My Ex-Boyfriend is Sold Out

Chapter 28: The Childhood Friend Shows Up at Her Boyfriend’s House

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Chae-yeon’s cries of anguish echoed through the street. Each time her voice called out his name, Si-hyun felt a burning pain flare up in his chest as he listened from the shoe rack by the door.

What a tangled mess this has become.

It had been his first love, clumsy and immature. If they had opened up and talked honestly—if Chae-yeon had shared her trauma even a little sooner—they might still be together.

Sigh.

He tried to ease his complex emotions by wiping his face. As he sat there for a while, he heard the voices of concerned neighbors, and with their help, Chae-yeon’s cries slowly faded. When he was sure she was gone, he went to the kitchen and gulped down a glass of cold water, cooling the fire in his chest.

Why is it that every woman around me seems to carry a painful story?

Both Yerin and Chae-yeon had unfortunate family backgrounds. He cared about both of them and wanted to help, but he could only take responsibility for one person.

Being kind to Chae-yeon would just give her false hope. I have to draw a clear line so she can move on with her own life.

Tock.

Resolute, Si-hyun lay down and opened his phone, staring at his empty profile picture on social media. He replaced the blank photo with a picture of him and Yerin kissing.

[Update Complete]

Almost instantly, messages flooded in from his college friends, mostly congratulating him and saying they’d always suspected they’d get together.

And then…

[Yerin: Are you sure it’s okay to change your profile pic? Weren’t we going to keep our relationship a secret during break to avoid bothering Chae-yeon and So-hee?]

A notification popped up indicating Yerin had updated her own profile picture too, followed by an incoming call from her.

“Hello?”

[Well, it seems my dear boyfriend had a change of heart~]

Her playful voice hinted at how pleased she was with his update. Si-hyun hesitated, scratching the back of his head.

“It’s just…”

As he began to speak, he debated whether or not to tell her the whole story. But the hesitation didn’t last long; once school started, Yerin would realize something had happened if she noticed the change in Chae-yeon’s attitude.

Sigh.

Si-hyun decided to share the events of the day, explaining Chae-yeon’s confession and his response—but carefully omitting the unexpected kiss. Yerin listened in silence.

[…Wait at home.]

With a low, steady tone, she hung up.

Is she coming over?

Caught off guard by her reaction, Si-hyun felt nervous. He had expected Yerin’s compassionate side to emerge, thinking she would feel sympathy for Chae-yeon’s situation.

Ding-dong!

Apparently, that wasn’t the case.

“I’ll be right there.”

As Si-hyun opened the door, he saw Yerin, breathless, her forehead beaded with sweat. She must have rushed over.

“You could have taken your time…”

Si-hyun closed the door as Yerin stepped inside, still catching her breath. Just as he turned to fetch her a glass of water, she wrapped her arms tightly around him from behind. Her warm breath brushed against his back as she spoke in a trembling voice.

“You… you won’t go back to Chae-yeon, right? You’ll stay with me, won’t you?”

Having tasted the sweetness of their relationship, Yerin couldn’t bear to let him go. The thought of returning to the way things were before terrified her.

“Si-hyun, I’m so anxious right now. Knowing what Chae-yeon went through, I can’t help but worry you’ll go back to her. I’m afraid… afraid that the girl you once loved will make you waver. I’m scared, Si-hyun.”

“Yerin…”

He gently held her hands, which were resting on his stomach, and spoke softly.

“Like I told you on the phone, I’ve already ended things with Chae-yeon.”

“But still…!”

Yerin’s hold on him tightened, and he felt a dampness on his back. She was crying.

“Don’t you trust me?”

“I’m sorry… I want to believe you, but this time it’s so hard. I was there, remember? I watched you, how much you adored her.”

She’d witnessed the way he lit up with every small gesture from Chae-yeon. Each time, it felt like a dagger in her heart.

I never want to go through that again…

Yerin’s trembling grew more intense, so Si-hyun turned to face her, gently gathering her in his arms. He brushed her tousled brown hair back, revealing her tear-streaked face, and wiped her cheeks with his hand.

“What can I do to earn your trust?”

“I… I don’t know…”

He placed a kiss on her forehead, then on her nose, and finally on her lips. The closer he got, the more he tasted the salt of her tears.

“Is that still not enough?”

“Nowhere near enough.”

Yerin pressed her lips against his neck, sucking gently. She wanted to leave her mark on him, as if to declare that he was hers.

Smooch…♥

Though he could feel the slight pain as she left a kiss mark, Si-hyun endured it to help ease her insecurity. Slowly, she moved down, covering his neck with kisses, cheeks flushed with intensity.

“Leave a mark on me, too…”

Si-hyun nodded, holding her head with one hand and her waist with the other, then lowered his lips to her neck.

“Ah… Haah…”

She let out a breath, her heartbeat racing. When he finally pulled back, a red mark adorned her skin, and she tilted her head, exposing the other side of her neck.

“T-This side too…”

“Of course.”

Perhaps it was the sweat she’d worked up from running here, but there was a slight saltiness mixed with her perfume’s floral scent.

Smooch…

With one last kiss, Yerin’s neck was now covered in crimson marks. She gazed up at him with teary eyes, holding his hand tightly as she whispered.

“Tonight… Can I stay over?”

Startled, Si-hyun froze for a moment before slowly nodding. The idea of taking this step sent a thrill through him, and his body tensed with anticipation.

She led him to the bed, laying down with his arm under her head like a pillow.

Stroke… Stroke…

Tracing circles on his chest with her finger, she leaned close to his ear and murmured softly.

“I’d go all the way if I could, but… unfortunately, it’s that time of the month.”

“Oh.”

The time of the month. Though most women seemed irritable when they had their period, Yerin rarely showed any signs, so he hadn’t noticed.

“Are you in pain?”

“It hurts a little, but I can handle it.”

To soothe her, Si-hyun gently rubbed her lower abdomen, feeling the softness of her skin even through her clothes.

“How’s that? Any better?”

“Pfft… yes, it feels amazing. You’ve got magic hands.”

Giggling, Yerin gazed at his hand.

She slipped her fingers through his and, staring at their entwined hands, softly said,

“Si-hyun.”

“Yeah?”

“Earlier, you asked what you could do to make me feel secure.”

“Right. Do you have an idea?”

Nodding, she answered,

“Would you get a couple rings with me?”

“Couple rings?”

He’d never worn one, not even with Chae-yeon. As he imagined a ring on his finger, Yerin fidgeted slightly.

“Yes… Having a couple ring would make me feel more connected to you, and I think it’d ease my mind.”

Her adorable suggestion made him smile. Squeezing her hand, he responded in a warm tone.

“I’d love that. I’ve actually always wanted to try wearing one.”

“Then why didn’t you get one with Chae-yeon?”

Why hadn’t he? Thinking back, he replied,

“Probably because I was too focused on other things. I was constantly worried about what to talk about or where to go next, so I never even thought of getting rings.”

“Then that means I’m your first?”

“Yeah, you are.”

With a satisfied smile, Yerin released his hand and hugged him close.

“In that case, let’s get some sleep, then head downtown in the morning. We can pick out a beautiful set and have our initials engraved.”

Si-hyun stroked her hair, which was still a bit damp from her earlier rush, and said,

“Sounds good. Is there anything else you want to do?”

“I want to take more photo booth pictures, now that we’re dating openly. I want to upload all the photos on social media…”

Smiling at her sweet requests, Si-hyun listened patiently. She was his childhood friend and his girlfriend, someone he had vowed to care for.

For her, he would do whatever it took to make her feel safe and loved.

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