No matter how long the flight time, it was never a problem for lovers.

For Ji Ho, even that time was a sweet date of eating together, sleeping, and watching movies.

“Yi Soo, who’s coming to pick us up when we arrive at the airport?”

Ji Ho looked down at Yi Soo, who was lying languidly as if tired from the long flight, and asked.

He gently stroked Yi Soo’s cheek with his long fingers.

“No one. Mom said she can’t come today because it’s the day she goes to the hospital with grandmother. But even if she said she’d come, I would have stopped her. I thought it might be awkward if she ran into Yoo Mi’s mom.”

The hand that was touching her cheek moved to brush Yi Soo’s hair behind her ear.

“Ah… Then I’ll take you home.”

Ji Ho said in a gentle voice.

Ji Ho’s head had completely leaned over the armrest into Yi Soo’s seat.

From behind, it seemed Yi Soo would be completely hidden by Ji Ho’s broad shoulders.

“No, your mom is coming to the airport, right…”

Yi Soo shook her head as she spoke.

Where would he go, leaving his mom who came all the way to the airport to pick him up?

She didn’t want to make Ji Ho look like an idiot who couldn’t think straight because of his girlfriend.

“I’ll ask mom to take my luggage, and I’ll take you home.”

“It’s fine, really. No need to go through the trouble. I can just call an Uber and go.”

“How do you think I’d feel sending you alone? I’m doing this for my peace of mind, so stop refusing.”

Sometimes he doesn’t listen at all, even though he usually seems like he’d do anything Yi Soo says.

Is this his true personality?

“I’m not a child. You’re not my guardian…”

Before Yi Soo could finish speaking, Ji Ho’s lips pressed firmly against hers and then pulled away.

Yi Soo’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden action.

“Are you crazy!”

Yi Soo glared at Ji Ho with all her might.

“I’m doing this because I’m your boyfriend. You know you still look pretty to me even when you glare like that, right?”

Ji Ho grinned mischievously and leaned his face in close to Yi Soo’s.

As the distance closed, Yi Soo lightly pushed Ji Ho’s shoulder away.

“Whatever.”

Yi Soo, who had been glaring, broke into a smile.

**

After the plane took off.

Yoo Mi felt like she had been hit on the back of the head with a large hammer.

‘Haa…’

She let out a big sigh, feeling like she couldn’t breathe.

“Surprise! Yoo Mi, were you surprised?”

The image of Yi Soo smiling brightly as she looked at Yoo Mi was vividly etched in her mind.

She felt like a fool in front of Yi Soo and Ji Ho.

‘What, surprise? This is really annoying. That’s what I was going to do for oppa, why are you doing it!’

The frustration wouldn’t subside, making it hard to breathe.

The thought that Yi Soo and Ji Ho were somewhere on the second floor of the same plane, being affectionate, made her blood boil.

‘Everything has turned into a mess.’

As anger welled up and heat spread throughout her body, the tears that had been pooling in her eyes streamed down her cheeks.

Even though she tried not to cry, water kept filling her eyes like a broken faucet.

“Hic…”

Soo Min silently stroked Yoo Mi’s back.

It seemed like no words would be comforting right now.

“Do you know why Yi Soo is going?”

“She always went to meet her mom during breaks, remember?”

“Ah…”

She had hoped to get closer to Ji Ho again while in London, but if Yi Soo was going, there might not be a chance.

Yoo Mi would be staying at Ji Ho’s house, but what use was that if Ji Ho wasn’t there?

How much she had looked forward to and waited for this, but it might all turn to nothing.

**

The plane arrived at Heathrow Airport, and Yi Soo and Ji Ho came out with their luggage before Yoo Mi.

A middle-aged woman was seen approaching Ji Ho, waving happily as he entered the arrival hall.

‘Ah, that must be Ji Ho’s mom. Ji Ho looks like her.’

Yi Soo quietly slipped her hand out of Ji Ho’s grasp.

As they got closer to Yeon Soo, Yi Soo felt nervous without knowing why, and her mouth went dry.

“Son! Over here!”

Yeon Soo smiled brightly and spread her arms wide towards Ji Ho.

“Mom!”

Ji Ho also approached his mom happily with big strides and hugged her tightly.

After hugging for a while, Yeon Soo stepped back and smiled contentedly.

“You must be tired from the journey. Let me see. Our son has become even more handsome. Haha.”

Love dripped from Yeon Soo’s eyes as she looked at Ji Ho.

Considering he had briefly visited in April, it had only been three months, but they seemed like people meeting after a long time.

After finishing the intense greeting with her son, Yeon Soo’s eyes belatedly fell on Yi Soo.

Ji Ho wrapped his arm around Yi Soo’s shoulder and pulled her close to his side.

“Mom, let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend.”

“…Huh?”

Yeon Soo looked back and forth between Ji Ho and Yi Soo with a puzzled expression.

“Hello, I’m Jung Yi Soo.”

Yi Soo put her hands together and bowed politely.

“Oh, ah, yes. Nice to meet you. You’re Ji Ho’s girlfriend?”

Yeon Soo was so surprised by the fact that Ji Ho had come with a woman that she couldn’t manage her expression well.

In a brief moment, countless thoughts flashed through Yeon Soo’s mind.

Ji Ho’s hand on the woman’s shoulder and his affectionate gaze were not ordinary.

“Yes.”

Yeon Soo’s bewildered gaze turned back to Yi Soo.

A white, clear face with delicate features.

There wasn’t a trace of makeup on her face, but thanks to her clear skin, her face sparkled with vitality.

Her bright, shining eyes and cheerful expression made a good first impression.

Yeon Soo faced Yi Soo with a dazed feeling.

It was the first girlfriend her son had ever introduced to her.

Her feelings were complicated, both happy and surprised, but Yeon Soo showed a gentle smile.

“This is the first time Ji Ho has introduced a girlfriend to me, so I was a bit surprised. So you’re the friend our Ji Ho likes.”

Yeon Soo, who had been staring at Yi Soo for a while, finally opened her mouth.

She hadn’t thought that Ji Ho didn’t have a girlfriend until now, but if she came all the way to London with him, it didn’t seem like a casual relationship.

Yeon Soo carefully examined Yi Soo, not taking her eyes off her.

“Ji Ho, is this how you surprise your mom? You could have given me a hint beforehand.”

Yeon Soo lightly glared at Ji Ho.

“Come on, I don’t think you’re in a position to say that, Mom. Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that Yoo Mi was coming today?”

Ji Ho said with a smile, but he felt a little hurt that his mom had kept it a secret from him until the end.

‘If I had known in advance, I would have gone to Paris first before coming to London.’

“Ah… That was because Yoo Mi asked to surprise you at the airport. It wasn’t a difficult thing, so I agreed.”

The conversation between the three continued without leaving the arrival hall, as they were waiting for Soo Min and Yoo Mi.

“It would be nice to sit down somewhere comfortable and talk, but we can’t because there are more people to wait for.”

“Ah, it’s okay.”

“Are you two the same age?”

“Yes.”

“Are you on a trip to London?”

“No, my mom is in London.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Mom.”

Ji Ho, who had been listening to the conversation between Yeon Soo and Yi Soo, intervened.

He thought it would be better to leave with Yi Soo before Soo Min came out.

“I’ll tell you the details when I get home later.”

“Huh?”

Yeon Soo, who had been looking at Yi Soo, turned her head to Ji Ho.

“I’m going to take Yi Soo home now. I’m sorry, but could you take my luggage home first, Mom?”

Yeon Soo’s eyes widened.

Her expression clearly said, ‘You’re just leaving your luggage with me and going?’

“No, Ji Ho. I can really go alone.”

Yi Soo quickly waved her hands in refusal, noticing the bewildered look on Yeon Soo’s face.

But Ji Ho didn’t care either way.

“Is that okay? Yi Soo’s mom couldn’t come to the airport today. It doesn’t feel right to send her alone.”

Yeon Soo, who had been blinking her eyes looking at the two, grabbed Ji Ho’s carrier.

“Okay, take her home and come back. If it’s not inconvenient, we could all go together in my car…”

“No, Mom. It’s more comfortable for us to go separately. Yoo Mi and aunt will be out soon, so we’ll go first.”

It wasn’t pleasant that her son, who she was seeing after months, was leaving his mom who came to pick him up at the airport to go with his girlfriend, but she couldn’t stop him either.

“Ah, okay. Then come back soon. I’ll meet Soo Min and go.”

“Okay, I’ll see you at home later, Mom.”

Yi Soo, who had been watching the mother and son from the side, looked uncomfortable, but knowing that Ji Ho wouldn’t listen even if she refused, she remained quiet.

“Goodbye. We’ll be going now.”

Yi Soo politely said goodbye to Yeon Soo.

“Okay. It was nice meeting you today. It would be good to see you again while you’re here, so talk to Ji Ho and set up a meeting.”

“Yes, I will.”

Yeon Soo watched the retreating figures of the two with blank eyes until they disappeared.

Ji Ho’s arm was affectionately wrapped around his girlfriend’s shoulder.

She didn’t miss the sight of Ji Ho’s profile, constantly smiling as he looked at his girlfriend while they walked.

‘…Is he that happy?’

Yeon Soo smiled at seeing this unfamiliar side of Ji Ho.

Just then, she heard someone calling her and turned around.

“Yeon Soo!”

It was Soo Min and Yoo Mi.

“Soo Min, you’re here.”

Yeon Soo welcomed the two with open arms.

Yoo Mi ran straight to Yeon Soo and hugged her tightly.

“Aunt!”

“Yes, Yoo Mi.”

Yeon Soo gently patted Yoo Mi’s back.

“Aunt, I really missed you.”

Her voice was a bit choked up.

Yoo Mi hugged Yeon Soo tightly and then let go.

“Let me see your face.”

Yeon Soo smiled and looked at Yoo Mi’s face.

For some reason, her puffy eyes were red.

‘Something must have happened on the way.’

Yeon Soo looked at Soo Min beside her with questioning eyes.

Soo Min slightly furrowed her brows and shook her head slightly.

“You must be tired from the journey, let’s go home quickly first.”

Yeon Soo took the lead, pulling Ji Ho’s carrier with one hand.

“Where did oppa go?”

He hadn’t been seen since they came out, so she thought he might have gone to the bathroom, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

“Ah, Ji Ho left first, saying he was going to take his girlfriend home.”

Yeon Soo wanted to ask if Soo Min or Yoo Mi knew about Ji Ho’s girlfriend.

“Ha…”

A sigh like an exclamation escaped Yoo Mi’s lips.

For them to disappear as soon as they arrived.

“Did you meet her too?”

“Yes. They came out together earlier and he introduced her as his girlfriend. Did you know about this?”

She thought Yoo Mi might know, even if Soo Min didn’t.

“…”

Instead of answering, Yoo Mi pressed her lips tightly together.

“Yeon Soo, let’s talk about that when we get home. I have something to tell you too.”

Soo Min answered instead from beside her.

“Huh? O-okay.”

Yeon Soo was puzzled seeing the unusual expressions on their faces at the mention of Ji Ho’s girlfriend.

‘I guess everyone except me already knew each other.’

**

“Your mother seemed a bit hurt earlier…”

In the end, Yi Soo headed home with Ji Ho.

Yi Soo felt uncomfortable, thinking she might have hurt Ji Ho’s mother’s feelings from their first meeting.

“No. You must have seen it wrong.”

“Or maybe you didn’t see it?”

“Not at all. My mom is someone who understands everything.”

Yi Soo laughed in disbelief at Ji Ho insisting so confidently.

“Being hurt and being understanding are different things, you know?”

It’s natural to feel hurt when your son, who you’re seeing after months, just hands over his luggage at the airport and leaves with his girlfriend.

And Ji Ho not noticing this at all…

‘I thought he was attentive and considerate, but is that only towards me?’