Kang Mo didn’t push any further and only anxiously waited for Seo Hee to speak. Eventually, Seo Hee’s eyes, which had been stubbornly wandering, met Kang Mo’s for a moment.

“I don’t really know how to say it.”

“Just say whatever comes to mind. I won’t interrupt you, I won’t rush you at all, so don’t overthink it, don’t leave anything out, and honestly tell me how you’re feeling right now.”

Seo Hee closed her eyes tightly, bit her lips hesitantly, then opened her mouth weakly as if giving up.

“To me, you’re… a really precious person. Maybe more than… you think. So… I think I’ve been constantly afraid. People might laugh if they hear this, but I… really thought of you as my younger brother, like family, and cherished you.”

The muscles in Kang Mo’s tightly clenched jaw twitched. She knew how much he hated hearing the word ‘brother’ from her, but she couldn’t find another way to explain her confused heart.

“I first met you when I became a 9th grader, but I had known about you since 7th grade. Surprisingly, Joo Yeon, whom I first met at the academy, and I quickly became friends. It may sound silly, but there wasn’t a day that passed without us talking about you. I don’t know what it was like at home, but it seemed like Joo Yeon cherished and loved you a lot as her younger brother.”

“……”

“So when I first met you, it didn’t feel unfamiliar. Ah, I’m finally seeing you. It felt like meeting my own younger brother who had been apart for a long time. I was happy. As if I had gained a younger sibling too. After Joo Yeon passed away like that… I wanted to fill that empty space, even if it was me. Because I knew how much Joo Yeon cherished you, how much she thought about you. I wanted to do the things she had wanted to do for you in her place, even if it was me.”

Kang Mo’s brow furrowed as he quietly listened to Seo Hee’s words.

Kang Mo already knew well. He wasn’t unaware of what Seo Hee had been thinking when she stayed by his side long ago, or for what reason she had remained by his unstable side, attentively taking care of him.

That’s why Kang Mo had also been in a hurry to hide his feelings. He had been rushing to conceal his interest, affection, sincerity and love for her, worrying that if she found out about his feelings, she might get scared and run away.

Despite trying so hard, she ended up leaving in the end, and only after she left did he deeply regret not properly, fully revealing his heart.

He never wanted to go back to a life without Seo Hee again. He had no desire whatsoever to return to that terribly lonely and painful time.

He was anxious and afraid of what more he would hear from her. But one thing was certain. No matter what words came out of Seo Hee’s mouth, he absolutely could not let her go. He couldn’t lose her a second time – that resolve only grew firmer.

“I thought I could eternally look after you in place of your elder sister, as if I was truly your elder sister. I thought that’s how it should be. Without depending on your heart that could change at any time, I believed I had to hold the center…”

“Baek Seo Hee, you-”

“I thought that’s how it should be. I thought I could do that.”

Seo Hee’s voice, cutting off Kang Mo’s words firmly, became mixed with sobs.

“I thought I could do that, but now… you don’t seem like a younger brother to me anymore. I’m so… so sorry to your father whom I have to face, and to your late mother… but… I can’t control my heart anymore either now.”

“What does that mean?”

“……”

“Can I interpret it as I wish?”

“…I think I’ve only now properly realized my own feelings. I’m afraid and scared of… losing you. I’m anxious and worried that I might not see you again.”

Thick tears fell from Seo Hee’s downcast eyes. Even then, the shadow that had been cast on Kang Mo’s face as he listened to Seo Hee’s words without letting his guard down slowly lifted.

“Ha…”

Kang Mo let out a long sigh and quietly pulled Seo Hee into his embrace. The anxiety that had always squirmed inside him, the heart that had been pricked like a needle, seemed to finally find stability. It felt as if peace had finally come.

Holding her sobbing figure tightly, Kang Mo gently stroked her hair and spoke in a low voice.

“Baek Seo Hee, you don’t need to be confused. Just accept it as you feel. Let your heart lead the way. Don’t try to block it or change it, just follow the natural flow. Don’t deceive yourself anymore.”

“……”

“Why are you thinking of our parents? Don’t think of anyone else, just think of yourself. There’s something you’re usually good at, right? Imagine that death will come for us tomorrow. Picture that moment when you close your eyes. Do you have the confidence to not regret deceiving your heart and pushing me away like before?”

A sigh-like breath escaped from Seo Hee.

“Do you have the confidence to not regret hurting me by calling me your brother and rejecting me?”

Seo Hee’s face, buried in his embrace, wavered slightly. Kang Mo, with a satisfied smile, spoke in a resolute voice.

“Don’t think of anything else, just remember that feeling right now. From now on, don’t be anxious anymore, don’t take my heart lightly, and don’t doubt it either. Understood?”

“……”

“Seo Hee…”

“……”

“Baek Seo Hee.”

“…Okay.”

“Let’s love each other like we’ll die tomorrow. Okay?”

Seo Hee’s arms, which had been nestled obediently in his embrace, tentatively wrapped around his waist. The hand that hugged him tightly without a word seemed to answer for her.

Kang Mo was moved by the gesture that showed her heart completely for almost the first time. Even this small expression felt like he was being compensated all at once for the long time he had yearned, desired, fretted and waited for Seo Hee.

His chest ached with overwhelming emotion. He wanted to see her lovely face right away, but she wouldn’t let go of the hands encircling his waist, perhaps out of embarrassment.

A smile bloomed on Kang Mo’s lips. How hard she had tried to suppress her heart while kissing him. Now he had reached his limit.

Kang Mo stood up from the table where he had been sitting on the edge. Seo Hee was pushed back for a moment, separated from his embrace, and he lunged for her lips.

“Kang Mo, control yourself.”

He was blocked by her hand. The delicate hand that had been wrapped around his waist until a moment ago was now firmly covering her mouth.

“…What?”

Kang Mo let out an empty laugh in frustration.

“You make a person tremble like this and now you’re telling me to control myself?”

It was absurd, but in the midst of it, why were her flinching movements and flushed face so lovely?

“At this rate, the lunch break will be over. Can you skip a meal?”

“I always said I crave Baek Seo Hee more than food, didn’t I? I won’t die from skipping one meal. So put your hand down.”

Not knowing his suffering, she shook her head resolutely. Even when he pulled her waist close to bring their bodies together, her hand stubbornly held its place. She even pushed against his chest with her other hand. How stingy.

Seo Hee steeled herself, feeling like if they kissed this time, she wouldn’t be able to stop easily. She had fully revealed feelings that even she hadn’t properly recognized until now. Putting the embarrassment aside, this was Kang Mo’s company.

A sideways glance confirmed that half of the lunch break had already flown by. She felt uncomfortable, as if she had caused a delay because of her. It seemed she would have to come to her senses first to avoid interfering with his work by staying here longer.

“The urgent documents you mentioned, do you not need to check them right away?”

“Nothing can take priority over you.”

Seo Hee’s mouth, covered by her hand, fell open in surprise. She pondered for a moment on how to calm Kang Mo’s heart, then opened her mouth hesitantly.

“I like a man who knows how to separate work and personal life.”

“That stings my conscience a bit. Work and personal life have no meaning in front of you though.”

An empty sigh escaped at Kang Mo’s brazen words, ignorant of embarrassment.

“Ha, you really are… unbelievable. You may not know, but I’m starving right now.”

“That’s troublesome. Ah, right. Sigh…”

Only then did Kang Mo remember he had a lunch reservation and let out a sigh. He hurriedly picked up his phone on the table to call Seung Ho, when a message arrived.

[Chief Han, it seems your conversation is running long, so I changed the reservation time. I delayed it by an hour, so you can leave now. Please let me know if there are any changes.]

Seung Ho’s sense drew automatic admiration.

Kang Mo smirked, watching Seo Hee who had already escaped from him and was sitting primly on the sofa, touching up her makeup. It was hard to believe she was the same person who had toyed with his heart, making him burn with passion wordlessly as she sobbed.

Perhaps kisses would only be possible after work now.

He had a premonition that skinship would still not be easy even after confirming her heart. Still, her showing this much of her heart was something. Kang Mo was grateful for just that, now that he was certain of Seo Hee’s feelings.

If you’re not ready yet, I’ll have to endure a bit more.

[This is the timeline separator]

After seating Seo Hee in the passenger seat, Kang Mo was heading to the driver’s seat when he stopped at the gaze he felt from somewhere and swiftly turned his head.

For a moment, it seemed like the hem of clothing disappeared behind a pillar in the parking lot, then the emergency exit door slammed shut. Kang Mo tilted his head at the inexplicable suspicious feeling.

“What’s wrong, did something happen?”

Seo Hee tapped on the car window and asked.

“No. Nothing… Just a moment, let me make one call.”

He smiled at Seo Hee, who nodded, then took out his phone to find Seung Ho. Unable to shake off the ominous feeling, Kang Mo couldn’t ignore his intuition.

― Yes, Chief Han. Shall I readjust the time again?

“No. I’m going to head straight to the restaurant now. But for 10 minutes before and after this time, could you check the CCTV around my parking area?”

― Did something happen?

Kang Mo moved his lips as he visually swept the parking lot that seemed no different from usual.

“No. It’s just that something is bothering me. Check the description of the person who moved towards the emergency exit, and if possible to identify the car number, find out who it is.”

― Yes, understood.

Kang Mo instantly erased his serious expression and took his seat in the driver’s seat with a smile.