The stumble was but momentary, Ho Jin firmly grasped Seo Hee’s arm.

Of course, Seo Hee could have shaken him off, but Ho Jin’s eyes were too pitiful.

Like a puppy shivering in the rain outside, perhaps?

Tears barely held back by his long eyelashes seemed like they would pour down at the slightest touch.

“Ha. Prosecutor Ho Jin, first, let go of this….”
As Seo Hee tried to slowly pull her arm away, Ho Jin nestled into her chest.

The small, soft touch was transmitted, and a deep sigh from Seo Hee spilled towards the ceiling.

“Alright. Hold it in. Hold it! One should feel sorry for someone who is crying and wailing.”
Seo Hee, who was muttering to herself, lowered her head.

Then she gently looked at Ho Jin who was clinging onto her waist as if hanging onto it.

‘Compassion, yes, it’s because of that universal compassion that everyone possesses.’
Seo Hee thought of an idiomatic phrase and slowly raised her hand.

Pat, pat.

There was no sound in her small living room.

Just the sound of comforting warmth from the cold man’s touch.

Seo Hee, who had been standing for quite a while, lowered her arm and asked.

“Do you feel a bit better now?”
At that, Ho Jin pulled Seo Hee closer and shook his head.

“More.”
More, here?

“You probably don’t feel well. Stop washing up and go to bed.”
Seo Hee coaxed Ho Jin in the most affectionate voice she could muster.

But Ho Jin shook his head again.

“I have to go home too. I can’t stay here forever.”
“…. Can’t you just stay a little longer?”
If it was the usual Seo Hee, she would have scolded him for such nonsense, but for now, she comforted his back a couple more times and spoke.

“We’re not in a relationship where we comfort each other….”
She paused the words she was about to say.

Why on earth isn’t Seo Yeon coming.

Is it because I said I’d take her home?

Ah, it’s difficult. I can’t leave someone who’s crying because they’re tired. What to do?

What broke Seo Hee’s thoughts was a small tremble.

Ho Jin’s tender shoulders were shaking so minutely, Seo Hee thought she had to stay with him until he calmed down.

“I’ll stay one more hour. If you have anything you want to say, say it all.”
It was a decision that felt necessary for some reason.

Where had the spirited liveliness that galloped like a wild horse and cracked unexpected jokes gone, the pitiful sight of him wilted like a sick plant was heartbreaking.

Ho Jin also seemed to find her proposal not bad, and he slowly nodded his head.

“Is it so hard?”
Before they knew it, the two were sitting side by side on the sofa.

“Sigh. All Su Hee knows about me are my name and occupation.”
Ho Jin leaned back on the couch, covering his eyes with his hand.

“After all, we’re not going to meet again. So… just talk freely.”
Su Hee gently looked at Ho Jin, waiting for what he would say next.

“It’s like a terrible disease. It ruins me… Even though I don’t have to be so passionate about everything. But I always try to do my best.”
His deeply sunken voice echoed in Su Hee’s ears.

Ho Jin, with either drunkenness or sincerity, began to talk about his family.

Living in the shadow of his older brother, who was known as a prodigy, he said he felt as if he was suffering from a dreadful attention disorder.

“I thought I should become a prosecutor like my brother. My parents were very proud of him.”
Ho Jin said that he studied to death to become a prosecutor and make his parents proud.

Then, he bitterly laughed, saying that he was again tagged as someone’s younger brother.

Suddenly, with the heavy topic at hand, Su Hee felt at a loss for words.

“All I did was try harder than others.”
Moisture seeped through the fingers that covered Ho Jin’s eyes.

“I just wanted to be called a competent prosecutor rather than someone’s younger brother. So I tried even harder… that’s all.”
Whenever he received criticism for doing things by the book, he said he wanted to throw everything away.

He also mentioned how hard it is to wonder when he will be evaluated for himself, if such a day will ever come.

Su Hee looked at Ho Jin’s crumpled chin as he tried his utmost to hold back tears.

She wanted to tell him that it’s okay even if all she knew about him was his name and occupation.

‘Can I? Sigh. What comfort can I give….’
While considering what to say, Su Hee began to share the injustices she had experienced when she was the youngest.

Of course, it was a past she didn’t want to think about, but she spoke in hopes of improving his mood.

‘What am I doing, revealing my troubles.’
Feeling embarrassed, Su Hee washed her face and laughed quietly.

“So, try to hold on a little bit. You never know. You might get to a higher position than your brother.”
Su Hee consoled Ho Jin by saying that no one knows what the world will bring.

“If you really can’t bear it, contact me. I’ll find a place for you.”
He was cool but warm, indifferent but affectionate, and had a knack for managing his overflowing emotions.

Ho Jin leaned on his soothing voice that echoed softly in the darkness he created with his hand.