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Sooho watched as Gotak helped Hyeori down the hospital steps. He had to admit, it bugged him a little how attentive the guy was with her—but he didn’t say anything. Even he was getting help from Baku, who’d noticed how hard it was for him to walk, no matter how much he tried to act tough.
“Nonna!”
Juntae came running over, smiling brightly when he saw Hyeori do a little hop off the last step with Gotak’s help. He high-fived the older boy before turning to her and handing over a small candy.
“Here. Recharge so you can get better fast.”
Hyeori smiled and ruffled his hair before glancing at the candy—it was shaped like a tiny cat. Her eyes flicked to Sieun, who was watching her with a small smile.
“Look, it kind of looks like you,” she joked.
Gotak burst into laughter, teasing Sieun immediately.
Sooho was caught off guard when Juntae walked up to him, too, holding out a candy with trembling hands and avoiding eye contact.
“I brought one for you too, hyung…”
Sooho looked at him, then smiled softly when he saw it was one of his favorites.
“Ah, you’re such a good kid. Yah, Sieun, how rude—why didn’t you bring me anything, huh?” he teased, slinging his arm around Juntae’s shoulder. “Good thing this guy’s got my back when my girlfriend’s out here getting all the attention.”
Sieun smiled faintly as he watched Sooho and Juntae walk ahead. The older boy was talking animatedly, occasionally ruffling the younger one’s hair, while Juntae looked up at him like he was the coolest person ever.
“Is he always like this?” Baku asked, raising an eyebrow as he observed the two.
“Give it a few days. You’ll like him,” Gotak replied.
“My love, that kid owns the limited edition Batman collection!” Sooho exclaimed suddenly.
Hyeori giggled, stepping forward toward Sieun, who gently took her hand to help steady her. Together, they walked over to Sooho, who was now excitedly asking Juntae how many pages the comic had and how he kept it in good condition.
Gotak and Baku stayed behind, watching the four walk together—Sooho with his arm around Juntae’s shoulder, and Hyeori holding hands with Sieun. At one point, the two couples crossed paths and Hyeori and Sooho ended up walking hand in hand.
Gotak let out a chuckle, which made Baku look over curiously.
“One time… Hyeori told me Sieun was like her baby and…” he snorted a bit louder, “look at them from here—don’t they kinda look like a couple with their two kids?”
Baku stepped beside him, staring at the scene. They really did look like a family. It was funny… but kind of sweet too.
“That explains why she’s always so protective of Sieun.”
* * *
Sooho glanced around curiously, his hand firmly intertwined with his girlfriend’s as she guided him through the hallway leading to their home.
“This place feels really fresh,” he murmured, noticing all the trees surrounding the building.
“It is… Nala used to love going for walks around here,” she said softly, her tone carrying a hint of sadness, though she still smiled.
“I bet she did…” he whispered, releasing her hand so he could wrap an arm around her waist. “I’m sure she enjoyed every last moment with you.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.
Hyeori smiled and caressed her own cheek with his hand before stopping in front of a plain, gray metal door, just like all the others in the building.
“This is it.”
“Ugh, finally. My legs are killing me.” Hyeori turned to him immediately, a little worried, but he smiled and booped her nose. “I’m fine, just the stairs. Don’t stress.”
She nodded, though the worry still clung to her chest. She quickly unlocked the door and led him inside.
The moment Sooho stepped in, he felt a strange warmth. It reminded him of walking into Hyeori’s house years ago—though this time, there weren’t two huge dogs tackling him. When he looked at Hyeori and saw her smiling with those shining eyes he adored so much, he smiled too.
“Finally, I can put these to use,” she said, grinning as she showed him a pair of Batman slippers she’d bought some time ago.
“He’ll love them,” she’d thought when she bought them. And she was right. The moment he saw them, his mouth fell open and a joyful little laugh escaped him. He took them in his hands and looked up at her, his eyes full of love.
“They’re awesome!” he practically shouted, throwing his arms around her gently. She just laughed as he squealed with excitement while opening the package.
“I knew you’d like them. I bought them a few months ago. Look, I also got these for Sieun.” She held up some Robin-colored slippers, making Sooho laugh.
“He’s gonna love them.”
“You think so? I didn’t have the courage to give them to him last time he came over… Thought they were too childish and he wouldn’t like them…” she muttered, a bit embarrassed.
“I don’t think Sieun would turn down something like this. And if he does… well, Juntae loves Batman too,” he grinned. “Ah, I’ll find a job soon and buy him a pair… What character do you think he’d like?”
Hyeori chuckled quietly, hugging him around the waist and resting her face against his chest, closing her eyes like it was all a dream.
“You can think about that later… Right now, you just need to focus on getting better.”
“I will… I’ll recover fast, and then I’ll get a job and take you out to eat, buy you shoes, a couple of blouses… Oh! A backpack! So you’ll do well in uni all year—”
Her eyes started to sting as she looked up at him. She blinked fast, trying not to cry.
“No, no, don’t cry. Okay, I won’t buy you anything if you don’t want me to…” he mumbled, quickly cupping her cheeks. “Don’t cry anymore. Let’s go to the living room, okay?” He slipped on the Batman slippers and followed her in, glancing around the space.
It wasn’t as big as Hyeori’s old house, but it felt cozy.
He collapsed onto the couch with a soft sigh, exhausted but smiling as his girlfriend stood in front of him, her eyes sparkling and a warm smile on her face.
“Do you want me to make you something to eat?”
He shook his head immediately and stretched his arms toward her.
“I just want a hug,” he said, gently taking her wrists and pulling her onto his lap.
“I’m gonna hurt you.”
“No way,” he murmured. “The doctor said no lifting heavy stuff—and you’re not a thing, plus I’m not even lifting you. We’re sitting. My legs aren’t doing anything.”
She smiled and stroked his face. “You’re not going to leave, right?”
“Leave?”
“This isn’t a dream, is it?”
Sooho pouted slightly, pulling her close and hugging her tightly, his nose pressed against her neck.
“I’m not going anywhere… I’m here. So hug me, kiss me—do whatever you want, my sweet sunshine.”
She smiled more, her fingers running through his long hair. He mumbled something against her skin she didn’t quite catch, but it made her laugh from the tickle of his lips.
“You’re gonna need a haircut, Soo…”
“Ugh, later… Enjoy it while you can. I know you like it this way.” She nodded, playing with his thick strands. He sighed. “What is it?”
“It’s nothing… I’m just sleepy.”
“You wanna nap already? I’m tired too…”
“Can we take a bath? It’s kinda hot today.” Sooho nodded, smiling when she kissed him softly.
“I’ll get you a towel. Go ahead to the bathroom.”
Sooho obeyed, standing up and walking to the open bathroom door with slight effort. He looked around—surprised it was spacious enough for more than one person.
Near the toilet, he noticed a shirt on the floor. He narrowed his eyes.
“Still haven’t changed that habit…” he muttered.
Hyeori wasn’t a messy person, but she always left her dirty clothes in the bathroom after showering. He always scolded her for it being gross, but she never broke the habit.
He bent down to pick it up and frowned. It was a large white shirt—definitely not hers—stained with something that looked like blood, and it had a cut on the side.
His stomach twisted for a moment, but then he figured it couldn’t be hers. It was way too big.
Hyeori entered the bathroom carrying clean clothes and froze when she saw what he was holding. She quickly snatched the shirt away, handing him the fresh clothes. He took them, still confused.
“Whose shirt is that?”
“Ah, just… a friend’s,” she said, nodding while balling up the shirt.
“Is that blood?”
She shook her head but said nothing else. “It’s ripped anyway, see?” she murmured, showing him the tear. “Now go shower.”
“Weren’t you gonna shower with me?” he asked. But she shook her head, confusing him more.
This wasn’t like her.
Hyeori had never lied to his face like that.
* * *
Sooho stared at Hyeori as she dried his hair with the blow dryer. He always got frustrated because he could never dry the back properly, so now he was sitting in front of the vanity while she gently worked through his hair.
“My love…” he said softly, reaching out to touch her hip and pull her closer. She looked at him attentively, waiting for what he’d say. “Have you lost weight?”
“Huh?”
“Look at this,” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist—it fit around completely now, something that hadn’t been the case before. “Have you stopped eating again?”
“Of course not. I guess it’s just been a lot of stress. That’s all, don’t worry, honey.”
Sooho clenched his jaw, taking the dryer from her hand and turning it off, placing it down with a sharp movement before standing up and grabbing her by the waist, lifting her easily.
“Yah, Sooho! You’re not supposed to strain yourself, put me down!”
He looked at her like she was joking. “What strain? The damn blow dryer weighs more than you.” He set her down while she stared at him, annoyed. “Hyeori… you know I hate it when you stop eating. I’ve told you so many times…”
She blinked, irritation building in her chest.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he said—but to her, it came out like an order.
“Sooho, I didn’t stop eating by choice,” she replied, her gaze sharp. “I didn’t ask for it… I didn’t want to lose weight—it’s not my fault.”
“I’m not saying it’s your fault, baby, but—”
“But nothing. Yeah, I lost weight, so what? I’m not dying. Stop overreacting.”
Sooho was stunned by her tone—he’d never heard her speak to him like that before.
“What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing. What’s supposed to be going on?”
“Why are you acting like my presence is bothering you?”
Hyeori tilted her head, her eyes now shimmering with anger—so much it looked like she was about to cry.
“What?”
“Look at you… you seem so… defensive, it’s—”
“What do you even know, Sooho?” she snapped, so sharply he felt like his legs were about to give out. Even his brows furrowed in shock. “Bother me? Do you have any idea how many nights I cried, wishing you were here? How many nights I couldn’t sleep, praying you’d just knock on the damn door and say it was all a joke?”
Sooho’s eyes stung as he saw her holding back tears—she wasn’t fully crying, but close.
“I didn’t stop eating… I just couldn’t. Thinking about cooking and not having you there to tell me it tasted good… I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t eat while you were being fed through a stupid tube, do you get that?” Her body trembled. Even her head ached now.
“Hyeori, I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“Stop apologizing,” she muttered. “There’s… there’s no need…”
She closed her eyes for a second, then turned around and rushed out of the room. Sooho followed her immediately, only to see her lock herself in the bathroom.
“Hyeo… baby, open the door,” he said softly, knocking gently so he wouldn’t scare her. “Let’s talk, okay? I don’t want our first night together to be like this.”
“Leave me alone for a while,” she said. Her voice was shaky, like it hurt just to speak.
“You know I hate that… At least… at least unlock it,” he pleaded. “I promise I won’t come in. Just unlock it…”
He heard the lock click open, but he didn’t move. He stepped away from the door and sighed.
“Okay. Come out when you feel better… When you do, please go to bed, alright? Don’t sleep on the couch.”
She didn’t answer.
Sooho stared at the door one last time before turning back toward the bedroom, his chest burning. They had never fought like that before.
It wasn’t even really a fight—but he had never seen her that upset, that vulnerable. It was completely new… and if he was honest with himself…
He didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
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