A/N: I wasn't kidding when I said that everything will be revealed in this part. ;))

Flashback: 2 years ago (2012)

“I’m so, so sorry, So Eun! I got a last minute call from my manager and I had to get to the agency immediately,” Bum caught his breath while holding on to one of the metal bars that held the swing where I sat in the deserted park, “Did I keep you waiting for too long?”

Shunning his gaze, I looked ahead and smiled weakly. “It doesn’t matter. Did you get the work done?”

“Don’t worry, everything has been settled,” he answered, weariness still apparent in his voice.

“Good.”

“So Eun-ah, you must be freezing! Why don’t we stay in the car? The last thing I want is for you to catch a cold. Come on.” I remained firmly on the swing, ignoring the hand that he held out.

“I can’t do this.”

From the corner of my eye, I sensed how he put both hands in his pockets and heaved a sigh. “I’m sure you’re really tired given how it’s already past midnight. It’s all my fault. I might as well take you home.”

Barely moving an inch, I continued to stare into space. “I said I can’t do this.”

“Yes, I know. That’s why I’m taking you home,” he uttered, his tone getting more frustrated.

I took a deep breath before slowly turning to meet his eyes. “You don’t get it, Bum-ah.” His features hardened as his brows furrowed. “Maybe I would if you say it directly and stop with these mind games. Come on, So Eun, tell me what’s bothering you.”

I got up swiftly and stood right across him. “THIS! US! I just can’t!” I cried.

He stood motionless for a second before he turned and was thrown into fits of laughter, which was an absolute contrast to his vigorous one. “Yah, So Eun, are you breaking up with me because I didn’t make it on time? I know this isn’t the first time and both of us have been extremely worn out lately, but we’ll make it through. We’re used to this, aren’t we?”

“I’m being serious, Bum-ah.”

“And you think I’m not?”

I bit my lip and turned my head to the side, trying to hold back the tears. When I gained my strength, I looked straight into his eyes. “Can’t you see it, Bum-ah?! You and I are growing apart! We don’t get to see each other as much as we’d like to. Our schedules are always filled and if we do get some free time, they always clash. It’s not healthy anymore!”

He shook his head fervently before he closed the distance between us and held both my shoulders. “Don’t you think this is just the same as before? We sign on to new projects. We get busy. Then it all ends. It’s not like it’s anything new,” he stated desperately while his eyes darted back and forth into mine.

I shook both my shoulders, freeing myself from his hold. I raised my hands in frustration, almost pulling my hair out. “That’s the problem! We’re stuck in this darn cycle! Why can’t you see that? And then what, huh? Where do you think this vicious cycle will lead us?!”

“But we promised we’d always fight and stick to each other, didn’t we?” he bargained. “Please, So Eun, don’t do this to me.” I averted his gaze and inhaled deeply. “I’ve made up my mind,” I said with full conviction as I turned back to him, “From this moment on, let’s live our lives just the way we used to before it all happened.”

“So that’s it? You’re just throwing it all away like it never happened…as if none of it mattered?” he said accusatorily, his voice seething with anger.

With one final look at him, I uttered the words that marked the end of our story. “I have to go.” With my head up, I turned and walked away before I finally let the tears fall.

*End of flashback

Dumbfounded, all I could do was stare back at him. I attempted to come up with something logical to say, yet not a single word could escape from my mouth.

Slowly, his facial features softened before he turned away, steering clear of eye contact. “Forget  I mentioned that,” he said uncomfortably. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

Although his eyes were fixed on the train’s aisle, my gaze was still focused on him. “Bum-ah…” I trailed off.

 “Let’s just pretend this conversation never happened,” he said steadfastly.

I let out a weak smile before nodding slowly. There was something that I had been meaning to ask, but I kept holding back. I took a quick breath and decided to take the risk.

“Things are better this way, right?” I asked reluctantly.

He paused for a second before he smiled faintly. “I…guess they are.”

++++

I used to have this notion that all it took was love between two people for everything to work out; that love alone would suffice. But the more I believed in it, the more it unraveled the hard, ugly truth—this love that I thought I knew was far from what it was.

In the three years we were together, he made me the happiest girl in the world—too happy that every part of me ended up depending immensely on that happiness. He did have his fair share of flaws and shortcomings, yet I always saw past those because he never failed to make up for them. Even though we couldn’t make time for each other as much as we wanted to, he always went the extra mile in making sure that every date, every celebration, every hug, and every kiss would stand out in our memory. However, when our relationship reached a point where both of us became extremely preoccupied with our personal lives and respective careers, things got out of hand. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. At that point, I felt that it was beyond salvation. He was determined to fight for the relationship and assured me that he would never stop. But my dependence was slowly becoming destructive that whenever there were glitches in our plans, I would instinctively feel terrible. It was as if the way he was constantly doing his best in making me happy became the sole prerequisite for the relationship to work out. I didn’t feel that I was doing enough to keep my end of the bargain. Heck, it wasn’t supposed to be a bargain to begin with. Because this love was supposed to be unconditional. But given the efforts he was putting just to make it work, I was consumed by insecurity. I saw it as a race—one that I couldn’t keep up with.

I had always known that love was never meant to be perfect; that its rough edges are what makes it all the more beautiful. Sadly, it wasn’t the case. Our once perfectly imperfect love slowly turned into what I was terrified of the most—controlling demanding, and overpowering.

As much as I wanted to fight for him—and to fight together with him for what we had—I felt so little that I needed to break free. It took a lot of reflecting on my part before I came up with the hardest decision of my life—to walk away from him. I had known that I wouldn’t have it easy, but I never thought that it