I WISH I HAD A HAPPY ENDING TOO

Chapter 9

"When are we ever going to find someone who treats us right, you know? Someone without any baggage. He doesn't even have to be handsome—just faithful and kind. Good looks would just be a bonus," Cheizeru slurred, her voice heavy with alcohol.

We were currently at her condominium. She hadn’t let me stay at my own apartment, insisting it was too dangerous for me to be there alone right now. We decided to drink inside instead of going out to a bar, fearing a repeat of last time or worse.

"Am I really that unlovable?" I asked, the tears starting to blur my vision again. Because I only ever loved, I just truly loved him, but now I find myself asking whether I'm even lovable at all. If I'm ever worth fighting for, too.

"You always tell me I'm pretty, but why did he choose her over me? Why did he cheat? Tell me honestly... is there something wrong with me? The way I act? The way I care? Did I do something wrong?"

The questions poured out of me one after another. I hated that I was crying over him again. I knew in my heart that I had given Vin absolutely everything. We barely ever fought or argued because I hated conflict, so I always chose to overlook his flaws. That was how deeply I loved him. But did he ever truly love me back? Was I really the problem?

"Achii, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you," Cheizeru said softly, sliding down to sit beside me.

We were sitting on the floor, our backs resting against the sofa, surrounded by empty cans in her living room. She reached out and gently stroked my hair.

"He's the one who's wrong. He's blind. It's not your fault if you don't fit whatever standard he has in his head. And I know he loved you once, I saw how hard he pursued you back then, even when you kept pushing him away. You are beautiful, inside and out. Never forget that. Even stunning actresses and beauty queens get cheated on by their boyfriends, you know?"

She offered a reassuring smile.

"Just remember, whenever someone leaves, it only makes room for someone better to arrive."

I let out a wet, breathless laugh, wiping my nose.

"Wow. The tables have truly turned. I used to be the one saying those exact words to you. Now, look at you giving me the advice."

Cheizeru laughed along with me.

"Well, I'm practically an expert at being heartbroken! This is your very first breakup. And honestly, after being together for that long, you two should have been planning a family, not figuring out how to move on."

"So you're telling me you wanted to settle down and start a family with all those flings and exes of yours? Is that why none of them lasted?" I teased, earning myself a sharp swat to the head.

"Ow! You really have a sweet way of saying thank you," I grumbled, rubbing my sore spot. For a second, I thought she had knocked the last of my remaining brain cells right out of my head.

"You talk too much," she shot back, taking another swig from her can. We had consumed a significant amount of alcohol, but the buzz hadn't fully kicked in yet, at least, not that I could tell.

"Well, you know what they say," I muttered, my voice thick with sleep and alcohol. "A fire won't keep burning without fuel."

The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. Squinting against the light, I scanned the room and found my best friend fast asleep on the floor, her mouth wide open, using a pile of empty beer cans as a makeshift pillow.

Still massaging my throbbing temples, I walked over to the refrigerator to grab a cold bottle of water. As I drank, my eyes drifted to the wall clock. I blinked rapidly, hoping my eyes were playing tricks on me.

It was 9:00 AM.

Panic washing over me, I rushed back to the living room and shook Cheizeru, but she only groaned in response. Realizing she wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, I abandoned her and dashed into the shower. Afterward, I rummaged through her closet and picked out a matching maroon top and loose trousers, pairing them with her maroon heels.

Once I was fully dressed, I walked back out to find her still dead to the world. I cringed as I liberally sprayed her perfume all over myself, desperate to mask the faint smell of alcohol. I checked my phone for the first time and was startled to find a dozen missed calls from Sutehan and a flood of unread text messages from Vin.

What is with these guys? Is this some sort of competition?

Ignoring them both, I headed downstairs and hailed a taxi.

When I reached the office building, I stepped into the elevator. But just as the doors began to slide shut, the world seemed to slow down. A hand suddenly blocked the sensor, forcing the doors back open.

My breath caught. Sutehan stood there, his face pale with worry, staring directly at me.

Before I could even offer a polite smile, he stepped inside and pulled me into a tight, crushing embrace. Fortunately, the doors closed behind him, leaving the two of us completely alone in the rising cabin.

"I missed you," he whispered against my hair.

My mind went completely blank. I stared helplessly at our reflection in the polished metal wall of the elevator, unable to find my voice.

"What happened to you? Why couldn't I reach you? And why weren't you at your apartment?" Sutehan asked in a rush, pulling back to cup my face in both of his hands. His eyes searched mine frantically.

"I've been going out of my mind wondering where you were, if you were okay, or if something had happened to you."

"I-I'm fine," I stammered, deliberately avoiding his intense gaze.

"I've been staying at Cheizeru's condo. The crazy girl was throwing a tantrum because she claimed I didn't have time for her anymore. We decided to spend the whole day together and turned off our phones so we wouldn't have any distractions."

He opened his mouth to say something else, but the elevator chimed, signaling my floor. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly bid him goodbye and stepped out.

He didn't need to know about the ugly mess with Vin. The less I had to think about it, the better.

I practically collapsed into my office chair, staring up at the ceiling with a heavy sigh. I was just so exhausted.

I stared blankly at the ceiling for several minutes until the telephone suddenly rang.I cleared my throat, forcing myself to sound bright and professional before answering.

"Yes? This is Rui, secretary to the CEO. How may I help you?"

"Ms. Rui, this is Claire from the front desk. There's a food delivery here for you. Would you like to pick it up, or should I have it sent up to your office?"

I frowned, my brow furrowing in confusion. "But I didn't order anything—"

"The rider said it was ordered by Mr. Sute, Ms. Rui."

I sat up straight, my grip tightening on the receiver. "Send it up, please."

"Understood. Thank you, Ms. Rui."

A few minutes later, a light knock sounded at my door. I opened it, accepted the delivery, and thanked the staff member before closing the door. Truth be told, I was starving, but Sutehan really shouldn't have done this. I didn't want the other employees whispering about us.

But when I opened the bag, my heart skipped a beat.

Inside was a box of donuts and a strawberry milkshake—my absolute favorite comfort foods whenever I was feeling down. It was my ultimate stress reliever.

My chest tightened with a sudden wave of anxiety. Did he somehow know? Did he find out what happened to me?

I hurriedly pulled my phone from my bag and snapped a photo of the food. I wanted to thank him, but a small part of me wondered if this was actually meant for me. Maybe he had ordered it for himself and wanted me to bring it to his office? But Sutehan didn't even like sweets. Neither did I, usually—unless I was incredibly stressed or upset. I always believed that sugar helped clear my head when my world was falling apart.

Thank you so much, Sutehan! I really appreciate it. Are you sure this is for me? I texted, attaching the photo.

He viewed the message instantly. I watched the screen, my heart fluttering nervously as the typing bubble appeared.

You're welcome, darling. ^^ I know you need it right now.

I sank back into my chair, spinning slowly to ease the sudden, unexplained flutter in my chest. I hated accepting gifts or kindness from people. It was a lingering habit from a childhood trauma—always believing that every good deed came with a hidden price.

Do you want to eat this with me? There's plenty here, I sent, biting my lip. It was a nervous habit I couldn't seem to shake.

As much as I'd love to, I have some urgent matters to take care of outside the office today. Eat up. Eat all of it so you can clear your mind, he replied.

My breath caught. Why did it feel like he knew exactly what I was going through?

I reacted to his message with a heart, then locked my phone and set it aside. Smiling softly, I pulled the strawberry milkshake closer.

Is it really okay for me to keep relying on his kindness?