Fated To Love You

The Bestfriends

After a long day's work, Ih Na and Son Mi decided to have some coffee and snacks at a nearby branch of Dal.komm Coffee. Ih Na had her usual iced americano while Son Mi settled for a hot mocha and buttered pretzels.

"So, can I be your best friend now?" Son Mi asked, after taking a quick sip of her mocha.

Ih Na managed to smile a little as she nodded.

"Eoseo, mwodeunji mureobwa (Go ahead, ask away)." She said.

Son Mi then sighed.

"What happened last night?" She asked.

"Well," Ih Na began. "Yong Hwa just sent me a text message saying that he wanted to break up, then I saw the article of him and that newbie actress and the rest is pretty much history." She added.

"Unbelievable. What a jerk." Son Mi said, feeling a bit flustered for her best friend. "He better pray that he and I don't cross paths tomorrow, next week, next month or any time in the near future because I will kick his ass!"

"Nevermind, Son Mi ya. He really isn't worth it." Ih Na replied, her sad eyes still fixated on her coffee.

"Who does he think he is, huh?" Son Mi ranted. "Now that he's some hotshot chef-turned-businessman who's earning a lot of money, he thinks he can just mess around with you like that? He better not forget that before all of this, he was a nobody. He was only able to make a name for himself in the culinary industry because of your connections! Because you introduced him to the famous chef that we featured in one of our issues last year." She added.

"Ugh, I want to strangle him with my bare hands right now!"

"Calm down, Son Mi. Everything's going to be alright." Ih Na replied. "I guess I had done something wrong along the way, as well. Maybe I was too focused on my work, maybe-"

"Mwo (What)?" Son Mi said in disbelief. "Are you listening to yourself right now, Ih Na? Why would you blame yourself for the break up? I have been your best friend long enough to know that you aren't the one at fault here." She added. "You gave him everything, Ih Na. You even changed into an entirely different person for him, to the point that you actually pretended that you liked to cook even when you knew deep down that you hated it! Come on, you aren't to blame here. Don't be like that."

Tears started falling from Ih Na's eyes as she heard this. Yes, Son Mi was right. She did give Yong Hwa everything. Everything that he asked for, everything he wanted, everything he needed, to the point where there were some days where she did not have anything left for herself physically and emotionally. She would feel a bit empty inside no matter how often they kissed, hugged or interacted, but Ih Na simply thought that it was all a part of being in love. She was too blinded to realize that these were all red flags, signs that she needed to break things off already.

"Ih Na, I don't mean to add salt to your wound, but as your best friend, you deserve to know the truth." Son Mi added. "Yong Hwa was a nice guy before he rose to fame. He may have been a bit stiff to begin with, but he was very reliable and considerate of you. But then, when you were going up the work ladder and became the editor in chief of Love Korea, while he was struggling as a chef in the restaurant he was in, there was a part of him that got jealous of you. He didn't like that you were becoming more successful than him, considering that he is the man in the relationship, after all."

"So instead of loving you, he used you for his own benefit and now that he seems to have everything in the world, he drops you like hot potatoes. Isekiya (That bastard)." Son Mi cursed. "I really tried to play blind and deaf over all these observations because I didn't want you to think that I wasn't supportive of you, but now that he's done this, I just can't be nonchalant anymore, Ih Na."