Toxic

Sook-Jo should have listened to her brother when he said Gong-Gi was a red flag. It was easy to see the danger from the outside. Gong-Gi reminded her so much of her ex-husband with the cockiness. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't eliminate the attraction. In video games, they played as one. The intimacy was there. The good times were great, but the arguments caused broken plates.

First, she detested Gong-Gi, with his demands and arragance. The anger would never last. She would always miss his voice, his hugs and everything after that. Friends noticed the spark between them. Sook-Jo treasured the diamond ring he bestowed her, but not anymore.

He said she had been angry for no reason. Who did he think she telling him what to do in her own apartment. As a divorcee, she should feel free, not trapped by one of her friends with benefits.

Her stomach churned as she dailed his number. Had she lost him as a friend?

"Hello?" Gong-Gi snapped.

"I know you don't want to talk to me right now..." Sook-Jo's voice trembled. "It's about the ring you gave me."

"I don't care!" He hung up.

Sook-Jo looked at the ring and wondered how much it would fetch. Worth a billion South Korean won at least. It would compensate what had been stolen from her. Gong-Gi never paid her back when he promised, that was theft as far as she was concerned.

A knock on the door disturbed Sook-Jo's sleep. Who could it be at this time at night. Could it be Gong-Gi with an axe ready to strike? Is it one of his henchmen doing the job he's too chicken to do himself? Or could it be the deliveryman with a takeaway Gong-Gi ordered?

Against all rational thoughts, Sook-Jo opened the door.

Gong-Gi was there, but with no axe or henchmen.

"Hello," Sook-Jo's voice trembled. She took a step back, expecting Gong-Gi's fist to land on her cheek.

"Hey, can I come in?" He asked as he strolled in like the whole argument never happened. As soon as he entered the hallway his tone changed. "I'm not like your ex-husband!" Gong-gi roared, stomping his feet around the bridge. "Why are you going around telling everyone I'm abusive? That's a lie and you know it! You need to tell your brother the truth!" But there was no lie. Sook-Jo did feel abused. He came into her apartment as if he owned the place. "And I don't want you selling my ring. That was a gift!"

"I thought you didn't care." Sook-Jo folded her arms. She was used to be being treated like dirt by people around her.

"Of course I care. I said it in the spur of the moment. And why are you talking to Elaine Jinx?"

"She's a friend."

"Well don't trust her. She's evil. She has spent her whole journalism career trying to destroy me. It didn't work because I am CLEAN!"

"Then why are you scared?"

"I'm not scared, but dumb people will believe anything they read. Now the whole world thinks I've got gonnoreah."

"You don't have it?"

"Of course I don't, you knob!"

"You're very colourful with your language."

"So have you recovered from your psychothic episode?"

"Have you grown up yet?"

"This is why we get on so well, we're hot hot headed." He hugged her. "Come on, let's play some games and go to bed."

"You can't stay here," Sook-Jo said. "Everytime you stay over, something bad happens." She remembered last week when he left her on the bedroom crying because she wanted to go somewhere, but she couldn't because Gong-Gi wouldn't get out of her bed.

"I missed you. And I know you missed me too."

For now, Sook-Jo would enjoy the good times. Before the control attempts would get too much again and would flip. Thus the cycle will continue.