A high-end SUV that didn’t match the quiet fishing village glided into the narrow alley.

With the sun already set and the alley entrance dark, Yi Hyun and Ji Won got out of the car parked near the blue gate.

“It’s over there. Where sister-in-law is staying.”

Yi Hyun’s eyes followed Ji Won’s pointing finger, moving restlessly. He took slow, deliberate steps towards the gate and took a deep breath as he stood before it.

Beyond the low wall, the house with all its lights out was silent and still.

His hand hesitated, about to knock on the old blue gate that had no doorbell, then dropped back down. Though he wanted nothing more than to rush in and hold Ha Jun, he couldn’t wake her if she was already asleep.

“Hah…”

Another deep sigh escaped him. He turned and got back in the car. Ji Won, sitting in the driver’s seat, turned to look at Yi Hyun’s stony expression.

“Brother. Are you alright?”

“I can’t wake her if she’s sleeping. I’ll… see her in the morning.”

“…”

Yi Hyun closed his eyes. Ji Won let out a barely audible sigh and took out his phone.

“It’s me. Where are you now?”

– There’s an all-white painted house towards the beach from the blue-gated house. It’s a private pension with a wooden sign that says ‘Seocheon Sori’ on the wall.

“You all withdraw now. I’ll use the lodging.”

Ji Won hung up and started the car.

“Where are we going?”

“There’s a place the staff reserved just down there. Let’s rest there and come back in the morning.”

“…”

The car moved. Yi Hyun silently stared out the window at the blue gate.

The lodging was very close. Less than a 2-minute walk away.

The two got out of the car and entered the simple, cozy private pension.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m fine. Get some rest.”

Yi Hyun wordlessly went into the room. Another sigh escaped Ji Won’s lips.

“Should have just told him tomorrow and come.”

Ji Won regretted rushing to Yi Hyun with the news of finding Ha Jun without thinking it through, but it was already done, water under the bridge.

Yi Hyun stood motionless in the dark room, staring at the window where moonlight streamed in.

Right there in front… Ha Jun was there.

His heart pounded fiercely, joy and anxiety alternating.

The bustling sounds from outside faded and the clock on the wall neared 1 AM.

Yi Hyun finally went back outside. Retracing his steps, he came upon the blue-gated house where Ha Jun slept.

Yi Hyun leaned against the low wall.

The humid summer night air clung stickily, tinged with salt.

In the early dawn, as the scenery slowly brightened, Yi Hyun was still leaning against the wall by the blue gate.

His left leg, not yet fully healed, ached dully from standing still all night like a statue, but he didn’t move.

As the surroundings grew bright, Yi Hyun slowly turned his head. His eyes, looking at the still silent house, were filled with impatience.

After several more hours passed, the peaceful quiet was finally broken by a child’s loud voice.

“Mom! Grandma! Auntie!! Hurry! We finished eating so we have to go to the beach!”

Jae Kyung’s excited shout rang clearly over the wall.

Soon after, with a sliding sound, the door opened and a small child ran out. Following the child was Ha Jun.

Yi Hyun’s eyes, peering over the wall into the house, widened.

Ha Jun was… smiling brightly. With the purest expression, she was laughing joyfully with a loud, clear laugh.

“Jae Kyung, wait. Jae Ah still has food left, right? And you need to brush your teeth too.”

“Oh! Right! I’ll brush my teeth! I can do it by myself!”

“Really? Wow~ That’s amazing~!”

“Hehe, I’m seven years old~ and a big sister!”

“Wonderful! You’re truly beautiful, big sister is the best!”

Ha Jun gave a thumbs up as she praised, and Jae Kyung cutely shrugged her shoulders.

“Mmm~ But actually, I think Aunt Ha Jun is the prettiest in the world. Hehe~”

Jae Kyung stuck out her tongue and laughed. Yeon A, who had followed them out, looked at Jae Kyung in disbelief.

“What? Jae Kyung! Then what about auntie? You used to say auntie was the prettiest!”

“That was before Aunt Ha Jun was here!”

“Tch, can’t be helped. I admit my defeat.”

At Yeon A’s joking, Ha Jun’s joyful laughter spilled over the wall once again. Yi Hyun outside just stared blankly.

At Ha Jun smiling as he had always hoped and wished to see, at those who made her laugh.

“Oh? There’s someone over there!”

Suddenly Jae Kyung pointed her finger over the wall. Yeon A and Ha Jun’s faces hardened as they saw a man’s head clearly visible above the low wall.

Ha Jun recognized him immediately. A man she could never mistake, Kim Yi Hyun, who still shook her nights.

Trying hard to hide her shock, Ha Jun spoke gently to Jae Kyung in front of her.

“Jae Kyung, go inside with Aunt Yeon A and brush your teeth and watch TV. We’ll go to the beach a little later. Okay?”

“Okaaay~!”

“Sister…”

“It’s alright. I’ll… be back in a moment.”

Leaving Yeon A looking upset, Ha Jun walked slowly. Her vision swam dizzily and her breath caught.

As she unlocked the gate and pushed it open with a creak, Ha Jun’s face had become as rigid as a doll’s. Seeing her like that, deep pain filled Yi Hyun’s eyes.

“Why did you come here?”

“Ha Jun…”

“Why did you come? To collect a debt?”

The same expressionless face, calm voice as before. Completely different from her bright smile earlier.

“No, I came because I missed you. Because I longed for you.”

“You have a wonderful fiancée and you’re getting married soon. Why are you doing this now when you never looked for me before? I’m sorry, but I don’t want to see Kim Yi Hyun again.”

Her cold voice devoid of emotion and indifferent eyes stabbed sharply at Yi Hyun’s heart. Yi Hyun barely managed to move his stiff lips.

“Do you… really mean that?”

“I’ll pay back the debt little by little as I earn money from work. So please leave. I’d prefer if we never see each other’s faces again.”

Ha Jun continued speaking as if unbothered. Grateful for all the times she had killed and killed her emotions over and over in the past, she feigned calmness and stared at Yi Hyun expressionlessly, erasing the faint trembling with all her might.

Meeting that unfeeling gaze, Yi Hyun felt the world spinning before his eyes. Seeing Ha Jun devoid of any emotion, his heart clenched painfully and his breath quickened.

But he managed to utter the one thing he had most wanted to say to Ha Jun all this time.

“I love you.”

At his choked voice, Ha Jun’s eyes wavered for an instant. Yi Hyun, who had been watching only her, didn’t miss it.

“I don’t. I… don’t love Kim Yi Hyun.”

“Don’t lie. You love me too. Did you think I wouldn’t know that? Are you saying that when we were together, your eyes, your touch, your gestures weren’t love? Does that make sense?”

“Why doesn’t it make sense? I just… was grateful that you helped me, and I had to repay the debt, so that’s why I acted that way. I have nothing more to say.”

Ha Jun turned her back coldly. Or rather, she tried to.

But faster than she could turn away, Yi Hyun’s arm shot out and caught her slender body, trapping her in his embrace.

“I love you Ha Jun, I can’t be without you.”

His hot embrace was still comforting and his tremendous heartbeat could be clearly felt. Fighting the urge to crumble at Yi Hyun’s scent and touch that she had missed to the point of tears, Ha Jun pushed against him with all her strength. But his strong arms didn’t let her go or budge.

“Please don’t do this. Please… don’t make this hard for me.”

In the end, Ha Jun’s voice trembled faintly. Yi Hyun blankly stared at her reddened eyes growing moist in his arms.

Her tearful words were soft and broken, but Ha Jun slowly spoke her true feelings.

“I… already have a man I love. A man I wouldn’t hesitate to give my life for… who only looks at me and for whom I am the whole world. I… will live with that man for the rest of my life. So… there is no place for you in my heart.”

As she finished speaking with difficulty, Ha Jun pushed Yi Hyun away and broke free from his embrace. Shocked by her words, Yi Hyun couldn’t even think to hold onto her and just stood there blankly.

Ha Jun didn’t even look at Yi Hyun as she quickly turned and went back inside the gate.

With a loud bang, the blue gate closed, leaving Yi Hyun behind to sink down where he stood.

“The things I… have to tell you…”

Are so many…

Yi Hyun couldn’t say anything, as if broken. He couldn’t.

Ha Jun’s beautiful smile, brimming with happiness, had shattered with his appearance.

Now he was nothing more than an intruder who had ruthlessly destroyed the happiness she had longed for.

“A man she loves…”

It had been just over half a year since she disappeared from his side. In less than a year, while Yi Hyun was confined to a hospital bed with his legs broken, Ha Jun had found new love and happiness here?

So that’s how she could smile… so brightly?

“It can’t be.”

It must be a lie. It must definitely be a lie.

Thick tears fell from his bloodshot eyes.