It Started with an End

"B-break up?" I whispered the words I had dreaded so much to hear.

"Sorry, I just...you know, love changes." He shrugged his shoulders slightly.

I looked at him unbelievably. Was he really breaking up with me?

"W-why are you being like this...?" I asked confused. What did I do wrong?

I had been going out with Byung Do for a while now. He was my ideal man: strong, kind, gentlemanly. Everything I could ask for. We had met a year ago and it was love at first sight.

Byung Do wanted to be a lawyer and studied really hard. However, he had been failing miserably with pathetic score. I never gave up on him and supported him with everything. Even when everyone said he should give up. I was always the only one there for him.

"Min Young-ah..." He said my name with pain in his eyes. H reached for my cheek and his touch made me flinch. Byung Do wasn't into skinship. At least...not with me. "I don't want to hurt you."

I took his hand on mine, ignoring my thoughts. I needed him to confirm the truth for me.

"Oppa.." I smiled at him, reassuring myself more than reassuring him. "What is it?"

Byung Do's painful gaze turned into an annoyed one.

"Min Young-ah..." He brushed my hand off his. "...You saw us, didn't you?"

I froze at his words. Here it is, the truth.

.................

It was an autumn day.

Byung Do said his friends from high school were having a party and that I should go. After all, I was his girlfriend. I was so happy, I'd get to meet his friends and share stories of how Byung Do was in the past and how he is now. It sounded awesome.

I had agreed excited and he had smiled at me, ruffled my hair, and even pecked my cheek. We headed to the party, chatting away in his car, smiling and laughing. It could've been the perfect day.

When we got there, he introduced me to his friends, calling me his girlfriend. I was so happy I could burst. His friends also seemed fun, they teased us asking of our love life and making us blush. However, there was someone who wasn't very happy with me.

That someone was Byung Do's ex girlfriend, Chae Ra. Honestly, it made me feel insecure. Chae Ra was pretty and nice, at least with the guys. She was also a good dancer and I bet even a good singer. She was good at drinking and her smile was so pretty. But she gave me a death glare.

When Byung Do saw Chae Ra, he only looked away. Turns out, Chae Ra was the one who broke up with him. When she saw him, she jumped on him, not even paying attention to our interlaced arms.

"Oppa!" She had said. "I've missed you so much!"

Byung Do didn't do anything to get her off him, he just laughed and said "Really?"

But when Chae Ra saw me, her smile disappeared, and it became a death glare when Byung Do introduced us. It was awkward, seeing her in front of me. But she just found me annoying and an obstacle, I knew that but I ignored it.

However, the night got worse, Chae Ra danced all over Byung Do and he danced with her. I was drinking, trying not to feel weird. I didn't want to appear jealous and make Byung Do think I was clingy or anything.

When they finally came back from dancing, Chae Ra was sweaty and maybe even a bit tipsy. I couldn't stand it anymore and said I'd be in the washroom. I pecked Byung Do's forehead and received another death glare from Chae Ra, Byung Do only smiled and touched my hair. I bet he wasn't even conscious. "Ne." He had said.

Being in the washroom, I had decided to make it clear for Chae Ra. I wouldn't get in a fight, nor would I tell her off. But with some light pecks to Byung Do, I would declare where I stand. I couldn't let her take him away.

Thinking this, I had looked at myself in the mirror. Sure, I'm not as pretty as Chae Ra or sexy or drunk. But I could pull it off, maybe? I had made a 'fighting' sign at myself and was about to head out when my phone rang.

"Jeobuseyo?" I had picked up almost immediately.

"Ah, yes, Min Young-ssi?" The voice of a man sounded from the other line. He seemed excited about something.

"Yes, this is her." I said puzzled.

"Good, Min Young-ssi, you are Byung Do-ssi's girlfriend, am I right?" The man sounded like he was straining himself from saying something.

"Yes." I nodded even though he couldn't see me.

"I am the director of Clementine Law School."

I froze in the spot. We forgot to see the scores. Byung Do had taken the exam a lot of times, but had failed all of them.

"Yes." I said nervous.

"Is Byung Do-ssi there?" The director's voice sounded very impatient.

"Aniyo, not right now." I said thinking of how Byung Do could talk drunk. "But you can call us tomorrow or---"

"Oh, aniyo. It's ok, I'll just speak with you." He said hurriedly.

"Ah, yes. Please speak." I bowed even though the director couldn't see me.

"Well, we were very impressed by Byung Do-ssi's scores." He started. "You see, on the previous exams, Byung Do-ssi wasn't very...successful." He said choosing the correct words.

"Yes, but---"

"WE," he spoke louder, getting rid of my voice. "WE were very baffled I must say, it was quite...offending."

"Wait, Byung Do---" I started getting angry.

"BUT!'" The director said even louder, tuning me out yet again. "This time, it was impressive! Byung Do-ssi, has he not checked the scores? He got 9800 out of 10000 points!"

I froze. 9800?! The exam consisted of 10000 points. If you got at least 6500 points, you passed. If someone ever got more than 8000 points, he/she was a genius! For Byunfg Do to get such a score, I was so happy!!

"Jeongmal?!" I asked the director, losing all hints of elegance I had been trying to give him.

"Yes!" He responded. "I expect to see Byung Do-ssi in Clementine next month, then."

"Y-yes! He will be there!!" I answered, jumping up and down. He passed. Byung Do passed! And with a genius score! I was so proud of my boyfriend and got out the washroom running, looking for him to share the good news. All thoughts of Chae Ra had left my mind.

I was looking for Byung Do, but he wasn't on the dancefloor nor with his friends. Strangely enough, Chae Ra couldn't be found either. I tried to get all the insecure thoughts off my mind and headed to Byung Do's best friend.

"I saw him go out the back door." He said, a bit nervous. "Min Young-ah, you shouldn't go."

I ignored him and headed out, trying to ignore his best friend's words and focus on my happiness.

I reached the door and saw Byung Do's smiling face, he seemed to be talking with someone. I smiled and headed to the door, which had a small window on it....and stopped almost immediately.

Byung Do suddenly pulled a girl towards him, crashing his lips on hers. The kiss was passionate and his hands moved around her body in ways I've never seen before. She automatically put her hands on his neck too, they seemed experienced.

My hands went weak and let go of my phone. It crashed to the ground, making a loud noise, which was enough to make me look down. I squatted down, looking at my now broken phone. I felt somthing wet and warm travel down my cheek. This was not Byung Do, I'm wrong.

Suddenly, the door opened and in came Byung Do, with Chae Ra behind him. Her lipstick was smudged on his lips. Byung Do saw me and his eyes got bigger, realizing what had happened. But no, that had not been Byung Do.

"Min Young-ah..." He said looking down at me. "Why are you here?"

I looked up at the clear scene above me. My tears spilt down and Byung Do crouched down next to me.

"What's wrong?" He said brushing away my tears.

Yes. Byung Do is a kind person, he would never do something like this. It's just my insecurity getting the better of me. I looked up and smiled, convincing myself more than convincing him.

"I..I loved this phone...and it broke."

After that, we went home and I told him the good news. I had never seen him happier.

But I knew, as hidden as it was, I knew the truth. Byung Do...was not mine anymore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~