“Oops, it’s itchy!”

Dosoon suddenly kicked off the blanket and got up from bed around the time the dawn was ending, waking up from sleep.

Soyeon, awakened by the rustling sound, opened her eyes in confusion.

“Why, is it hurting?”

“No. It doesn’t hurt now. It’s just that my ear is so itchy.”

Dosoon, searching through the bag, found a cotton swab and spoke, poking inside her ear.

“Who’s cursing at me in the middle of the night?”

“Thank goodness you’re not in pain.”

“Uh, refreshing!”

Relieved, Soyeon leaned back on the pillow and looked sideways at Dosoon, who was now lying down again with an alert expression, as if all the drowsiness had disappeared.

“Will you sleep better now?”

“No.”

“Me neither.”

The friendly gaze that moved between the beds lying side by side looked at each other.

“Since it’s almost morning, let’s be a bit lazy and get up later.”

“Okay.”

After a moment of silence, it was Dosoon who broke it.

“Soyeon-ah, you really like him, right?”

“Mr. Tae?”

“Yeah. How much do you like him?”

“I love him so much I can’t even express it.”

“Then, Mr. Tae?”

“…….”

……Love.

Soyeon thought for a moment.

During the few months, long or short, there had been a lot between them. She loved him with a heart pounding and aching. She loved him overwhelmingly. She loved only Taeseojun, forgetting the pain.

But.

‘I’m just a ‘fool.’ Limited to Eom Soyeon. So, feel free to use me. That’s what it means, that I can do anything for you.’

‘Your first love is me. You gave birth to my child, and that’s enough qualification. So, if you want anything, just tell me. I’ll give you everything.’

There was no word “love” in his words, which meant that even if it’s good, it’s not yet love, right? Probably, that’s how it is?

Thinking so, Soyeon tilted her head subtly.

“I think so, but it seems like Mr. Tae is making an effort.”

“What? Love? Can that be done with effort?”

“Well, I don’t know for sure, but I think he’s doing it for the sake of Hyunwoo.”

“You live so complicatedly! Sleeping together, living together, that’s love, right? No one forced him to do that. Mr. Tae wanted it and desired it himself. Eom Soyeon, because he loves you.”

It might be a correct statement, but if you don’t say it, if you don’t hear it directly, you won’t know what’s in a person’s heart.

“What if I think my way and later it turns out not to be true? What about the disappointment?”

“Look at this kid? Are you suspicious of Mr. Tae’s love that makes honey drip from his eyes when he looks at you, worried about disappointment? I understand too, but why don’t you? I know, but why don’t you? I guarantee you, Taeseojun loves Eom Soyeon!”

“Is that really true?”

“Phew……!”

Dosoon, who made a slightly nervous expression by biting her lower lip, smiled slightly. While doing so, she nodded her head vigorously.

“He said so!”

Soyeon understood. Even if it’s not true now, it’s planting the power of positivity in an anxious heart.

“Thank you, Dosoon. As expected, you’re the only one who understands my heart.”
“You know what. Let’s sleep for another hour. I suddenly feel sleepy.”

“Sure. Let’s sleep more.”

Soyeon quietly moved to Dosoon’s bed, noticing Dosoon’s eyes closing by the way her eyelashes drooped.

“Why… Did something happen with the president?”

Patting Dosoon’s back while leaning on the same pillow, Soyeon asked, showing concern.

“What… happened…”

Dosoon asked Guwonhoo if he loved her. She hoped to learn something about the identity of her own wavering heart by hearing his response. However, he kept saying no. So, it really wasn’t.

“The president said so.”

The lips, murmuring with a pout, seemed like they might cry at any moment. Even with just that expression, Soyeon could roughly guess what the story was about.

“What did he say?”

Fluffing the pillow, Dosoon turned to lie on her back.

“…He said it’s not us.”

No matter how many times she asked, he insisted that it wasn’t about them.

Why did it have to be that day? On the day she left Taeseojun by leaving the fan club, the one who filled her empty heart was Guwonhoo. His presence, encountered in reality, was stronger than the man in her fantasy whom she liked since high school.

But if it’s not him, I won’t have any regrets! I don’t like him either! So, from today, Guwonhoo is a person I shouldn’t think about again!

While making a resolution in her mind, Dosoon’s shoulders straightened with determination. When Soyeon was about to say something, Dosoon’s shoulders shook loudly.

“Hmph! It’s over, okay? I don’t have a single regret either!”

10 a.m.

Director Yoon Jiwon called a taxi and returned to Seoul. However, Guwonhoo, who had taken over the main room of the villa alone, was still in the dreamland due to last night’s hangover.

Seojun, who saw off Director Yoon, stood on the living room balcony, receiving a report from Team Leader Bong.

“You went into that house in the end?”

“Yes. He plans to stay at Professor Eom’s house for a few days.”

“How’s the atmosphere?”