Chapter 8

"I know why you invited me. When you and Kang Ho started dating, people must have talked a lot. Everyone knew about Kang Ho and me. And then, when I quit my job and disappeared, the gossip must have been tremendous, especially from people who love to talk. What you want from me is to quiet that gossip, isn't it? The old me would have done it. After all, I was crazy about my friends. The old me would have told people, 'It's okay, don't misunderstand. It's all in the past.' You must have known that well, and you wanted to refurbish your shattered image that way."

"Da Hee. That's not what I meant. I just want your forgiveness..."

Hye Young called out, trying to stop Da Hee's words. But, Da Hee looked at Hye Young with an unwavering expression.

"You still want to appear kind. Even to me."

Da Hee retorted, staring intently at Hye Young. Ever since university orientation, Hye Young had, for some reason, never left Da Hee's side. Da Hee had been indifferent to it until then, but by the time she left her job, she understood why. If she was by Da Hee's side, who spoke her mind, Hye Young didn't have to say anything unpleasant herself. Furthermore, people perceived Hye Young, with her contrasting personality, as even kinder. Hye Young had cunningly exploited that from the very beginning.

"No. Da Hee..."

"You know better than anyone what kind of person I am."

Hye Young's face twisted in agony, knowing how sincere Da Hee was to those she was close to, but how cold she was to strangers, and how cruel she could be to those she disliked.

"I told people. That you and Kang Ho invited me to the wedding."

At Da Hee's words, Hye Young's face, which looked like it was about to burst into tears, hardened like a lie.

"Da Hee, you..."

"I have no intention of explaining myself. Because it's the truth. People will ask if we made up. Then I'll say no, we never did. I'll say that after you started dating Kang Ho, you cut off contact as if you'd been waiting for the chance."

"Da Hee, wait a minute!"

Hye Young's face turned pale. Da Hee stood motionless, arms crossed.

"Do you still think I'm such a fool that I'd forgive everything if you just gave me that innocent look and said, 'I'm sorry'?"

"Da Hee."

"If you really wanted my forgiveness, you should have come to me in person, not sent something like a wedding invitation."

"I... I didn't know where you were..."

"Then how did you send the wedding invitation?"

At Da Hee's question, Hye Young's face went blank and she fell silent, speechless. Da Hee smiled coldly.

"Don't try to look innocent. That mask doesn't work on me anymore."

At Da Hee's words, Hye Young's face began to crumple little by little. Just as Hye Young, with a face crumpled like a piece of paper, was about to say something.

"Hye Young."

Da Hee turned her head at the familiar voice from behind her. It was Kang Ho. He had rushed over after overhearing that Hye Young seemed to be arguing with someone.

"Why are you here?"

Kang Ho asked, his face stiff and cold.

"The person who invited me would know."

Da Hee replied coldly.

"Who invited you?"

Da Hee tilted her head.

"Oh my. That wasn't your doing?"

"Me? Invite you? Why?"

Kang Ho's face was completely contorted, whereas Da Hee's remained indifferent.

To Kang Ho, Da Hee was the woman he had loved the most in his entire life. And because of that, she was also the woman who had left him with the deepest wound. It tormented him that no matter how hard he tried, she never gave him her whole heart. Hye Young, on the other hand, had consistently cared for him by his side. He thought he loved Hye Young now, but it seemed he had been overconfident. The moment he saw Da Hee's back, his heart pounded, and facing her made it beat even more fiercely, making the situation feel like a dream. Kang Ho was angry because he didn't want to show her this side of himself.

"Then, it was you?"

Da Hee looked at Hye Young, saying something incomprehensible. Two text messages. One came from Kang Ho's phone number. But, Kang Ho was now angrily claiming taht he hadn't invited her. That meant both messages were from Hye Young.

"You really did show your strange side in the most unexpected aspects."

Da Hee muttered, standing askew with her arms crossed, looking at Hye Young. Hye Young's eyes trembled slightly. 'No, please, don't say that.' Her eyes were screaming those words. If Kang Ho found out about this, he might get fed up with her. Hye Young was desperate.

"Stop it, Lee Da Hee."

Kang Ho said coldly, stepping in front of Hye Young.

"Am I going to shoot Hye Young? Why are you blocking me?"

Kang Ho's face crumpled at Da Hee's cold expression, which only appeared when she dealt with people she disliked.

"Do you have to treat us like this until the very end?"

At Kang Ho's words, Da Hee's expression noticeably hardened.

"Anyone listening would think I ruined the wedding."

"You're doing enough already."

"Not even close."

Kang Ho frowned at Da Hee's coldness. He looked at Da Hee, who was glaring at him without a single tremor, and spoke coldly.

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Miel's Translations