Chapter 152

EP.152 Confess Your Love

Three days later.

“I told you I’m almost there… Stop calling. I said I’m driving.”

– I’m just worried… Want me to pick up some beer on the way? We’re out.

“How many times have you said that? I’ll buy it, so hang up.”

At my slightly raised voice, Dr. Jennifer quickly apologizes.

– Oh, okay… Sorry.

After hanging up, I chuckled to myself.

Lately, Dr. Jennifer had been showing the extreme end of obsession.

Whenever I went out to work, she would call almost every 30 minutes to ask where I was and when I’d be back.

She was cross-checking the location on her phone to see if I was lying or not.

At this rate, we could have a big fight today.

After buying beer and returning home, I was parking when I saw Dr. Jennifer running out with an umbrella.

She’s lost a lot of weight recently, and it looks good on her.

Though it’s a shame her chest size has shrunk a bit.

As I put the car in park and turned off the engine, I opened the door, and she immediately covered me with the umbrella.

“Unnie, you’re getting wet.”

“I’m fine. You worked hard today.”

I nodded and gave her an affectionate kiss, like a lover.

Then I pulled her close by her shoulder.

“Let’s go inside.”

“Okay.”

Back home, I carelessly tossed off my suit jacket.

Dr. Jennifer, who had been setting up the umbrella, quickly ran over and helped me take off my tie and shirt.

As she naturally tended to me, I asked, “Did you have dinner?”

“Yeah. You said you ate already.”

“Did you eat, Unnie?”

“I did… Go wash up and come out. And don’t walk around in just your underwear from now on. It’s getting cold. I’ll leave the new robe out, so wear that.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t just say okay.”

“I said okay.”

After showering in the master bathroom, I put on the neatly laid-out robe and went to the living room.

I sat next to Dr. Jennifer, who was watching the news with a serious expression.

She then crossed her legs on the sofa.

I lay my head on her lap and watched the news.

[Due to record-breaking autumn rains, flood damage is occurring everywhere. Tens of thousands of victims have been reported…]

[The heavy rain is expected to continue for several days. This is the first time in 102 years that such a thunderstorm has lasted for ten days straight. The expected end of the rainy season is…]

Dr. Jennifer, who had been stroking my head, let out a long sigh.

“It’s a disaster that the rain won’t stop…”

“Why? There’s no damage here.”

“Didn’t you watch the news? Tens of thousands of victims have been reported.”

“I was talking about us.”

At that, Dr. Jennifer’s expression turned serious.

She looked down at me and said, “Why would you say that? Don’t you feel sorry for them?”

“I do. But what can we do? It’s a natural disaster. There’s nothing we can do.”

“That’s true, but…”

“If you keep worrying about everything, you’ll just get distracted. Let’s watch a variety show or a movie.”

“Okay… But Jihyuk.”

“What?”

“It’s been over ten days since we last went to the lab…”

Finally bringing up the lab, huh.

I sat up and wrapped my arms around her waist.

She tried to pull away with a troubled expression.

“Let’s talk without this.”

“What are you talking about? Can’t we talk like this?”

“Haah… Fine. Let’s just…”

As Dr. Jennifer was about to speak, I turned my head and tapped my cheek with my finger.

She hesitated for a moment, then kissed my cheek with a loud smack.

With a faint smile, she started to speak.

“Now…”

“Again.”

I interrupted her again.

Dr. Jennifer chuckled and leaned in once more.

Timing it right, I turned my head and let her kiss land on my lips.

Her face turned red.

“Ha… Why are you like this…”

“Why?”

“Can we have a serious conversation? I’d like you to listen properly.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“We need to go to the lab and work on the device. We can’t keep doing this. I feel so bad for Silvia and Adeline… Let’s go now and get started.”

“I’m tired today. I had too much work.”

“Then just watch. I’ll handle everything today, and you can just observe. Then, starting tomorrow, we’ll…”

Dr. Jennifer’s words trailed off.

I was clearly showing that I didn’t want to listen, fiddling with my phone.

She looked at me with a displeased expression.

“Can you turn off your phone and focus?”

No? If you want it off, take it and turn it off yourself. Let’s fight.

Cheerfully ignoring her, I played a funny video and giggled.

“Song Jihyuk, I said turn off your phone.”

Ignoring her again, Dr. Jennifer finally couldn’t take it and snatched the phone from my hand.

Good. Well done, Dr. Jennifer.

I frowned deeply and looked at her.

“Are you kidding me? Right now?”

“Are you going to keep acting like a child?”

“That’s what I wanted to say to you!”

As our voices rose, Dr. Jennifer flinched.

“What are you talking about?”

“Yesterday, today, you’ve been calling me every 30 to 40 minutes… Do you know how much trouble that caused me? I had an important meeting, and the executives gave me dirty looks because I didn’t answer once. Then you sent a barrage of texts… Who’s acting like a child here?”

“I-I’m sorry, but…”

“Plus, I’m really tired today and don’t want to leave the house, but why are you only thinking about yourself? Don’t you care about me at all?”

Dr. Jennifer frantically waved her hands.

“No! I always think about you…”

“Someone who always thinks about me would ask me to go to the lab when I’m tired? You can go alone.”

“Jihyuk, calm down…”

“I’m really angry. This isn’t the only thing that’s upsetting me. You’re hiding something from me, right? I was going to wait for you to tell me, but I can’t take it anymore.”

“What…?”

Dr. Jennifer flinched.

She seemed to remember something and licked her lips.

She recalled the meaningful words I had said when we had a slight argument a few days ago.

She asked cautiously, “Can I ask what you’re talking about?”

“The utility room.”

Dr. Jennifer closed her eyes tightly.

She let out a long sigh, looking defeated.

“You saw it…”

“Yeah. Your wedding photos and albums. And a golf club with the name ‘Ed’ on it? It wasn’t just lying around; it was hidden in a corner. It looked like you were deliberately hiding it. Why?”

“That’s…”

“There are no photos or anything in your house, so I thought you were just occasionally missing your husband in words and trying to forget him. But that wasn’t it.”

Dr. Jennifer was stunned, her mouth slightly open.

The sweet atmosphere had changed in an instant, leaving her flustered.

The living room fell silent. The sound of rain hitting the windows added to the bleak atmosphere.

After letting the silence linger to complicate Dr. Jennifer’s thoughts, I continued.

“One of your husband’s shirts… I thought that was it. When you handed me that shirt last time, I was sure you had completely moved on. But I was wrong. You should’ve told me earlier. If you had, I would’ve tried harder…”

Dr. Jennifer shook her head frantically.

“Jihyuk… You’re misunderstanding. Can you just listen to me? Hear me out first… It wouldn’t hurt to listen before judging.”

“Why do you never listen to me but always want to talk about yourself? You’re so selfish. I told you I’m tired, right? I said I had a lot of work. So why are you telling me to go watch you work in the lab? And then you want me to listen to you?”

My tone rose, and curses started flying.

I was deliberately acting upset.

Dr. Jennifer looked shocked, as if she hadn’t expected this from me.

She immediately apologized.

“I-I’m really sorry… Jihyuk… Let me get you some water and calm down…”

She must’ve thought I was genuinely disappointed and angry, given how I was cursing in her face.

I stood up and pressed my forehead.

“I really love you, but it feels like you just see me as a toy.”

“Why! Why would you say that!? That’s not true!”

Dr. Jennifer shouted in denial.

I said, “I’m really tired and my head hurts. I think I’ll just go home.”

“What…?”

“Let’s take some time apart. I’ll contact you later.”

Let’s take some time. I’ll contact you later.

There’s nothing crueler than that.

Especially the part about contacting later is crucial.

From the listener’s perspective, they’re deeply rooted in the idea that they shouldn’t contact first.

If they can’t hold back and reach out, they fear they’ll seem clingy or that the other person will dislike it. But if they stay silent, they’re left anxiously waiting for a call that may never come.

Of course, people are different.

Some will silently endure, some will immediately call to apologize or fight more, and some will even start seeing someone else.

Dr. Jennifer would probably not call and instead go looking for me.

It’ll definitely go as I expect.

I can tell just by her actions.

She’s always swallowed her loneliness well, but ever since we started seriously dating, she’s hated being alone.

If I, who watered her parched heart and helped new love bloom, were to disappear, she wouldn’t last two days.

“Jihyuk! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Let’s have a serious talk! Sit down, sit down… I’ll listen to you first!”

Dr. Jennifer grabbed my arm and shouted desperately.

Not even two days—she wouldn’t last a day.

If one person holds all the power in a relationship, they can create any situation.

And if you have a card that can crack the relationship, and that card is strong enough, you can naturally steer things onto the stage.

This situation is part of that.

Honestly, it didn’t have to escalate this far.

It’s natural for a widow to miss her husband. If they had a good relationship, it’s understandable to keep mementos.

But the fact that Dr. Jennifer hid it from me was important.

I brought it up along with my earlier grievances, spun it my way, and expressed my disappointment.

So Dr. Jennifer, who wanted to please me, felt guilty and took a defensive stance.

She could’ve refuted my points one by one.

But seeing me act like I might leave, her emotions took over before her rationality.

Given that she’d quickly fall into depression without me, it was very effective.

The idea of taking time apart must’ve been a huge shock.

“I’m sorry, Unnie. I don’t want to talk about anything right now.”

I said in a troubled tone and shook off her hand.

Then I grabbed my car keys and headed for the door, but Dr. Jennifer shouted a warning.

“Don’t go! I said don’t go! If you really leave!”

Ah… You, who’s always calm and smart, have changed like this.

Love that comes late in life is truly terrifying, isn’t it?

As I ignored her and put on my slippers, she got angry again.

“I said don’t go!!”

Her voice was so loud it echoed through the house.

I looked at her with pity and shook my head.

Dr. Jennifer’s next reaction was pitiful.

With pleading eyes, she ran to me and grabbed the hem of my robe, trying to evoke sympathy.

“My head hurts too… I want to rest… Let’s not go to the lab today and just sleep together… Okay?”

I sighed and hugged her.

She clung tightly to my waist.

I could feel her determination not to let go.

I whispered softly in her ear, “If your head hurts, work on the device. You like working, don’t you?”

It was a sarcastic remark.

Dr. Jennifer flinched and pleaded.

“I’m sorry… I was wrong… Jihyuk… Please…”

“I think we both need some time alone to think. Let’s do that.”

My tone was gentle but firm.

Dr. Jennifer’s grip loosened.

She must’ve thought that holding on any longer would be irreversible.

I looked at her with complicated eyes for a moment, then went outside and started the car.

And I left immediately.

It hurts, but it’s to make you love me more.

So just endure for a few days… No, just a day or two.

Hold onto my clothes and cry your heart out, then use the tracker to find me.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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