Chapter 78. Lee Dohyun (8)

“I heard it too. That you got married and had a kid…”

“What are you talking about? Me?”

“Yeah. People said Dohyun-sunbae has a kid. So we all figured… you two must’ve started a family. Like, no wedding, just the baby. We weren’t sure, so we didn’t say anything.”

‘So that’s what those looks were…’

“That’s not true. We broke up. A while ago.”

“For real?”

“Yeah. So I’d appreciate it if people stopped connecting us.”

‘A kid? That was absurd.’

The classmate who first spoke—Jung Eun—licked her dry lips and looked apologetic. She rubbed Eunkyo’s arm awkwardly.

“Maybe we misunderstood… Sorry, Eunkyo. We just couldn’t imagine you two splitting up…”

“Jung Eun! What are you even saying? Our Eunkyo, having a kid?!”

Seowoo, unable to hold back any longer, burst out. Heads turned toward them.

Eunkyo tugged on Seowoo’s sleeve, replying calmly.

“It’s a misunderstanding. That never happened.”

Jung Eun clutched her temples with both hands and pouted, apologizing dramatically.

She claimed she was sorry, that she just hadn’t imagined they’d ever break up, and that she got confused…

From the corner of her eye, Eunkyo saw Dohyun approaching. Before he could reach them, she grabbed her handbag and stood.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

“Yeah, okay! Should I come with you?”

“No, I’ll go alone.”

Eunkyo gently reassured Seowoo and stepped forward—just in time to come face to face with Lee Dohyun. As she passed him, his steps slowed, and then turned, following her.

It was as if they were the stars of the event—all eyes turned their way. Amid the soft jazz pop pouring from the massive speakers, the two walked through a sleek, modern hallway.

‘Where should I stop? At what point do I turn around? What should I say first?’

She’d asked herself “Why?” a thousand times, but the moment she saw his face, she felt she’d burst into tears if she stopped walking now. So she couldn’t.

“Eunkyo, don’t go any farther.”

His low, gentle voice brought her to a halt. Just ahead was an outdoor balcony, but the summer heat had left it empty.

“Look at me.”

His hand touched her shoulder. She brushed him off and pushed open the balcony door.

“Don’t do this. Everyone knows now. That we broke up.”

The hot, humid wind clung to her skin.

Now that she had made up her mind to face him head-on, the fear subsided. The trembling, too.

She opened her mouth, lips trembling, and turned around. Dohyun, one hand still tucked into his pocket, took a step closer. She reached out, stopping him.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“Still drawing lines, huh.”

He furrowed his brows like someone hurt, gazing off past the balcony rail. That wistful expression… it weakened her.

She was barely holding herself together. Barely managing to contain the shredded, discarded remnants of her heart.

So how dare he—he—look like the one who was hurt?

Three years had passed, and yet he hadn’t changed at all.

“If you’ve got something to say, say it now. I won’t listen later.”

Her tone was cold. Dohyun pulled his hand from his pocket and, without warning, grabbed her wrist.

“What’s this?”

His face twisted at the sight of the red, inflamed burn mark.

“That’s all you have to say to me?”

She pulled her hand away, her voice sharp. Dohyun looked at her for a moment, then exhaled a faint laugh.

“No. I’ve got too much to say—I’m still trying to figure out where to start. The second I saw you… my head just… I lost it.”

“Haa, you’re crazy. If that’s it, then leave. I don’t want to see your face.”

She turned away, trying to hide her wavering eyes. But he wrapped his arm around her waist without hesitation, sighing.

“Even if you don’t want to see me, just listen. You can call it an excuse if you want—I just want a chance, Eunkyo.”

“Why should I?”

She snapped, turning her head. She was at her limit. If she held on any longer, she knew she’d spill everything she didn’t want to feel.

“Are you just going to keep staring at the floor?”

“Stop with the word games!”

She raised her head, furious—and there he was, smiling faintly.

The sky was impossibly blue, fluffy clouds scattering across it, rays of light pouring through in a way that looked exactly like that day, once upon a time.

Her vision blurred. All the tightly bottled sorrow, irritation, anger, and sadness brimmed at the edges.

“Ah…”

The sound came from him. Dohyun, still looking down at her, rubbed at his eyes awkwardly. She turned away, but the tears she’d been holding back finally spilled.

And then, the balcony door opened again.

Voices, loud and cheerful, spilled in from the hall.

Dohyun immediately stepped in front of her, pulling her head gently to his chest and shielding her.

As if to make sure no one could see her.

As if he remembered—how much she hated crying in front of others, how she’d rather die than show tears.

‘Bastard.’

Her phone buzzed inside her handbag.

The vibrations came in steady pulses, over and over. She should’ve checked who it was—but she couldn’t move.

It echoed through her chest like the end of summer, like the shrill, desperate cry of cicadas in their final days—loud, relentless, aching.