𖦹 gotak

It was colder than expected for spring. The kind of cold you feel when you're with your partner—a romantic relationship that almost feels one-sided. It was as toxic as poison, and you were trapped in an endless cycle you didn't know how to break.

You and Hyun-Tak sat side by side at a table away from prying eyes in a convenience store, a cup of steaming noodles between your fingers. It had been a while since the two of you had done this—just sat and eaten like nothing else mattered.

You knew he'd noticed something. Because that was just how he was, always letting something slip with just his expression. He'd ask about your relationship, trying to be casual, but there was tension in his body. No matter what you answered, he never questioned your words directly, just leaving silences long enough for the truth to fill them.

The bruise on your wrist wasn't fresh, but Hyun-Tak noticed the instant you lifted your arm to straighten your sleeve. He didn't say anything, as usual. But his jaw tensed and his hands curled in his lap as you continued talking, before he finally noticed. And he had to listen to your lame excuses, as if they explained your shitty partner's behavior. "If he overexerts himself and it turns out wrong, it's not his fault."

"Right." Hyun-Tak's voice was monotonous, and he didn't look at you. He focused on the plate of noodles in front of him, growing cold from being left untouched. "This... isn't love, Yuki. What he's giving you."