A Madman in Love-Chapter 72

Seo Jaehee never once doubted the days filled with Suin.

The idea of a day without her—

The possibility of a crack forming in their relationship—

That scenario simply did not exist in his plan.

Not in the slightest.

―Did you get off work?

That was why, even when Suin read his message while he was on his way to a business dinner but didn’t reply, he didn’t think much of it.

―You’re home, right?

And when the dinner ended, he didn’t hesitate to dismiss Jongin—who treated his job like a sacred duty—before heading straight in the opposite direction, to Suin’s house. It didn’t feel like a hassle.

―I’m in front of your place.

Even standing around in the alley, his pants getting damp from the drizzle, didn’t feel tedious.

He was simply happy.

―I’m meeting a friend.

―I’ll be late.

Her delayed response did disappoint him, but since he had rushed over without asking first, he accepted it easily. Even as he turned away, his mood wasn’t sour.

There was no uneasiness.

No discomfort.

Not even the faintest sense of foreboding.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

Even the next morning, when he arrived at work and heard that Suin had suddenly taken a leave of absence—

―Hangover?

―You got me.

Even when she took her time replying to his teasing message, he remained relaxed.

―The great Lee Suin taking time off for a hangover?

―I know, right?

But…

As her responses became slower, more sparse, a sense of unease began to creep in.

―Did you eat? Should I bring you some hangover soup?

―I ate. I just want to sleep more.

It felt like walking across a swaying suspension bridge, as if something unstable was growing inside him.

And then, Suin took three more days of leave.

"It was a pre-planned vacation. She said she forgot to notify you in advance," Jongin relayed her message.

Click.

That was the last straw.

"An unplanned leave, followed by more ‘pre-planned’ leave?"

"Yes, she said she had already arranged a trip abroad with a friend."

"Going abroad, huh. So obviously, her phone won’t be reachable?"

"She’s probably in airplane mode right now. Maybe she’ll turn on roaming when she lands?"

"Right."

And when he predictably failed to reach her…

For the first time in his life, Seo Jaehee felt fear.

***

Suin chose to escape reality by going on a trip with Miju.

There was no way she could withstand staying within Seo Jaehee’s orbit, so this was a temporary refuge.

Miju, who had always pestered her about traveling together, eagerly accepted Suin’s sudden offer.

At first, she was all excitement and chatter. But by the second day, she had started noticing the malfunction.

"Lee Suin, you’re broken."

"Me?"

"We came all the way here, but you’re not enjoying anything. You see amazing sights, eat delicious food, but you’re just… indifferent."

"Do I have to act like I’m dying of happiness? Just because I’m not bouncing off the walls like you doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying myself."

"Don’t give me that crap. You’re weird. You have no expressions. Like someone who’s forgotten how to feel joy or sadness."

Suin scoffed and turned her attention to her beer, trying to mask the turmoil inside.

But Miju saw right through her.

"It’s because of Seo Jaehee, isn’t it?"

"Don’t be ridiculous."

"You really think I don’t know? I knew something was up the moment you—a certified workaholic—suddenly suggested a trip."

"…"

"Did your mom finally tell you to break up?"

"Miju."

"Hm?"

"We’re across the ocean. Let’s not talk about Seo Jaehee. Let’s just enjoy our trip."

By the time she downed her beer, the queasiness in her stomach had settled a little.

If she kept leaning on alcohol, she could probably hold out for a few more hours.

"Not like you’re enjoying anything anyway…"

"Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood."

"Hey! It’s not something to apologize for. You’ve been there for me every time I was upset, too."

Miju, who had been teasing her, suddenly looked serious at Suin’s apology.

She pulled herself out of the pool and plopped down beside her.

Clinking her beer bottle against Suin’s, she muttered:

"Lee Suin, I’ll say just one thing."

"Go ahead."

"Think about yourself first."

Then, as if worried she was being too serious, she took a long swig straight from the bottle.

Suin, who had been pouring herself another glass, froze for a moment.

"Be a little selfish, idiot."

"…"

Instead of answering, she turned on some music.

Letting the melody play from her phone’s speaker, she mindlessly sipped her beer.

Maybe she really was broken.

Even the concept of ‘wanting something’ felt like an unfamiliar emotion.

She wondered—

Could she be fixed?

***

"Thank you, Miju. Get home safe. You worked hard."

"Yeah! You too!"

The taxi driver took the suitcase out of the trunk and handed it over. Suin nodded in thanks before exchanging a final goodbye with Miju, who was sitting in the back seat.

Hoo.

She stared blankly at the rear lights of the taxi as it disappeared down the street. Then, she took a short breath and turned around.

Clatter.

The sound of suitcase wheels scraping against the concrete mixed with the clack of a car door closing. A large figure cast a long shadow in the dim streetlight.

"Lee Suin."

A deep, husky voice.

The moment she heard it, her heart dropped.

"I've been waiting."

His voice was rough.

There was a faint sigh mixed into his tone.

"Hold on a second…"

Suin glanced over her shoulder and confirmed that Café Lime’s lights were off. Avoiding his gaze, she dragged her suitcase inside the entrance.

"Let’s talk somewhere else."

Then, she turned her back to him.

***

Men had instincts, too.

He used to think intuition was something only women had…

"Let’s end this."

That was why Seo Jaehee wasn’t too surprised when Suin said it.

He let out a weak chuckle, his voice laced with cynicism.

"End what?"

It was a mask.

A flimsy shield to cover his fear.

This time.

This time, it was real.

For the first time, he felt it—

That he was on the verge of truly losing Lee Suin.

Even when he had been forced to leave for the U.S., he had remained unconcerned.

Because he had been certain.

Certain that they would meet again.

Certain that, no matter what, he would be with her.

To the very end.

"Don’t pretend you don’t know. We were in a relationship. I’m saying I want to end that relationship."

But Suin was the one declaring the end.

"And, along with it, everything between us."

Not just love—she was delivering a final, irreversible ultimatum.

This was the end.

Yes, the end.

If she was gone, the world might as well be gone, too.

Even after forcing himself to take a shaky breath, he still wasn’t steady.

All he could do was ask one short question.

"Why?"

***

Seo Jaehee acted like his brain had stopped functioning.

"Why?"

Like a child whose reasoning skills hadn’t yet developed, he repeated the question.

But his eyes were different.

They were sharp. Ruthless.

Like a predator staring down its prey.

Ready to pounce, to sink his teeth into the back of her neck at any moment.

"There’s no real reason. I just got bored."

"Bored? Just like that?"

"Yeah. I guess you could say I got tired of it."

Suin spat out the words carelessly.

Like a reckless puppy that didn’t realize how dangerous the tiger in front of it was, she kept provoking him, even going so far as to sneer.

She had deliberately lured him to this deserted park.

She even thought, in a fleeting, absurd moment, that if he were to maul her to death here, bleeding out on the ground—

Well, so be it.

"You’re tired of me?"

"To be precise, my feelings have cooled."

Why was she doing this?

She didn’t know.

But it didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered anymore.

"It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I’ve always been like this. I fall fast, and I fall out just as quickly."

Your mother said no.

She didn’t throw money at me to make me go away, but the wall she put up was insurmountable.

I saw it clearly. I don’t belong in your future.

And I can’t fight against that.

So, goodbye.

"I was never someone who understood love. That’s why I never prioritized men in the past. And now, it turns out, nothing has changed. I thought you would be different, but in the end, you weren’t."

She couldn’t tell him the truth.

She couldn’t betray the Chairwoman’s trust.

So instead, Suin chose words that made her the villain.

That was the conclusion she had come to over the past week.

"There was passion, there was pleasure, but no emotions were ever involved."

"Lee Suin."

"There’s no future in this. Let’s not waste our time."

"Lee Suin."

"It’ll be better for both of us if we end things quickly."

"Lee Suin!"

He cut her off.

Like a predator chasing its prey, he charged at her.

Suin instinctively stepped back—

But he grabbed her by the nape of her neck, pulling her close.

"That’s enough."

He ground his teeth as he growled.

His bloodshot eyes, rimmed with red, burned with fury.

He trembled with rage, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like he might shatter his own teeth.

"Tell me the real reason you’re trying to leave me."