Tae Kyung pretended he hadn’t hurriedly found the house.

When the front door opened, warm air touched the skin.

Min Joon’s eyes widened upon arriving at Tae Kyung’s house.

It was completely different from the small villa where Min Joon himself lived.

The large living room big enough to play soccer and luxurious interior looked good even to a child’s eyes.

“Wow! Is the coding teacher rich?”

“Rich?”

“Yes! Your house is big like a palace! I saw it in picture books!”

Min Joon said with sparkling eyes. Tae Kyung found Min Joon cute and ruffled his hair.

Seo Ha maintained a stiff expression throughout.

Myung Hoon was concerned about Seo Ha like that. However, he hoped Seo Ha wouldn’t raise the child alone.

He urged Seo Ha.

“Seo Ha, let’s go in quickly.”

“…Alright.”

Seo Ha entered the house with heavy steps, as if reluctant.

Min Joon, leaving Seo Ha behind, was already looking around the house following Tae Kyung.

It was too neat for a house where a man lived alone, feeling like they had come to a model home.

‘Even the house resembles that person.’

Seo Ha felt a pain in one side of her chest. In Tae Kyung’s house where no warmth could be felt, Tae Kyung’s loneliness was palpable.

Seo Ha had thought she had erased Tae Kyung, but it was her delusion.

The feelings she had tried to hide and ignore began to revive.

Seo Ha clenched her teeth and resolved not to waver.

Tae Kyung politely explained various things to Myung Hoon.

His thoughtful consideration to ensure they wouldn’t be uncomfortable while staying at his house naturally showed through.

“As you can see, it’s empty since a man lives alone. Please be understanding even if it’s inconvenient.”

“What are you saying? We’re the ones imposing too much.”

When Myung Hoon apologized, Tae Kyung waved his hand.

“Father, please don’t think of it as imposing and stay comfortably. It’s a house I live in alone anyway, and it’s mostly empty since I only come down from Seoul occasionally to rest. It’s good if someone uses the house.”

“Still, how…”

“You can stay as long as you want. In return, please let me stay when I come to Yangpyeong. Haha.”

At Tae Kyung’s words, Seo Ha’s heart pricked again.

This was Tae Kyung pushing towards her recklessly.

Her head said she should stop him, but her heart disagreed.

“We’ll return as soon as the boiler is repaired.”

Seo Ha cut in coldly. Myung Hoon looked troubled at Seo Ha’s attitude. However, Tae Kyung replied indifferently.

“Do as you please. Make sure Min Joon and Father are comfortable. I’ll show you around the house, follow me.”

Tae Kyung brushed past Seo Ha. When Seo Ha didn’t move, Tae Kyung looked back.

“What are you doing not coming?”

“I want to look around too!”

Min Joon approached Tae Kyung brightly, regardless of Seo Ha’s complicated expression.

‘Since when did Min Joon start following Tae Kyung?’

Seo Ha sighed and moved her feet.

“Father. Please sit on the sofa and rest. I’ll tell Seo Ha about anything you need.”

“Thank you.”

Myung Hoon sat on the sofa and looked around.

Tae Kyung took Seo Ha and Min Joon past the living room to the kitchen.

He explained everything to Seo Ha from the ingredients in the refrigerator to various kitchen items.

There wasn’t much, but it wasn’t particularly lacking either. However, everything looked new as if never used.

He showed the spare rooms besides Tae Kyung’s bedroom at the end of the first floor, showing the room where Myung Hoon would stay and one room for Seo Ha and Min Joon.

Seo Ha tilted her head wondering why there were beds in every room when he lived alone.

As if he had anticipated they would come here.

Seo Ha shook her head thinking it was too much to think Tae Kyung had planned to bring her and her family here.

Meanwhile, Min Joon kept exclaiming “Wow, wow” with sparkling eyes. Unlike the narrow, old villa, Tae Kyung’s house was like a rich person’s house seen on TV. The difference was even more noticeable to a child’s eyes.

Tae Kyung unexpectedly looked at Min Joon with satisfaction.

Returning to the living room, Min Joon’s eyes sparkled seeing Kyu Won’s game console.

“Teacher, is that game console yours?”

“Ah, that?”

Tae Kyung smiled mischievously. Kyu Won would probably make a fuss if he knew, but such things weren’t important to Tae Kyung.

Winning Min Joon’s heart was more important to Tae Kyung than Kyu Won.

‘I don’t know how I came to cling to a child I once disliked.’

He gruffly threw a question at Min Joon.

“Have you played games?”

“Games?”

Min Joon shook his head vigorously. Tae Kyung called Min Joon and sat him on the sofa.

He turned on the game console and looked through the interface before entering the car game Kyu Won had been playing.

It was a car game featuring a mustached uncle character wearing a red hat and blue overalls that was popular in the past.

Tae Kyung attached the Joy-Con to the racing wheel and handed it to Min Joon so he could play the game.

Min Joon seemed a bit nervous, furrowing his brows.

“Don’t be nervous. This is nothing.”

After setting it so he could easily control without going off course, he let Min Joon play the car game.

“Vroom vroom! Watch out for banana peels! Whoa!”

“Ahhh! Item! Item! Oh no! I can’t see because of the ink!”

Thanks to the large TV screen, Min Joon was excited feeling like he was driving a real car.

He played the car driving game with his whole body, jumping up and down. His whole body leaned left when turning left corners and right when turning right corners.

Tae Kyung and Min Joon enjoyed the game fully absorbed like real father and son.

Myung Hoon watching them smiled contentedly.

Seo Ha’s heart fluttered. The scene she had dreamed of was unfolding before her eyes, but rather than joy, tears welled up.

‘How should I separate those two? If Min Joon becomes too attached to that person, how will we leave?’

Seo Ha’s mind was complicated.

As she sighed, Myung Hoon approached and patted her shoulder.

“Let everything flow naturally. Don’t try too hard. It won’t go as you want just because you do.”

“But Dad…”

“Min Joon needs a father too. Don’t just push Han teacher away unconditionally, think about it.”

Seo Ha couldn’t continue speaking and bit her lip.

Tae Kyung fully felt Seo Ha’s trembling gaze but pretended not to notice.

That evening.

At 9 o’clock, Seo Ha prepared to put Min Joon to bed.

“Kim Min Joon, brush your teeth and go to sleep now.”

“Aww. Can’t I play a little more?”

“No. Play tomorrow.”

“Teacher! Can I play the car game again tomorrow?”

“Of course. Let’s play when you wake up tomorrow morning. Good children should sleep early. That’s how you can grow tall and handsome like teacher.”

Min Joon unexpectedly followed Tae Kyung’s words obediently.

Seo Ha took out Min Joon’s indoor clothes, toothbrush, and toothpaste from her luggage.

Seo Ha skillfully bathed Min Joon and changed his clothes.

Seo Ha and Min Joon giggled about something funny in the bathroom.

After taking care of Min Joon, Seo Ha also washed up and came out.

“Sleep well, Min Joon.”

“Yes. Good night, teacher.”

Min Joon bowed slightly and went into the room.

Seo Ha also gave a light eye greeting and followed Min Joon in.

Seo Ha tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep easily, whether because the house was unfamiliar or because the lights were on.

Min Joon also seemed unable to sleep, fidgeting.

“Mom, it’s too bright for me.”

“Mom will hug you. Close your eyes tight and play the stone game. You have to stay still like a stone.”

“Okay. But I still can’t sleep.”

Seo Ha hugged Min Joon and patted his back. Seo Ha was extremely afraid of darkness, so she had a habit of always sleeping with a mood light on.

‘I should have brought a mood light. What should I do?’

Seo Ha regretted belatedly. That’s when.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked. Seo Ha raised her body and answered.

“Yes.”

“Ahem.”

A sound of clearing the throat was heard from outside the door, then the door opened gently.

Tae Kyung was standing there holding a paper bag in his hand.

“It’s me. This.”

“What is this?”

“A mood light. You need it, don’t you? How can the child sleep with the lights so bright like this?”

Seo Ha received the duck-shaped mood light Tae Kyung held out.

“Thank you.”

“It’s not that pretty since I bought it in a hurry, but it will do its job.”

“Yes…”

Tae Kyung replied indifferently to Seo Ha’s thanks.

‘You still remember.’

Seo Ha’s heart fluttered.

One of the few people who knew about Seo Ha’s small habits. Someone who had settled deep inside Seo Ha that much.

Seo Ha’s time with Tae Kyung in the past flashed by like a kaleidoscope.

He was a man who couldn’t hold her properly for fear of breaking her, and quietly watched over her lying beside her until she fell asleep.

Occasionally, on nights when she had nightmares, he would come running even in the early morning hours at just one phone call to comfort the trembling Seo Ha.

No matter how much she blocked and blocked again, Tae Kyung entered Seo Ha’s heart unexpectedly from unforeseen points.

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“Yes…”

Tae Kyung quietly went out and closed the door.

When she turned on the duck-shaped mood light and turned off the room lights, a soft orange light filled the room. The cozy and dim light soothed Seo Ha’s heart.

She felt even sadder feeling Tae Kyung’s warm heart who had gone out to buy a mood light for her despite the cold.

Min Joon unexpectedly fell asleep quickly. After shivering in the cold, his body seemed to relax drowsily as he entered the warm and soft bed, falling into a deep sleep. Seo Ha stroked Min Joon’s head.

Hyun Young’s words to make Tae Kyung give up lingered in Seo Ha’s mind.

Seo Ha needs to give up on Tae Kyung first, but as time passes, she is drawn to him again.

Since Hyun Young didn’t tell Seo Ha to give up on her own feelings, she thought somewhat meanly about holding onto these feelings even if just for a moment.

Seo Ha realized her heart trying to dodge Hyun Young’s request in various ways and found herself amusing.

And after pushing him away and running away, after saying mean things to him, what face did she have now to hold him in her heart.

She hugged her knees and lowered her head.

After staying like that for a while, Seo Ha came out of the room to drink water.

Tae Kyung was lying sideways on the sofa in the living room with his eyes closed.

Seo Ha approached Tae Kyung as if drawn.

Looking at the deeply sleeping Tae Kyung, she saw his furrowed brow. She unknowingly ran her fingers through Tae Kyung’s soft hair.

Just like 5 years ago.

Meanwhile, Tae Kyung, unable to go to his room, lay on the living room sofa and exhaled deeply through his teeth.

“You’re still afraid of the dark.”

Tae Kyung woke up at the sound of the door opening. But he felt Seo Ha would go back to her room if she knew he was awake.

His eyes were closed, but all his senses were on alert towards Seo Ha. He felt Seo Ha’s hand stroking his hair with his eyes closed.