My girlfriend was stolen by some golden boy named Kim Tae-yang. His name, meaning "sun" in Korean, was so ridiculously on-the-nose that I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh when I found out. To get my revenge, I started digging through his social media to find a way to steal his girlfriend.
Tracking down his name wasn't hard. The video—the one that had shattered my world—came straight from Kim Tae-yang himself. And finding his girlfriend? That was even easier.
"[A snapshot with my darling]," he'd posted, the word "darling" sounding absurdly out of place for a guy like him.
The post was a carousel of photos featuring him and a woman. I hate to admit it, but she was stunning—cat-like eyes, a sharp, almost aloof vibe, and an allure that could stop traffic. Was there really a need for him to cheat with my ex-girlfriend when he had someone like her? She was an influencer, judging by her follower count, and her social media was a curated gallery of her beauty.
But one photo made me freeze mid-scroll.
"This is…"
To anyone else, it was just another well-composed shot, but to me, it was unmistakable. The gym in the background—the layout of the equipment, the lighting, the mirror she was posing in front of, even the subtle texture of the floor—brought back memories. It was the same gym I'd dragged myself to for six months straight after paying for a year-long membership, chasing some half-hearted New Year's resolution to get fit. I'd stuck it out only because I'd already shelled out the cash.
All gyms look similar, sure, but the details screamed familiarity. This was my gym.
"It's like the heavens are handing me this on a silver platter," I muttered.
I glanced at the quest window hovering in my vision again:
[Steal the girlfriend of the blonde-tanned man in the video.]
[Reward: Acquire Quest Board]
The words felt like fate itself was egging me on, practically begging me to take my revenge. I clenched my fist, a quiet resolve settling in.
"You're gonna get a taste of your own medicine, Kim Tae-yang."
"Ha… what's even happening right now?"
I didn't waste any time. I headed straight to the gym to confirm my suspicions, and there she was—Hanna, Kim Tae-yang's girlfriend. I hadn't expected to spot her the moment I walked in, but there she stood by the entrance, scrolling through her phone with a bored, nonchalant expression.
I didn't hesitate. "Hey, I've got something to show you."
Hanna's eyes flicked up, and she gave me a quick once-over, her brow furrowing. "What is it?"
"It's… not something I can show you here."
She rolled her eyes, waving a hand like she was swatting away a pest. "Yeah, no thanks. I'm not interested."
But then I dropped the name. "Do you know Kim Tae-yang?"
"Tae-yang…?" Her expression shifted, a mix of confusion and unease flashing across her face. Why was some random guy bringing up her boyfriend's name? She sighed heavily, her guard still up. "Look, I don't know what he did to you before, but Tae-yang's changed. He's not that guy anymore."
Changed, huh? It sounded like Kim Tae-yang had a history—a long list of people he'd screwed over, judging by the way she jumped to his defense. But it was clear she had no idea what he was still up to behind her back. He must've been good at keeping his sleaze hidden from her.
I leaned in, voice firm. "The past?"
Her eyes wavered, uncertainty creeping in. "What… what are you gonna show me?"
"I got a message," I said, holding out my phone. I didn't play the video—not in the middle of the gym. I wasn't stupid. Instead, I showed her the message window, the one with Kim Tae-yang's name attached to the video file. That alone was enough to hook her.
Hanna's breath hitched as she grabbed my phone with both hands, staring at the screen. I knew that look—the same mix of dread and curiosity that had gripped me when I first got the message. Part of you wants to know, and part of you knows you shouldn't.
"You said it's a video that can't be seen here?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
"Yeah."
She exhaled sharply. "Fine. Where are we watching it?"
"My place is close."
Her eyes narrowed. "What? Why would I—"
"It's not the kind of video I can just show anywhere."
She groaned, muttering, "Kim Tae-yang, what the hell kind of video is this…?" But the curiosity was stronger than her hesitation. After a moment, she gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. But this better not be some weird scam."
We didn't talk on the way to my place. There was nothing to say, and honestly, I didn't want to ease her tension. The more her anxiety festered, the better it'd work in my favor. Silence was my ally.
When we reached my apartment and I opened the door, I realized it'd been a while since my ex had been here. Looking back, there were so many red flags I'd ignored—little hints of her betrayal that I only noticed now, after I'd decided to become the one who takes.
Hanna stepped inside and noticed the traces of my ex—small things I hadn't gotten around to throwing out. A faint sigh of relief escaped her. "You have a girlfriend," she said, almost to herself. "I see."
"Had," I corrected.
"Had?" She raised an eyebrow but didn't press further, mumbling something under her breath. It clicked then—she probably felt safer thinking I was taken, assuming a guy with a girlfriend wouldn't try anything shady. The irony was almost laughable, considering what her own boyfriend was up to.
I offered her coffee. "Want some?"
"I'm good," she said, but I ignored her, heading to the kitchen. "I'm making some for myself anyway."
"…Fine, whatever."
While the water boiled, her eyes kept darting to my phone on the table. She was practically vibrating with curiosity about the video. I took my time, deliberately dragging it out. The longer she stewed, the bigger the shock would hit when she saw the truth. And that shock? It'd cloud her judgment, make her reckless. She'd already followed a stranger to his apartment just to see this video—proof she wasn't thinking straight.
I sat down next to her on the sofa, setting the coffee cups down. She flinched. "You're too close."
"Haha, it's a small sofa—"
"Yeah, well, you can scoot over." She shoved at me lightly, her palm pressing against my arm. She worked out daily, but her push didn't budge me. She shot me a quick glare before looking away, clearly not wanting to waste time bickering.
"So, where's the video?" she demanded.
"Right here." I pulled up the message from Kim Tae-yang and tapped the video file. The screen lit up with the image of my ex, completely bare, her body glistening as she moved.
Hanna gasped, jumping to her feet. "What the hell are you showing me?!" She scrambled to grab her things, her hands trembling. "You freaking pervert, I'm reporting you!"
On the screen, my ex's voice purred, laced with a seductive moan. "[Is it filming well…? Sunghan, are you watching?]"
I'd watched the video enough times to know it by heart, but it still made my stomach twist. Hanna, thinking I was some creep getting off on this, cursed me out as she shoved her shoes on. "Stop watching it! Are you seriously this messed up?"
I didn't bother correcting her. I didn't need to. The next voice would stop her in her tracks.
"[I'm making a pretty face to look good to your boyfriend.]"
Hanna froze. "…Tae-yang?"
The familiar voice—her boyfriend's voice—hit her like a brick.