Jaehyuk added to her words.

“…It wasn’t for long.”

His voice felt like he was letting out a sigh.

“And I am a person who keeps promises. So, I won’t leave without saying anything until the period I promised Jaehyuk passes.”

As she turned her head, his gaze looking at her felt vivid.

She couldn’t deny it. She was swaying toward him.

‘Is the reason he ignored me because of me?’

However, it wasn’t like she suddenly developed the willingness to accept him.

Hesitation still existed within her. But what couldn’t be undone was the wound in her heart.

‘There aren’t many things I can say to him.’

In fact, she kept questioning his approach.

‘Wasn’t there a better way? Was there really no other way than hiding?’

His explanation didn’t completely ease her heart.

“I understand Ban Jaehyuk’s feelings. But, even though Ban Jaehyuk explained the circumstances he couldn’t tell me about, I still find it hard to believe.”

“…”

“So, even though Ban Jaehyuk revealed the circumstances he couldn’t tell me about, I am still hesitant.”

He, who had only moved his lips, belatedly spoke.

“I will try harder from now on. So your heart can move on its own.”

She didn’t completely push him away, but she didn’t give him the answer he wanted either. She just gave him an opportunity. All of this was her own will, not someone else’s.

She was the one who spoke first and avoided eye contact.

Arin turned her head, avoiding Jaehyuk’s gaze. She felt he was looking at her, but she pretended not to notice.

In fact, she was scared.

What if the feeling of him being different was just an illusion she had created…

So she thought she needed to find out why he did that at that time. She was afraid of what he would say, what expression he would have when he said it, but she still wanted to hear it.

Even though he had changed, she didn’t know if his reaction to hearing words that hurt his pride would be different from her expectations. But she had to know the truth.

Accepting and not accepting that truth was her judgment. However, now that she knew the truth, she could only think about not knowing what to do.

A plaintive voice reached her ears.

“Arin, can’t you lift your head a little?”

She couldn’t lift her head in response to his voice.

“I want to talk while looking at your face.”

But with his repeated words, she slowly lifted her head. When their eyes met, a drawn-like smile appeared on his face. The thin yet not thin red lips slowly opened, and an excited voice echoed.

“Thank you for giving me a chance.”

Arin stared blankly at Jaehyuk. His crescent-shaped eyes were so beautiful.

It was the first time she thought he was beautiful.

There was no conversation in the returning car. But it was no longer awkward.
Silence wasn’t uncomfortable because she heard that his actions were because of her.

Unusual emotions surged within her.

Her heart was still pounding, but it was no longer a negative feeling. Her mind was calm, but contradictorily, her heart thumped.

‘Being together always felt uneasy.’

Now it wasn’t like that. It felt strange. Somehow she couldn’t see him, so she turned her head.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A few days later.

“How about tomorrow?”

After finishing work, Arin asked the employees who were finishing up.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

Cheol-yong, Soo-han, and the part-timer answered one by one.

“Nothing special.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Nothing at all.”

Last night, she made a big decision. And to convey that decision, she prepared her heart. Hiding her true feelings, she showed a smile and asked.

“How about a company dinner?”

The Memorya family cheered.

“Oh! I like company dinners.”

“Is the boss paying?”

“Absolutely!”

Taking advantage of Soo-han and the part-timer’s enthusiasm, Cheol-yong approached Arin. He bowed toward her, and in a small voice that only she could hear, he whispered.

“What about Hyun-ee?”

“I’ll contact him.”

“Yes.”

Hearing the answer, Cheol-yong stood up.

‘Even if it’s uncomfortable, I have to do it this time. If I hear from someone else that I’m quitting, it will hurt Hyun-ee even more.’

On the way home, Arin called Hyun.

The voicemail repeated several times through the speaker.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hyun-ee, looks like you’re very busy. We decided to have a company dinner with the Memorya family tomorrow. I have something important to discuss, so I hope you come. Please, Hyun-ee. I hope you come tomorrow.

In the end, she conveyed her feelings through a message. There was no reply from him.

So the day passed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The next day.

As she had said, after closing the store, all the Memorya family gathered in one place.

“Hyun-ee hasn’t come yet.”

One part-timer casually mentioned, and Arin’s face stiffened.

Cheol-yong, covering the part-timer’s mouth, said quietly.

“He’ll come. Hey.”

Cheol-yong glanced at Arin, who couldn’t hide her anxiety. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Cheol-yong’s gaze directed at her.