brought it up today alongside the things that had upset me, twisting it in my own way and emphasizing how disappointed I was. Since the Doctor already had a strong desire to accommodate me, she ended up feeling guilty and lowering herself.

She could have refuted my words point by point. But when I showed signs of leaving, her emotions overrode her reason. Because she had fallen into a state of affection deprivation—where she would become extremely depressed without me—the effect was incredibly strong. The suggestion of taking time apart must have hit her like a massive shock.

“I’m sorry, Noona. I don’t want to talk about anything right now.”

With a heavy tone, I shook off the Doctor’s hand. I grabbed my car keys and headed for the front door when she shouted loudly in warning.

“Don’t go! I said don’t go! If you really leave—!”

Aaah… To think the always calm and intelligent you would change like this.

Love that comes in one’s later years is truly terrifying, isn’t it?

When I ignored her and put on my slippers, she raised her voice again.

“I told you not to go!!”

Her voice was so loud the entire house rang with it. I looked at the Doctor with a pitiful expression and slowly shook my head.

Her next reaction was one of desperation. She ran to me with sorrowful eyes and grabbed the hem of my robe, trying to evoke sympathy.

“My head hurts too… I want to rest… Let’s not go to the lab today and just sleep together… Okay?”

I let out a sigh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and pulled her into my arms. She clung tightly to my waist. I could feel her determination not to let go. I brought my lips close ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to her ear and whispered softly,

“If your head hurts, then work. Make the Device or something. You like working, don’t you?”

It was a clearly sarcastic remark. The Doctor flinched and begged desperately.

“I’m sorry… I was wrong… Jihyeok… Please…”

“It seems both you and I need time alone to think. Let’s do that.”

My tone was gentle but firm. The strength left the Doctor’s hands. She must have realized that holding on any longer would make things irreversible. I looked at her with complicated eyes for a moment, then left the house, started the car, and drove away immediately.

It hurts my heart, but this is so you’ll love me even more.

So just endure it for a few days… No, just one or two days.

Cling to my clothes, sob your heart out, sort out your feelings properly, and then use the location tracker to come find me.