Time to Give Each Other Up
Cheolsu slowly stepped out of the police station. No one tried to stop him as he left. Considering the hostile atmosphere from just moments ago, it felt utterly bizarre. And maybe that's why he couldn't bring himself to take another step forward.
This was a place he'd desperately wanted to escape, after all. Something felt off.
'Did that bastard Kim Yujin really get me out?'
According to the cops, pressure had come from above. That didn't make sense either. Yujin was the one who'd thrown him in here in the first place. So why pull him out now?
'At least I've confirmed Younghee's safe. That's something.'
No matter what, there were no signs she'd been harmed. Even in this mess, he couldn't imagine Yujin doing anything to her. It would ruin his own plans.
Beeeep! Beeeep!
He was lost in these thoughts as he reached the roadside when a horn blared, calling him over. A black Benz—an impossibly expensive ride he could never dream of owning, but one that looked familiar. It was the car that punk Kim Yujin always rode around in.
Normally, he'd just ignore it and walk on by.
"Hold up. Get in."
But then the window rolled down, and Park Secretary called out to him.
Cheolsu turned to glare at the man. He'd seen that face a few times before, but he'd never expected the guy to actually talk to him. Park always gave off the vibe of someone who just observed from a distance, waiting for orders.
"Where's Yujin?"
"He's not someone you get to call by name casually."
Killing intent seeped from the man's lazy drawl. He's strong. Cheolsu could tell just from his voice. Even if he went all out, he wasn't sure he could win. And this guy was just playing student secretary? Were there more like him filling up Heukcheon?
They glared at each other for a long moment before Park shrugged first.
"The young master isn't here. This is me coming on my own."
"I figured you were just a glorified errand boy."
"That was the original plan. But this? Call it my own show of loyalty."
Until recently, Park's role had been that of a watcher—assisting Yujin up close while making sure he didn't screw up or cross any lines. But lately, he'd come to see Yujin as the true heir. That meant it was time to serve his lord properly.
"A capable subordinate paves the way for his master without needing orders."
"Hilarious. And that 'noble path' of yours is stealing someone else's girl?"
"Don't take it so personally. I just have something to tell you."
"I've got nothing to say to you."
"Ha! So what? You gonna wander around clueless forever? Even a total idiot like you wouldn't do that."
Cheolsu shot Park another glare. Infuriating, but the man was right. Raging alone wouldn't change a thing. It'd just pile up more questions. And the guy who could answer them was standing right there.
"Don't try anything stupid."
"I won't kill you easy. I don't wanna mess with the young master's business."
Cheolsu got in the car. It pulled away smoothly.
"Where are we going?"
"Nowhere. Just driving while we talk. Could drop you home while we're at it."
"If that's it, why not just walk?"
"What, cozy up in a café with you? Pass."
Park held out his phone with a blank expression. Cheolsu frowned but took it.
"What's this?"
"Video inside. Consider it a gift for you."
Suspicious, but he couldn't ignore it. Cheolsu hit play right away. His face hardened into ice.
His hands trembled. Bloodshot veins bulged in his eyes. His shoulders shook with rage.
In the video, Younghee was begging. To Yujin, of all people. For him alone.
'No way. Why would Younghee... why the hell...'
He didn't want to believe it. He'd thought Younghee would be spared. Yujin's real target was her in the end. Cheolsu was just a stepping stone to crush along the way. So she'd be safe, untouched.
Rage, shock, despair, regret—they stabbed deep into his chest.
"This isn't the first time that girl's begged like that."
Park spoke to him like he was enjoying it.
"Remember when you challenged the young master to a duel and ended up in the hospital?"
"No way..."
"She did the exact same thing then. On her knees, forehead to the floor. Begging forgiveness for her mistakes."
Cheolsu's face went blank for a moment. He'd thought Younghee was just pretending to be Yujin's girlfriend under threat. But she'd begged first?
Why? The reason was obvious. To protect him.
"What an idiot..."
He'd thought he was the one protecting Younghee. But she'd been the one fighting to shield him, sacrificing her pride and happiness as a woman.
Damn it. His chest ached like a nail hammered in and twisted viciously.
Why? Why did Younghee have to go through this? She hadn't done anything wrong. She was just a normal girl who laughed and cried over little things every day.
Why did someone like her have to beg that trash to save a loser like him?
"Hey, one question for you."
"What?"
"Are you fighting the young master for that girl? Or is it just your own ego?"
Cheolsu turned his head slowly. He hadn't quite processed the words at first.
Park continued, driving the nail deeper into the prisoner's heart like a demon.
"You said you were fighting to protect her. But look at the result. Because of you, she'll keep getting endangered, facing shit like this over and over."
"Let's be straight. The young master has fame, money—plenty. Taking care of one girl is nothing. She might not be happy, sure. But she won't be miserable."
Park's words weren't entirely lies. Kim Yujin was trash, but not stupid. He wouldn't break his own toys. He wouldn't mistreat Younghee.
"And you think the young master will cling to her forever? Girls are everywhere. He'll get bored of a nobody like her quick once he has her. Bet you that. She'll be free in a few years, tops."
"..."
"But the way things are now? She's just gonna be miserable. She's already made up her mind. Close your eyes, endure just a little—really, just a bit—and it's over. You knew that already."
Cheolsu hung his head. Deep down, he knew it was bullshit. Even if it were true, the thief had no right to say it. Endure it for a bit since he'd toss her aside anyway? People weren't objects. She was the one he loved, irreplaceable.
How could he give her up so easily?
'But—'
He had no words. He didn't have the power to save her or the strength to protect her.
"Just give up. Then everything can be okay."
Those words hurt more than anything. He wanted to deny it, scream he wouldn't stand by. But what about Younghee? How many more times would she have to beg Yujin for his sake? Could he keep fighting knowing that? Wouldn't that be even more selfish? Could he handle it?
!........
!...
.......
"One more time. What do you want to protect—your pride, or that girl?"
Screeech. The car stopped.
"Special service. Dropping you right at your door."
Cheolsu stared blankly at the video, head bowed. Younghee kept crying and pleading inside it.
"......Why are you telling me all this?"
Park let out a scoffing laugh at the question.
"I move for one reason only. For the young master. Keep the phone."
Cheolsu got out without a word. The car sped off without hesitation.
He stood there with dead eyes, then suddenly hurled the phone into the road.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Crack! Thud! Thud!
He smashed it with his fists. As if that could make this nightmare vanish. Again and again. Even knowing reality wouldn't change.
...
Around the same time.
Alone in her room, Younghee sat with a dazed expression. Her gaze lingered on a photo. In it, she and Cheolsu beamed happily—a picture from their carefree childhood days.
'Cheolsu...'
She'd believed they could be happy. That she could protect everything.
But now she realized: her fate had been sealed from the start.
Younghee covered the photo as if turning away from it. She pulled scissors from her drawer.
Snip. Snip.
Long strands of hair fell and scattered. With each cut, her expression grew colder. As if severing the last remnants of her lingering attachments.