Chapter 11: The Bitter Goodbye

After having breakfast like any other day, I started to leave for college. But as I was heading out, I noticed a sleek black car parked outside an unusual sight in this area. For a moment, I thought, "If only I had a car like that...I'd take my friends out every day, just driving around." But reality quickly struck. "Ah, the dreams of the poor," I sighed.

Just as I was walking past, the car started. I turned back to glance at it, curiosity gnawing at me. Strangely, it pulled up right in front of our house. My heart skipped a beat. "Is this some kind of trouble?" Without thinking, I sprinted back toward home. But before I reached, the car drove off in another direction. Confused and suspicious, I decided, "Maybe I won't go to college today. I need to keep an eye on this."

I walked back inside, where Ji-yu was waiting. She looked at me, a little irritated. "Why aren't you going to college?" she asked.

"I just... don't feel like it," I mumbled, avoiding her gaze. She let out an annoyed sigh, but didn't press further.

The hours drifted by. My mind raced, still thinking about that black car and the people inside. Two men had been talking on their phones, glancing at our house every now and then. "Are they here because of my uncle's secret property? Could it be police?" Panic crept in, but I tried to calm myself, brushing it off as paranoia.

It was late afternoon when the doorbell rang, jolting me out of my thoughts. Peeking through the peephole, I saw a woman and a few men standing outside. I hesitated to open it, fearing the worst. But Ji-yu's voice from behind startled me, "Why are you just standing there? Open the door already!"

Taking a deep breath, I opened it. Immediately, the woman brushed past me and stepped inside as if she owned the place. She looked around, her sharp gaze finally landing on Ji-yu, who had frozen at the sight of her.

"So, Ji-yu," the woman started, her voice dripping with disdain. "Did you really think running away was the solution? Did you consider, even for a moment, what this would do to us? How it would tarnish our reputation?"

Ji-yu's face drained of color. She stood there, speechless, like a child caught red-handed. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I cut in, "Excuse me, who exactly are you?"

Ignoring me, the woman continued addressing Ji-yu, "Pack your things. You're coming home. This nonsense ends here."

Frustration boiled inside me. "What do you mean she's going home? She's my wife!" I blurted out.

The woman gave a dry laugh. "This so-called marriage was nothing but a sham. A foolish ritual arranged by a mad mystic in that backwater village. Do you know how many were married that night? Ninety-nine couples. You two made it an even hundred."

I blinked, trying to process her words. "Wait, what are you saying? And how do you know all this?"

The woman looked at me with cold, calculating eyes. "I keep tabs on my daughter. I know everything about her. That entire village has been detained for their absurd ritual, and once you're both of age, a divorce letter will be sent. This farce ends today. Ji-yu, gather your belongings and get in the car."

My heart ached as I watched the scene unfold. I felt helpless, like the ground was slipping from under my feet. Desperately, I spoke up, "You can't just take her like this! At least let Ji-yu decide what she wants. She has a right to choose."

The woman narrowed her eyes. "Very well. Ji-yu, you know how I am. Do you want to come back, or stay here?"

Ji-yu glanced between us, her eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't read. She gave a slight nod and whispered, "I'll go."

My heart sank. "Is she scared? Or is she truly willing to leave?" I thought. But before I could say anything, she turned and went upstairs to pack.

Not wasting a moment, I followed her. In her room, I finally broke down. "Why are you going? Are you afraid of her? Or… is there something you're not telling me?"

She looked away, her face expressionless. "This marriage was nothing but a forced ceremony. It's time for me to go back to where I belong. Goodbye. Take care."

Her words pierced me like daggers. "So this is it? All those moments, those late-night talks, those unspoken feelings… were they all meaningless?" I thought as I watched her walk out of the room.

Determined, I followed her downstairs, but my feet felt heavy, as if weighed down by the pain in my chest. Downstairs, her mother handed me a business card and took down my contact information. "When the time comes for the legal separation, we'll reach out. Until then, keep this under wraps. No one should know about this."

I couldn't find the strength to speak. I felt hollow, like everything inside me was crumbling. I merely nodded, unable to form words.

As they walked out, Ji-yu turned one last time. Our eyes met, and in that silent exchange, I could feel everything unsaid her struggles, my helplessness, and a future slipping away before it even began.

When they finally left, the house fell into a deafening silence. I sank onto the couch, lost in thought. "Why? Why did this have to happen?" My heart ached with every beat, a constant reminder of her absence. Her laughter, her smile, her presence—all were gone.

As night fell, I sat in the dimly lit room, replaying every memory I had of her, every moment we had shared. I couldn't help but wonder: Was it all an illusion? Or did she really mean something to me?

And, as the first tear slipped down my cheek, I whispered to myself, "Maybe… maybe I was already falling in love with her."

End of Chapter 11.....

Next Chapter Coming Soon....