“Grandmother, is our blessing really a son?”

“Hey, something else came for Hyun Ju. Go home and open it carefully~”

“Okay.”

Ha Jun rose from her seat, laughing at Bok Seon’s familiar nonsense. Since Ha Jun’s belly started to show, Bok Seon had confidently declared that the baby would surely be a boy.

The two walked home slowly, holding hands tightly.

Ha Jun’s eyes widened at the sight of the large parcel box placed on the porch.

“My goodness! What’s so big?”

Upon closer inspection, it was a box printed with colorful toy-like shapes and a smiling foreign baby. This was clearly baby items.

Ha Jun took out her phone and called Hyun Ju.

“Elder sister. What big thing did you send again? You and Yeon A already brought all sorts of things last time.”

− Hoho~ Do you know how deep and wide the world of baby products is? This is just the beginning. Remember this. You can somehow raise a child without all the baby items, but if you have them, you’ll end up using them all and they’re all very helpful. Childcare is all about the gear! Okay?

“Pfft, I got it. Thank you, elder sister.”

− No need for thanks, our kids are going crazy asking when their little sibling is coming out. They’re always on edge since we don’t know the due date. So far, thankfully, you’ve grown healthy and held on well, but for the delivery, you need to go to the hospital.

“Of course. We need to deliver our blessing safely. And it’s been a long time now. Over there… it’s quiet, right?”

− Yes, it’s quiet. People with a lot usually don’t have much patience. Now let’s put aside the worries and do well. I’ll come with Yeon A next weekend. Take care and fighting!

“Fighting!!”

Ha Jun, who shouted “fighting” in a bright voice, hung up the phone and started to open the parcel box. Ha Jun, whose sparkling eyes were now filled with all sorts of happy emotions unlike before, no longer looked like an expressionless doll.

Just an ordinary and happy pregnant woman. She looked exactly like that, no more, no less.

Ha Jun, carrying a miraculous and heartwarming life in her belly, regained her bright and innocent appearance that she probably had since birth in Bok Seon’s warm embrace.

Every day was fun and happy.

Hyun Ju, along with her children, and Yeon A visited this place at least once a month without fail.

Together with Hyun Ju’s two daughters who were happy to have a pretty aunt, they went to the beach to pick up shells, drew pictures, went to the market to snack together, and before they knew it, Hyun Ju and Yeon A had become like real sisters to Ha Jun.

Now all that’s left is to safely meet the blessing.

“Wow~ My goodness! It’s so cute!”

Ha Jun’s eyes shone happily like a child receiving a long-awaited Christmas gift as she looked at the adorable baby chair. Then, as she opened another box inside, out came sky blue and yellow adorable baby shoes and hat.

“This must be from Yeon A.”

She chose something cute just like her. With the baby clothes and toys that Hyun Ju and Yeon A had already bought piling up, Ha Jun’s lips kept twitching at the thought that she might have to sell them at the market.

“Blessing, how will mommy repay all the kindness from your aunts?”

“Oh my~ How pretty. Blessing, look at this.”

Bok Seon, who had taken out a small shopping bag from the box, showed a buttoned newborn shirt.

“It’s pretty.”

Ha Jun smiled broadly.

After organizing the baby items and having dinner with Bok Seon, watching drama, it was already night.

Bok Seon, who had been dozing off in front of the TV, couldn’t resist the oncoming sleep and yawned widely.

“Oh my~ Grandma needs to sleep now. Our blessing, sleep well too, okay?”

“Yes, good night.”

Ha Jun smiled and saw off Bok Seon who went into the main room, then entered her own room.

In the dark room, without even turning on the lights, Ha Jun slowly laid her heavy body on the floor.

Although it was uncomfortable without a bed, thanks to the incredibly thick topper Yeon A had sent, the floor was soft and fluffy.

However, Ha Jun’s expression was quite different from when she was with Bok Seon earlier. That expressionless face with empty eyes that showed no emotion, just like before.

Her night was completely different from her desperately happy daytime appearance.

Unable to lie straight due to her very swollen belly, she lay on her side, and a tear flowed from her eye, wetting the pillow.

“Blessing…, come out quickly. So we can be together. Then these dark nights…, nights when it feels like that person is holding me, might end. Baby….”

Ha Jun wiped away the flowing tears with the back of her hand.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not sad. It’s just…, I miss him. I’m thinking of that person, your father….”

The memory she would never forget until she died. It wasn’t the hot nights she spent with him, the thrilling sensation etched all over her body.

It was just the smiling face of the man named Kim Yi Hyun, the voice whispering that he loved her, the careful and warm touch as if caressing something precious.

Every moment of him, every appearance of him.

The longing that was hidden, covered by the gentle happiness while the sun shone on her, would quietly raise its head when night fell.

Ha Jun’s nights were still sorrowful and still belonged to Kim Yi Hyun.

Ji Won was packing Yi Hyun’s belongings with a rather disgruntled expression.

“Why don’t you stay a bit longer? The doctor is against it and you need rehabilitation, so why insist on being discharged?”

“I’ve been here long enough. It’s time to go home now.”

“How about going to your family home, Director?”

“No thank you, Manager Han. Pack the luggage properly.”

“Tch, I’ve already packed everything. I’ll bring the wheelchair.”

“No need. Just give me the crutches.”

Yi Hyun received the crutches and put weight on his right leg, which had healed a few months earlier, and took a step.

The leg that hadn’t moved for 6 months had noticeably lost muscle, showing a difference in thickness and was even whiter in color.

With the help of security guards standing in front, they came down to the VIP parking lot where a heavy SUV was waiting instead of Yi Hyun’s sedan that had been half-destroyed in the accident.

“Since a low-bodied car would be difficult to get in and out of. How is it, Director? The chief secretary’s brilliant sense?”

“Not bad.”

Yi Hyun slowly got into the back seat of the car. As Ji Won, who took the wheel, was about to press Yi Hyun’s home on the navigation, a low voice was heard from the back.

“Go to the officetel.”

“Huh?”

“The officetel.”

“……”

Ji Won drove the car silently. Towards the officetel that no one had touched or entered since Ha Jun left on Yi Hyun’s orders, which by now would be covered in a fine layer of dust.

“Do you really… have to be there? Ah, nevermind. I’m asking unnecessary things. I’ll have the officetel cleaned right away and install some leg rehabilitation exercise equipment.”

“Okay. Do as you see fit. Don’t touch anything in the bedroom.”

“Okay. I’ll just dust it off, just dust.”

As Ji Won, who immediately put on Bluetooth earphones, made calls somewhere giving various instructions, the car smoothly drove on the road. Manager Han, who finished the call, glanced at Yi Hyun through the rearview mirror.

Yi Hyun with an expressionless face, showing no emotion. This was the look he saw most often these days.

When they arrived at the officetel, cleaning was already in full swing. As it wasn’t a very large space, the tidying up was quickly finished and people left.

The space that hadn’t changed at all since Ha Jun was there welcomed Yi Hyun. He stood at the entrance, looking around the house blankly before fixing his gaze on the sofa.

Ji Won, who brought the luggage into the house, dusted off his hands and said,

“The exercise equipment will arrive early tomorrow morning. I think I can receive it when I go to work, and the helper lady will come from tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“But are you really okay staying here alone? Should I stay with you?”

“No need.”

“I’m worried about you being alone at night…”

“Except for one leg, I’m perfectly fine. Go.”

Yi Hyun entered the room and sat down heavily on the sofa. Although he looked relaxed throughout, Ji Won was still looking at Yi Hyun with worried eyes.

“If anything happens, contact me right away. If you fall or twist something, okay?”

“I’m tired. Go.”

“…Alright.”

Ji Won, who had been hesitating until the end, finally moved his reluctant feet. As the door closed and Yi Hyun was left alone, a long sigh escaped his lips.

It was now time to be alone, no longer needing to pretend to be strong or okay.

“Hah…, coming here makes me miss you even more…”

Yi Hyun’s hand slowly stroked the sofa. There was no place in this small space without traces of Ha Jun.

She always sat on this sofa waiting for Yi Hyun. The image of Ha Jun sitting quietly like a doll, then turning her head to look at him with clear eyes seemed to flicker before his eyes.

The sight of her brewing coffee in the kitchen, the sight of her cooking stew and preparing rice when some wind blew and she said she would make food…

“Not knowing that was your farewell…”

Yi Hyun slowly got up. His slow and heavy steps, supporting himself with crutches, headed towards the bedroom.

The place where the two who only shared night time spent the most time together. The bed that was always filled with Ha Jun’s gentle scent, warm body temperature that calmed the heart.

But now Yi Hyun lay down on the cold bed with no scent or warmth, just chilly.

“Lee Ha Jun…”

How did you feel waiting for me here every day? What were you thinking when you disappeared on your own?

“Did you think I could live well without you…, that I would forget you? So are you, are you happy now forgetting me?”

I feel like I’m dying.

Yi Hyun closed his eyes. The resentful Lee Ha Jun didn’t appear even in his dreams.

In fact, it would be more accurate to say that he doesn’t dream because he either stays up all night or takes sleeping pills and passes out like fainting, unable to sleep at all after she disappeared.

“Still…, it feels good to come here…, where I was with you. Ha Jun. Stay healthy, don’t get sick, and take care. I’ll come find you soon… Wait just a little, just a very little bit longer.”