My Ex-Girlfriend Regrets Dumping Me

16 – Lingering Feelings (1)

[Kim Hyun-jeong]

She hurriedly took out her cell phone and checked the screen, but the name written there was that of a recently befriended classmate.

What in the world did I expect?

Did I hope that Yul would sympathize with me after seeing me like that?

Did I want him to at least give me a call to ask how I’m doing?

“…Sigh.”

She let out a sigh, feeling stupid as she harbored futile expectations.

And she answered the incessantly ringing phone.

Honestly, she didn’t feel like talking to anyone.

But it was evident that if she didn’t have a conversation with someone, she would spend the whole day feeling gloomy again.

It was better to answer the phone, no matter what.

“Hello?”

Through the phone, she could hear the sound of wind and the husky voice of a woman.

[Hey, Ha-yeon! What are you doing?]

“…Just staying at home. Why?”

Hyun-jeong was a friend she had gotten close to through their group project in the same class.

Among the second-year female students in Ha-yeon’s university department, only Hyun-jeong was the same age as her.

Probably due to being older, it was difficult for her to get along with other girls in the same year.

For Ha-yeon, it was fine to consider Hyun-jeong as her only friend on campus.

“Why do you sound so down? I even called you.”

“…There’s just something bothering me a bit.”

She couldn’t explain to Hyun-jeong what it was, under any circumstances.

“So, what is it?”

“Just… I thought maybe we could grab a meal together. I feel like eating meat, but I don’t have anyone to eat with.”

Hyun-jeong’s words raised some questions for Ha-yeon.

Unlike the lonely Ha-yeon, Hyun-jeong had been dating a boyfriend for over a year.

“What about your boyfriend?”

“We fought. So, will you come out with me?”

It seemed like she was using the meal as an excuse and wanted to meet to let off some steam.

Ha-yeon didn’t particularly enjoy these kinds of gatherings.

After listening to someone else’s rant for a few hours, she would feel drained.

Normally, she would probably tactfully decline and make excuses, but today Ha-yeon was a bit different.

She was also feeling gloomy.

“Yeah, let’s meet.”

[Really? What’s the occasion? Our Ha-yeon-nim is coming to meet me in person?]

“…I just want to see you.”

Could it be that she empathized with Hyeon-jeong, who struggled as a man in different circumstances?

Ha-yeon found herself answering that she would go without realizing it.

She also felt a little sorry for not meeting Hyeon-jeong’s persistent requests to meet up.

Although they had very different styles, there was something about them that clicked.

Hyeon-jeong really enjoyed spending time with Ha-yeon.

Usually, it was Ha-yeon who refused their meet-ups.

[Then wait for me at the back gate of the school! I’ll come over there.]

“Yeah.”

With that, Ha-yeon ended the call with Hyeon-jeong and got up from her seat.

She hoped that this outing would help lift her mood.

*

A large pork belly restaurant operating outdoor tables near the school.

A motorcycle pulled up to the place emitting the smell of grilling meat.

And soon enough, a woman took off her helmet and got off the bike.

Leather jacket, tight pants, and even an earring on her ear.

Hyeon-jeong was a friend with a unique style.

“Hey, Hyeon-jeong.”

“What’s wrong? Why does our Ha-yeon look so down? Let me give you a hug. hehehe.”

Laughing softly, Hyeon-jeong embraced Ha-yeon.

Ha-yeon didn’t bother to avoid her.

It hadn’t been more than a month since the semester started, but Ha-yeon was surprised by how close they had become so quickly.

She wasn’t someone who easily became friends with others.

Perhaps it was because of Hyeon-jeong’s extremely bright and carefree personality.

“Let’s stop hugging now and go eat. I’m hungry.”

“You’re being really sour about a heartfelt reunion.”

“We met yesterday too.”

“But that was at school. That’s business. Is that the same as this?”

Hyun-jung grumbles in response and the two of them enter the restaurant.

There’s only one menu item to order at a pork belly restaurant anyway.

The indoor seating is full, so the two are led to a corner table outside to grill their meat.

“… That’s what happened?”

“Really? How could you? That must have been tough.”

Starting with small talk, the atmosphere gradually loosens and Hyun-jung naturally orders soju.

She’s a heavy drinker.

Honestly, in Hayeon’s opinion, Hyun-jung doesn’t drink well.

But Hyun-jung definitely loves alcohol.

She’s the type of girl who chatters on about what to eat and drink wherever she goes.

“Soju goes with pork belly. Ah, come on. Want a drink?”

“Uh, no thanks.”

When Hayeon shakes her head refusing, Hyun-jung blinks her eyes rapidly and starts acting cute, holding onto her glass.

“Aww, why not? Can’t you just drink one with me today? You always say that you’ll drink together but you’ve never actually drank with me before.”

It’s said that the atmosphere is better when you drink together or something like that.

Hyun-jung had asked Hayeon to drink with her since she says it doesn’t taste good drinking alone.

“Pretty please! Just one drink. I promise not to drink anymore after this~!”

“Sigh. Do you ask your boyfriend to do the same thing?”

“Yeah. He thinks it’s cute.”

Seeing the tough and rough-looking Hyun-jung acting cute, Hayeon can’t help but laugh.

She didn’t even know if she liked Hyun-jung like this.

Still, meeting people had slightly lifted her mood.

Drinking heavily during the day wasn’t really good for her stomach, but adding a little more to what she had earlier wasn’t going to make much of a difference.

Usually, she didn’t eat it because she cared about her health, but she had already let loose today.

This might be a good opportunity to have a drink with Hyunjung.

“Sure. I got it. I’ll treat you. Just for today?”

“Wow, really? What’s so special about today? Did I win the lottery? You’re not the Ha Yeon I know.”

“Stop talking nonsense and pour me a drink.”

“Here you go. Ha Yeon!”

She receives a glass of soju from Hyunjung and fills her own glass.

The strong scent of alcohol stung her nose, but she swallowed the bitter liquid anyway.

“Wow, cool. Seo Ha Yeon, will you go out with me?”

“Don’t. It’s embarrassing.”

Seeing Hyunjung clapping and enjoying herself, she thought it was a good idea to drink.

After a drink or two, she suddenly felt a little lightheaded.

Hyunjung was finally getting to the point, sharing a story about fighting with her boyfriend.

“…I just don’t get it. Why won’t he let me go out? It’s not like I belong to him.”

“That’s a little unreasonable.”

“Right? I want to ride my motorcycle at dawn, drink with my friends, and stay out late too!”

It seemed that her boyfriend had recently become stricter.

Ha Yeon had never met her boyfriend, but from what she heard, it seemed that he was not quite compatible with the free-spirited Hyunjung.

…Boyfriend.

Listening to that story, suddenly a man hovered in Ha Yeon’s mind.

The former boyfriend she lost due to her own foolish choices.

“…Hey.”

“Yeah.”

“…Did you?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey! Seo Ha Yeon! Are you even listening to me?”

Thinking about Gunyul, Ha Yeon became melancholic for a moment, but with Hyunjung’s shouting, she snapped back to reality.

Hyunjung was looking at Ha Yeon with an expression of disbelief.

“Ah…sorry. I got a little lost in thought for a moment.”

“Fine. You don’t want to hear what I have to say?”

“No. It’s not that… I’m really sorry, Hyunjung.”

Hyunjeong, who was emitting a strong air of discontent, quickly knocked back the soju in her glass and asked Ha-yeon.

“What were you thinking about so deeply in front of other people?”

“Well…”

As Ha-yeon pondered what to say, Hyunjeong, with an air of concern, told Ha-yeon, “Hey Ha-yeon. Is something bothering you? I debated whether to be honest… but since earlier, your expression seems to be saying ‘I’m worried.'”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, you probably had a drink too. Just pour your heart out to your older sister.”

Ha-yeon also wanted to spill her feelings but found it wasn’t as easy as simply speaking them out loud. It was partly due to her long-standing habit and the difficulty in explaining the circumstances. Above all, it was rather embarrassing.

How could she easily tell someone that she missed her ex-boyfriend? Ha-yeon couldn’t answer easily, and Hyunjeong, feeling frustrated, started to prod Ha-yeon.

“Could it be a relationship problem?”

Was she really good at picking up these things, or was it just that the concerns of a university student were too obvious?

Feeling embarrassed, Ha-yeon initially denied it.

“Oh, no! It’s not like that.”

“Well, well~ Your reaction seems to indicate otherwise, doesn’t it?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Your face has turned red, all the way to your ears. Do you want to keep lying like this?”

“It’s because of the alcohol. It’s because of the alcohol.”

While making all sorts of excuses, trying to escape from the topic, Ha-yeon found that Hyunjeong wasn’t going to let her off easily.

And soon enough, she began to press her with a resolute intention.

“Ha-yeon, actually, I have something to confess.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“…I saw you today riding a motorcycle in front of the school during lunch.”

At that, Ha-yeon’s expression hardened.

A cold sweat began to trickle down her back.

‘No way… No way… If it’s during lunch today, then… It can’t be. It shouldn’t be.’

Although she tried to reassure herself amid her anxiety, Hyunjeong shattered Ha-yeon’s hopes in an instant.

“To be honest, I passed by without taking a good look or being sure. But no matter how you look at it, it was you.”

“…”

“…You were fighting with some guy.”

She wanted to deny it, but the evidence was too clear.

And then, the words that Hyeon-jeong never wanted to hear came out of Hyun’s mouth.

“Is it because of what happened at lunch today?”