Lost & Found

Chapter Fifteen

Present Day
22-Years-Old

After seeing Aera's apartment location, Yoongi decided there was no time to waste. He needed to talk to Sunhee that night. He worried about it all day at work, but knew it had to be done. He just wasn't sure how she'd react.

Time somehow seemed to simultaneously fly by and drag on. Yoongi wasn't sure which he preferred. All he knew is that this was going to be an awkward night.

Sunhee had said a coworker was going to bring her home that evening, so Yoongi didn't need to pick her up. Yoongi was grateful because he wasn't sure he could pretend everything was okay only to talk to her about everything when they got home.

Delaying the inevitable, Yoongi decided he would walk home instead of taking the bus. It was a pretty long walk, but he knew he'd still get home before Sunhee. And walking would give him less time to have to sit around thinking about what was going to happen.

He wanted to believe Sunhee wouldn't do anything drastic, but based on her behavior of manipulation and mental abuse, he couldn't be sure. Would tonight be the night she finally took it up a notch to physical abuse? He just couldn't be sure either way.

When he'd made it home, he prepared a small dinner for himself. He ate it quickly, as he didn't want Sunhee to come home and start off the evening angry due to him not making anything for her. He wanted to ease her into the conversation, and not start with her already pissed off.

Eventually, Sunhee returned home, and Yoongi was waiting on the couch. She came into the apartment in what Yoongi knew was a fantastic mood. He knew she'd be eager to tell him about her day. And, indeed, she immediately chirped, "Yoongs, you'll never believe what happened today!" She then leaned over to kiss him, but he turned his head. The smile on her face faded.

"We need to talk."

Sunhee stared at Yoongi, her brow furrowed. "What's wrong, Yoongs?"

"First of all, please don't call me Yoongs anymore."

Sunhee's eyebrows shot up. "And why not?"

Yoongi sighed. "I think you know why."

Sunhee's lips formed into a tight line as her eyes narrowed. "What's going on, Yoongs?"

"I've been talking to Aera again."

Sunhee gasped. "What?"

"I ran into her the other day near the coffee shop, and we talked for a bit. She's having a hard time right now, and I want to be there for her. I – "

"You're cheating on me?"

"What? No!"

"You might as well be," Sunhee said dangerously. "I can't believe you've done this. After all we've been through..."

"But I've been through a lot with Aera, too. She's my best friend, Sunhee. She has been for fifteen years. Honestly, I think it was pretty cruel of you to force me to throw all that away."

"Where is this coming from, Yoongi? I thought you were happy with me!"

"I was – "

"Was?!" Sunhee shrieked.

"I mean, I am," Yoongi quickly tried to recover. But the damage was done.

"You love her, don't you? You fucking cheater!"

"I didn't cheat on you! And I have no intention of doing so!"

"This is unacceptable, Yoongi. You need to immediately stop talking to her. The last thing you need – "

"The last thing I need is to continue this toxic isolation! I'm miserable when you're not around, Sunhee. I have no one. You won't even let me talk to my own mother for more than five minutes at a time! I can't continue like this. I care about you deeply, and I want to continue our relationship. But I can't – "

"Care about me?" Sunhee's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You don't love me?"

"I..."

"What the actual fuck, Yoongi?!" Sunhee shouted.

"I care about you so much. We're definitely on our way to loving each other. I just – "

Sunhee leaned over Yoongi menacingly. Then, she slapped him across the face. "We're over! I hope that bitch is worth it!"

Yoongi held his cheek as he jumped up and got into Sunhee's face. "She is!" he retorted, his patience finally snapping. "Get your things and go."

"What?!" Sunhee screeched. "You are not kicking me out!"

"If we're over, then you're leaving. Get out of my home."

"This is my home, too!"

"Your name is nowhere on the lease!"

She gasped as Yoongi threw the words he'd used against Aera in Sunhee's face.

"Yeah," Yoongi hissed. "You insisted I say that to her. But hatefulness works both ways. Get. out."

"You can't do this to me!" Sunhee shrieked. "I have nowhere to go!"

"Figure it out," Yoongi hissed.

Sunhee's eyes flashed as he repeated words he'd said to Aera once again. Sunhee began crying, but Yoongi rolled his eyes. They were nothing but crocodile tears.

"Go stay with your parents or a friend or whatever. Then tomorrow, come get your stuff. But I want you out of here tonight. I can't do this anymore."

Suddenly, Sunhee stopped crying. "You don't know what you're doing," she hissed. "No one will ever treat you like I do!"

"Well, thank god!"

Sunhee's mouth fell open. She huffed as she trudged toward their bedroom. She then gathered a few of her things, and was out the door quickly, slamming it behind her. "You'll regret this, Yoongi!" she shouted from the other side of the door. "You'll see."

Yoongi shook his head as he locked the door and collapsed onto the couch again. The conversation had gone just about as he'd expected it would. He made a couple of mistakes on his side, but at least they were his true and honest feelings. And at least Sunhee now knew where he truly stood.

He was simultaneously surprised and not that she had hit him. He'd wanted to believe she wouldn't resort to that. Especially because he was insistent that he hadn't cheated. But, he reasoned, Sunhee had never been one to believe anyone but herself. So why should he be surprised?

He was slightly worried that she'd go a step further and do something else – though he wasn't sure what it could be – to sabotage him in some way. He'd need to talk to his boss, in case Sunhee started skulking around his work.

It wouldn't be until the next day that Yoongi would learn just what type of damage Sunhee could do.