1.1 – My Boyfriend Cheated On Me  

“Waaah…”  

The noisy chatter of a tavern in Erenci was overtaken by the wailing of a woman. The source of the commotion was none other than Ella, who had just discovered today that her boyfriend had been seeing another woman.  

Shyle was Ella’s first boyfriend.  

But what did that matter now? He was nothing more than a cheating piece of trash ex-boyfriend.  

Ella shook her head, trying to dispel the memories that kept clouding her mind, and continued gulping down drink after drink.  

“My life is such a mess…”  

Just then, the tavern door swung open, and a young woman with long, flowing hair hurriedly entered. It was Shua. She was Ella’s best friend and her math classmate from their middle and high academy days.  

Shua scanned the tavern. It didn’t take long for her to spot the red-haired woman sobbing at a corner table, surrounded by empty bottles.  

With a look of exasperation, Shua approached and sat across from Ella. When Ella noticed Shua clicking her tongue in disapproval, she began to whine.  

“Waaah… Shua, how could Shyle cheat on me with another woman?”  

“Ugh, didn’t I tell you I didn’t like that guy?”  

“I don’t care! Sniff…”  

So, he cheated!  

The other patrons in the tavern nodded knowingly. Ella glared at Shua with a mix of resentment and misery before downing another glass of alcohol.  

After a few more drinks, Ella’s speech began to slur.  

“That bastard… that dumbass…”  

“Yeah, yeah.”  

“Shua, that piece of trash… do you know what he said to me after cheating on me…?”  

“What did he say?”  

“He said… I was too boring for him…”  

And so began a tirade of insults, calling her ex every name under the sun. By now, even the other patrons seemed curious about the details of her story. Though they continued their own conversations, they subtly leaned in to eavesdrop.  

Shua, too, leaned forward, her eyes glinting with interest as she pressed her drunken friend for more details.  

“What did he mean by boring?”  

“He said I was boring… in bed…”  

Cough, cough.  

“Ella! Keep your voice down!”  

The tavern’s bustling noise quieted slightly. Someone began coughing violently, clearly having choked on their drink.  

Why is that man coughing so much? Is he sick? I hope he’s okay…  

Completely oblivious to the fact that she had become the center of attention, Ella continued to pour more alcohol into her mouth.

Shua smacked Ella on the back and shoved her further into the corner of her seat.  

“Ow! That hurts!”  

“How can you say something like that so loudly in public? Wait, are you saying… you weren’t compatible in bed?”  

“How should I know! He’s the only one I’ve ever been with!”  

As mentioned earlier, Shyle was her first boyfriend. That meant he was her first for everything—holding hands, hugging, kissing, and even sleeping together.  

Of course, while Ella had never dated anyone before, that didn’t mean she was entirely clueless about s*x. She had always been the top student in home education classes at the Eren Girls’ High Academy!  

Ella knew everything there was to know about s*x, from the erogenous zones of men and women to the ideal duration of thrusting, as well as the diseases that could result from s*xual activity and how to prevent them. She was confident enough to teach a class on the subject.  

“I did everything… just as I learned!”  

“Learned? Who taught you?”  

“Who else? I studied the textbook!”  

“…The textbook?”  

Shua rubbed her temples as if she had a headache. Ella always seemed to be the smartest person around, yet she had this clueless side to her.

‘Who learns about s*x from a textbook?’  

To make matters worse, once Ella absorbed information, she stubbornly clung to it until it was corrected, refusing to adapt.  

Shua looked at Ella with exasperation, shaking her head.  

“Alright, fine. Just tell me exactly what happened.”

“What happened…”  

Ella stared into her half-empty glass, recalling the scene she had witnessed earlier that day when she caught Shyle cheating.  

*  

Two weeks ago, after leaving her grandfather’s house a few days early, Ella decided to take a stroll through the city.  

She rubbed her eyes for the fifth time, unable to believe what she was seeing.  

A man she knew very well was standing there.  

He had his arm wrapped around the waist of a woman in a short dress that flaunted her curvaceous figure. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down her back as they walked together down the street.  

Ella rubbed her eyes again and looked at the man. His bright golden hair, gentle eyes that seemed incapable of cruelty, and the adorable dimples that appeared when he smiled…  

Is that really the person I know? No, it must just be someone who looks like him.

‘In a world this big, how many handsome men with golden hair, kind eyes, and dimples could there be? I must be imagining things.’  

Ella laughed bitterly, berating herself for doubting him. Yet, despite her thoughts, her heart thudded incessantly, as if it had sensed something.  

She hesitated, debating whether to turn back. At that moment, the couple walking briskly ahead stopped in front of a fruit juice stand.  

Ah, I should get something to drink too. I’m not here to confirm anything; I just want some fruit juice.  

Ella tried to justify her actions as she slowly approached the couple. Soon, their whispered conversation reached her ears.  

“What would you like to drink?”  

“Hmm, maybe pomegranate juice? I love it when your tongue, as red as a pomegranate, is covered in my seed. It’s the same color as your flesh when it gently nibbles on me.”  

“Oh, stop it, you!”  

The woman playfully slapped the man’s arm, blushing.  

“Let’s hurry and buy it so we can go inside. I’m dying to thrust into you.”  

What…? Seed, nibble, thrust…?  

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”  

The man’s mouth was spewing vulgar words. Ella wanted to believe it wasn’t true, but the voice was unmistakably familiar.  

Oh, no. It really was Shyle.  

The undeniable truth hit her like a ton of bricks, and her hands began trembling uncontrollably from the shock and betrayal.  

Shyle turned after paying for the pomegranate juice, only to see a pale-faced woman shaking visibly. It was Ella, her expression a mixture of shock and fury.  

As their eyes met, Shyle’s face cycled through surprise, confusion, and panic. He quickly pushed the woman at his side away and approached Ella.  

“Ella…”  

“Shut up.”  

The moment he opened his mouth, Ella snapped out of her daze as if doused with cold water.  

So, he recognizes me immediately. That means it really is Shyle.  

But Ella had no energy left to confront him. Her head was pounding so hard she felt like she might faint.  

As she turned to leave, Shyle grabbed her arm.  

“Ella, please, listen to me. I can explain everything.”  

“There’s no need to explain. I heard everything you two said.”  

What a scumbag.  

Ella yanked her arm free from his grip. Based on their conversation, it was clear they had already gone all the way.  

She didn’t care how long it had been going on or when it started. Knowing more would only make her head explode.  

Seeing the closed-off expression on Ella’s face, Shyle grew desperate and raised his voice.  

“Ella, it’s not what you think! It was just s*x!”  

“Just… s*x?”  

What kind of nonsense is this?  

Ella furrowed her brow.  

“She’s just a pr*stitute. I didn’t give her my heart, okay?”  

The more he spoke, the worse it got. Looking at the split pomegranate under the street vendor’s tent, Ella felt an overwhelming urge to smash his head until it looked just like the fruit.  

If she listened any longer, she feared she’d lose even the last shred of decency she had for him. Covering her ears with both hands, she shoved Shyle away.  

Shyle reached out to grab her shoulder, but Ella coldly warned him.  

“If you touch me again, I’ll scream.”  

“Ella, please…”  

“I’ve already warned you. If you don’t want to end up in the hands of the city guards, don’t touch me.”  

With a pitiful look in his eyes, Shyle lowered his hand.  

So, he’s at least scared of the authorities?  

Ella glared at him icily before turning on her heel. She felt like she might collapse at any moment, but she forced herself to keep walking.