Su-yeon closed her eyes tightly.
Between the eyelashes, the teardrops that had precariously hung fell with a hood-like sound.

She remembered.

Very vividly and distinctly.

But, due to the incessant welling up of emotions, she couldn’t muster the courage to respond, so she nodded her head several times.

Even though he couldn’t possibly hear her response, amidst the waves of emotions that kept surging and covering her, all Su-yeon could do was that.

“For a very, very long time, let’s think that we’re enduring this brief difficulty now so that we can live truly happily without any hardships.”

“……”

“The difficulties now are because we want to be even happier in the future. So……. Please hang in there, Su-yeon. Don’t collapse like this.”

The unspoken words penetrated Su-yeon’s ears distinctly.

Not the composed voice of In-ho that had been there all along; instead, it trembled pitifully, as if pretending not to be.

As if he, too, was scared and fearful.

That initially startled her to her senses.

Su-yeon tried to hold back her tears.

Every time, her chest tightened as if it would burst, but she endured it with all her might, thinking of In-ho.

It seemed inappropriate to cry like this anymore, to act weak.

That kind of woman took a deep breath.

“It’s not too late to turn it back now.”

“…….”

“Even if I ask like this, you won’t change your mind, will you?”

With a last earnest request, she asked him. The answer came promptly.

“I know very well.”

Because it was a response without any hesitation, Su-yeon couldn’t help but smile through her tears.

Taking a deep breath until the very end, she closed her eyelids firmly.

Then, unlike before, she raised her head with strength.

At the same time, Su-yeon once again firmly resolved her heart.

She would do anything for him. She would definitely accomplish it.

Despite having chewed over these thoughts for two days, she deeply engraved them in her heart again.

Although only her mindset had changed, everything felt much lighter.

Su-yeon, with a fairly resolute voice, spoke.

“I miss you, In-ho. I really miss you a lot.”

“……I miss you a lot too.”

“I’ll go. I’ll bring the gifts In-ho prepared for me and run with all my might for you.”

Su-yeon glanced at the scattered papers on the table.

The paper she had been reading for several nights summarized the contents of her arduous life and the progress of the plan prepared by In-ho and Young-sun in a clear and organized manner.

Thanks to it, she could fully understand what their plan was in a short amount of time.

Su-yeon bravely wiped away her tears.

“I’m sorry for causing such a big mess without saying a word. I wanted to save you splendidly like a prince on a white horse, but……”

“…….,”
“I’ll be waiting. I’ll endure it well until you come to pick me up. So, don’t worry about me… Let’s see each other soon.”

Suyeon bit her lower lip.

Despite wiping it off, moisture began to spread again on her cheeks.

She couldn’t hide the concern for herself, but she, who hadn’t shown any sign of difficulty, seemed fatigued in her voice when she said, “Let’s see each other soon.”

That once again crushed her heart.

However, Suyeon took a deep breath and answered firmly, “Yeah. I’ll go quickly. I’ll go see Inho as soon as possible.”

Inho missed her terribly.

Saturday morning.

Donghoon’s car traveled on a quiet road.

It was the way to Chunho’s house in Yangpyeong.

The road to Chunho’s house unfolded shortly before leaving Yangpyeong.

Until recently, only sharp branches had spread in various directions, but in the meantime, fresh buds had sprouted.

Donghoon slowed down and rolled down the window.

A quite warm breeze poured into the car in an instant.

He raised a faint smile in the pleasant gust of wind.

“Spring will come soon.”

The voice talking about spring was incongruously filled with loneliness.

As if thinking of someone, the eyes that had been tightly closed like a fog quickly found focus and stared at a distant white house.

Unknowingly, they were approaching their destination.

“You’re here early.”

C
Only then did Chunho, who had been staring only at the Go board, raise his eyes to glance at Donghoon.

“If it were your dad sitting here, he would have bolted out with a bamboo shoot on his head.”

“I can’t say such things to my grandfather. That’s Arthur for you. You should try letting that inspiration of yours know that I heard something your dad couldn’t. It would be fortunate if he doesn’t foam at the mouth with that darned pride of his.”

Chunho shook his head as if he didn’t want to imagine that.

Why it seemed so amusing, Donghoon couldn’t erase his laughter for a long time.

In the meantime, Chunho focused his gaze on the Go board again.

Donghoon, who had been observing from a distance, cautiously made his move.

“But why did you come?”

Even after hearing Donghoon’s words, Chunho remained silent for a long time.

10 minutes turned into 20, and quickly it became 30.

Chunho, who had put down the black stone he was holding, raised his head to look at Donghoon.

“How about playing a game of baduk after a long time?”