Endings That Matter (13)
Relationships where the hierarchy is set come with their share of common sayings. "Starting is the hardest part." "It's the journey, not the destination." "A good ending makes the beginning shine." Start, process, end. Law, law, law. Which one holds the most weight, really? It might just be wordplay. After all, how could any of the three be unimportant?
If the start goes wrong, the process becomes a slog. If there's a problem in the process, a good outcome is hard to come by. Even if the start and process are solid, a bad ending fades all that prior meaning. In the end, nothing was unimportant.
Shwaaaaa—
But right now, in this moment, Seo Joo-hwan thought it was right to put the most weight on the "end." He was gazing at Jeong Ha-yeon's reddened eyes.
'Doesn't a good ending pave the way for what's next?'
His clumsy, selfish romance had dragged through a grueling process, just as awkward as its start. Seo Joo-hwan's heart, tangled in the past, had been a button fastened wrong from the beginning, mangled further by defective items. But he'd raced through the rain to tie it off properly, even if belatedly. He'd untangled, patched, and mended it back to place, so their parting as lovers wouldn't mean the end of their bond.
"Seo Joo-hwan."
Jeong Ha-yeon wrinkled the bridge of her nose, glaring at him through reddened eyes.
"We're friends again now. Got it?"
"Yeah."
"Don't act awkward at school."
"Yeah."
"If you avoid me 'cause it's awkward, I'll kill you. Act like before MT."
"Yeah."
"...Yes-man much? Agreeing to everything so easily. Tsk...."
Even though he'd affirmed her words, Jeong Ha-yeon looked dissatisfied, her lips pursing in what seemed like genuine grievance.
Seo Joo-hwan placed a hand atop her head. She flinched back at first but soon allowed it to stay. Like a wary cat, her reaction made him chuckle.
"Pfft. Ha-yeon, you're the one acting awkward. We can go back to being friends like before, right?"
Ex-lovers often end up worse off than strangers. Breakups rarely come after enough talk... No, even amicable ones seldom revert old flames to plain friends.
Jeong Ha-yeon entrusted her head to his hand silently for a moment, then lifted her gaze.
She'd repeated it to herself countless times, her voice steady.
"...From tomorrow, I can treat you like a friend. You stop this stuff from tomorrow too."
"This stuff?"
"Stroking my head."
"What about now?"
"...Shut up."
Shut up and stroke it, apparently. Seo Joo-hwan gave a wry smile and gently petted her hair. Moisture seeped through the strands.
Drip, trickle— trickle...
The downpour like a monsoon tapered to a spring drizzle.
Seo Joo-hwan opened his umbrella.
"Ha-yeon, let's head in. I'll walk you."
She hesitated, then nodded and slipped under the umbrella he held up. Pressed close, she grumbled gruffly.
"...Just to the fork, then."
"I could take you all the way home."
"I don't like that."
What could he do if she didn't want it? Seo Joo-hwan shrugged and nodded, tilting the umbrella subtly toward her. Rain pattered on his shoulder, but after dashing every which way and soaking through, it hardly mattered.
Lucy, who'd been quiet, spoke curiously.
Master, Jeong Ha-yeon has an umbrella too. Looks like Lee Seok-chan gave bad info. Before your shoulder gets any wetter...
Seo Joo-hwan cut her off.
'Shh. I know, Lucy.'
...You know, but you're still sharing one umbrella?
'Hmm. Lucy, looks like you need to learn more about emotions.'
???
'Haha. It means this is more efficient right now. In every way.'
Two umbrellas, but using one is efficient? I can't understand...
Her voice brimmed with puzzled confusion, like she'd hit a brick wall. Seo Joo-hwan stifled a laugh at Lucy's reaction—until Jeong Ha-yeon poked his side, her face flushing as she demanded why he was snickering.
"Oof! Ow, that hurts, Ha-yeon."
"Meant to!"
How welcome her sharp jab felt.
*
"Get home safe."
"You too, Joo-hwan."
Parting from Seo Joo-hwan, Jeong Ha-yeon walked back with lighter steps. Tying things off properly had even eased her body's tension, somehow.
'He knew you had an umbrella, right?'
She held one, naturally. She'd brought it out but pretended otherwise to share his. Small folding umbrella or not, he'd surely noticed.
His knowing smile grated, but whatever. From tomorrow, friends again. Sharing an umbrella on the last day wasn't too lavish. And he'd just chuckled without a word, so it wasn't one-sided greed.
That's when she arrived home.
Someone overlooked from her apartment railing. Her oldest friend spoke in a languid tone.
"Back?"
"Lee Seok-chan?"
"Where's Joo-hwan? You meet up?"
Jeong Ha-yeon nodded awkwardly. Come to think, Seo Joo-hwan had come after hearing from him.
Lee Seok-chan nodded back and asked again.
"Sorted it out?"
"...Yeah."
"Good. No more nagging from me."
"Hey, can't you talk nicer?"
"Bullshit. You wouldn't listen anyway."
Lee Seok-chan spat in disbelief. Normally grounds for a smack, but she averted her eyes, stung.
Recently, fed up, he'd advised her—only for her to shut him down harshly. With submission effect stacked five times over, she had no room to heed critiques of her and Seo Joo-hwan's issues.
Now aware of her fault, Jeong Ha-yeon apologized to Lee Seok-chan.
"Sorry about then. I know you meant well..."
"Ugh. Hey, stop. Gives me chills—don't apologize."
"...Thanks."
"Eek. That's creepy too. Whatever, if you're grateful, put in a good word with Joo-hwan later. I kinda shot my mouth off when we met... Damn."
Lee Seok-chan scratched his head ruefully.
He'd told Seo Joo-hwan he hated meddling in others' romances, but he'd already advised her once and got shot down.
'Shoulda told Joo-hwan too. Nah, fuck—who am I to give love advice?'
He clicked his tongue. He'd dated plenty but never seriously. He knew ways to keep it casual and long, but his personality rarely let it last. No business advising them.
He loathed third-party meddling in love to begin with. If not for Jeong Ha-yeon, he'd have ignored their mess.
His reaction sparked a memory. She pointed accusingly.
"Right, you! Lied to Joo-hwan that I'd been gone two hours? His face soured when I said ten minutes."
"Eek. That pissed?"
"Said he'd break something if he saw you at school."
"Fuuuuck...."
Lee Seok-chan's face crumpled like he'd eaten shit.
Jeong Ha-yeon cackled.
"Kekekeke. Joke."
"...You bitch?"
"I did leave, though?"
"Crazy. That guy's sneaky petty—probably really mad. Should I drop a million won patronage on his novel?"
"Sure you will."
"Hey, sorry and thanks—help a bro out."
"Kekeke. Call me noona."
"Crazy bitch?"
"I am your noona."
"Piss off. Was gonna handle it myself."
"Sure you were."
Her giggling twisted his face. He shook his head, lifted a bottle.
"Whatever. Drink up. Bro brought wine."
"Bro my ass?"
"So no?"
"Good wine?"
*
Back home, Seo Joo-hwan stripped his soaked clothes and filled the tub. Felt gross—time to wash.
His smartphone buzzed. KakaoTalk from Lee Seok-chan.
"Kekekeke. What a psycho bastard."
Seo Joo-hwan chuckled as he sank into the tub. He'd felt little toward Lee Seok-chan at first. Sure, initially pissed, but a quick think made him understand—anger faded fast. After eight years together, who wouldn't be mad seeing him cry?
"If anything, thanks."
Grateful he'd messaged first. He'd worried about awkwardness at school; one petty concern gone.
Post-bath, Seo Joo-hwan eyed the mirror.
"Skin's cleared up nice."
Steady use of gacha pheromone bath bombs had faded his acne scars. Better skin really changes impressions—hell, he looked pretty handsome now.
"Oh, consolation prize."
'Handsome' triggered the "breakup consolation gift" item.
He pulled it from inventory. Unusually paper-like. Lucy said tear to use, coupon-style.
The item window appeared.
【Facial Plausibility (B)】
▶ Effect: Become handsome.
※ Maintains original features as much as possible.
※ Causality fulfilled.
"Pretty straightforward. But safe to use?"
Sudden big change might look weird. Lucy reassured.
See? "Causality fulfilled." No matter the change, people will just think "he got handsome"—no real suspicion.
"Oh, that's what it meant? Thanks, Lucy."
Relieved, he tore the paper. It crumbled to light, absorbing into his face.
"Whoa! What the—?"
He gawked at his reflection. Maintained original look, yet handsome screamed out. Features subtly refined: thicker brows, better complexion. Best: his slightly narrow eyes adjusted—from sleazy/irritable to sharp/charismatic.
"Kya~."
Mirror-gazing yielded endless admiration. This is handsome. Lingering breakup blues vanished.
He flexed playfully, striking poses Im Su-hee taught—half-assed, but form held.
Seo Joo-hwan admired himself.
"Johnnal level? Face on point, body on point, dick on point. Celeb who?"
Still short of idols, but who cared? He savored the high.
Lucy called.
Master.
"Yeah?"
Is this the emotion called embarrassment?
"......"
His face flushed crimson.
I don't know why it's embarrassing. Please teach me.
"......"
Seo Joo-hwan realized Lucy gaining emotions might not be all good.