Surrounded by beautiful magnolia trees, this place, where numerous flower buds burst with fragrance, enhanced the atmosphere of the night. It was a perfect place for a secret date.

“Why did we come here all of a sudden?”

Soyeon, who had landed on the ground, flicked off the raindrops stuck to the hem of her skirt and looked at Seojun with piercing eyes.

Seojun, who turned on a small light hanging from the greenhouse ceiling, looked around the cozy greenhouse and slowly responded to Soyeon’s question.

“I wanted to be alone with Eom Soyeon.”

The warm light settling here exuded a romantic atmosphere like a dream of a midsummer night. In addition, Seojun’s low voice. The combination was fatally appealing, and Soyeon’s heart couldn’t help but thump.

“There are still many guests at home. What if they find out we’re missing and come looking for us? We should go back quickly.”

However, from Soyeon’s mouth, an insincere remark immediately flowed out.

“Eom Soyeon is really worried. If an adult man and woman, a couple promised to get married, suddenly disappear, the reason is obvious. Why would they look for us?”

“I find that even more embarrassing.”

Eom Soyeon was a woman who cared more about others than herself. She was not only lacking in greed but also completely unaware of anything for her own sake.

As Soyeon, who had sat down in the center of the greenhouse on a worktable, looked up, Seojun grabbed her hand, feeling empty-handed. Even though they were sitting side by side, her forehead didn’t reach Seojun’s eye level. Seojun and Soyeon, looking down and up at each other, were undoubtedly a tender couple to anyone who saw them.

“Actually, I have something to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you do that? A man for just one night, you could have easily given up.”

“W-What are you talking about?”

“Eom Soyeon almost died. When giving birth to Hyunwoo.”

“……!”

Seeing his perfect facial features freeze in an instant, Soyeon’s pulse raced rapidly. Raindrops were hitting the greenhouse glass vigorously and falling. In sync with that sound, her heart throbbed loudly.
“I heard your story from the doctor who was in charge of you, but I couldn’t say a word, even if I had ten mouths. When Eom Soyeon held my child and when you endured the pain of giving birth to my child, I was clueless like an idiot!”

Seojun spoke with a firm tone. However, in his trembling gaze and his eyes that seemed to crumble, intense emotions were felt.

“…….”

Soyeon, who stretched her tense shoulders, bit her lower lip instead of saying that she would have done the same thing even if she could turn back time. At that moment, a sharp voice mixed with the rain caught her ears.

“Shall I tell you how pathetic I am? If I make an effort, can I forget you? When I finish my military service, should I somehow find you and tie you next to me? No, should I just take everything from you? While I was absorbed in such trivial thoughts, you…”

Interrupting his voice in the middle, Seojun, who spat out a self-deprecating laugh, continued.

“It was you who went back and forth between life and death on the cold operating table! Not once, but twice!”

Two years ago, Eom Soyeon also passed through a critical situation. How did he feel when he heard the report that it was because of Yoo Jeonghwa’s interference? Seojun’s expression, reflecting on those feelings again, was deeply grimaced.

Seojun rarely revealed painful emotions. Seeing such Taeseojun for the first time, Soyeon near her throat involuntarily twitched.

“Why is Mr. Seojun pathetic? I didn’t say anything, so it’s natural that you don’t know!”

He must have been in pain because of her. Closing her large eyes tightly, Soyeon slowly and meticulously poured out the events from a long time ago.

“When I was giving birth to Hyunwoo, the danger was something no one could have expected. I was losing consciousness, and when the baby’s heartbeat became too weak, the words that the baby might not survive if we didn’t perform surgery immediately woke me up. I heard that it was uncertain whether the baby could withstand it right away.”

“So… you risked your life?”

“Yes.”

Because that’s how she was made. Even in the worst situation, it was entirely her responsibility to save her child. Because any mother would have done the same. Above all, the child was the one she wanted and longed for.

Soyeon, who expressed that emotion in a straight gaze, stared at Seojun. Then, taking a deep breath, she continued.

“Yes, I did. I wanted to protect my child at least. I didn’t want to give up. It didn’t hurt or scare me much to think it was the only connection to you.”

“It didn’t hurt much to go through the excruciating pain of every bone? Ha….”

The more he heard, the more astonishing Seojun just sighed heavily. Then he stretched out his fingers, holding his temples.

“It’s all in the past now.”

“Shall we forget about the past? Truly like Eom Soyeon. That’s why I’m the worse one.”
The voice that came out twisted and sounded slightly shaky. It was somewhat strange, wasn’t it? Unconsciously reaching out towards Seojun’s face, Soyeon swept away the hand covering her eyes, and she tentatively touched his cheek, as if hesitating to erase the moisture that might disappear at any moment.

But the dampness felt on her fingertips…

Surely…!

Is this man crying?