CHAPTER 15 – Hate (Part 3)

As if to tell her that resistance was futile, the sound of a belt being undone was heard. The man’s eyes staring down at her were chillingly cold. This was ruthless retaliation for her defiance, and Seoyeon had no more strength to resist.

“Sob…”

A sob burst from Seoyeon’s lips. Tears pooled in her eyes as she covered her mouth with both hands.

“Please…….”

Shaking her head, Seo-yeon looked desperately at Dojun.

Please don’t do this. Not here. Please, please, please. 

What little pride she had left was shattered.

“If you’re going to cry like this.”

Dojun said, bracing his upper body with his arms. The lights from the ceiling were pouring down on him. Seo-yeon turned her head away from his shadowy form, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“What do you want me to do?” 

Seoyeon didn’t realize that his shadow was receding. She was still crying when her body was lifted and set upright.

Dojun straightened her up and pulled up her fallen stockings and underwear. He also smoothed down the hem of her dress. It was an indifferent touch. Shaking her head, Seo-yeon said through thick tears.

“I really hate you.”

Thick tears streamed down her face like a burst dike. She hated Dojun more than anyone. More than her father, more than Sehyun.

Standing up straight, Dojun grabbed Seoyeon’s chin. When he forced Seo-yeon’s head up from the floor, he saw her eyes, full of resentment and hatred. Tears streamed down her small face incessantly. Dojun gripped her face and pulled her towards him. 

“I said I hate you.”

Seo-yeon pulled away, but Dojun pulled her into his arms. He gripped her cheeks and their lips met. Seo-yeon bit his lip and pushed him away, but Dojun didn’t care, he relentlessly pursued her.

Seoyeon turned her head away. She hated it, despised it. She hated Dojun more than her father, more than Sehyun. She hated him the most.

Why are you doing this to me? Why only me? What do you want from me? I hate you so much.

Tears flowed uncontrollably, her breath hitched, and her mind burned with anger. Seoyeon wanted to scratch someone recklessly. She scratched and cried continuously, but it seemed futile as Dojun kept kissing her.

The kiss felt endless. Seoyeon’s waist was pulled tight, and she felt her toes curling. Dojun gently licked her swollen lips and caressed her. Sometimes tender, sometimes forceful.

Pushing back or hitting him was futile. Seoyeon’s strength was gradually fading, overwhelmed by the persistent and fiery kisses. Hot breaths escaped through their fiercely locked lips.

As her strength waned, a hot energy surged in its place. Something kept swirling around her body. The intense, hot energy flowed like a rushing stream, dizzying her mind and warming her toes.

Why? Why to a man like this?

Someone wiped her back. A large hand erased the traces of tears. The once cold eyes now gazed down at her. In disbelief, another sob escaped from Seoyeon’s throat.

Feeling utterly dumbfounded, tears flowed once again. The thought that he was truly a despicable man came naturally. The man who had forced her to confront herself now removed his lips and held Seoyeon’s face with both hands. He wiped away the streaming tears with his thumbs and locked eyes with Seoyeon.

“Come back after breaking up.”

It was a tone that left no room for doubt. Seoyeon glared at Dojun. With a sigh, she breathed out, and tears streamed down her face again. Once again, it was tears of disbelief.

* * *

Seoyeon stared blankly at the flowing river. Sitting inside the car, she felt as though the moments of crying and struggling had been a lie as she absentmindedly watched the river reflecting the lights. 

The glamorous banquet hall. The tie around his father’s neck. The sound of Sehyun’s voice and the exchanged glances of people—it all felt so distant despite having been there just moments ago. Seo-yeon slowly closed and opened her eyes, feeling as if someone had transported her into this car.

“Where in Yeonnam-dong should I drop you off?”

Dojun’s driver asked without turning around.

“Oh… Yes, please take me to the Blue Apartments.”

Seo-yeon said, adjusting her coat as it flowed off her shoulders. The driver nodded as if he understood, having seen her a few times at the hotel.

It was Dojun who sent her back home in the car, as her makeup was so messed up that it could not be cleaned up. He called the driver with a phone call and escorted her to the elevator. As they arrived at the garage, he opened the car door for her and said.

‘Stay in the car.’

He closed the back door and went back inside, and that was the last she saw of him. In the dimly lit car, leaning weakly against the seat, Seoyeon didn’t dwell on what would happen next.

It’ll work out somehow. No, I’ll make it work somehow. 

She had thought with her eyes closed. Dojun would handle it somehow. Her father, Sehyun, and even Sehyun’s parents—If it’s that man, he will find a way.

He’s a funny man.

Seoyeon thought as she clutched the collar of the coat wrapped around her body. It was Dojun’s coat that she had chosen.

Why does he surround me like this, after treating me so recklessly, so mercilessly? And why did I hold the collar so tightly?

I don’t want to think about anything, but Dojun keeps confusing my mind.

[Seo-yeon, are you okay? You said you were in a lot of pain? Don’t overexert yourself, get some rest].

[Why did you leave without telling me? Are you okay?]

Her phone lit up, showing a series of messages from Mi-seon and Sehyun. She glanced down briefly before turning off the screen She had no intention of replying and she didn’t have any energy left. It seemed like all her strength had drained away; she didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger.

Why?

Why me?

Useless questions came to her mind and then sank away. Nothing amidst nothing. Like a desire that flared up for a moment and then evaporated without leaving a trace.

Well, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

After all, it’s a dead end. A dead-end street. What would change if she turned back a little later? Nobody knows she’s standing there. It’s just a wrong turn she’s made, and if she just lingered for a while and then left, it would be fine.

‘Come back after breaking up.’

Seo-yeon closed her eyes as she remembered Dojun’s voice.

“Come back after breaking up.”

She laughed. What difference does it make if they broke up or not?

She’d never cared about that anyway.

“We’re here.”

The car came to a quiet stop. The driver got out and opened the door for her. Seo-yeon took off the coat, leaving it in the backseat, and got out of the car.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Please go inside.”

The driver smiled warmly and returned to the driver’s seat. Through the car window, she could see Dojun’s coat left behind. Seoyeon gazed at the remnant for a moment before turning away.