“What should I do?”

Leon, who quickly ended the call, muttered to himself.

“It’s gotten complicated for no reason.”

For a muttered remark, it was too loud.

“What’s going on? Why is Taeha like this?”

“It seems like Sihyun and I are together right now. Whether they want to be alone tonight or not, he told me not to come in.”

In addition to the awkward expression, Suyeon thought about what to do and quickly remembered that this person was the owner of the Grand Hotel.

“There should be plenty of rooms in the hotel. What’s the worry?”

“It’s Friday night. There’s no way there’s an empty room.”

“Then go to another hotel.”

“Other hotels are the same on Friday night.”

“Then go to a motel!”

“It’s Friday night.”

Suyeon almost let out a scream. No matter what she said, the response was that damn Friday night.

“This is a problem. I can’t sleep on the street.”

Leon sighed heavily and glanced around as if showing his thoughts.

Clearly showing what he was thinking, Suyeon suddenly felt scared. This man, who was large, kind, and had a habit of smiling happily when he looked at her, always seemed scary to Suyeon.

Because he might jump over the wall she had carefully built up.

Jump over it and then disappear on his own terms as if to say, “When did I ever do that?”

“There’s nothing I can do.”

Intentionally pretending not to know, Leon raised his disappointed face with the phone.

“There’s nothing I can do. Tonight, it seems I have no choice but to sleep with Taeha and Sihyun.”

“What are you doing?”

Trying to make a call, Leon’s arm was grabbed by Suyeon in surprise.

“It’s finally a chance for young people to be alone together. What if parents interfere?”

Suyeon closed her eyes and sighed.

“Just sleep and leave.”

Entering the small room of about five square meters, Leon made a face as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

“…”

He must be thinking about how people live in such a place. Ashamed of being caught in the act, Suyeon bit her lip.

She spread the beddings separately. Even if she lay down trying to keep her distance, the room was so small that she could only reach within arm’s length.

“Then, let’s sleep.”

The faint light of the stand filled the small room. Suyeon turned her back to Leon and closed her eyes. She was worried that her heart was pounding, not because of excitement but because of anxiety.

If he reaches out, can I push him away?

If he tries to hug me, can I push him away?

Fortunately, Leon didn’t do anything. After a while of silence, Suyeon wondered if he had fallen asleep, but a quiet voice came from behind.

“…It’s nice, not being able to see your face.”

Suyeon thought for a moment. What does that mean?

Perhaps I have changed a lot. So now, because I’m turning my back, does he want to say that I look like the girl he loved?

Before she could get sentimental, he spoke again.

“I had countless words I practiced to say when I meet you. But when I see your face, I can’t say anything like a fool.”

Leon whispered quietly behind Suyeon.

“I’m grateful that you didn’t give up and gave birth to our child. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to come and get you. I…”

Suyeon cut off the rest of his words, thinking it wouldn’t be good to hear them.

“Okay, let’s stop and go to sleep. I’m tired.”

A man who was rejected before confessing asked, sounding regretful.
“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

“I don’t have anything.”

“Then why did you work so hard to learn English?”

“I learned it because of Taeha. I thought Taeha would have grown up as an American.”

Suyeon cut in, as if she had never imagined talking to him in English.

In fact, she learned English because of Taeha, but in her memories, Taeha was still a newborn baby who hadn’t even started cooing. So naturally, her imaginary conversation partner was always Leon.

In her imagination, she said countless things to Leon.

Is our baby doing well?

What’s the name? Has he grown tall?

Is he not sad because he doesn’t have a mom?

Why didn’t you come to get us? Don’t you miss me?

Did you really forget about me?

But now, all those words in her imagination seemed trivial.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

When Taeha was mentioned, Leon’s voice quickly revealed a painful expression.

“There’s no need to apologize. You didn’t even know about Taeha.”

Suyeon pulled the blanket up to her neck, closed her eyes, and said, “I’m tired. Let’s stop talking and go to sleep.”

It was a plea to leave her alone, but the man was persistent.

“I hated you a lot, didn’t I?”

“It’s all in the past.”

Suyeon’s cold response caused hot tears to flow down her cheeks.

Having lived through various struggles, Suyeon had often shared a room with someone. So, to avoid getting caught, she got into the habit of crying silently even when alone. Suyeon bit her lip to swallow the sob. She silently prayed for him to act like he didn’t know, but a pitiful voice came from behind.

“Don’t cry so silently like that.”

Leon quietly put his hand on her restless shoulder.

“Scream, curse, resent as much as you want. I’ll listen to everything.”