Love - Chapter 3 Part 2

The only time she’d ever been blackout drunk was as a freshman, when she couldn’t refuse drinks from her seniors. After someone answered her incessant calls and carried her home from the bar, Jungwoo had made his distaste for her drinking very clear.

“One glass of soju is fine. Besides, it’s not like I’m drinking with strangers—it’s you.”

“…Didn’t you say you were throwing a party with friends for your birthday?”

His unexpected words made her blink.

“Huh? That’s tomorrow.”

She frowned as Jungwoo’s expression grew troubled. Her birthday had always been with him. She still remembered the first time he made seaweed soup for her in their tiny rented room, using a portable butane stove.

The seaweed had expanded so much there was no broth left—his disastrous first attempt. Jungwoo had chewed his lip in despair, but for Eunhye, it was the most meaningful moment of her life. Proof that she was precious to someone.

“Of course I’m spending my birthday with you.”

“I have work the day after. You said you had plans.”

Eunhye blinked rapidly, confused.

“Both tomorrow and the next day are holidays. The director went on a family trip, remember?”

“Not that kind of work…”

“Then what?”

“Sparring.”

Her brows furrowed.

“Don’t go.”

“Already promised.”

“Oppa.”

Of course she scowled. Jungwoo only took sparring gigs when he desperately needed money. Remembering his swollen, barely recognizable face made the warm room feel instantly colder. Combined with the sudden appearance of an expensive laptop, her face paled and her heart pounded.

“We’ll eat all the meat you want this weekend.”

She didn’t even get a chance to argue. Jungwoo closed the door behind him, leaving her alone.

Eunhye gasped for air before slumping into her chair. Biting her lip, she glared at the pristine, high-spec laptop.

She was furious.
When renewing their lease, the landlord demanded a 10 million won increase in the deposit. Jungwoo said it was fine—he had savings. But she knew how hard he’d worked for that money.

She knew the allowance he gave her was literally his entire income. And now, on top of that, he had to buy gifts for his whiny little sister who complained about him forgetting her birthday?

What was wrong with her?

What was so damn important about her stupid birthday?

She flipped open her textbook violently, but the words blurred. Clenching her fists, she could only gasp wetly. She couldn’t even cry out loud—Jungwoo might hear from the next room and come running.

He told her not to upset him—so why couldn’t he see how upset she was?

Eunhye buried her burning face in her hands. Jungwoo was frustrating, infuriating—and it hurt so much she could die.