Chapter 82

“I deserved it… I did. It’s karma, and this is exactly what I should get.” He mutters it in a breathy, almost non-existent splice of words, still looking down and his hands, trembling the same way mine are. “It doesn’t make it hurt any less… or mess me up any less. That you’ve been lying this whole time… Pretending… Making me hope… Was this punishment? Revenge? Did it give you a kick to see me falling all over you and trying to rekindle past memories?” Jyeon finally raises his head, his eyes so steeped in sadness and betrayal that it cuts me deeply. His words are slow and etched with bitterness. Questioning me in his mind and coming up with so many reasons I would drag this charade out and pretend not to know. I can see why he would think it was a ploy to hurt him, that it was vindictive and mocking. Despite everything he did back then, I never wanted to wound him this way; it wasn’t a manipulation of any sort.

“I…” I don’t know what to say and shake my head. My words trail to