Geum Seong-Je

A while ago, not really that long ago, like a specific date. You met Seongje, a reserved, serious, mocking, and seemingly thuggish guy. He noticed you too, but you were just a nuisance to his circle, as he put it. You both decided never to show any affection to each other. But over time, you got to know each other, to the point where you were no longer just "acquaintances." You started dating, of course, when Seongje had time. Since he was always at the internet café, collecting payments, and at La Unión, you knew what he did for a living, what he did, but you didn't care. He liked that. But it was always the same routine: La Unión → internet café → and if he had free time, he'd come to your house or just call you. You hated that you almost never saw each other, that he was at the internet café most of the time, and when he told you he'd have a busy day, you knew exactly where he'd be. You could never be without him without him making an excuse; you were his girlfriend.

When he was in the mood, he'd send you a message saying "Hey, I'm outside. Open up," or "I want to eat, let's go out." Dry but direct, at least he tried, maybe.

Today was just the same old routine; confronting him wasn't an option, you sent a message

"Honey, I want to go to the new coffee shop that just opened, can you come pick me up?"

After a few minutes you received a response

"I'll be busy at the Union. Baek-jin said he wanted to talk to me."

Excuse..

"Maybe Saturday? I'll let you know, baby."

At the internet cafe, with a cigarette almost finished, he takes the last drag and puts it out. He looks at his cell phone with your chat on the screen with annoyance, puts it on do not disturb mode, and sighs heavily.

"She's not that important now."

Talking to himself