When I Loved You

oung sarcastically. 

“Don’t drink when you’re outside, okay?”

“Okay.” 

Muyeol poured the juice into a glass and pushed it toward Yiyoung.
“Drink this.”

“But last night, I got drunk because of you.
You showed up out of nowhere and asked me to marry you, so how could I not get shocked?”

“I get it.
Now, drink.”

His curt answer didn’t discourage her.
She took the glass and drank the juice. 

Muyeol put away the empty glass.
“I’ll stock up the fridge with juice packs, so drink one everyday.
Your liver can’t handle the alcohol.”

Yiyoung stared at him, unable to figure how to feel about his kindness.
He seemed like a different person in so many ways today.

Muyeol noticed her eyes on him and asked, “Are you hungry?”

Yiyoung shook her head.
“No.
You just seem different today.”

“I’m not different.” Muyeol leaned against the sink and looked at her.
“Since we agreed to get married yesterday, I think we should sign the marriage certificate by the end of this week.”

Yiyoung stared at him for a moment.
“A guy like you doesn’t necessarily need me for marriage.”

“A guy like me?”

“Yeah.
You’re young and are financially secure.
You could have a contractual marriage with anyone you like.
It could be someone from the same background as you, and if you end up liking her, then you can just have a real wife.”

Muyeol scoffed at her.
“You’re not smart.”

“What?” Yiyoung couldn’t believe he was mocking her.

“No, you’re an idiot.”

“Are you serious?” Yiyoung began to simmer with anger.
“Are you going to keep going on?”

“Are you not an idiot then?”

“What are you—”

“I knew you were like this when you were young, but you’re still the same.” Muyeol pointed at his head.
“You’re only book smart.
Other than that, you’re only good at picking fights.”

“What are you talking about…” She looked at him with a frown.
His words had upset her a lot.
“So that’s what you think of me, huh?”

She had been striving to survive back then, and hearing him voice his thoughts about it made her feel unpleasant.
Yet Muyeol kept going on, his voice calm, “But if you weren’t good at picking fights, do you think you would have been able to survive? You were in a situation where even if just one person attacked you, your school life would have been over.
I’m not saying anything against you.
It is completely normal for you to be this way.
What I mean is, you survived well.”

Yiyoung blinked, trying to comprehend what he meant.
“…What?”

“You never ran away from a fight, perhaps because you were trying to find a way to fit in the environment… It doesn’t matter.” 

‘A way to fit in…’ Yiyoung repeated in her head, appalled by his words.
“I-I don’t think you’re talking about me.
Are you talking about yourself?”

“The most important thing is to not lose.
You’re the strongest person I know.
No one but you could survive next to me,” he said with a cold laugh.