Back to December

I could only freeze in place when I saw Y/n sitting in one corner of the café with a woman. I immediately regretted my decision to follow Kai to this café. Y/n shifted his gaze away. I did the same. My brain guessed that the woman was probably Y/n’s new girlfriend—the one Aunt Sooyoung had mentioned before. Yeah, that made sense. It was impossible for them to just be friends because the woman was acting so clingy toward Y/n. Besides, this was the first time I had seen her face. I knew almost all of Y/n’s female friends, and my relationship with them was actually pretty good. We were like old friends.

“Irene!” Kai called out a woman’s name. And unfortunately, the woman sitting with Y/n waved her hand. Damn! Damn it! There were so many people in the café, yet Kai’s cousin had to be her? Ugh, I felt like God was punishing me.

“Wow, is this your future husband? Finally, you’re not single anymore,” Kai teased.

“Yeah, yeah… keep teasing me,” Irene grumbled, which was met with Kai’s chuckle. “Oh right, Oppa, let me introduce you—this is Y/n. My future husband.”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked by that statement. I didn’t know what feeling was washing over my heart right now. Disappointed? No. Even if Y/n decided to come back to me and asked me to marry him, my answer would still be the same. Yeah, maybe this was better. If this was his choice, Y/n deserved to be happy.

We looked at each other before Y/n gave an awkward smile and shook hands with Kai. “Y/n,” he said.

“Kai, Irene’s cousin,” Kai replied.

Yes, Kai really didn’t know that I used to date Y/n. I had never posted Y/n’s face on social media. Unlike Y/n, who often posted stories when we were together.

It wasn’t that I was too indifferent or didn’t care about him back then. I just thought that kind of thing wasn’t too important. Honestly, I opened my business account more often than my personal one. Luckily, Y/n never complained about it.

On the other hand, I had reconnected with Kai after Nayeon created an alumni group chat a few months ago. She made the group just to send out her wedding invitation. Some of my close friends couldn’t come because they were busy working out of town. Kai sent me a private message and offered to go together. Of course, I accepted the offer. Going to a wedding alone would have looked a bit pathetic.

Y/n sat back down. Our eyes met again. Within seconds, he picked up his phone from the table and busied himself with it. Kai and Irene were still standing. The woman then looked at me in confusion before giving Kai a mischievous smile.

“Who is she? Your future wife too?” asked the shoulder-length haired woman.

Kai and I looked at each other. He laughed while I smiled awkwardly. I wasn’t surprised if someone asked that.

“No. She’s my old school friend. Her name is Park Jihyo.” Kai introduced me to Mina.

“Hello, Bae Irene,” she said while extending her hand.

“Park Jihyo,” I replied, briefly shaking her hand.

After the short introduction, we sat down. I sat facing Irene, while Kai sat facing Y/n. There were already two glasses of drinks and some snacks on the table. Irene offered for Kai to order food and drinks, but he said he would order later. I chose not to order anything. Besides still being full, I had lost my appetite because of Y/n.

It turned out Irene had called Kai to ask about ordering wedding invitations. Kai worked at a printing company. Kai and Irene dominated the conversation that night. Y/n only spoke when Ireme asked for his opinion. As for me? Yeah, I chose to busy myself with my phone. After several minutes passed, Irene excused herself to go to the restroom and Kai went to the cake counter.

Now, only Y/n and I were left at the table. Killing the awkwardness by focusing on our respective phones. Until finally, that voice called my name.

“Hyo…”

I stayed in my position. Silent while staring at my phone screen.

“Nothing you want to say to me?”

Y/n’s question successfully pierced my heart. A small thing that hurt quite a bit. I laughed bitterly in my heart. “Congratulations on getting married to her. I hope everything goes smoothly until the big day,” I said without looking at him.

I could hear my ex clicking his tongue. “That’s not what I wanted to hear from you, Jihyo!” he hissed.

I lifted my head and looked at Y/n. “What else then?”