Love You Goodbye (ryeji)

18

The morning light filtered through the blinds as Ryujin quietly stepped into the condo, a bouquet of flowers in her hand.

She tossed her coat onto the armrest, as she always did, the action almost thoughtless.

The sight of the bed drew her in, and there Yeji lay, her small frame curled under the blanket.

Ryujin's heart clenched at the sight of her swollen eyes and reddened cheeks, remnants of a long night of crying.

Guilt washed over her, sharp and relentless, as she approached the bed.

Sitting on the edge, Ryujin gently tucked a strand of Yeji's hair behind her ear.

At the touch, Yeji stirred, her eyes fluttering open.

"Ryujin," Yeji murmured, her voice hoarse. "You're back."

Ryujin gave her a small smile, her tone soft. "I'm sorry about last night, Yeji."

She lifted the bouquet and placed it on the bed beside her. "I brought these for you."

Yeji's lips curled into a weak smile as she reached for the flowers.

"They're beautiful. Thank you, Ryu."

Without hesitation, Yeji shifted to sit up, wiping her face lightly as though trying to erase the evidence of her breakdown.

It was like she had been waiting for this moment, this small act from Ryujin.

"I'll make us some breakfast," Ryujin offered, standing up and heading toward the kitchen.

Yeji nodded, the heaviness in her chest lifting slightly. She clutched the bouquet tightly, as if it symbolized everything she desperately wanted to believe—that Ryujin still cared, that everything was okay.

The smell of sizzling eggs filled the air as Ryujin worked in the kitchen. Yeji soon joined her, busying herself by setting the plates on the table, humming softly.

For a moment, it felt like old times—a simple routine they had done countless mornings before.

As Ryujin flipped the omelet, she glanced over at Yeji, who was happily arranging the utensils.

Her content expression made Ryujin's stomach churn slightly.

"Breakfast is ready," Ryujin said, sliding the last plate onto the table.

Yeji beamed, pulling out a chair. "Thank you. This is nice, Ryujin. Just us, like always."

Ryujin nodded, forcing a small smile. "Yeah, just us."

As Yeji started serving herself, Ryujin stood abruptly. "I'll just go to the bathroom. Be right back."

Yeji glanced at her but didn't question it. "Okay. I'll wait for you."

Once inside the bathroom, Ryujin locked the door and exhaled heavily.

She turned to the mirror, tilting her head slightly to inspect the faint red marks along her neck.

Her fingers brushed over the spots, and a quiet curse escaped her lips.

"I told her not to leave these," Ryujin muttered under her breath, her mind flashing back to last night.

Jeonggeui... damn it.

She pulled her shirt over her head, revealing similar marks scattered across her chest.

A mix of frustration and shame surged through her as she rummaged through the bathroom drawer, pulling out Yeji's concealer.

Carefully, she dabbed the makeup over the incriminating marks, blending them until they were no longer visible.

When she was satisfied, Ryujin adjusted her shirt and took one last look in the mirror.

Her face betrayed no emotion, as if the events of the previous night had already been buried deep inside her.

Back at the table, Yeji was waiting patiently, her hands resting on her lap. Ryujin returned, sliding into her seat with an easy smile.

"Everything okay?" Yeji asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Yeah, just needed a minute," Ryujin replied, picking up her fork and diving into the food.

Yeji smiled brightly, her earlier worries seemingly forgotten. "I'm glad we're doing this again, Ryujin. I missed it—us."

Ryujin gave a small hum, chewing her food slowly.

The sight of Yeji's radiant smile only added to the weight pressing down on her chest.

But Ryujin swallowed it down, just as she did with every bite, and carried on as if nothing had happened. As if the lingering ghost of her boss's touch didn't still haunt her skin.