Eleanor always thought her heart belonged to someone else.


    Being with Keh wasfortable, convenient. They both had someone else in mind, and that arrangement seemed to work just fine.


    But people change, especially when they spend every day together.


    Eleanor found herself growing ustomed to Keh''s presence. He was there when she got home from work, ready to hit the grocery store or cook dinner together. At night, they fell asleep in each other''s


    arms.


    This newfound closeness turned what was once an advantage of their rtionship into a thorn in her side. The more she fell for Keh, the more it hurt knowing he was thinking of someone else. Someone named Dorothy.


    Eleanor felt like Keh looked through her, hoping to see a face that wasn''t hers.


    Jealousy turned into anger.


    Lying in his hospital bed, Keh offered a weak smile. "I''ve done a lot of thinking while you were away."


    "Thinking of me?"


    "Sort of," he nodded. "I''ve been thinking... I shouldn''t hold you back anymore."


    "We should break up," Keh said calmly, without the emotional turmoil that Eleanor felt. "You were right during our fight. You said I treated you as a stand-in, and that''s just cruel. You said I shouldn''t be so selfish."


    "Keh, I was just-"


    "Let me finish!" he insisted. "I can''t get over Dorothy, even after all this time, even though she''s happily married now, with a loving husband and healthy kids. I can''t move past it."


    Keh realized that by holding onto Eleanor, he was just wasting her time and youth, with no real benefit to either of them.


    "She''ll never be with you!"


    "I know, I''ve always known."


    Keh wasn''t naive. He knew Dorothy had never really considered him, no matter how hot and cold she seemed with Everett. Her heart was always with someone else.


    Now, with no obstacles in their way, Keh''s chances were even slimmer.


    If only he could convince himself to give up hope.


    "Why keep doing this?" Eleanor stood up, frustration in her voice. "Keh, do you realize what you''re doing? How old are you now?!" Keh gave a bitter smile. "I know."


    "If you don''t settle down, have kids, you might miss your chance forever! Your parents only have you. Don''t you think about them?"


    "... But no matter who I''m with, I can''t


    fullymit. You know this. The next person will too. I don''t want to be a heartbreaker, to be called unfaithful."


    Keh had agreed to be with Eleanor initially, just to put Dorothy at ease.


    Now that she was happy with Everett, he no longer needed to put on a show.


    "No, Keh, I won''t ept a breakup. I want to be with you." "Eleanor, try to calm down."


    "How can I calm down?" Tears streamed down Eleanor''s face. "If you didn''t have any feelings for me why did you chase after me? Your legs, I''m responsible for them. For that alone, I need to take care of you." Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    UMS


    "It''s not necessary. My job doesn''t require legs. I guess... this is it for me."


    Keh had given up on himself.


    Without his love, nothing else mattered.