"Twenty-two years? Don't tell me that you did this just because you thought that I took Chunghee from you?" he asked in such a flat tone that I couldn't tell if he was mocking or if there was even a more sly meaning to it.

I was silent while smoking a cigarette occasionally. I never thought that he would ask about that.

"Don't you think that your love about twenty-two years ago was only a puppy love?" he asked once again.

Hearing about this, I was stunned for a moment. I smoked a cigarette before replying, "I thought so before. But, ever since then, I've always thought about him. I've lived in France for a dozen years and the only thing that makes me want to come back to this country is him. I've never loved anyone else. I'm even always thinking about him. What about that? Is that a puppy love?"

"Heh, then what? You know he's mine now. What about that?" he asked me back.

I grinned. "You two are no longer together. So don't accuse me of snatching him from you."

"Heh, your words make me feel like bursting of a laugh. But, unfortunately, I can't. I've lost my sense of humor lately. Even though I want to laugh at—"

"Shut the fuck up and get out of here." I glared at him as if the anger gathered in my eyes and made them burn. I tried desperately to suppress my anger.

Donghwa lowered his head slightly. Clenching his fists tightly, he muttered, "You can't love him as long as I'm still alive. No one can do it."

I took a deep breath, relaxing my back against the back of the chair. I said indifferently, "It's your own fault for ignoring him all this time. So, now, please leave my office and don't forget to bring your thing."

There was a pause before he took a heavy sigh. He lifted his chin, showing a slightly gentler gaze than before. He then said with a pathetic tone, "All this time, I always ask nicely to you. I always beg you where I never did to my opponents before. But, why do you make it difficult to me?"

Hearing his words, I rolled my eyes, disgusted by his words.

However, as soon as a sneaky idea popped into my head, I gave a cold grin, then tried to play him one more time, "Then, why don't you try to persuade me once again? Because such a plea won't make me change my mind at all."

"Tell me, what should I do? I'll do anything," he replied in the same tone as if he was a soulless body.

I stared at him for a moment while thinking that this guy had completely lost his hope until a thought crossed my head. I flashed a cold smile, then said, "Why don't you kneel and say your wish? Maybe, that will change my mind and help you."

Instantly there was a stern refusal on his face upon hearing the order. His facial muscles seemed to tighten. He looked at me furiously while clenching his fists at his sides, but he didn't say anything.

I thought that he was going to beat me up but unexpectedly, he slowly knelt in front of me with one leg bent.

"Please, give the gift to him," Donghwa said, gritting his teeth.

I kept grinning at the sight of Donghwa who always looked stubborn but now, he had become very dutiful. Dissatisfied, I affirmed, "The other leg. If you really want to kneel, then get down on your knees completely."

He was very obedient and immediately dropped his bent leg after hearing my words, then made the same plea.

Seeing him so submissive like that, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. I thought that this stubborn guy was now very easy to fool.

"Seriously? You really did that?" I chuckled, then added, "Unfortunately, I changed my mind. I don't want to do it. I was just playing with you a little. You should have known already, right?"

His face turned pitiful. He said in a stifled voice, "You said you would help me."

"I said 'maybe'. I didn't tell you for sure."

Hearing that statement, Donghwa immediately fell to the floor limply. He stared blankly ahead, touching his head with a desperate face. He replied, "You like to make fun of people, huh?"

"Not really. Only you," I replied casually.

Suddenly his face changed drastically. If he had looked hopeless as if he had lost his soul before, now he seemed to be his previous self, arrogant and violent, displaying an air of hostility.

He slowly got up. Looking at me with a dead look, he said in suppressed words, "Heh, alright then, I can play this kind of game too."

I was silent.

I laughed silently as I heard the words.

Donghwa was just someone who didn't know anything about my feelings right now. Being with someone who acted as if he no longer loved his partner, but was always delirious about 'someone whom he thought he hated, but he still loved', it hurt more than what he just heard.

Not only that, the thing that more painful was that almost every night when Chunghee hugged me and thought that I was Donghwa. The pain was even etched into my bones.

Loving someone who only pretends to love you is a pain that cannot be described by words.

However, if only I had no feelings for him and only considered him as a childhood friend, I would still have done the same. I couldn't possibly let a friend curl up in pain, heartbreaking, and rotting alone.

Besides, there was a feeling that I couldn't accept. I knew that Chunghee was his, whereas I was only Chunghee's past. However, if only Chunghee was happy with him, I would never be against anyone. I would give up and let Chunghee stay by his side.

However, the reality was different. Chunghee looked miserable all this time. He even chose to forget the person he still loved rather than stand once again.

How could I let him suffer?

He was the one who left Donghwa and I only came to help him even with the hope that I could get one more chance. Could that be called 'snatching'?

Donghwa spoke as if I was a home wrecker. That sounded ridiculous. 

Meanwhile, Donghwa was still silent, without a word in front of me. He showed a straight face, expressionless and guiltless, apart from still in the same cold aura with restrained anger.

Thinking that I didn't need any response from him, I asked him to leave once again. "Lee, leave now. It's useless you're here."

Hearing my words, he glanced at me sharply and I did the same. Even though no one talked to each other, this hostile situation was like the different direction of the wind that was converging in the air causing a storm.

Because we had strong-tempered, without a word, our eyes met to bring each other down.

Finally, in our cold silence, he turned to leave this room. However, before he came out, he picked up the parcel, then placed it on the table. he said, "I will not bring this. I hope you still want to change your mind about giving it to Chunghee."

After his words, he immediately came out by slamming the door quite hard.

A few seconds after he left, I immediately let out a sigh of relief and couldn't pretend to be calm anymore. Massaging the bridge of my nose, I felt dizzy with everything that happened this morning. By enduring the emotions that had been stirring up a while ago, made my head feel heavy like a ship about to sink.

This morning was truly bad. Arguing with him overwhelmed me to stay calm.

Inhaling and exhaling for a while, I glanced at the parcel that Donghwa had placed on the table before he left. I got up from the chair to take the parcel, then brought it to my desk.

I gazed at the parcel for a while, massaging my lower lip while wondering what was in it before curiosity made my hands move on their own to open it.

Expressionless, I stared at the thing that was neatly folded inside, then observed it. That was a light blue scarf without a motif. The shape was so simple, looked nothing special.

Donghwa was an affluent person. Even though he had destitute, now he was successful and earning a lot of money.

However, as soon as I saw this cheap scarf, I frowned. I thought that it was impossible for Donghwa to give a gift like this to his partner.

I concluded that this must be Chunghee who asked for it.

This blue scarf really depicted the real Chunghee, who had a simple personality and who wanted a simple relationship.

I smiled, feeling funny. I never thought that a man with a soft temper like Chunghee would have a relationship with a man like Donghwa.

It was such a contrast in my mind.

After that, I put the scarf back into the parcel before an incoming message from A Yeong regarding the infrastructure site observation at 10 o'clock made me stand up immediately and leave this place.

Arguing with that person this morning truly made me sink into the worst mood. I even felt it as long as I was doing all my work today.