Chapter 2 - Finally Courageous

"T-Then, did you like me even once in the past two years? Why did you even ask me out in the first place?" Kim Su Won's voice shook as the happy memories of the past two years flowed in front of her, like a reel of her life. They all seemed blur at this point of time. Her tears would not stop. She looked at the guy with some expectation in her eyes.

There were so many tender moments in her memories, that holding the hands shyly for the first time, that first kiss, her blushing hard every time he flirted with her.

"Hmph! It was just a dare from another colleague. To tame the girl in the office whose IQ and EQ both seemed to be quite high. But look at you, it was all an illusion, wasn't it? You just acted cold and professional in front of everyone. In personal life, you are just a mess," the guy replied, an arrogant look on his face. He was smirking as if he had won a battle over her. What was this, a competition of breaking apart one's soul?

So, it was a dare, huh? So, she just wasted two years of her youth and time on a guy who did not even like her, let alone love her. This was the moment, when for once she thought that her mother was right. She should not have ever tried for a relationship. Not to mention how messed up in her head she was because of her childhood, she should not have wasted her time and perhaps worked on getting a better job. She put up with so much just to hide her relationship from her strict mother and at this job just to be closer to him.

He was correct in every sense. She had taken up a job that was not in her own field, not that she had studied hard enough for her own field. She had no idea what she really wanted to do in the future. Wasn't it all because she was busy trying her best for this relationship? If she had studied, she would have been studying abroad somewhere just like all her friends.

"Give me back…," she said, her face forming dark lines over it. Her face was not visible right now since she had lowered her head down once she had heard his reply. The guy had thought she was going to scream at him once again but there was this dark energy coming from the girl before him. He had never thought, the person who had never, even once, yelled at him or been mad at him, would have this menacing aura about her. She was always so sweet, so cooperative.

"What!?" he still yelled, to show his dominance. But his heart was trembling, there was this fear creeping in.

"I said give me back my time that I wasted on you. I could have achieved so much if I had used that time on self-improvement. I might have been fluent in one or two languages and be able to read my web novels in the native languages. I let go of all that time because dating is apparently an important part of life. But here I am, going through this pain of heartbreak for nothing in return. Compensate me for the time I lost," a switch had gone off in Kim Su Won's mind.

She was not strong in any sense but having read so many web novels, she had perfected the art of channeling different strong characters. Right now, she was pretending to be one of the main female leads in the recent novel she had finished. She could not stop sobbing but at least she could talk rationally. Or so she thought.

Who could reverse the time? It was just the ridiculous tropes in the novels she read. The reality was completely different, wasn't it? Why could she not go back into the past just like her favorite characters in transmigration and reincarnation novels and reject this guy and even take revenge?

She laughed at the absurd thoughts she was having right now. The guy in front of her found it creepy and just fled. This woman was crazy!

Why was he even in a relationship with her? That one dare had become a baggage of two years for him! Thankfully, this gullible girl did not suspect him at all and he was able to put wool over her eyes and even cheat with other girls. Otherwise, his own youth would have been wasted. And now she wanted her time back? It was him who should have asked for compensation! He turned around one last time, those eyes, they were of a mad woman. He was never going for a quiet nerd ever again in his life!!

Finally, Kim Su Won somehow arrived at her rented room in the small paying guest home, completely drained of energy. Her roommate was still out. She messaged her roommate that she was going to borrow a few bottles of beers from the fridge that was exclusive to the other girl and celebrate the good riddance.

Even after everything that had happened, she knew she should not be drinking alone at the bar, especially in the vulnerable state she was in. There were too many people waiting to take advantage of a weak woman. But now that she was at home, she could do whatever she wanted.

Kim Su Won felt like crap right now, she was a complete mess. Her barely noticeable eyeliner had smudged because of her tears, her hair was more disheveled. She wanted to beat someone, break a few things and somehow release the pent up anger.

She opened one bottle and then another and then another. On the side, she opened her laptop and started reading the latest chapter of the web novel she was currently interested in. The author had almost finished this book and the crazy reader she was, she did not find anything else to release her emotions.

"Ah! Life is so cruel and unfair. At least you are having your moment, Emmeline Whittemore!" she cheered on for the female lead and gulped down another bottle. She never drank, she had not touched alcohol before in her life. And suddenly, she was chugging a few bottles down.

While she was reading the novel, she was reminded of the embarrassing brawl with her ex. "Ahahaha, he said I was ugly. Just because I did not put on make-up like other girls. Was I in love with such a superficial person? I can't believe it," she mockingly guffawed at herself. Running her fingers through her disheveled hair, she gulped another few sips from the bottle. With all this, there was not a moment when her tears stopped or she did not feel self despicable. She loathed herself and her upbringing, she hated her parents for what they had converted her to. Why could she not have the lovely parent that the jerk of her ex had? They were such a lovely couple and she always enjoyed their chilled and cheery company. On the other hand, she was just so ashamed and fearful to introduce the guy to her own parents.

The fifth bottle of the beer felt good! She could forget about her worries and pain and focus on the strong female character in the novel.. That was how she was going to get over this heartbreak. Through the eyes that were blurry, not sure because of the tears or because she was so buzzed, she tried finishing the last chapter but ended up dozing off for the night…