As soon as Yi Soo said she was going, Ji Ho said something even more surprising.

“Mom, I’m planning to stop by Paris on my way to Seoul this time.”

Ji Ho said as he took a sip of coffee and put down his cup.

“Oh, really? When are you leaving?”

“I’m departing on the 8th.”

“What? That’s only a few days away. I thought you’d be staying for a week.”

“I’ll stay for a week next time.”

Ji Ho smiled and replied to Yeon Soo’s disappointed voice.

He hadn’t planned on coming, but seeing Yeon Soo made him glad he came, even if just for a few days.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here to celebrate your birthday this year at least.”

“Yes.”

Yoo Mi and Soo Min looked up in surprise at the conversation between the two.

Yoo Mi felt her throat go dry at the thought of Yi Soo that popped into her head.

‘They’re not going together, are they? Did they come here planning to travel together from the start?’

She glanced sideways, but Yeon Soo didn’t ask any more questions, as if she wasn’t curious about anything other than the departure date.

Since Ji Ho often traveled alone, Yeon Soo thought nothing of it.

Yoo Mi was itching with curiosity but couldn’t bring herself to ask.

“Oh, by the way, Mom. About my birthday. I’ll just have breakfast at home that day and then go out. I’m telling you in advance in case you were planning to prepare something.”

“Why, to meet Yi Soo?”

Yeon Soo blurted out, then glanced at Yoo Mi, realizing her mistake.

As expected, Yoo Mi’s expression wasn’t good.

“Yes, Mom. Is that okay?”

Ji Ho asked a needless question, belatedly concerned about Yeon Soo’s words he had secretly overheard yesterday.

“Oh my, it’s not for me to say whether it’s okay or not. If you’re happy, that’s what matters.”

Yeon Soo felt a little hurt, but she understood his desire to spend his birthday with his girlfriend.

“Yes, we’re planning to spend the whole day together. I think I’ll be back late after having dinner too.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Yoo Mi bit her lip hard and lowered her head, trying not to show her emotions.

But after hearing about going to Paris in a few days, and now that he’d only have breakfast at home on his birthday, an undisguisable disappointment settled on Yoo Mi’s face.

‘This isn’t what I wanted to see.’

Somehow, she felt like she was watching their relationship unfold in real-time.

She had come hoping just to stay in the same house for a week, but hearing such words right after arriving made her feel deflated and empty.

Sensing Yoo Mi’s feelings, Yeon Soo held back from asking more.

She deeply regretted not being able to naturally invite Yi Soo home for Ji Ho’s birthday to have a meal together.

‘If this continues, things will get more uncomfortable.’

Yeon Soo hoped Yoo Mi would sort out her feelings soon and return to being comfortable like before.

“What are you doing today? After breakfast, I was thinking of taking Yoo Mi and Soo Min out for a tour of London. Do you want to join us?”

“No, the three of you should go.”

Yeon Soo was about to ask if he was meeting Yi Soo today too but held back, mindful of Yoo Mi.

The atmosphere was uncomfortable in many ways.

**

The next morning.

Perhaps due to jet lag, her eyes opened naturally at 5 AM.

Before her mother and maternal grandmother had even woken up, Yi Soo had a quick bite and headed to the park.

It was because of Ji Ho’s insistence on meeting from the morning, saying he couldn’t bear not seeing her for just one day.

She entered the park with trees thick with dark green leaves and vast expanses of grass.

When leaving home, she had felt more annoyed, but once there, she thought it was good she came.

Yi Soo walked closer to the lake, smiling gently at the adorable swans and ducks swimming leisurely.

As she was watching a swan approaching nearby with a smile, suddenly Ji Ho appeared from behind, hugging her tightly.

“You came early. Did you wait long?”

Ji Ho asked, holding Yi Soo firmly in his arms.

She could feel his warm body heat through her back.

Yi Soo turned her head slightly to the side.

Ji Ho’s face resting on her shoulder and Yi Soo’s face came close, almost touching.

“No. I lost track of time watching the swans and ducks. They’re so cute I can’t take my eyes off them.”

Ji Ho smiled and lightly kissed Yi Soo’s cheek.

“Look at me now.”

The arms holding her slowly loosened, and Yi Soo’s body spun around.

Ji Ho bent his waist deeply, matching the height difference of over 20cm.

Ji Ho’s face came down right in front of Yi Soo’s face.

Ji Ho’s brightly smiling face filled her vision.

“I missed you so much.”

“Me too.”

“We’re seeing each other after 30 hours.”

It was just one day, but speaking in terms of hours made it feel like it had been a long time.

Looking at Ji Ho’s smile, Yi Soo thought, ‘That must be the smile of someone who can’t contain their happiness.’

With that smile, Ji Ho kissed Yi Soo’s lips.

It was a light and brief kiss, but even in that fleeting moment, it was sweet and mellow as always.

In the past, Yi Soo would have glared and pushed Ji Ho away in a place like this, but this time she put her arms around his waist and hugged him.

“Wow, you’re not saying anything?”

Ji Ho, who had been prepared to be pushed away, laughed with wide eyes.

Yi Soo quietly took a breath and smiled.

She just felt like doing so.

“Is it because we’re abroad? This is too good. Good things should be done twice.”

Large hands cupped Yi Soo’s face, then burrowed into her hair, gripping the nape of her neck.

Ji Ho pulled Yi Soo’s waist close and pressed his lips to hers.

Yi Soo kissed back, thinking this might look like a scene from a movie if seen from afar.

In the park full of lush greenery, Ji Ho held Yi Soo tight and shared a long kiss.

“It’s nice seeing you first thing in the morning.”

Ji Ho said after breaking the kiss.

“Me too.”

“Then let’s have park dates every morning.”

The hand that had been around her waist slipped between Yi Soo’s fingers, intertwining them.

With hearts softened and melting from the long kiss, the two began to walk through the park.

It felt good just holding hands and walking without saying anything.

“I told them I’d have breakfast at home and then leave on my birthday. I thought they’d be really hurt if I said I’d leave without even having breakfast.”

Yi Soo looked up at Ji Ho and chuckled.

When he had said they should spend the whole day together, he must have really meant from the morning.

“You did well.”

“I want to go on the trip soon, but the days feel so long.”

They would be leaving in three days.

Ji Ho grumbled that even that time felt tedious, like a child waiting for a picnic.

As they walked, they entered a garden filled with the rich scent of roses.

Roses of various colors beautifully filled the garden.

“Did you tell your mother you’re going with me?”

“No, I told her I was going on a trip, but she didn’t even ask who I was going with. I usually travel alone, so she probably thinks that’s the case.”

Yi Soo nodded, thinking it was for the best.

She hadn’t planned to ask him to keep it a secret, but she thought it might be better if his mother didn’t know.

“Ah… right, how’s Yoo Mi? I forgot to ask yesterday.”

“She’s doing fine. We only briefly see each other at breakfast at home. The three of them seem to be getting along well without me. Why, are you concerned?”

“Not really.”

It was strange though.

Remembering how Yoo Mi had been when Ji Ho first brought her home, when she made a fuss about homesickness while drunk, and when she asked for help joining the ski club, it didn’t seem like she would give up easily.

It was unexpected that Yoo Mi, who had even issued a warning not to covet Ji Ho, had sorted out her feelings so readily.

‘I thought she was really serious, but maybe not.’

“Just curious.”

Yi Soo squealed as she spotted a squirrel quickly climbing up a tree.

“Did you see that? It’s so cute.”

As if she had completely forgotten what they were just talking about, Yi Soo looked up at Ji Ho with a bright smile.

She squeezed their interlocked hands and quickly walked towards the tree the squirrel had climbed, pulling Ji Ho along.

“Let’s go closer.”

“Okay.”

Ji Ho followed wherever Yi Soo led.

He felt like he could go anywhere like this.

**

“Mom, I’m going out to have dinner with a friend tomorrow. I might be back late, so don’t wait up and go to bed first.”

After dinner, grandmother had gone to bed early saying she was tired, and Yi Soo was talking with Hye Jin in the living room.

“Ah, the friend you saw the musical with yesterday?”

“Yeah, it’s his birthday tomorrow so we’re meeting up.”

Yi Soo said, hoping Hye Jin wouldn’t ask for more details.

“Okay, have fun. Thanks to your friend, you’re not bored this time.”

Yi Soo nodded, thinking of Ji Ho.

“You’re leaving in two days. Are you going to Paris with that friend too?”

Hye Jin asked, picking up the last grape left on the plate.

“Yeah, our schedules happened to match up.”

“Oh, really? You must be very close friends.”

Hye Jin didn’t suspect at all that it might be a boyfriend.

Yi Soo felt a little guilty for only telling Won Jin, but decided not to bring it up, thinking it would lead to a very long conversation.

“Yeah.”

“That’s nice. It would be good if you could come with that friend next time too.”

Yi Soo smiled at Hye Jin’s words, thinking she would like that.

‘Next time would be this winter. Will I still be meeting Ji Ho with the same feelings then?’

“Go rest now.”

“Okay. I’ll clean this up.”

As Yi Soo stood up holding the fruit plate on the table, her phone next to her started ringing.

“Yi Soo, your phone’s ringing. I’ll take care of this, you answer the phone.”

Hye Jin took the plate from Yi Soo’s hands.

“Oh, then I’ll go to my room to take the call.”

Yi Soo smiled brightly after looking at her phone screen.

Yi Soo went into her room, sat on the bed, and answered the phone.

“Hi, Ji Ho.”

[What were you doing?]

“Thinking about how much I miss you.”

When Yi Soo repeated the words Ji Ho often said to her, Ji Ho’s laughter rang out loudly.

“Why are you laughing?”

[Because I’m happy.]

Ji Ho answered, still with laughter in his voice.

[You don’t sound sleepy today?]

For the past few days, she had been drowsy from early evening due to jet lag.

Once she fell asleep while talking on the phone, and another time she cut the call short because she was about to fall asleep.

“Yeah. Not yet.”

[Then tomorrow you’ll be able to stay up later than today?]

Yi Soo lay down on the bed, resting her back.

She wasn’t sleepy, but as soon as she lay down, she felt drowsy again.

Yi Soo closed her eyes and listened to Ji Ho’s voice.

“What are we doing so late?”

Yi Soo smiled, finding Ji Ho cute as he waited for his birthday like a child.

She was also looking forward to it, wondering what kind of plans he had prepared that made him so excited.

[It’s my birthday tomorrow, so you have to do everything I say.]

“Hmm, that sounds scary?”

Yi Soo laughed as she replied to Ji Ho’s words.

Though she said that, she felt like there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do for him.

[I’ll treat you well, so don’t be scared.]

Ji Ho’s voice filling her ear was sweet.

Yi Soo took a quiet breath before speaking.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

After saying it, it felt more like it was Yi Soo’s birthday rather than Ji Ho’s.

It felt wrong somehow, like these were words Ji Ho should be saying.

“Ji Ho, I’ll dress up prettily when I go out tomorrow.”

Yi Soo’s hands and feet curled up as she squeezed her eyes shut, but she could hear Ji Ho’s laughter through the phone.

‘This is how it should be, right?’

[Okay, I’m looking forward to it too.]

On the night before Ji Ho’s birthday, Yi Soo lowered her phone after hearing the words she wanted to hear.