THE GIRLS I DATE ALWAYS START BY ASKING ABOUT ME,
AND WHEN I DON'T GIVE THEM ANYTHING, THEY START TALKING ABOUT THEMSELVES.
THEIR FIRST LOVE. THEIR FIRST KISS. THE USUAL CHILDHOOD STORIES.
I COULDN'T HAVE CARED LESS.
I WASN'T CURIOUS.
GIRLS WHO WENT ON ABOUT THAT STUFF ALWAYS HAD AN OBVIOUS MOTIVE.
THEY PROBABLY WANTED ME TO GET JEALOUS.
EVERY TIME, I THOUGHT OF DAHYE.
THERE WAS NO PAST I NEEDED TO ASK DAHYE ABOUT.
BECAUSE WE LIVED THROUGH IT TOGETHER.
SO WHEN IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF US, WE NEVER HAD TO FAKE HOW WE FELT. IT CAME NATURALLY,
AND EVEN SILENCE WAS COMFORTABLE.
THE KIND OF BOND I'LL NEVER HAVE WITH ANYONE ELSE AGAIN.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO PRECIOUS TO ME.
MY MISERABLE CHILDHOOD WAS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE.
WHERE IS SHE?
AH!! FUCK, YOU SCARED ME!
WHO THE HELL IS THAT GUY?
WAS THERE SOMEONE LIKE THAT IN OUR DEPARTMENT?
ISN'T HE FROM THE MODELING DEPARTMENT?
WHERE IS SHE!!!!
THAT FUCKING PERVERTED PLAYBOY!!!
I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!!
AAAAH!
WH-WHAT THE HELL!!
YOU SCARED ME!!
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
COME WITH ME.
WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN?
WHAT IS THIS??
DID THAT SENIOR'S STRATEGY ACTUALLY WORK?
BUT IF IT DID,
WHY DOES HE LOOK FUCKING PISSED...?
YOU... ARE YOU SURE YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THAT BLEACHED- HAIR GUY?
WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN?
ANSWER ME!
I ASKED IF YOU'RE SURE!
WHY ARE YOU GETTING MAD AT ME?!
WHEN DID I GET MAD?!
YOU'RE MAD RIGHT NOW!
I'M NOT MAD.
YES, YOU ARE! YOU ARE!
YOU...!
...DO YOU
LIKE THAT BASTARD?
WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SUDDENLY ASKING ME THAT?
WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE?
STOP HANGING AROUND WITH HIM.
I'M TELLING YOU TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.
SAYS THE GUY WHO'S ALWAYS HAD GIRLFRIENDS.
WHY SHOULD I?
I'VE GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT HIM.
...THE RUMORS ABOUT HIM AREN'T GOOD EITHER.
I DON'T KNOW. JUST...
CAN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME ON THIS?
WHAT A JOKE.
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO HATES JUDGING PEOPLE BASED ON RUMORS MORE THAN ANYONE.
HE'S NOT A BAD PERSON.
...YOU,
YOU'RE SERIOUSLY TAKING THAT BASTARD'S SIDE?!
GOD, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
LET GO! YOU'RE HURTING ME!
OH,
NO SMOKING
OH.
DAMN IT. THIS ISN'T WHAT I MEANT TO DO.
SORRY...
WHY DO I KEEP ACTING LIKE A KID?
I ONLY CAME RUNNING OVER HERE BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER.
IS THAT ALL YOU WANTED TO SAY?
WHAT AM I EVEN DOING LURKING AROUND SOMEONE ELSE'S DEPARTMENT LIKE A LUNATIC?
HUH?
I HAVE A CLUB MEETING. I HAVE TO GO.
WHAT CLUB?
JUST THE ONE I'M IN.
I HATE THIS.
YOU ARE GROWING DISTANT FROM ME.
YOU ARE MAKING FRIENDS I DON'T EVEN KNOW.
AND THIS JEALOUSY BOILING UP INSIDE ME FOR NO DAMN REASON PISSES ME OFF TOO.
I THOUGHT IF I GAVE IT TIME, WE'D NATURALLY FALL BACK INTO THE WAY WE WERE.
BECAUSE IF I'D DONE SOMETHING WRONG, THERE WAS NO WAY DAHYE WOULDN'T TELL ME.
EVEN WHEN I COULDN'T STAND THE ANXIETY OF FEELING LIKE I WAS BEING ERASED FROM YOUR LIFE, I WAITED.
SOME PEOPLE TAKE OFF THEIR COATS UNDER THE BLAZING SUN, NOT BECAUSE OF THE BITING WIND.
I THOUGHT YOU'D BE THE SAME.
I HATE THIS.
THIS FEELING THAT I'VE BEEN SHUT OUT OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.
THIS FEELING THAT I'VE LOST EVEN THE RIGHT TO HOLD ON TO YOU.
IT'S DRIVING ME COMPLETELY FUCKING INSANE.
GUESS I'LL HAVE TO CRASH THE PLACE.
In this chapter, the narrator describes his unique bond with Dahye dating back to childhood, feeling that even silence is comfortable with her. Then, enraged, he begins searching for the blond-haired man he sees as a flirt. He finds Dahye and corners her, demanding she not see that guy. The argument that starts with jealousy turns into a fight, and when he hurts her wrist, he apologizes. He feels Dahye drifting away and is inwardly devastated.
