“He says he won’t go home.”

Upon Kwonyul’s words, Seoyeon’s emotions wavered momentarily.

It had been an extremely exhausting day. Seoyeon couldn’t help but think of Yeonhee, who had wanted comfort from Kwonyul and pleaded for a farewell at the same time.

“I didn’t force Yul to stay. He said he wouldn’t go voluntarily. I’ll coax him to leave, but… What should I do?”

Even if she sent Kwonyul away now, it wouldn’t change how she was perceived. Besides, she wanted to be rewarded for the difficult day with his love.

However, an unknown discomfort swept over Seoyeon.

“Does he have a conscience or not? Yul’s mother cried so much and left. Today is really not the day. I’d rather suggest he come another time.”

It was a chaotic situation to send him home when no one would appreciate it, and Seoyeon wished that his conscience would send him back home.

To send him or not, at the crossroads of decision, Seoyeon wanted to shout “No” to both options. Her emotions, unable to find a clear direction since earlier, were unnecessarily capricious.

At that moment, Kwonyul, who noticed Seoyeon’s strange expression, sat down beside her.

“Why?”

Kwonyul’s large arms enveloped Seoyeon as he pressed his forehead against her small shoulders.

“Yul.”

The man who used to smile and respond whenever Seoyeon called seemed to have disappeared. He hid his face behind Seoyeon’s neck like someone who had sensed something.

“Maybe it’s better to come tomorrow or the day after. What do you think?”

Seoyeon was about to say that she should bring a change of clothes, but her words disappeared into his mouth.

How gently he approached and persistently conquered.

Conscience or whatever. Seoyeon prayed that he wouldn’t stubbornly refuse to go back home.

While Seoyeon was lost in thought for a moment, the shower gown that had enveloped her body warmly fell to the gray floor with a thud.

“Oh, what’s this?” she thought as she lowered her gaze, and suddenly, her body floated.

At the same time, with a loud noise and a splash, strong waves surged in the bathtub.

Despite the still pressed lips exchanging sweet breaths, Kwonyul had no intention of letting Seoyeon go.

Instead, he tightened his embrace, continuing to tickle her tender shoulders with his lips.

“Seoyeon.”

As his hot breath reached her ear, a shiver ran down her spine along her backbone.

“I want to be together today.”

Contrary to the rough breath, his voice was so sincere.

Though she felt like saying ‘me too,’ Seoyeon summoned the last bit of patience.

“Yul, even if it’s late… Ha. It’s probably better to go today.”

“Then… I’ll tuck you in and leave. Tell me it’s okay.”

Even though she begged him so much, she couldn’t bring herself to push him away.

Reluctantly, as Seoyeon nodded, Kwonyul swallowed up her fingertips as if he had been waiting.

As the soft and moist sensation wrapped around each joint of her fingers, a short sigh burst out without any chance to dry.

Worries that had invaded her mind, emotions of frustration and injustice, the unavoidable age difference between them.

On top of that, unnecessary preconceptions that clung like labels shattered into pieces with Kwonyul’s unreserved actions.

“Yul. I can’t… I really can’t…”

The words of difficulty were blocked by his lips, and Seoyeon was so exhausted that she couldn’t even lift her thin eyelids.
Kwonyul’s idea of putting her to sleep might mean something else, as he persisted until the end like a person with no tomorrow.

Seoyeon’s entire body burned like a lit incandescent bulb all day long, blinking and repeating the process of being turned off.

Then, in a moment, her vision blurred, as if the filament had suddenly burst.

As she was being drawn into somewhere indistinct in her dream, a tender voice reached her.

“I’ll come back. Seoyeon.”

His voice, sounding like a lullaby, made her smile happily.

His affectionate touch slid down her hair as if brushing it away, then gently touched her cheek.

“I love you. Sleep well.”

His moist lips stamped a mark on her forehead and gradually moved away.