1. "There's still time left on the lease, but I've talked it over with the landlord already."
2. "Apparently, their nephew wants the place, so as long as we can sort out"
1. "If we manage the finances, it should be okay."
2. "The further I am from campus, the easier it'll be to find a studio."
3. "..."
4. "I don't understand..."
1. "I know the apartment is a little old..."
2. "But why would you want to downgrade to a studio?"
3. "I understand you're feeling overwhelmed after everything that happened, but-"
4. "And I'd like to use the rest of the deposit money toward"
1. "Something else."
2. "..."
3. "...?"
4. "...I'm sorry. I know technically it's not my money, but this is really important."
1. "Once I start working, I'll make sure to pay you back."
2. "Huh? Now hold on, doyeon."
3. "I told you before. That deposit money is a gift. You're free to spend it however you'd like."
1. "Did you really think we'd say no? You're going to school on a scholarship and even covering your own living expenses."
2. "It's your choice what you do with that money."
3. "But...if you don't mind, could you explain why?"
1. "Please..."
2. "Doyeon..."
3. "God..."
1. "I don't want you to die."
2. "I don't want you to leave me..."
3. "...jin"
1. "Joo's husband is being prosecuted for fraud."
2. "Once the case moves forward, she'll run into financial trouble."
1. "She might even lose her apartment."
2. "And even if they end up divorcing, I doubt there'll be anything left to split..."
3. "So I want to use the deposit money to help jin joo become more independent."
1. "I know I'm asking for a lot, but please..."
2. "...I racked my brain, and this was the only option I could find."
3. "...I'm sorry."
4. "..."
1. He's looking at me like he wants to ask, "Why go so far for her?"
2. But I'm sure he knew the moment he saw us at the hospital. Normal neighbors don't act the way we did.
3. We're not normal neighbors.
1. So how much of the truth should I really tell him?
2. I can handle the contempt. That's nothing.
3. But if telling the truth keeps me from getting the money...
1. "Then..."
2. "Then..."
3. "...why don't you just live together?"
1. "Won't that fix things?"
1. "?"
1. "When you're with someone, reasons start"
1. Piling up...reasons you can't leave.
2. Like how people stay at jobs even when their boss is awful...
3. ...or how you stay in a friend group even when you can't stand someone in it.
4. You don't really have a choice. You can't even say you're unhappy.
1. "I don't want that anymore."
2. "Pretending nothing's changed..."
3. "Pretending I still love her..."
1. "I just want to be free."
1. "Free from her."
2. To be continued
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