Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The End of Gap-Eul Dating
“After the last video, I got a lot of questions like this. ‘How do you become the dominant one in a relationship?’ ‘What’s important if you don’t want to date like the weaker one?’”
In other words, many people wanted to become the one in control in a relationship.
A YouTuber lecturer who was about to hit 500,000 subscribers was captivating viewers on screen with a plausible topic.
If he was known for understanding women’s psychology well, could he provide a solution to his own poor relationship?
Sihyeon leaned closer to the speaker with anticipation.
“First of all, it’s natural for a dominant-submissive dynamic to form between lovers. Why? Because the level of affection each person has is different.
One person can’t live without the other, while the other wouldn’t care much even if they broke up. Then what happens? The one who feels more desperate will cling, right?”
The one who clings becomes the weaker party. And that explanation felt painfully close to Sihyeon.
“The weaker one craves affection from the dominant one and devotes themselves, but that becomes poison to the relationship. In simple terms, it makes you look like an easy man…”
He paused the video for a moment and recalled his usual relationship with Chaeyeon.
“What’s that got to do with me? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
She never knew how to apologize.
“You should do better yourself. Lately, don’t you realize you’ve been getting a bit out of line?”
She always stood in the dominant position, looking down on him.
“If you don’t like me, then break up. How are you even dating me when you have so many complaints?”
A girlfriend who constantly threatened breakup. Im Chaeyeon.
Things he used to brush off casually had recently started weighing on him as stress.
“Why is she even dating me?”
Chaeyeon, who casually brought up breaking up all the time. Did she even like him? Her oppressive attitude made Sihyeon question the relationship itself.
That was why he concluded this relationship shouldn’t continue, and voluntarily looked for dating advice videos.
Tap.
The video resumed.
“The continued devotion of the weaker one makes the dominant one selfish. ‘I’m the one who made a mistake, but they’re the one being cautious?’ ‘They’ll try to do anything with just a word from me.’ The slave mentality of the weaker one makes the dominant one arrogant. That’s what I mean.”
“Did I make Chaeyeon like that?”
The things he did to maintain the relationship and receive love had instead ruined her.
Whether he treated her well or not, it was still a problem. Sihyeon’s mind grew more and more tangled.
“This can’t go on.”
This hierarchical relationship couldn’t continue any longer.
To have a healthy relationship, he decided they needed to talk openly.
So he opened his SNS app and tapped on Chaeyeon.
—
Me: Chaeyeon, are you having fun with your friends? (1)
Me: I sent some allowance to your account, so buy something tasty with your friends. Since you’re treating them, brag about your boyfriend too haha (1)
Me: I love you♡ (1)
—
A message full of affection.
Even just from the content, warmth could be felt, but after three hours without being read, the message had already gone cold.
—
Me: I have something to say. Contact me after you’re done hanging out. (1)
Me: I’ll be waiting. (1)
—
Letting out a sigh, he sent one more message and turned off the screen.
Clatter.
He opened the window to cool his head. Even though it was summer, the cold night air slowly cooled the sweat on his forehead.
“Phew…”
A refreshing feeling. Leaning against the wall, Sihyeon looked at the night view divided by the window screen.
Moths and bugs stuck to the net blocked his view, but the lights of each building created a dazzling scene.
“How should I talk to Chaeyeon?”
Ask her to treat him more carefully?
Say he wanted to exchange affection like other couples?
Either way, judging by Chaeyeon’s usual words and behavior, he didn’t expect a positive response.
“Even once… I just want to hear her say she likes me.”
Had his standards dropped because he had always been in the weaker position? Sihyeon laughed bitterly at his own modest wish.
As he stared outside trying to calm his complicated thoughts—
Kka-tok!
A notification rang loudly from the speaker.
He thought it was a reply from Chaeyeon, but when he opened the app, it was from a high school friend.
—
Friend: (photo)
—
“Did he send some meme?”
Contrary to his expectation, the friend had sent a photo of a classy bar.
Tap.
Curious, he tapped and zoomed in.
The photo centered on a square table, and upon closer look, three decent-looking adult men were sitting there.
“I don’t know any of them.”
Why send this?
Just as he was about to go back—
—
Friend: The girl sitting across from those guys, isn’t that your girlfriend?
—
A popup message appeared.
Before he could even process the shock, Sihyeon’s hand moved instinctively, zooming into the opposite side.
And then—
“No way…”
He saw a familiar back.
After staring at her for over a year, there was no way he could be mistaken.
“It can’t be… it can’t…”
Even though he was already certain it was Chaeyeon, denial kept slipping out.
His heart dropped. It felt like he couldn’t breathe.
With a blank mind, he typed.
—
Me: Where is that.
Friend: (map) Dongseong-ro, Daegu. Tomorrow, a glass of wine.
—
Dongseong-ro. The biggest downtown area in Daegu, popular among young people.
—
Friend: I work here part-time. I went to take orders and she was sitting there. From what I heard, it’s obviously a blind date.
Me: I’m coming now.
—
He stuffed his wallet and phone into his jeans pocket and slipped on black striped slippers.
Not knowing what might happen at the blind date, even the ten-minute distance felt unbearably far.
Sihyeon took a taxi and got off at 228 Park, the starting point of Dongseong-ro.
As he ran across the central path lined with trees and benches, the cool air brushed against his bare feet.
People stared at him, probably wondering why he was running in slippers downtown.
Ignoring them, he kept running—
“Ah… damn…”
The front of his slipper bent, and he fell forward.
His shin scraped against the pavement, and every movement made the wound rub against his jeans, causing him to frown.
“It’s not enough to stop me from running…”
Ignoring people asking if he was okay, he limped forward.
Soon, he found his friend waiting in front of the store.
“Where is she?”
Panting, he asked. His friend pointed.
“Over there in the corner.”
Entering the bar, he saw the same scene as the photo.
A classy atmosphere created by orange LED lights.
Faces flushed from wine.
Was Chaeyeon really meeting another man here? The thought twisted his insides.
“There she is.”
She was sitting with her back to the entrance, so she didn’t notice him.
Among the women, one with elegantly permed hair stood out. Sihyeon recognized her instantly.
“So that really is…”
Chaeyeon was drinking wine while using her phone.
If he called now, would she answer?
Giving her one last chance, he called.
Ring… ring…
Her phone screen lit up white.
There was no way she wouldn’t know it was him.
“Pick up… come on, pick up…”
She stared at her phone for three seconds, then pressed the volume button.
The ringtone stopped. She left the phone on the table.
After a minute, the unanswered call ended. Sihyeon felt sick.
—
Me: Where are you right now. (1)
—
Kka-tok!
She checked the message through the notification.
So that’s how she read messages…
Since she only saw the notification, it didn’t show as read.
Hiding near the drink fridge, Sihyeon decided to watch.
—
Me: You’re replying late. You’re not secretly meeting another guy, right? (1)
—
She looked around the bar.
After confirming he wasn’t there, she replied.
—
Im Chaeyeon: What other guy? I’m just resting at a friend’s place.
Me: Which friend?
Im Chaeyeon: Sohee.
—
Sohee, her longtime friend.
And Sohee was sitting right next to her.
“Seriously…”
Even when given a chance to be honest, she disappointed him.
Unable to bear the betrayal, Sihyeon sent his final message.
—
Me: Sohee’s house is a wine bar?
—
Clatter!
Chaeyeon shot up and looked around wildly.
Then their eyes met.
Her eyes widened at his furious gaze.
“What… Kim Sihyeon? How did you even get here?”
Her cheeks were flushed from alcohol.
Sihyeon frowned deeper.
“What are you doing here? You said you were with girls, so why are there guys sitting across from you?”
He barely suppressed the urge to flip everything over.
“Don’t even need to explain. Three men, three women, sitting in pairs. Only an idiot wouldn’t know.”
Chaeyeon flinched.
“It’s not what you think. This is a misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding? The fact you’re here means you cheated.”
“That’s not it.”
“Then explain. I’ll listen.”
Before she could—
“Sihyeon, she didn’t do anything wrong. I forced her to come.”
Sohee stood up urgently.
“Whether you brought her or someone else did, she should’ve refused. Who goes on a blind date with a boyfriend?”
He couldn’t see this positively at all.
“You evil…”
Sohee lowered her head. Chaeyeon grabbed his sleeve.
“Let’s talk outside. What are you doing in front of everyone?”
“Why? Embarrassed? Good. At least you know it’s shameful.”
“I told you, it’s a misunderstanding. I just came to fill a seat.”
“How can I believe that? I saw you ignore my call.”
Then—
“Seems like you can’t manage your girlfriend.”
One of the men spoke.
“What did you say?”
Sihyeon stepped forward.
“I’m not wrong. She came because she’s not satisfied with you.”
“You bastard…”
Sihyeon grabbed his collar.
“Go ahead. Hit me.”
The tension escalated.
“Stop it!”
Chaeyeon pulled his arm.
“Let go.”
He shook her off.
“Let them go, Chaeyeon. I’ll help you cut ties with him.”
“Stop pretending to be close and shut up.”
The man froze.
Eventually, Sihyeon let go.
“Kim Sihyeon, come outside.”
They went to 228 Park.
Chaeyeon crossed her arms.
“Are you crazy? Why act like a thug?”
“If you didn’t go on a blind date, this wouldn’t happen.”
“I didn’t want to go. Sohee begged me.”
“It’s still wrong.”
Sihyeon steadied himself.
“This needs to change.”
Taking a breath, he said—
“Apologize. I’ll let this go just once.”
“…what?”
“I said apologize.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I won’t apologize.”
“…what?”
He laughed in disbelief.
A simple apology.
Something he had done countless times.
But she refused.
Instead—
“How did you know I was there? Were you stalking me?”
“Hey, Im Chaeyeon…”
His patience snapped.
“You said you liked me, and now you’re acting like a stalker?”
“Enough already!”
His effort to resolve things collapsed.
“Are you swearing at me…?”
“For not even apologizing and turning me into trash? Of course I am.”
“Are you trying to break up?”
“We were even dating?”
“What…?”
“I’ve never even heard you say you like me.”
“What’s the problem? Dating me should be enough.”
“…Do you even like me?”
Chaeyeon froze.
“Why can’t you answer?”
Silence.
“I’m disgusted.”
He turned away.
“Hey Kim Sihyeon! Are we breaking up like this?”
“…Yeah. Let’s end it. I’m tired.”
Unrequited love always burns out.
He walked away.
“Take one more step and it’s really over!”
His steps grew heavier.
Then—
He raised his hand.
And lifted his middle finger.
“Hey!!”
Chaeyeon shouted.
Sihyeon smiled bitterly.
And just like that, his first love ended.