I'm The Ex-Girlfriend of a Soldier Chapter 2

Translator: Shiko

Proofreader: Asu

Chapter 2

“…Oh, um. Hi, Syukr?”

Even if I try to listen to him, it’s awkward, but what else can I do? Even though it’s awkward, I can’t help but look up at Syukr’s face. I just can’t get it out of my mind. You can’t spit on a smile, so that’s what I’ll do. I’ll smile.

“…What did Mrs. Becca just say? Another man?”

I was going to say goodbye and run away. Did he hear all that? It’s too late to run away quietly now.

“That’s… Syukr, you don’t need to know.”

“I don’t care if you’re meeting another man…”

“You must be mistaken about something, Syukr, we’ve already broken up. So don’t butt into my business and just go on your way. Because no matter what you say, it won’t change my mind.”

There’s no one else… but I don’t need to tell my ex-boyfriend anything. All I have to do is walk away. I tried to look at Syukr with my arms firmly crossed.

“I’ll do better! Okay? Meize, please. Don’t be so cruel. You’re the only one I’ve got.”

(PR/N, the only one? Hah NAH)

(T/N: thE oNLY oNe my as-)

Syukr’s shoulders drooped helplessly.

It was a shock for him. No matter what Shukr had ever said or done, when his first love – who’d kindly been by his side for everything – sends a notice of separation and draws a line on their relationship like a knife, it felt as if the sky had dropped for Syukr.

But what can I do? Syukr, I already know what kind of person you are.

“Lies. Syukr, it’s not just me.”

Syukr, a warrior who can’t refuse others’ favors, sounded like a very righteous character, but in reality, his traits weren’t a good thing.

“Huh?”

“Syukr, I know you still meet Hailey in the woods.”

“Meize, that’s…..!”

Seeing the pale-faced Syukr, I put on an expressionless face. According to the original story, Syukr will be associated with a total of three women, including his official girlfriend, Meize. That is, before the kingdom’s knight, Dan comes to visit.

Hailey came next. She was the grandchild of the chief who initially looked down on Syukr. Next is the princess, Marigold, who snuck out of the castle. I don’t know why a princess went into a rural village without any gold, however, it’s something you can probably find in a third-rate nove. Anyways, to begin with, the whole novel was set in a village that wasn’t very spectacular.

How would adding a princess to a village with a powerful warrior and saintess make a difference? Well, it’s kind of like this.

“Yes, you’re not at fault. You just went to the forest to pick berries and rescued Hailey from the trap. Later, Hailey thanked you by packing your lunch box. And kissing you on the cheek.”

“Meize, it’s not like that! It’s just Hailey’s way of…!”

“Yes, Hailey would have done anything. But Syukr, you know what? You should have been angry then. Back then, you were dating me. Even if you hadn’t thought of me, you shouldn’t have stayed still. But you did.”

Syukr liked Meize, but didn’t refuse Hailey. He was so indecisive that he brought along women who liked him to save Meize when she was kidnapped by the demon king at the end of the novel.

“Even after that, you’ve been seeing Hailey. You’ve never turned down Hailey, and you’ve been sneaking around my back.”

“If it’s Hailey, I’ll clean it up! I really can’t be without you. I’ll do anything……….!”

“It’s not just Hailey.”

I took a step back to avoid Syukr, who was holding onto my wrist.

“Haven’t you recently met a pretty girl with silver hair?”

Syukr had only modestly heard the portrayal, considering that he didn’t know that she was a princess yet, but there was embarrassment on his face. He didn’t actually say it, but he was asking how I knew. I shook my head as if I knew it all, and went on.

“It’s not just meeting, you’re splitting hairs.”

It’s a couple of thing. Of course, it was good evidence to suspect a lover’s infidelity if they continue to split hairs[1] and it is certainly possible with this protagonist considering the end of the novel.

“No, Meize! I know what you’re thinking, but I swear it’s not like that! I’ll explain everything to you, so…”

“That’s good. I don’t want to hear any excuses.”

I lifted my hand and stopped Syukr. In fact, I knew better that Syukr and Marigold had no romantic relations. Marigold will like Shukr along with me, but not yet. The act of sharing hair between Shukr and Marigold was more of a kind of commitment, not a sign of love. 

When Syukr accidentally picked up the missing items, the two of them became close friends, and when Marigold came across the fact that Shukr’s father was Bill Helm, the best prosecutor in the kingdom, she cut her hair to give him a chance to become a knight of the kingdom. 

“We’ve already split up, so what good is this? Isn’t that right, Syukr?”

“Y-You’re saying this because you still like me… ..? Right? You’re jealous of another woman. Because I have a heart.”

Syukr’s voice almost sounded like crying. I thought it was a little sad, but I didn’t reach out to him for once. It was time for me to be realistic.

“No, this is not jealousy.

I answered firmly without hesitation. 

“I’m just tired.”

If I had to be honest, I loved Syukr. And even now, I still held some favouritism towards Syukr. He was the greatest comfort to me as a stranger, alone in the world. There were definitely happy and enjoyable times with Syukr. So at first, I wanted to be the Meize of the original. 

I’d even felt guilty for stealing the original Meize from Syukr, and most of all, I’d really liked him back then. I also dreamed of a future with Syukr. But as time went by, I realized the truth. I’ll never be the original Meize.

I wasn’t an open-minded person like her who could sit back and wait for Syurk to rescue her time and time again. I couldn’t overlook other women who liked him like she did for fear of becoming a victim of another crime… or even for fear of being hated by him.

“That’s ridiculous. How can you change your mind so easily? We were happy. It was all good.”

“At first it was.”

“At first it was? Then, what about now? Are you saying it’s not now?”

“Yes, I was very happy back then. I thought- I thought it would stay the same. But, it didn’t.”

There was a time when I tried to fix Syukr. Syukr is a good and nice person, so I once believed he would give back his heart for his beloved Meize… But my efforts had not changed him in the very least. 

Men cannot rewrite their personalities.

That fact was obvious.

“What?”

“You say love, but I don’t believe your heart. Seriously, I don’t love you anymore, Syukr. And I can never be happy with you.”

I didn’t want much from Syukr. I didn’t want any good looks, power, or the title of the ‘strongest warrior of all time’. I just wanted him to love me. That was the only way I could accept the fact that I have to live in a different world now. 

I was separated from my family, friends and the 25 mundane years of life that had been spent by Yoon Soo-ah. She had not realized their value and preciousness until she stepped foot in this world and lost them forever.

I needed someone to fill up my empty chest that had lost something unexchangeable. But Syukr was not that person. He was always a man who spoke only words of love. It was as if the rope marks from the abduction were still on my wrist, but I hadn’t noticed them until now. 

“Syukr, you’re going to become really great. More people will love you and be with you than right now. But I don’t want to be one of those people.”

As long as this world continues to follow the storyline of the novel, and as long as the set story continues, you will continue to do the same thing. You’ll hang out with another woman with the excuse that you’re simply a good person who can’t refuse them. The benevolent Meize will forgive you for anything and everything.

“Meize.”

But I’m not the real Meize.

I don’t want to live like her.

“I want to meet someone who loves only me. So, please…”

I took a deep breath to forget my past memories. 

But the faces of my original family members, my friends, were not easily erased. And so, somehow, they choked me up and my eyes swelled.

That’s why.

When I gave up my usual external smile and laughed with a tired face, I actually wanted to cry. 

“Let’s break up.”

With a smile or tears on my face, I said goodbye to Syukr that day, without knowing what kind of backlash it might come to. 

“So you really broke up with Syukr? Like never ever meet again or what?”

“Mm. I’m not seeing Syukr anymore.”

In reply, he wrote the document with ink on his pen. I had to earn money when I could, even though I had a stiff wrist because I was being overworked. Now that my relationship with Syukr is over, I can move on with my life.

If there was anything I wanted to do, I needed to have enough money to do it. 

“Syukr? You’re all set? Syukr always came and went from your house like a dog that needed something. There’s a lot of rumors going on.”

“…that’s what Mrs. Becca told you?”

“Of course. All the local gossip comes from Mrs. Becca.”

I sighed deeply, recalling Mrs. Becca, who tried to arrange the meeting over and over again despite my polite refusal. I’m sure Mrs. Becca will continue to spread rumors about me and Syukr. Until I meet the man she mentioned. And, just in case, I’ll avoid seeing other men.

[1] Splitting hairs means to focus on trivial or petty details, or in my dictionary, making excuses

T/N: Imma be honest, this is like the 50th time i’ve read this chapter and i still feel for meize, the poor girl i just–

Chapter end