♡ 37

I have to agree with Sohyun, this is insane. Over the past week I have called and quit my job at the ice rink, booked a flight to Japan with a credit card, and cut half of my hair off. I have never pictured myself as the type to have the typical breakup meltdown, but here I am.

I block Sunghoon's number moments before I board the plane. I don't tell any of my friends where I am going, in fear that he would stop me.

The first couple of weeks in Japan are scary. I don't know the language, the host family I found last minute is a bit weird, and it has rained almost the entire time.

It doesn't matter, because I am off to Australia next. I have contacted Sohyun and she set me up with a friend of Jake's to stay.

I talk to Sohyun nearly every day. As much fun as I am having and the amazing experiences I am getting, I do miss home. I miss my friends. I miss Sunghoon.

I thought I could distract myself from the pain, but it finds a way to creep back in. I find myself laying in bed at night, watching his stupid Tiktoks. He has discontinued his series that I was helping write. Youngji has not made another appearance on it. But overall, he looks good. I wonder if he is fine now. Does he think about me?

Sohyun doesn't talk about him when we talk and I don't bring him up. I don't want to be the one to ask.

I am two months into my trip when Sohyun calls me, balling her eyes out. I am walking through a bookstore and have to go outside as to not to disturb the other customers, she is so loud.

"Sohyun!" I say once I am outside. "What's wrong?"

"He broke up with me!" She sobs.

"Jake?"

"Of course Jake! I only had one boyfriend!"

"What happened?" I ask as I lean against the brick wall of the bookstore. I thought they were solid. I talk to her daily, she hasn't mentioned any issues with Jake. This is out of nowhere!

"I don't know! We went out to breakfast this morning and he said it wasn't working out." She explains. "He said he needed time apart!"

"I don't understand."

"Me either! He was going on about being too serious too soon. We are too young, or some shit. It was a bullshit excuse to dump me. He doesn't want me anymore!"

"Then it is his loss!" I tell her, tears prickling my own eyes. I should be there. We should burn his shit and eat tons of ice cream. But instead I ran from my own breakup. "Listen to me, Sohyun. You are fucking incredible. You are beautiful, smart, funny, and so talented. If Jake passed on that, fuck him. He doesn't deserve you."

"I miss you." She sniffles.

"I miss you, too." I tell her, wiping my eyes.

We sit in silence for a moment. Nothing I say is going to make her feel better and it isn't like I can pull her through the phone.

"Hey." I say as an idea hits me. "Why don't you come here?"

"What?"

"Yeah. It's fall break there next week, right? Come spend it here with me." I sound a bit too eager. "Your family is loaded and that way, you don't have to worry about running into Jake. Plus, I will get to see you. They have great bars here."

"I can't stay with his friend..."

"We will rent somewhere. Come on, it will be fun!"

"I mean..." She trails off. "Yeah. Why can't I? I will!"

After I got home Sohyun had already booked her flight and the house we would be staying in while she is here. I explained things to Tim, the guy I am staying with, that I would be gone for a week.

When she does arrive, she wants to drink. So, as promised, I take her to one of the clubs that Tim has recommended.

You know how with my breakup I tried to distract myself from it with travel? Well Sohyun is trying to do that, too, except with alcohol. I told the bartender to cut her off a while ago, but guys keep buying them for her!

"Y/n." She slurs her speech as she slings her arm over my shoulders. "Why did I think coming here was a good idea?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone sounds like Jake! But I don't understand what they are saying." She lays her head on my shoulder. "I should call Jake again."

"No, you shouldn't..." I look down at her. "What do you mean again?"

"I called him earlier. Right after the swirly blue drink." She giggles, but then frowns. "He didn't answer. Do you think he is out with someone else?"

"No. I don't." I sigh, flagging down the bartender. "I think it's time to get you to bed, Sohyun." I say before telling the bartender I wanted to close our tab.

"What? No!" She whines, springing up. She starts walking backwards. "I don't want to leave! I want to dance. I want to make out with someone that makes me forget Jake!"

"That will not be happening." Jake says, wrapping a hand around Sohyun's waist as she runs directly into his chest. "Hey, Y/n. Nice hair."

"Jake." I nod, not even surprised. I knew he would turn up eventually. Tim had said he called him when Sohyun first left. "Thanks."

"What..." Sohyun stumbles as she tries to turn around. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here to talk." He steadies her again, his hands gripping her hips. "When you are sober. Come on."

"No!" She pushes at him.

"Sohyun, I got your voicemail as soon as I got off the plane. I was an idiot, I know that. I got scared."

"Scared of what? I am not the boogeyman, Jake." She sticks her fingers in her mouth, pulling her lips back, making a stupid face. Damn, I wish I had filmed that.

"I know." Jake chuckles at her. "We can talk tomorrow. Let's get some food and coffee in you."

"I..."

"See you, Y/n. I am taking her back to your rental."

I wave at him as he hauls Sohyun toward the exit. I don't even ask how he knows where we are staying. Tim, probably. I had given him that info, just so someone knew where I was.

I sigh as I turn back toward the bar. I didn't want to go back to the house now. Jake and Sohyun need time together. I didn't want to go to Tim's either, just in case he has someone over. I wave the bartender back down, ordering another Panty Dropper.

I feel the guy beside me sit down, entirely too close. I have been telling men all night no. I am not ready for anything physical right now. He doesn't appear to be pushing, so I don't turn toward him. I take a drink of my peachy drink.

"Peaches." The low voice that still haunts my dreams says. "Look at me."