“Break? Break? Break?!!!” Miyazawa Sae repeatedly said until she said it loudly. All the customers inside the romantic restaurant look at her.

Sae and her boyfriend, Fujigaya Taisuke, are in a romantic restaurant to celebrate their 1^st year anniversary but instead of a romantic gift, Taisuke gave the worst gift to Sae and that is break up.

“Sae, lower down your voice, the people are looking at us.” Taisuke embarrassingly said.

Sae took a very deep breath trying not to cry. She needs to show to him that she is strong.

“Explain.” She said.

“Sae, I’m sorry. I don’t meant o hurt you.” He said.

“I don’t need your apology. I said EXPLAIN!” she said.

“I don’t want to fool you but I don’t love you anymore.” He said.

She smiled bitterly. “You don’t love me anymore? Are you sure? You don’t love me anymore or you never love me in the first place?”

He was speechless.

“Let’s admit it, Taisuke. You don’t really love me, you just used me so you can show to your ex that she can easily replaced by someone else. And here I am a stupid one that believes that you love me even though the answers are in my front.” Sae said.

Sae stood up and get ready to leave.

“Thanks for acting that you love me at least that way I felt happy but you shouldn’t wait for our 1^st year anniversary because it’s hurt so much.” Sae said and left. The customers even the employees inside the restaurant are looking at her.

‘Don’t cry, Miyazawa Sae or else I will get myself hit by a truck!’ she said on her mind.

When she finally got out of the restaurant, a taxi stops at the front. She quickly gets inside the taxi without knowing that someone was already in there.

“Eh, miss?” the guy said.

Sae looks at the guy. She can’t see his face because her eyes are full of tears. “I’m sorry.” She said and cried.

The driver and the guy don’t know what to do.

“Miss, where do you live? We will bring you there first.” The guy said.

She said her address.

The driver starts to drive the taxi.

Sae cried not minding the guy and the driver.

After 30 minutes, they finally reach the address that Sae gave.

Sae paid the taxi driver and get out of the taxi. She didn’t know that she forgot something inside the taxi.

…………………………………………………….

Sae enters her apartment. It is dark inside the apartment. Her best friend is probably sleeping. She went straight to the kitchen and opens the refrigerator. She took out a bottle of soju and drinks it not minding the bitter taste of it.

She cried loudly.

Just then, her best friend Akimoto Sayaka came. “Aigoo… I thought there was a ghost.” Sayaka said. “What happened to you? Are you two had a fight again?”

“We broke up.” Sae said.

“Really? Congratulation, best friend. You finally realized.” Sayaka happily said.

“He’s the one who broke up to me.” Sae said.

“Eh???? Really???” Sayaka was shocked. “Oh well! I already told you so many times that he will leave you someday.”

“And he really did it.” Sae said.

“What did you do? Did you cry on front of him? Did you make a scene? And why did he break up with you? Third-party?” Sayaka asks.

“Please, one at a time, ok?” Sae said. “First, I didn’t cry on his front. Second, I didn’t make a scene but all of the people in the restaurant probably knew what’s going on. Third, he told me he didn’t love me anymore and for the last question I don’t think it is a third party.”

“Don’t love you anymore? Fool himself. If I know, he really don’t love you in the first place and he is just using you to make his ex-girlfriend hurt.” Sayaka said.

“I told him that.” Sae said.

“That’s my girl.” Sayaka said. “But Sae, will you stop getting drunk? We have work tomorrow morning. You can drink how many bottle of soju you want tomorrow night.”

Sayaka took the bottle of soju from Sae and put it back inside the refrigerator.

“Ok fine but you need to get drunk too.” Sae said.

“Of course! If you want we can invite the Matsui sisters.” Sayaka said. She is talking about their neighborhood.

“Rena is fine but Jurina is still young. Their mom is gonna kill us we let Jurina drinks soju.” Sae said.

“Oh right.” Sayaka said. “Well, good night.”

“Night.” Sae said.

Sayaka went back to her room.

Sae went to her room but instead to get some sleep, she cried and cried and can’t help but to remember the past.

…………………………………………………….

Sae and Sayaka are just new tenants in an apartment building. They are both Japanese and since they want to go to South Korea, they went there and luckily they found a job there in a cake shop.

Sae and Sayaka’s apartment are at the 4^th floor that’s why they have a hard time taking their things to their apartment.

“Sae, bring this box in the apartment. I’ll wait you here so someone will watch our things here.” Sayaka said.

Sae is having a hard time carrying the box. She was now inside the elevator but she is having a hard time to press the button. Luckily, a guy gets inside the elevator.

“Could you please press the number 4?” she asks.

“I already did.” The guy said.

“Ok.” She said.

“Do you want some help?” the guy asks.

“Sure. Thanks.” She said.

The guy took the box from her.

When the elevator opened, they get out of the elevator.

Sae walks first towards their apartment.

“So, you are new here. Are you living alone?” the guy asks.

“No. I have my best friend.” She answered. “Thanks for the help.”

“No problem.” The guy said. “I’m Fujigaya Taisuke.”

“Miyazawa Sae.” She said.

And that’s where Sae starts to fall in love to Taisuke.

…………………………………………………….

“Sayaka! Sayaka!” Sae happily said while entering the apartment.

“What? Did you see your love again?” Sayaka asks.

“Of course! He’s at the park practicing his bartending skills.” Sae said.

There is a park nearby their apartment. They can see it every time they go to work and go back home.

“Not new.” Sayaka said. “Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”

“He has a girlfriend. She lives at the apartment at the 5^th floor. The skeleton girl.” Sae said.

“Ah… The skeleton girl. What’s her name?” Sayaka asks.

“I don’t know. Since we called her skeleton girl, I didn’t bother to know her name.” Sae said.

Sae knows everything about Taisuke except the name of his girlfriend.

…………………………………………………….

Sae’s work shift is in the afternoon because of the change of schedule while her best friend is in the morning.

When the elevator opened, the skeleton girl is already there. The girl smiled at her so she smiled at her.

They are both silent inside the elevator.

“Uhmm… Are you new here?” the girl asks.

‘Wow! I’ve been here for 3 months and this is the first time she asked me?’ she thought. “Ne. I am living here with my best friend since 3 months ago.”

“Ah… That’s why I always saw you here. I thought you are visiting someone here.” The girl said.

‘Visiting someone here? We almost see each other and she thought I am just a visitor?’ she thought.

“I’m Choi Sooyoung.” The girl said.

“Miyazawa Sae.” She said. “Are you Korean? I thought the landlord doesn’t allow the not Japanese to live here in this building.”

“I lived in Japan for 5 years even though I am Korean.” The girl said. “And also I knew the landlord.”

“Ah ok.” She said.

Finally, the elevator door opened. Sae feels like she’s been in the elevator for years.

They saw Taisuke at the front of the elevator. He is probably waiting for Sooyoung.

“Let’s go.” Taisuke said to Sooyoung.

‘So, the two have a date.’ She thought.

“Nice to meet you, Sae.” Sooyoung said.

“Me too.” She said.

Taisuke smiled at her before they left.

Sae sighed. “At least my love smiled at me.” She said.

…………………………………………………….

Days passed and Sae didn’t see Taisuke again. She is worried about him and because of that she can’t focus in her work. She sometimes saw staring blankly during her work.

“Hey, Sae. Why are you staring blankly?” her co-worker in the cake shop asks. Her name is Kim Hyoyeon.

“Aniyo. I am just thinking.” Sae said.

“I thought you are starting to be like Paruru.” Hyoyeon said. Paruru is Shimazaki Haruka, she is assigned in cash register. She is often seen staring blankly and didn’t move. She is just like sleeping while her eyes open.

“What is your thinking or who is your thinking?” Hyoyeon asks.

“Nothing.” Sae said.

“Aiyeee!!! Nothing. Liar.” Hyoyeon said.

“Really it’s nothing.” Sae said. “There’s a customer. Assist him.”

“Ne.” Hyoyeon said.

…………………………………………………….

Sae woke up when someone is knocking at their door. It’s been 1 hour passed since she started to sleep. Her work is at night because their shop is open for 24 hours since only few more weeks and it is Valentine’s Day. Sayaka’s schedule is at morning while she is at night.

She was half-asleep when she opened the door.

“Good morning.” It was Taisuke.

Sae finally awake when she heard Taisuke’s voice. She was embarrassed of how she looks that time.

“What are you doing here?” she asks while covering her face with her hands.

“There’s a problem with my bathroom. All our neighbors are already left so I thought if I can use your bathroom.” Taisuke said.

“Sure.” Sae said.

“Thanks.” Taisuke said. ‘I’ll be quick.”

While Taisuke is in the bathroom, Sae lie down on the sofa until she fell asleep again.

After few minutes, Sae woke up after feeling that someone is staring at her. She saw Taisuke staring at her.

“Why are you staring at me?” Sae asks.

“You’re cute while you are sleeping.” Taisuke said.

Sae raised her eyebrow.

“Anyway, thanks for letting me use your bathroom. I am going now.” Taisuke said.

“You’re welcome.” Sae said.

“Bye.” Taisuke said.

“Bye.” Sae said.

…………………………………………………….

Valentine’s Day…

Their shop is open for 24 hours since lots of customers are coming in. All the single employees are working at night because the employees that have a date that night changed their shift at morning so they can leave early.

“Luckily, all of us here are single.” Sayaka said.

“But it would be romantic if we have dates tonight.” Paruru said.

“You’re right.”Sae said.

While they are busy with the customers, a guy holding a basket of flowers came in.

Sayaka and Paruru’s eyes widened.

“Girls, can you help me? Customers keep on coming.” Sae said who didn’t notice the guy.

“Hi! Where’s Sae?” the guy asks.

Sayaka points at Sae at the counter.

The guy walks towards Sae. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Sae.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Taisuke.” Sae said. She was wondering why Taisuke is there.

“For you.” Taisuke said and gives the basket of flowers.

“For me?” Sae can’t believe it.

Sae reads the message in the card.

WILL YOU BE MY GIRL?

“Eh? I don’t get it. What about skele- I mean Sooyoung?” Sae asks.

“We broke up four months ago.” Taisuke said.

“Eh?” Sae was shocked. She didn’t know that.

“I am not rushing you to answer. I can wait. You can think it over.” Taisuke said. “What time is your off? I’ll wait for you.”

“But…” Sae said.

“We will be off at 6:00 in the morning.” Sayaka said.

“Then, I’ll wait.” Taisuke said.

“Are you sure?” Sae asks.

“Ne.” Taisuke said.

…………………………………………………….

“You really wait for Sae after her shift ends.” Sayaka said. She, Sae and Taisuke are walking back to the apartment. “But, I am just curious. Why did you suddenly courting my best friend?”

“It is not a sudden. I also think of it. Actually, I was attracted at her the first time we met but since I already had a girlfriend I wasn’t able to confess it to her.” Taisuke said.

“Where is that skele- I mean Sooyoung?” Sayaka asks.

“Sayaka, you are asking too many questions. We are already here.” Sae said. “Take a rest now, Taisuke.”

“You too.” Taisuke said.

Sae and Sayaka enter their apartment.

“Sae, don’t tell me you believe him.” Sayaka said.

“Not really but this is my chance. You know that I love him and it is my dream to be his girlfriend.” Sae said.

“What if he is just using you?” Sayaka asks.

“I don’t care about his reasons.” Sae said.

“You’re crazy.” Sayaka said. “Just don’t forget that he will leave you.”

“I know.” Sae said. ‘I just want to feel that I am his.’ She thought.

…………………………………………………….

After a month, Taisuke and Sae are finally in a relationship. Sae is happy because her dream is finally come true.

“The parade in the mall is fun.” Sae said. They are waiting for the elevator of the apartment building. They went to the mall a while ago.

“Hi Taisuke.” Someone said.

When they turned around, they saw Sooyoung.

“H-Hi. You finally came back.” Taisuke said.

“Ne. Is she your girlfriend?” Sooyoung asks.

“N-Ne.” Taisuke said.

“You look good together.” Sooyoung said.

Sae can feel that Sooyoung is lying. At last, the elevator opened.

The three people get inside the elevator.

When the elevator door opened at the 4^th floor, Sae and Taisuke go out.

“Taisuke, can we talk?” Sooyoung asks.

Taisuke looks at Sae asking for permission.

“It’s ok.” Sae said. She wants to say no but she will be rude if she said that.

“I’ll come to you later.” Taisuke said to Sae.

Sae nodded and went to her apartment. When she finally gets inside, she saw Sayaka, Rena and Jurina playing cards.

“You’re here? How’s the date?” Sayaka asks.

“Fine.” Sae said. “You gamble. If Jurina’s mom found it out, you are in trouble.”

“It is just for fun, oneechan. No money involved.” Jurina said. Instead of unnie, Jurina and Rena calls them oneechan since they are Japanese.

“She’s right, oneechan.” Rena said.

Sayaka looks at her. “What’s the problem?”

“Sooyoung is back.” Sae said.

“Really? What are you going to do now?” Sayaka asks.

“Nothing. I am the girlfriend and she is just the ex.” Sae said. “I trust Taisuke.”

And the trust is wrong.