My Ex-Boyfriend is Sold Out

Chapter 25: The Childhood Friend Opens Up About the Past

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Swoosh.

Yerin immediately wrapped her arms around Si-hyun as he began to cry, pressing his face against her chest and gently patting his trembling back.

“Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

To Yerin, Si-hyun was the kindest, most gentle-hearted man she knew. Who or what could have brought him to this point?

Did he get a message from Lim Chae-yeon? Or maybe Grandma scolded him?

She narrowed her eyes, suspecting possible culprits, as Si-hyun slowly calmed down and spoke in a strained voice.

“I owe you so much, but I’ve never really done anything for you. And I don’t know much about you either… I feel so useless and pathetic.”

Hearing his confession, Yerin’s eyes widened. It made her happy to know he cared for her, but he was misunderstanding something.

“What are you talking about? You’ve done so much for me.”

“Don’t lie. I haven’t done anything…”

“It’s not a lie. You’ve been in a relationship with Chae-yeon; you should understand.”

She hugged him tightly.

“Just being close to someone you love gives them strength.”

In Yerin’s warm embrace, Si-hyun’s trembling lessened. When he looked up, two trails of tears streaked down his cheeks, and Yerin wiped them away with her thumb, continuing softly.

“I don’t know what made you feel like this, but don’t feel guilty. I acted on my own desires, and you’ve already been a huge help to me. Okay?”

“Yerin…”

Si-hyun looked at her with a tender gaze, and Yerin leaned in to kiss him, but then quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment.

“Oh, wait. I just finished eating, so my breath probably smells, doesn’t it?”

Si-hyun chuckled at her endearing clumsiness. Relieved to see him smile, Yerin led him to a nearby rock, where they sat together.

The moonlit sea and gentle waves around them created a serene, heartfelt atmosphere.

Resting her head on his shoulder, Yerin gently swung her feet as she spoke.

“Still, it’s unexpected. I never thought you’d think about me so seriously, Si-hyun.”

“I just realized how little attention I’ve paid to you…”

Sensing his sadness, Yerin reached over and held his hand warmly.

“If that’s bothering you, then just start learning now. Ask me anything you want—I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

Si-hyun squeezed her hand a little tighter, surprising her. She lifted her head to meet his troubled gaze.

After hesitating for a moment, he let out a deep sigh, prompting Yerin to chuckle.

“What could you possibly want to ask that makes you so hesitant? My measurements? I could tell you if you’re curious~”

Yerin teased him with a sly smile, but he didn’t react. Realizing he was serious, she quickly dropped the playful act.

After several moments of consideration, Si-hyun finally spoke up.

“I want to know about your childhood.”

“Huh? But you already know a lot about that.”

“I mean, the parts I wasn’t there for… including your parents.”

Yerin froze, her lips slightly parted. She had told him to feel free to ask anything, but she hadn’t expected him to go so deep so quickly.

Lost in thought, Yerin spoke in a low voice.

“Seems like Grandma told you things she shouldn’t have…”

Maybe that was where Si-hyun’s recent self-reflection came from. Confirming her guess, she sighed.

Si-hyun didn’t deny it and spoke after a moment.

“Even before hearing from her, I’d wanted to ask you about your parents at least once.”

“There’s no need to know about that. It doesn’t mean anything now…”

But Si-hyun gently lifted her hand, and Yerin, sensing his sincerity, looked directly at him.

Holding her hand in both of his, he spoke earnestly.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it. You’ve always tried to change the subject whenever I asked about your family. I even thought maybe I should just leave it alone. But…”

Si-hyun’s voice trembled as he continued.

“Leaving things as they are wouldn’t change anything. After 15 years of knowing you, I still don’t know much about you or the pain you’ve been through. If I avoid this now, I’ll never grow beyond who I am.”

“Si-hyun…”

Yerin looked at him with compassionate eyes as he spoke with renewed determination.

“If you’re going through something difficult, tell me everything. I want to really know you now, and if you have any wounds in your heart, I’ll be there to help you heal them.”

Seeing Si-hyun approach her not just as a friend but as a romantic partner, Yerin felt the locks around her heart slowly begin to open.

Maybe this is where true love begins.

Accepting and embracing every part of the person you want to share your life with, no matter how painful it might be. Through this, Si-hyun was seeking change—or perhaps, growth.

“Si-hyun…”

How could she refuse someone who was approaching her so sincerely?

The lock she had kept so tightly shut for years now started to loosen. With a quiet sigh, Yerin spoke softly.

“Alright… I’ll tell you everything.”

***

Saying she couldn’t talk about it completely sober, Yerin went to the convenience store and came back with soju. They sat back down on the rock, and as she twisted open the bottle, she asked.

“So, what did Grandma tell you?”

“She told me that your father passed away and that your mother barely comes home because of work.”

“She summarized it pretty well, didn’t she?”

Taking a sip straight from the bottle, Yerin let out a heavy breath and began.

“I mostly learned this from Grandma, but… to start from the beginning, my mom used to be a total career woman. She didn’t care about romance, only her job. She was so good that a top company tried to recruit her.”

After a small laugh, she quickly added that she wasn’t bragging and then continued.

“Then, one day, Dad joined the company, and apparently, he fell for her right away. I don’t know the details, but that’s when it started. She even began showing human emotions, like going to Grandma’s to vent about Dad, who was always on her mind.”

Her father had clearly had a positive impact on her mother’s life. But knowing what happened to him later, Si-hyun felt a pang of sorrow as Yerin continued her story.

“Mom must have been drawn to him without realizing it. Eventually, she ended up getting pregnant and had to go to Grandma’s to tell her. Grandpa was still alive back then, so apparently, there was almost a huge fight.”

And that’s how Yerin came to be. Si-hyun thought of asking something but decided to stay quiet, knowing listening was the best support he could give.

“After a lot of back-and-forth, they got married, and Mom left her job to focus on the family. She started learning housework from Grandma and found some stability in her life…”

Yerin’s voice began to waver. Si-hyun sensed that she was reaching a painful part of her story, so he gently rubbed her back, silently encouraging her to continue.

“When… when I was born, Dad was driving to the hospital, and there was a car accident…”

Unable to continue, Yerin took another swig of soju before putting the bottle down and covering her eyes with her hands.

“After Dad’s sudden death, Mom was devastated. She said seeing me reminded her of him, so she started distancing herself. To forget the memories of him, she threw herself into work even more than before, only sending money for living expenses…”

Seeing her struggle, Si-hyun pulled Yerin into a tight hug, letting her know she didn’t have to say any more. In his arms, she finally let out the sorrow she’d held back for so long.

“Si-hyun… I didn’t do anything wrong, so why did I have to go through this? While other kids asked their moms to cook for them, I had to get by on take-out food. And at the playground, I was always the last one left because my mom never came to pick me up… Every time I think about how lonely I was…!”

Unable to finish, Yerin broke down in tears like a child. Si-hyun’s heart ached as he held her tightly, letting her cry freely.

“Thank you for telling me everything. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been…”

Knowing her pain brought Si-hyun an overwhelming feeling of closeness, a true sense of intimacy. This was a bond of complete openness.

Si-hyun was determined to take responsibility for her future as well, now that he knew her difficult past.

“Yerin.”

“…Yes?”

Yerin looked up at him, her eyes still wet with tears. Gently wiping her cheeks, Si-hyun leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.

“Oh…”

To Yerin, Si-hyun’s kiss carried profound meaning. It signaled the end of her one-sided love and the beginning of a shared, mutual affection.

Her heart, once consumed by loneliness, now began to fill with Si-hyun’s love. As if craving more of his affection, Yerin held the back of his head and deepened the kiss.

“Mm… ha…”

Her whole body felt warm, her vision dizzy, though she knew it was from joy. She kept pulling Si-hyun closer, savoring the feeling.

“Si-hyun… Si-hyun…!”

Whispering his name, Yerin eagerly explored his mouth, as if cherishing every second.

Haah… haah…

Their passionate kiss only ended ten minutes later. As Yerin looked at him with dreamy eyes, Si-hyun voiced the words she’d longed to hear.

“Yerin, I like you.”

The moment she’d dreamed of for over ten years had finally come true. Smiling widely, Yerin climbed onto his lap, her voice giddy with excitement.

“Does this mean we’re dating now?”

“Of course. Even if you ask me to break up, I won’t let you go, so be prepared.”

“I’d never say that!”

Overflowing with happiness, Yerin covered his face with kisses and breathlessly asked.

“If Lim Chae-yeon and I were drowning, who would you save first?”

“You.”

Without hesitation, his answer satisfied Yerin deeply. She cupped his cheeks, grinning.

“Perfect…♡”

After pouring all her affection onto Si-hyun, they finally returned home after 30 minutes. As they entered the yard, they saw Grandma waiting for them.

“Looks like things worked out well.”

Yerin quickly ran to her, hugging her tightly with a grateful voice.

“This is all thanks to you, Grandma. Thank you so much!”

“Of course, dear…”

Grandma gently comforted her teary granddaughter, while Si-hyun, standing nearby, bowed his head in thanks.

I’m grateful too…

Having found someone who could bring true happiness to her granddaughter, Grandma’s heart swelled with joy, her eyes growing misty as she watched them together.

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