This is so unbelievable; your mind couldn't wrap itself around what you just witnessed. You know Matt and Dylan met when they were in high school, but they got close when they went to university. It all made sense to you know. How Dylan's parents didn't like his friendship with Matt. That Matt was always one step ahead of you when it concerns Dylan. How Matt seems upset when you were in New York and Dylan had been giving you all the attention. The text messages Dylan kept on reading at the restaurant while Matt was on his phone too. That night when you argued, it's not a mystery to you anymore where he was the whole time.

"Don't get mad at him, it's not his fault. Be mad at me, Y/N." Dylan said softly.

You shake your head slowly as you finally turned to both of them. They at least had the decency to wear a shirt and boxers on.

"Honestly Dylan, I don't know what I am feeling right now. But one thing is for sure because what I just saw sealed this decision." You slide the ring out of your finger. Dylan gasps and steps forward trying to make you wear it back again.

"Please, don't." He pleaded.

You shake your head. "It's what's best because it wouldn't make sense if I am still going to keep it. It was bound to happen anyway." You take Dylan's hand so you can place the ring in there.  A part of your heart felt torn as you did this because you've loved this man before you too. He was able to make you feel happy again after having gone through the lowest point of your life. You were set to call off your engagement earlier but not because of this reason. 

"Both of you are free to do whatever you want to do." You tell them before you left. Matt is getting transferred to New York too. They've planned this all along. You stay in LA, and they'll continue living their secret life away from you. Who's the bigger cheater now? You ask yourself. It didn't really matter, you conclude, both of you cheated. Dylan wins though because he didn't lose the person he wants to be with while you've let go of yours. 

You didn't call anyone when you got home. For once, your twin isn't with you in your distress. She's preoccupied with the things that are happening in her own life, which is totally fine. You lay in bed thinking of Dylan. Earlier, he tried to stop you from leaving his place because he said the two of you needed to talk. You felt that it is not the time to do that yet, so you refused. A lot of things that happened before made sense to you now. Things that you've overlooked or ignored because you thought it was all just normal and nothing out of the ordinary.  

You cried yourself to sleep because what you'd dreaded just happened. You've lost the men you loved. Yes, you are now free, but you can't just walk up to Yoongi and say, "Hey, my engagement is over, so let's get back together again and live happily ever after."  He is in a middle of a world tour, and you've already concluded before that you'd just be weighing him down if you were with him. Besides you feel like you need to reset everything before you start your life over. This was the last thought in your mind before you fell asleep.

******************************************

You told your sister and Aunt Beth about what happened between you and Dylan. You didn't hold back anything, as you also mentioned what you've witnessed in Dylan's bedroom. They will find out sooner or later when Matt and Dylan come out in the open.   

"I was never a fan of his, but wow, that was totally unexpected. Now it makes sense why he wants you to be a certain way. It's hard to explain but if we've read between the lines, we'd be finding out about it." Kylee said as she strokes your hair. She feels bad for you, for two consecutive weeks you've gone through so much. 

A week later, you face Dylan. He openly cried for the first time since you've met him. He said how sorry he was, and you felt bad for him. He had trapped his real self for so long because he wanted to fight what he was feeling. He said he thought that everything has gone normal when he met you and really fell in love with you. But Matt worked in the same company as him and the inevitable just happened. He proposed to you because he thought it'll make things better for him, but it didn't. He didn't want to leave you, so he decided to live a double-standard kind of life. With Matt in New York, and you in LA. He said he thought he'd come up with a clear decision in time. You can relate to him in that aspect, and you feel sick in your stomach because, in a way, both of you were using each other. Despite all this, you can't make yourself to stay mad with Dylan. He promised you that he'll be there when you need him, and you can be friends. You don't hold a grudge against him because you were not the perfect girlfriend in the end either.

***********************************************

There's a saying that when it rains, it pours and that is when you and Kylee had to face another storm in your life. You and your sister were having dinner at home when you get a phone call from your grandmother. Since she's calling from your group chat, you answer the call and Kylee sits next to you. It still amazes both of you how she can keep up with technology at her age. She once told you that she is attending a class with ladies her age about being up to date with the modern world.

Both of you were about to greet her cheerfully but you stopped when you saw your grandmother crying. 

Forty-eight hours later, you and your sister were hugging your grandmother. It's been so long since you've last seen her and yet she looks not a day older. All of you were in tears over this sad reunion.

"How is he?" You ask her.

"Not getting any better. He is going in and out of consciousness. Whenever he wakes up, he is asking for the two of you." Your grandmother said. "Parents are not supposed to outlive their children, it is not right." She sobs.

"Grandma, Dad will make it. He is strong." Kylee said as she tries to comfort her.

Your grandmother shakes her head. "Last night, he was calling out your mother's name. He said she is waiting for him. Good thing Eun-Sil wasn't there. She's not very happy that he is always asking for the two of you."

You and your twin exchanged looks and you try to draw strength from each other. You've checked in a hotel close to the hospital since both of you didn't want to be with your stepmother at this time. 

Your dad had a severe stroke he collapsed at work, hitting his head during the process. The doctors had to deal with a blood clot in his brain along with his failing heart. It didn't look like he is getting any better. 

Aunt Eun-Sil turns to you and your twin as you entered the room. She didn't look very happy to see you, but she didn't say a word because your dad was awake. He starts crying.

"Alone, please." He tells Aunt Eun-sil and your grandmother. The two of them left quietly.

Kylee starts to sob as your dad grabs each of your hands.

"Sorry." He says. He is having a hard time talking, and his speech is barely understandable. The single word he uttered spoke a lot to you and your sister. Just like that, your past hurt didn't matter anymore. You've let go of your anger too.

"Dad, it's ok. We understand now that we're older. We are not mad over the things you have done any more. It doesn't matter because what's important now is that you have to get stronger." You tell him as you gently squeezed his hand.

He shakes his head. "Your mom's waiting. Finally, together soon." He swallows hard and said. "Remember dad loves you, my beautiful daughters." You and your sister break down. You remember the good times you had when you were little. He always tells you that line whenever he tucks you and your sister to bed. You and Kylee would giggle, and your mom would scold him gently because that wakes both of you instead of making you sleep. You have so much to tell him but what matters the most is that he heard you tell him that you have forgiven him as you also said sorry for what you've said to him before.

That night, he had a cardiac arrest while sleeping. You were all there when it happened, but you and your sister had to take your grandmother out of the room as the doctors tried to revive him. She didn't have to witness that. 

You were all crying in the lobby when you see Elin with her parents come in. You run towards her, and you give her a hug. You may have talked on the phone but seeing her again is different especially during this time. Minutes later, the doctor comes out to announce the sad news, your dad had passed away. 

Time goes on like a blur to you. Preparations for your dad's wake were arranged. You hate attending funerals and wakes because it reminds you of your mom's passing. But you can't skip this one. You had to learn the custom that is being followed in Korea for times like this. You and your sister receive visitors whenever Aunt Eun-Sil is resting. It was hard on her too because she lost her husband. For once, you and your sister tried to tolerate her. You even attempted to talk with her when you ran into her in the room where family members get to rest during the wake.

She looked at you with contempt when you entered the room, and you sat down across from her to ask the question you should've asked years ago. 

"What did we ever do to you that you hate us so much?"

She scoffs and shakes her head. You thought you'd never her reply but she did answer you. 

"I don't hate you or your sister. I don't like seeing your faces because I see your mother in the two of you. Seeing one is too much as it is but two is heaven's punishment." She replies scornfully. She then starts to tell you more. 

"Your mother stole your father away from me. He loved me first. We were in a relationship when he got accepted to become a student apprentice in America. He left promising me that he'll be back as soon as his assignment is over, but when he came back, he tells me that he is breaking up with me. He was offered a job in the company he was in, and he took it because he met your mother. Your mother who had your eyes. I saw her picture in his wallet." 

She sniffs. "She had him bewitched and he can't leave her side. I was left here and had to marry someone my parents wanted for me. I lived a loveless relationship, and my only consolation was when I got pregnant. But I got deprived of that too because I lost my child and can't have any more after that. I learned that your father had twins and I hated your mother even more. But, the heavens took pity on me when I was given a chance to be with your father again. I don't want you or your sister around me because it's like seeing the woman who's hurt me, every single day. Your father listened to me for once. He wanted to make it up for everything I had to go through because of him. But in his last moments, it's your mother's name he calls and you and your sister he wants to see. I have to accept what happened, those are his last words for me, and he is sorry. I love your father so much. I will honor to his words." She starts to cry.

Aunt Eun-Sil looks at you and she shakes her head. "It's not easy. After your father's funeral, I will go back to my hometown. I will try to live the rest of my life forgetting the hate I felt for your mother. I hope you and your sister will live a good life."

You look back at her in disbelief. You never expected her to say those words to you. Just as you can't believe what happened between her and your parents in the past. In a way, you can see why she never liked to have you and your sister around. You've only heard one side of the story before and that was from Aunt Beth. 

You never thought you'd say this in your life, but you almost feel sorry for Aunt Eun-Sil, she had gone through so much. 

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This chapter is dedicated to the friends I've lost especially to my beloved brother who I miss every single day. He encouraged me to keep on writing which is why I had the courage to publish my first book on Wattpad, My Sweet Interlude.