“You cannot be acting like this!  You’re going to get in trouble!  You’re going to get me into trouble!  Why do you have to be so crazy?” he demanded, flailing his arms out and letting them drop to his sides.  He scratched his head angrily and ran one hand down his face. 

I knew this would get to him.  I adjusted my expression to one of indifference.  “Well, then we should stop seeing each other,” I replied flatly.  “Wouldn’t want to tarnish your Block b reputation.  If you were caught being connected to some crazy foreigner, it would be catastrophic!”  I laughed sardonically.

His face morphed from furious to apologetic as a sigh escaped his lips.  “I'm sorry.  You know that’s not what I meant, Kelly.  I’m just saying, I don’t want to see you get hurt.  I care about you.”

I care about you, too.  “I don’t actually care.  You knew from the beginning, I didn’t do well with long term.  This end is way over due.”

He frowned, eyeing me suspiciously.  Please don’t see through me.  “Where is this coming from all of a sudden?”

Since I could feel my time is running out.  I can’t hurt you.  “Not all of a sudden, come on now, you didn’t really think we had anything, did you?”  I almost choked on the sarcastic laugh that was forced out of my mouth.

“Well, yeah.  I mean, we’re good together.  I’m shy, you’re outgoing.  I’m passive, you’re aggressive.  I’m rational, you’re crazy.”  He let out a light chuckle.  “I just think you should tone it down a little, but we’re perfect together.”

I think so, too.  “I’m bored of you.”

He actually cringed inwardly from my words.  I may as well have slapped him.  “But I love you.”

I love you, too.  “I feel nothing for you.  You were just fun, a toy, and now I’m over it.”

“Kelly, what’s wrong?  What you did tonight was more insane than anything I’ve ever seen you do before.  What’s going on?”

I don’t want you to hurt when I’m gone.  “Nothing.  You were right.  I could get you into trouble.  Besides, I’m done with you.”  He locked my gaze with his.  I had to look away from his concerned eyes.  They made me want to run into his arms and curl against him, never letting go.  He closed the distance between us in two strides.  I clenched my hands into fists at my sides when he threw his arms around me.

“This is one of those moments I wish I could read your mind.  What do you keep buried down so deep?  Why are you like this?  Tell me.  Let me be there for you.  Let me help you.”  I tried to squirm out of his hold, but he held on tighter.

Save me.  I don’t want to be like this.  I want you to be there for me.  “I don’t want you or your help.  Now, get off me.”

“Not until you tell me what you’re hiding.”

I’m dying.  “Why is it so hard for you to believe that I never cared about you?  That I played you.  You mean nothing to me!” 

Catching him off guard, I tore away from his embrace, instantly feeling the chill of loneliness.  I’d never seen him look so pained.  I scoffed so I could have a reason to look away from him for a second.  So he wouldn’t see the tears building.

“That isn’t true,” he whispered.  But his eyes glistened with tears.  I’d gotten to him.

You’re right, it’s not true.  You mean everything to me.  “Bye, Tae Il.”

I stalked out, slamming the door behind me.  The noise from the door drowning out the sob that ripped from my throat.

In the end, it would be for the best.  But right now, it hurt so bad.