After meeting again, it was the first time we were this close without being hostile to each other.

Tae Kyung was afraid that if he opened his eyes now, she would run away.

He wanted to stay by Seo Ha’s side for even a little longer.

Seo Ha murmured as if sighing.

“Fool… Why did you find me… You should have forgotten about someone like me…”

Hearing her words, Tae Kyung wanted to grab her wrist and hold her in his arms right away.

Her self-talk, which was neither regret nor resentment, made Tae Kyung’s heart ache.

‘You’re the only one for me, how could I find you and let you go? How could I not come back to you?’

Tae Kyung vowed to shake her with all his might now.

So that it would be unbearably painful for her when he wasn’t by her side. So that she would never leave him again.

Just as he now couldn’t live without Seo Ha.

Although she had been pushing him away with cold, sharp words every time since their reunion, her touch now was warm and gentle like before. But her sadness seemed to have deepened.

Seo Ha sat next to Tae Kyung for a moment, leaning against the sofa, quietly looking at his face.

“Why have you become so gaunt… It breaks my heart…”

Even though Tae Kyung couldn’t see it, he could feel her gaze, which was sweet and yearning.

The warmth of her presence so close and the sweet scent of her skin mixed with the fragrance of his body wash stimulated all his senses. Her presence made Tae Kyung unable to move.

Pretending to be asleep, Tae Kyung turned his body towards Seo Ha. Perhaps thinking Tae Kyung was asleep, Seo Ha didn’t retreat. Instead, she traced his facial features with her soft fingers.

“I missed you… You probably don’t know. How much I longed for you. How painful it was for me, unable to appear before you. You don’t need to know, and you won’t be able to know in the future.”

Seo Ha’s soliloquy pierced Tae Kyung’s heart.

‘Why couldn’t you appear? No matter what you went through, no matter what pain you caused me, you were the only one for me.’

Seo Ha got up and went to the kitchen. Tae Kyung felt a lump in his throat from deep within his chest.

Foolishly, why does she keep trying to let go of herself?

She should have clung to me instead. If she had, I would have thought of Min Joon as my child regardless of whose child he was, and built a life with you.

It’s not too late even now. Why do you keep thinking of running away?

How should I hold onto you?

Tae Kyung tossed on the sofa, hiding his turmoil.

There was a fluttering sound from the room, and then it became quiet.

Tae Kyung felt light footsteps approaching him. After a moment, a blanket settled over Tae Kyung’s body.

Then, soft and tender lips lightly touched Tae Kyung’s forehead and pulled away.

Tae Kyung’s heart pounded loudly.

“Sleep well. Thank you and I’m sorry.”

Seo Ha’s low voice tickled Tae Kyung’s ear.

Tae Kyung could no longer pretend to be asleep. He grabbed Seo Ha’s wrist and pulled her.

“Ah.”

Unable to resist Tae Kyung’s strength, Seo Ha fell right onto his body.

Tae Kyung didn’t miss this chance and held Seo Ha in his arms. Tae Kyung closed his eyes. He felt that if he opened them, he wouldn’t be able to control his heart rushing towards her.

“It’s unfair. I was trying so hard to hold back.”

“…”

Hearing the low, murmuring voice, Seo Ha’s face turned bright red.

“Ah, you weren’t asleep?”

“What were you going to do if I was asleep?”

“Ah, no! That’s not it!”

As Seo Ha’s voice started to rise, Tae Kyung held her tighter. Seo Ha wriggled in Tae Kyung’s arms.

“Lower your voice. You might wake father and Min Joon.”

“Hm.”

Seo Ha immediately closed her mouth. Tae Kyung didn’t know his heartbeat could be this loud.

Her warmth, felt through the thin blanket and shirt, was familiar and longed for.

Tae Kyung thought Seo Ha would push him away immediately, but she remained still in his arms.

Being like this reminded him of the past. It felt like they had gone back 5 years.

[This is the timeline separator]

Seo Ha forcefully extracted herself from Tae Kyung’s arms. Tae Kyung’s arms released her limply.

She sat on the floor next to the sofa where Tae Kyung was lying, hugging her knees. She deeply inhaled the familiar scent of Tae Kyung behind her.

‘This moment might be the last with this person. If I stay together, I might not be able to run away again.’

To Seo Ha, who was silently by his side, Tae Kyung murmured pleadingly, as if he knew something.

“Don’t think about running away. Five years, isn’t five years of running enough?”

“…”

Seo Ha couldn’t bring herself to answer. Seo Ha, who had to prepare to leave again, couldn’t say she wouldn’t go.

“Elder brother Tae Kyung… Let me go.”

“What are you so afraid of? I can accept everything. I don’t care even if Min Joon isn’t my child. It’s okay even if you don’t love me like before.”

“We are not the Kim Seo Ha and Han Tae Kyung from 5 years ago. And now you have Jin Yoo Na too.”

Tae Kyung’s brow furrowed painfully at Seo Ha’s emotionless words.

“No, I only have you. I have no relationship with Jin Yoo Na. It’s just Jin Yoo Na’s one-sided claim.”

“Everyone around you wants Jin Yoo Na. Not me.”

“I don’t care if those around me want Jin Yoo Na or not. It has nothing to do with me. The only one I want is you. I want everything surrounding you. You, Min Joon, and father.”

Seo Ha’s eyes became moist. It was the same 5 years ago.

Tae Kyung only wanted Seo Ha, and said he wants her.

Seo Ha wanted to be a little, just a little more selfish. Even if just for this night.

But she shouldn’t.

Seo Ha’s and Tae Kyung’s heartbeats resonated in harmony.

As Seo Ha gently raised her head, her eyes met Tae Kyung’s looking down at her.

She tries to push him away from her heart with all her might, but he doesn’t budge at all.

[This is the timeline separator]

“It can’t be fixed today?”

“No. We need to order parts and it’s difficult to fix right away. I’ll put in an order to the main office and repair it as soon as the parts arrive. I’m really sorry.”

Seo Ha looked very embarrassed. Of course, the repair technician was apologizing with a face no less troubled than Seo Ha’s, so she couldn’t get angry.

The boiler repair technician came on the promised date, but unfortunately, the old boiler was having issues with its parts.

Moreover, the real estate office called saying they needed to rewrite the lease contract because the property owner had changed.

Seo Ha put her hand on her throbbing forehead and sighed.

She wonders why nothing in her life is easy, and can only sigh.

“I guess it can’t be helped.”

“I’m really sorry. I’ll repair it as soon as possible.”

“Yes. Please do.”

Seo Ha bowed to the repair technician. The technician also bowed neatly and left the house.

Left alone, she looked around the empty house. Unwillingly, it seems she’ll have to stay at Tae Kyung’s house for a few more days.

[I’m sorry, but they say it will take more time to repair.]

After some consideration, Seo Ha sent a text message, and in less than 5 minutes, a reply came from Tae Kyung.

[It’s okay. Stay as long as you need. I’ll be in Seoul for a while. Don’t worry about anything and just keep the heating on so Min Joon doesn’t catch a cold.] [Thank you.]

Although Tae Kyung had given permission, Seo Ha felt uneasy.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Tae Kyung said he would commute from Seoul the next day.

After that night, Seo Ha felt embarrassed to see Tae Kyung’s face.

The Tae Kyung who had spoken to her so passionately was gone, and seeing him act indifferently made her feel irritated for no reason.

‘Was I the only one whose heart wavered? Was it just a momentary impulse in the night?’

But she couldn’t grab Tae Kyung and ask, nor could she show that she was irritated.

Unintentionally, Seo Ha was suffering inwardly.

“Oh, what are you thinking, Kim Seo Ha.”

Seo Ha chided herself as she packed her and Min Joon’s clothes from the freezing house.

Although Tae Kyung had said to use the house freely, Seo Ha felt she should at least do some grocery shopping to avoid just taking advantage of his kindness, so she stopped by the market.

After buying side dishes that Min Joon liked, she was about to leave when Tae Kyung kept crossing her mind.

It seemed that Tae Kyung wasn’t eating properly while living alone.

Most of the food ingredients in the refrigerator were semi-prepared products, which worried her.

In case Tae Kyung came to Yangpyeong, she wanted to prepare a warm meal for him, so she bought ingredients for soybean paste stew and ssam bap, which he liked, and headed to Tae Kyung’s house.

“I should make some side dishes too. It’s only natural to do this much since he lent me the house.”

Although Seo Ha thinks in her head that she should push him away, she finds herself caring for him one by one before she realizes it, and she finds it hard to handle her capricious heart.

Seo Ha hurried her steps, worried that Min Joon and Myung Hoon might be waiting for too long.

Just as she was about to enter the common entrance of Tae Kyung’s villa, a large shadow fell in front of her.

When Seo Ha looked up, Tae Kyung was standing beside her.

“Why do you have so much luggage? If you were going to do this, you should have just moved in.”

“Well, I bought some clothes and side dishes.”

“Don’t try to show off strength you don’t have. You should have told me when I was coming down to Yangpyeong.”

Tae Kyung’s words had decreased compared to before, but the thorns between the two had softened a lot.

Seo Ha, feeling shy, deliberately responded more vigorously.

“I can do it well by myself.”

“That’s what you think. If you get hurt doing this, who’s going to take care of Min Joon?”

Tae Kyung clicked his tongue and took the luggage Seo Ha was carrying.

Seo Ha weakly let Tae Kyung take her luggage and hid her empty hands behind her back, feeling awkward.

Tae Kyung indifferently changed the topic to Min Joon’s well-being.

“I guess Min Joon is at home.”

“Yes. He’s with his father. But when did you arrive?”

“Just now. I have a kindergarten class tomorrow.”

“Ah…”

Seo Ha nodded at Tae Kyung’s answer.

“It must be heavy. I can carry it.”

“Take advantage when I offer to be a porter.”

Tae Kyung spoke gruffly, but his actions were kind.

Unable to refuse, Seo Ha followed Tae Kyung who was walking ahead.

The elevator door opened and they awkwardly got in together. With just the two of them inside, the air felt even heavier.

Seo Ha wanted to get home quickly, but contrary to her feelings, the elevator seemed particularly slow today.

The elevator door seemed to close slower than usual, then stopped with about 2cm left.

“Huh? Why isn’t it closing?”

“Press the door open button again.”

Tae Kyung calmly told the flustered Seo Ha.

Seo Ha pressed the door open button, but the elevator didn’t budge. After a moment, the door opened and then closed again.

An anxious breath escaped between Seo Ha’s teeth.

Unlike usual, the elevator moved with a rattling sound.

Because of this, Seo Ha’s anxiety grew.

She bit her lip and fidgeted with her hands.

After going up a bit, the elevator suddenly stopped again.

“Oh oh! Ah!”

To make matters worse, the elevator lights went out. Along with it, Seo Ha’s scream was heard.

Seo Ha dropped the luggage she was holding. Her body trembled. Her breathing became rapid. It was painful, as if someone was covering her nose and mouth.

Trapped in darkness, Seo Ha was sucked into her past wounds.

In the darkness, a child, pale with fear, cries as if having a seizure.

‘Mom! Save me! Mom! Mom!’