Seo Yeon was stumped at the mention of private lessons.

Luckily, she remembered that Su Hee had introduced him as a freelancer.

“So you’re a college student with a lot of time left until graduation, just discharged from the military, not a freelancer but a private tutor. Is there anything else I don’t know?”

“….No. I recently quit tutoring and am preparing for exams.”

Kwon Yool laid everything out openly.

He was unsure how to react to the change in Seo Yeon’s expression caused by his own words.

He couldn’t even guess how confused she must be right now.

But he knew he had to make an effort.

“Seo Yeon.”

His earnest voice grabbed her attention.

However, Seo Yeon was lost in thought and didn’t respond.

“I’ve never been insincere.”

“Is it okay to deceive me as long as you’re sincere?”

“……”

“Is that it, Yool?”

Seo Yeon’s wavering heart tilted towards one of the two choices.

“How are you different from my ex-boyfriend who deceived me, or the employee who stole designs?”

Kwon Yool wanted to say that he was different from those people.

But the fact that he had deceived her was undeniable.

“Seo Yeon, I’m really sorry.”

“It’s all the same anyway. I was fooled again.”

“I thought you’d understand if you knew my sincerity.”

“Understand? How can I understand in this situation?”

Seo Yeon recalled the times when she tried to understand him despite her unease.

But a corner of her heart was already filled with distrust towards Kwon Yool.

“I will doubt what else you’re hiding, Yool.”

It was natural for Seo Yeon to not trust him.

Even he would’ve felt the same way.

Kwon Yool belatedly realized he had hurt Seo Yeon in his newfound excitement.

Looking back, his desire to get closer to Seo Yeon had led to his most immature decisions.

“I know anything I say would sound like an excuse. But…”

Kwon Yool took Seo Yeon’s hand, which had turned away from him.

And pressed his forehead against the back of her hand as if in penitence.

“Just one last time…”

Kwon Yool’s sincerity settled warmly onto the back of Seo Yeon’s hand.

“I will strive to correct my wrongdoings.”

He couldn’t brazenly ask for another chance.

He just begged that she wouldn’t push him away so he could at least make an effort.

Seo Yeon looked down at Kwon Yool with a complex expression but did not pull her hand away.

“To be honest… I’m not sure.”

Those were Seo Yeon’s sincere feelings.

Just a moment ago, Seo Yeon had decided not to meet him again.

But as Kwon Yool sincerely asked for forgiveness, she felt the wall in her heart crumbling bit by bit.

“I hate the Yool who deceived me. But I understand the Yool who agonized over giving me his contact.”

“I won’t hide anything again.”

Kwon Yool understood that, for the time being, Seo Yeon wouldn’t trust him.

He intended to make every effort to regain her trust.

“Sigh. I don’t know what to say to you, Yool.”

Seo Yeon was very confused.

The two had recently grown so close and had become so accustomed to each other that it only added to the confusion.
“When things got tough and work wasn’t going well, I thought of Yool. Like a good luck charm.”

Kwon Yool had been that much of a comfort to Seo Yeon.

Moreover, recently, the next biggest concern in her life had been Kwon Yool.

“I felt like I’ve naturally gotten close to Yool.”

It had seeped in.

Relieved that it wasn’t a one-sided feeling, Kwon Yool also felt sorry.

“But… I can’t ignore reality.”

Approaching thirty, Seo Yeon couldn’t help but consider the real world.

“I’m neither anti-marriage nor planning to delay marriage for work.”

She clearly stated that work was work and marriage was marriage.

“Especially when I see my close friend happily married, I honestly want that too.”

Seo Yeon broached a topic that could be burdensome for college student Kwon Yool.

Meeting someone doesn’t always lead to marriage, but she didn’t want to separate ‘dating’ from ‘marriage’.

“So what I’m saying is…”

Seo Yeon hesitated for a moment and continued.

“I don’t have time to be the first love of a college student.”

At last, the words Seo Yeon had been pondering came out.

Kwon Yool, with a serious expression, nodded his head.

It was a concern he could fully understand, and he sympathized with her current situation.

However, understanding her intent and accepting the breakup were two different matters.

“Would you trust and rely on me if I make the effort?”

Kwon Yool had no immediate assurance to offer her.

Yet, if given time, he was willing to try his best.

Because he had confidence in enduring and achieving.

“Don’t exclude me; include me in your reality.”

“If I do?”

“I’ll show you how sincere my feelings are for you.”

Kwon Yool was more resolute than ever.

“My feelings for you haven’t changed, not even once.”

Rather, his feelings had grown daily, uncontrollably so.

He had been consistent and wanted to prove that to Seo Yeon going forward.

“Don’t push yourself too hard because of me.”

“What do you mean?”

Seo Yeon hoped Kwon Yool wouldn’t miss opportunities available only in his twenties because of her.

“You are the opportunity for me. That’s why I don’t want to lose it.”

“Yool, you might really regret it later.”

It wasn’t the cliché that time once passed never returns.

Seo Yeon sincerely worried for his future.

“Not having you by my side would be my regret.”

Kwon Yool had no intention of backing down.

After a moment of silence, Seo Yeon spoke with difficulty.

“Anyway, my conclusion is.”

“…”

“Let’s be apart for a while.”