Cuts Deeper Than Love

Chapter 04: Clash

After Snapchatting to document yet another visit and making sure to use the designated geofilter, Ina walked up to the cashier's counter, and as per usual she was greeted by a plump, middle-aged lady whose face Ina considered familiar as she was the owner of the shop. She was absolutely delighted to see Ina. "Oh, how lovely to see you again!" She remarked. "Where's your beau? And who's this handsome fella you've got with you?"

Ina froze and paled while her eyes widened. The shopkeeper knew that Ina and Sehun were frequent customers so it was no surprise that Ina got recognized, but she had not expected the misimpression that Sehun was her 'beau'. She did not need to be looking at Luhan to sense that his facial expression had changed completely for the briefest of a moment once he had realized the implications of the shopkeeper's words.

"This is my..." In embarrassment, Ina turned to Luhan in confusion and did not know how to refer to him. She did not really want to say 'boyfriend' because it was not like that — not really, at least — but she would not be able to tolerate the lie of saying he was her 'friend' and that was most certainly not what she regarded him as when she made love to him last night.

Forget it. She just could not find the words. "I know, right? He's really handsome, isn't he?" She forced a smile and looked away when Luhan's glare became too much for her to bear. Desperately, she ordered two combos. "How much would that be?"

The shopkeeper smiled proudly. "For free, my dear. Your boyfriend came here on his own the other day, and he's already paid for your next purchase. This one's for keeps!"

Luhan scowled and stormed off, and Ina knew she was in deep shit. She ran after him right away but he kept going and she was not able to catch up with him until she had reached an alley where he had cornered her. He looked so frightening that she got impossible chills on a hot day. Nobody else was around, or so she thought.

He was seething. "What the fuck am I to you?!"

She gulped, but she also could not have found a better opportunity to come clean about her concerns even if she tried. "I...Luhan, we never made our relationship official."

"That was before I left town," he snapped. "But I came back for you. Because I love you. Is it too much to ask that you acknowledge me as your boyfriend, huh? Or do I mean nothing to you? I'm nothing compared to the guy that always brings you to the store and is constantly around you? I can't believe it's gotten to the point where even an outsider thinks you're dating him and not me. And how come I knew nothing about this?! I had to find out from somebody else?!"

"I, I don't, we're not—"

"Fuck it, you never say it back," he roared, slapping the wall and making her grimace. "Every time I tell you I love you, you never fucking say it back."

She was so intimidated that she was crying. "No, I swear, I was saving myself for you. I'm not in a relationship with anybody else."

"Then why won't you recognize our relationship?!" He scoffed.

"We don't have a relationship!" She exclaimed. "I haven't made up my mind yet and I can't be sure that I want to be with you!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" He hissed angrily. "It doesn't make sense! You never spoke out against it or raised any objections when I called you my girlfriend. And why did you agree to go on this fucking date with me if you don't think we're together for real?!"

"You didn't give me a chance to!" She protested. It was disturbing to think that whenever her heart was pounding when she was around him it was because of her attraction to him, but right now it was because he scared her shitless.