chapter 72

We get to the pier and it's really pretty. There's a bunch of places to eat at and everything looks very colorful. They have a building that sells a bunch of craft items people have made and above it is a green house.

We stop by at this small cafe since it's a hit chilly outside. Everyone got something warm including Eva. She got to taste her first hot chocolate drink.

Ryujin and I are sitting at one of the high top table in this place.

"I'll be right back. I have to use the restroom" Ryujin says leaving me alone. I have my warm tea in hand while I look around.

Gabe and Eva are playing together. I think Eva is really gonna miss him when we go back home.

I feel the table vibrate and I notice Ryujin's phone light. I glance at it and see a message from someone saying that they got their nipple pierced. I didn't mind it because I'm assuming its one of her friends. She gets another message but I couldn't read what it was. It just says 2 new messages.

I'm debating whether I should look at it or not I know I shouldn't because that's invading her privacy but I'm also curious who else she talks to aside from the people I met

I look around and everyone is busy with their own thing so they're not even looking towards me.

I pick up the phone quickly and unlock it. She doesn't have anything set for a password so I'm able to get in no problem. I know this is wrong but my hands are continuing to go through the phone anyways. My brain is saying one thing but my body isn't responding to it.

I open that message and it's from someone named Shelby, I almost drop her phone when I see a picture of what I'm assuming, Shelby's nipple with a piercing. Why is she sending this Ryujin?

I read the messages before the picture. I see the one where she's informing Ryujin that she got her nipple pierced then followed with if she wants to see followed with the picture. She didn't give Ryujin a chance to answer and she just sett the picture anyways.

I don't know what I'm feeling inside. Am I mad? Sad? Upset? Is Ryujin just playing me? Why is she talking to someone that's sending her pictures like this.

I scroll to see more of their earlier messages. The last time they talked was about a month ago. Shelby seems to be the one who would text Ryujin first.

I feel myself getting angry when I read a text from Shelby asking Ryujin for nude pictures or if they could have phone sex. What the fuck? Who is this girl and why is Ryujin talking to her? Ryujin denies whatever she's asking and I see that she does mention having a girlfriend, which is me but why is the other girl still trying to do bad things?

A part of me is starting to think if Ryujin is still talking to other girls while she's dating me. Am I not enough? Is she hored with me so she's looking at others? I don't want to jump into conclusions but it's hard not to especially after seeing some of the messages.

I've had enough of this girl and I go back to see who else is Ryujin talking to. I see a number that's not saved in her contacts so I open that. I know this is wrong but I'm in deep now.

Unknown: Hey its Sam. I don't know if you've heard but I'm back in town, I was wondering if we could meet up

My blood is boiling at this point and I don't even know why. Ryujin didn't respond to that text and it was sent a few days ago but she also didn't delete it.

I put her phone down just in time because she's back from the restroom. I don't even know how to bring this up to her because then I'd have to admit that I was snooping around.

Sam is that girl her friends were talking about that's back in town and looking for Ryujin. Why would she want to talk to my girlfriend if she's getting married?

Ryujin sits down in front of me and smiles at me. I try my best to act normal and smile back. I don't know what to do because I'm the one who did something wrong but I also want to know who that Shelby girl is or if she's planning to see Sam.

She starts talking to me about I don't know what because I can't focus on what she's saying.

It's finally time to leave the café. We look around the different places in the pier. We visit multiple shops and got some souvenirs. We went to the green house and ir's really beautiful in there with all the different plants and flowers.

We spend a lot of time just walking around and sightseeing. But all this time, my mind hasn't left with what I found in Ryujin's phone.

"Are you okay?" Ryujin ask me.

"Yes. I'm fine?" I pretend to be okay.

"What's wrong?" She ask now.

"I said I'm fine" I answer kind of annoyed.

"Yeji, whenever you say you're fine, it means you're not. Did something happen?" She looks at me worried.

"I'm just tired" I lie because I'm not ready to have that discussion.

She drops the topic but I know she's not convinced. One of the bad things of having a partner who pays attention to you is they know when you're lying.

It's getting dark now and Ryujin suddenly invites me to ride the ferris wheel. I agree because I don't want to ruin tonight since it our last night before going back to Michigan.

We get in line and she holds my hand. I know she's probably worried that I'm not feeling well.

We're next in line but the guy isn't stopping the ferris wheel to let us in. I look at him weirdly then that's when he stops it. It's one of those newer cars or capsules, whatever you call it. You can fit about 8 people inside.

The door opens and I didn't expect to see what's inside. There's a table set up in there with food and a fake candle. I look at Ryujin, feeling confuse.

"After you" She gestures me to go in first then smiles.

I smile and enter the car. I pick up the flowers that's on one of the seats, assuming its for me.

Ryujin thanked the guy then follows me.

"What is all this?" I ask.

"It's our last night here so I wanted to make it memorable" she says.

She pops open a bottle of wine and I give her a weird look.

"It's non alcoholic" she chuckles before pouring some on our glasses.

The ferris wheel starts moving and the higher we get, the more beautiful the view looks.

"This is beautiful" I whisper.

"Im glad you like it" she grabs my plate. It looks like we're having steak. She starts cutting up the steak then put the plate back in front of me after she's done.

I want to appreciate all of this but I can't because I'm starting to question her sincerity but at the same time who would put this much effort if they're not serious about you.

I take a deep breath. "Ryujin. I'm about to tell you something but please don't get mad."

"Okay?" She says sounding unsure.

"First, I want to ask. How did you get them to agree to do this?" I ask.

"I paid for multiple rides she laughs.

"The table? The dinner?" I raise my hrow at her.

"We're not telling the boss" she places her index finger on her lips.

"I went through your phone at the café earlier and looked at your text messages" I say really fast. I'm expecting her to get mad at me and yell at me for not trusting her or for invading her privacy. I'm expecting her to slam the table or something but none of that happened.

"And? So something is bothering you. Tell me she puts down her fork and knife to look at me.

"Who's Shelby?" I ask.

"She's a girl I met on that app Whisper, where we met" She answers.

Now I'm really curious. Is she there looking for people to date?

"Can you tell me your story with her?" I say trying not to judge right away.

"Actually why did she send you a picture of her nipple?"

"Why is she still talking to you still?"

"Why was she asking for nude pics or phone sex? Have you done those with her?"

"Why are you talking to her?"

"Are you playing with me? Are you out there still looking for people?"

I finally stop asking questions. Everything just kinda came out

She takes a deep breath. "Yeji, why did you have that app?" She ask me instead.

"I don't know. I was bored. It was a good place to vent because no one knows who you are" I answer her.

She nods, "When I downloaded that app, I was really struggling with my depression. It was where I was close to ending it all. It was a place where I could express my feelings without having to answer anyone. You tell someone you know that you suffer from depression and have thoughts of taking your own life and they start acting weird or they end up heing over the top trying to care for you" She pauses.

"Sometimes you just want to let it out without anyone asking if you're okay or what can they do to help? Because I dont know how anyone could help so it helps me to just express my feelings that way. Then I saw other people were feeling the same way. We would end up chatting and sharing our stories with each other without giving advices. Just accepting that we're going through something. So I'm not upset that you looked through my phone. I'm not trying to hide anything from you but I'm kinda offended that you think 'I'm out there still looking for people' because it's like everything I've done to show my love for you wasn't enough she sighs.

When she said the last part, I start feeling bad. I know I'm in the wrong, I shouldn't have accused her of playing with me but I still wanna know about this Shelby girl.

I look down feeling ashame of myself, "I'm sorry but I didn't know how to react when I saw some other girl's nipple in my girlfriend's phone. Who is Shelby?"

"Shelby was one of the people that was going through something at that time too. She was actually married at the time. We would chat and just vent to each other when some days are hard. We became friends then she started developing feelings for me but I didn't feel the same. She ended up leaving her husband, thinking that maybe that was what's holding me back but it really wasn't she takes a sip of water.

I'm listening and all I can think of is why are so many people falling for Ryujin but then again I'm one of those people and it's because she's amazing.

"So I tell her, we still won't be a thing. She got mad and stopped talking to me for a while. She texted me again one day because she missed me. I replied because we were friends you know? That didn't change. Then she got a boyfriend and her boyfriend was jealous of me so she wasn't allowed to talk to me so we stop again. Then it became a thing where she only talks to me when she's single so she's probably single again since she texted today" she finishes her story.

"Why don't you block her?" I ask.

She shrugs her shoulders and continue eating. I take a bite of my food here and there but I really want to set things straight with Ryujin.

"I've never actually blocked anyone because I feel bad so I don't even know how to" she explains.

"I don't like you talking to her because even after you told her you have a girlfriend, she still did that so I'm not comfortable" I say slowly.

"And have you sent nude photos to her or done phone sex?" I shyly ask.

"Nope and nope. I don't do the picture thing and like I said I can live without sex" she answers me.

I really want her to block that girl but I also don't want to control her. I don't want her to think I'm manipulative but I think my feelings for this one are really valid. I think I have the right to ask for this because that girl clearly doesn't respect relationships.