Ina stopped by a rice porridge restaurant in front of the hospital and bought two servings of abalone porridge.

Sitting in the taxi and looking out the window, Ina sighed.

“When I was sick, Jiho personally cooked it for me…”

She was always used to receiving from Jiho and felt like she had never properly taken care of him.

When Ina was sick and couldn’t even hold herself up, Jiho stayed by her side and took care of her the whole time. To the point where she didn’t feel the sadness of not having a mother at all.

‘This time, I really need to treat him well, as much as I received.’

It was the first time seeing Jiho sick, so her desire to treat him well was immense. Even though she couldn’t even properly cook porridge.

When she thought about what she was good at besides studying, nothing particularly came to mind.

In comparison, Jiho seemed to be good at everything to the point where it was hard to believe there was anything he couldn’t do. To an unbelievable extent.

It had already been 5 years since this man had waited, asking her to marry him.

As her father said, was she being too complacent just because he was by her side?

Every time she saw the women cheering for Jiho at the concert hall, she felt a very strange sense of annoyance.

The women who would scream even when Jiho just drank water, and would be overjoyed as if they would faint if their eyes happened to meet.

No matter how many times she chanted in her heart, ‘That man is my man,’ she couldn’t help but feel anxious without realizing it.

No matter what, she was still just his girlfriend for now.

That fact seemed to make some women hold onto a faint possibility and hope.

With the vague expectation that they would break up someday.

In the midst of her troubled heart growing bigger and bigger, the taxi stopped in front of the house.

6:40. Ina went to Jiho’s house first.

The clicking sound of the lock was so loud that the house seemed quiet.

Ina put the porridge down on the island table where the medicine bag was placed.

Seeing the prescription medicine, she was relieved that it seemed true he wasn’t very sick.

She went straight to the bedroom and gently pushed the door open. The familiar scent wafting out made the corners of her mouth lift slightly.

She saw Jiho sound asleep on the bed.

‘You must have been very tired…’

Seeing Jiho asleep at this hour was extremely rare.

On days when they stayed up all night together, they would sometimes take naps together, but usually he almost never napped.

Ina tiptoed quietly and approached to examine the face sleeping straight.

He seemed to be in a deep sleep.

Ina, who had been staring down at him for a while, felt sorry.

‘I was only thinking about how hard it was for me, not knowing how hard it was for Jiho.’

It was good that she threatened him not to come.

“If you don’t listen to me and come to pick me up, I won’t go home starting tomorrow and will sleep at the hospital.”

“Ah, okay. I won’t go.”

“You really promised.”

“Yeah.”

“Even if you can’t sleep after taking the medicine, just lie on the bed. Got it?”

“Yes, yes.”

‘He did well as told. So pretty too.’

Ina, who quietly left the room, went over to her house, finished all her tasks, and returned to the bedroom where Jiho was sleeping.

It had been a long time. Admiring Jiho’s face sleeping like a painting.

Ina, who had been staring at him for a while with the feeling of looking at a beautiful sculpture, lay down next to Jiho.

Trying not to wake him up, she carefully got under the covers without even touching him. Slowly, she lay on her side facing Jiho.

When she fell asleep and woke up again, she saw Jiho looking at her with his mouth covered by the blanket.

“Jiho… You’re awake.”

Ina, who had fallen asleep away from him in case he woke up, naturally approached Jiho’s embrace.

But Jiho, who she thought would hug her with open arms, stretched out his long arms and pushed Ina’s shoulders away. Not letting her come close.

“Why are you sleeping here? Go home right now.”

“…What?”

She had stayed by his side all night in case he got sick. She really wanted to take good care of him.

On top of pushing her away with the hands that always hugged her, Ina was at a loss for words at the sharp voice she heard for the first time.

Suddenly, the tip of her nose stung and her eyes became hot in an instant.

Jiho’s unfamiliar appearance, which had always been kind and gentle, made her heart sink and her fingertips tremble.

The vague anxiety she felt whenever she realized Jiho’s popularity sometimes felt like a reality, not a needless worry.

The thought that Jiho’s heart could change at any moment and he could be like that.

Just that thought made her feel like tears would pour out, so she quickly turned her body.

She bit her lip hard, trying to hold back, but the rising tears flowed out helplessly.

Jiho’s hand touching her trembling shoulders paused as if surprised.

“Ina…”

Ina, who had risen to avoid Jiho, put her legs out of the bed.

“You… are crying?”

With a startled voice, Ina’s waist was wrapped in Jiho’s arms and pulled back.

With that force, Ina was drawn into Jiho’s arms.

As the warm body temperature was felt through the bodies touching without gaps, more tears poured out.

Ina curled up and buried her face in her hands. She didn’t want to cry, but tears kept falling.

“You told me to go…”

“Ha… Is that why you’re crying?”

As she struggled to escape with a sobbing voice, Jiho hugged her tighter.

“…”

“I’m sick right now. I was afraid it would spread to you…”

“Let go.”

“Okay. It’s my fault. Don’t cry. Please.”

Jiho turned Ina around and hugged her. As her face touched his chest, she felt his clothes getting wet with tears.

“Ina…”

The voice that didn’t know what to do resonated in her chest. His large hands were busy stroking her head and rubbing her back to comfort Ina.

Even though she knew he did it out of concern, the words telling her to go regardless of the context and the hand pushing her away made tears well up.

Ina also seemed to have had more anxiety and impatience built up than she had realized. Seeing how she was so upset over something trivial.

No matter what, she shouldn’t do this to a sick person. Let alone take good care of him.

Ina, who had stopped crying, managed to pull out a hoarse voice.

“I’m sorry for crying…”

“No. I’m sorry. I spoke wrongly.”

Seeing Jiho flustered trying to comfort her, the upset feelings from earlier turned into guilt instead. To the point where she wondered why she even cried.

Jiho was covering his mouth with his hand even while comforting Ina.

It wasn’t even the flu, just a sore throat.

“I… just like how you did for me, I wanted to take good care of you when you’re sick. But when you treated me so coldly as soon as you saw me… It’s the first time for me, so I suddenly choked up.”

“Coldly… That’s absurd. How could I do that to you?”

The comforting voice was so soft and kind that it could melt eardrums.

“Maybe I was too sensitive. I’m sorry for making you worry when you’re sick.”

Jiho looked at Ina.

Red eyes and nose. His heart ached at the flushed face.

“Do you know how much I love you?”

“…”

“Hm? Answer me.”

“I know.”

“You don’t know how much my heart hurts when you cry.”

“…”

“I’ll be careful from now on. I did that because I was afraid you would get sick, so don’t be upset.”

To be honest, he was happy to see Ina as soon as he opened his eyes. So he was just looking at her with his mouth covered by the blanket, and belatedly realized his mistake, inadvertently letting out a sharp voice.

“Okay. But it’s just a cold. What’s the big deal if it spreads… It hurts more when you push me away. It felt like my heart was dropping. I’d rather have my body hurting.”

“Then… should we get sick together?”

When Ina nodded, Jiho narrowed his eyes.

Thinking it would be better to be sick than to make her cry, Ina suddenly grabbed Jiho’s hand that was covering his mouth and pressed her lips against his. As if to show him.

The lips that tasted of tears softly overlapped and separated.

Jiho, who was taken aback for a moment, burst into a dumbfounded laugh.

“You really…”

“Don’t ever push me away again.”

“Ha, it’s not like that…”

Jiho, who was making a wronged expression at the pouty voice, reluctantly nodded.

Ina finally smiled with a flushed face.

Jiho pulled Ina close and hugged her. With one hand, he affectionately caressed the face that was so pretty even when crying.

**

“Jiho, is there anything you want to do for your birthday? Or a gift you want to receive?”

“…Being with you all day.”

“Anything else?”

“Being with you the day before too.”

Ina took a vacation starting two days before what she called Jiho’s birthday week.

Only twice a year. The sweet vacation given for a week each, but they enjoyed dates without any special plans.

On the first day, they went for a drive near Seoul and took a walk on the night streets.

They visited famous restaurants during quiet hours and stopped by fancy cafes for a bit.

It was a public relationship so there was no need to hide, but wherever they went, prying eyes pricked their entire bodies.

The next day, it rained from the morning.

As Ina sat on the sofa looking at the rainy scenery, Jiho, who was sitting in front of the piano, began to play Chopin’s Nocturne No. 2.

The sound of the piano rang beautifully along with the fragrant scent of coffee.

Ina put down her coffee cup and looked at Jiho with an enchanted gaze.

He had played the piece hundreds of times because Ina liked it, so now he didn’t even need sheet music.

His long fingers moved elegantly over the keys.

Jiho looked at Ina affectionately and smiled.

She had thought the same thing on the first morning she had spent at Jiho’s house a long time ago.

Everything was as beautiful as a dream, but the most surreal thing was the man named Seo Jiho…

Ina approached with a moved expression, gently kissed Jiho’s cheek, and sat next to him.

“Jiho.”

She affectionately called out to Jiho, who was smiling with crinkled eyes.

“Today too, I fell for you. I will probably fall for you countless times on countless days in the future. I will love you in every moment. I hope you will only look at me and only love me too.”

Jiho happily smiled and nodded. Ina continued.

“I don’t think I can be without you. I can no longer imagine myself without you. I hope you will be my first and last love. I may be lacking, but I will do my best.”

The piano sound that had been getting smaller and smaller suddenly stopped at one point.

Jiho turned his body towards Ina with a slightly dazed face.

“So what I’m trying to say is, Jiho… will you marry me?”

Ina smiled shyly, looking into Jiho’s eyes.

Jiho, who had been looking at her with an incredulous face as if he couldn’t believe it, slowly opened his mouth.

“Why are you saying that… This is cheating.”

“Answer me first.”

“It’s so obvious. How long have I been waiting?”

“Thank you for waiting so long. That’s why… I really wanted to propose. Because you always did everything for me.”

For a moment, he felt like Ina had stolen what he had been planning to do, but upon second thought, he liked it even more because of that.

Ina gently rested her face on Jiho’s chest.

The sound of her heart beating as if it would burst rang in her ears.

“Let’s get married in December. Take a vacation then and go on our honeymoon. From now on, let’s date while preparing for the wedding whenever we meet. Buy rings, pick out a dress, and look for a house.”

“Okay. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Actually, I was going to say this on your birthday, but you suddenly started playing the piano. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. You were so cool…”

Ina smiled brightly.

“You were preparing the best gift I will never forget. Thank you.”

“Jiho, I love you.”

Seeing Ina shyly confessing in his arms, Jiho’s heart swelled.

“I will be by your side and on your side for the rest of my life.”

Jiho promised, hugging Ina tightly.

“I love you. Ina.”

Warm lips gently touched Ina’s forehead. It was a dazzlingly happy day.