Mrs. Choi appeared in the living room, her expression stern—ready to unleash a storm of scolding. But the instant her gaze landed on Ji-hye, her eyes softened.
"Mother!!" Ji-hye squealed, running forward to hug her tightly. "How have you been? I've missed you so much!"
Mrs. Choi tried to keep her smile hidden. "Miss me? Hmph. You live in the same town, yet you act like I'm a stranger."
"I'm sorry, Mother," Ji-hye said quickly, "I've just been so busy these days."
"Busy? I've heard that excuse a thousand times. If you can't visit, at least bring Ha-eun. Can't I at least see my granddaughter?."
Before Ji-hye could reply, Ga-young waved half-heartedly. "I'll be upstairs."
Mrs. Choi clicked her tongue, glaring at her retreating daughter. "That girl… I swore I'd repented from cursing, but she tests me daily!"
"Mother, don't mind her," Ji-hye soothed, "she's just not feeling well."
"That's no excuse." Mrs. Choi huffed but her tone lightened. "Anyway, dinner's almost ready. Let's eat together."
Ji-hye sighed. "I'd love to, but I have to get back and make dinner for Ha-eun."
Mrs. Choi's sharpness melted away. She patted Ji-hye's hand with pride. "You've grown into such a good mother. God bless you, my child."
"Thank you, Mother."
"Then let me at least pack dinner for you. The whole family should eat well."
"Mother, you don't have to—"
"I didn't ask for your opinion," Mrs. Choi said firmly. "It's for Ha-eun and Hyun-woo."
Ji-hye laughed, her smile widening. "You really are the best."
"Of course I am," Mrs. Choi declared, her nose in the air, before they both laughed.
They chatted warmly until Ji-hye finally left, and the house grew quiet again.
---
Later that night, Mrs. Choi tapped gently on Ga-young's door, holding a plate of sliced fruit. The door swung open, revealing her daughter's weary face.
"Here. Eat this."
"Thank you, Mother," Ga-young said softly, taking it.
Mrs. Choi hesitated. "About this morning…"
"Mother—"
"Why did you sleep outside all night?" Mrs. Choi pressed, her voice breaking slightly.
"The weather… it felt suiting."
"Suiting? It was freezing cold!" Mrs. Choi's eyes glistened. "I'm your mother, Ga-young. Don't I have the right to know what's wrong with you?"
Ga-young reached out, holding her hands tightly. "I'm okay now. I really am. I wasn't back then, but I am now."
But Mrs. Choi wasn't convinced. "No matter how I think about it, it bothers me. Was it because of your father's debts? Did loan sharks threaten you?"
"No, Mother."
"Then… was it a man? Did someone break your heart? Did a man make you cry like that?"
Ga-young froze. Her silence was louder than any answer. It was because of a man—but not in the way her mother imagined. She forced a faint smile. "I've dealt with it. It's over now. Please don't worry."
Mrs. Choi studied her a long moment before finally exhaling. "Fine. Rest well." She closed the door gently behind her.
---
Just as Ga-young set down the fruit, muffled voices drifted up from downstairs—her mother's sharp tone and another voice, faint but familiar. Curious, she threw on her hoodie and padded down the stairs.
Her heart nearly stopped.
Ji-hoon was kneeling on the floor like a sinner before a judge, while Mrs. Choi hovered over him with a slipper raised high.
"Mother!" Ga-young gasped, rushing forward.
"Ah, you're here," Ji-hoon said in relief, only to be silenced by the slipper in his face.
"How dare you speak when I didn't permit it!" Mrs. Choi snapped.
"Mother, why are you doing this?" Ga-young said.
"Isn't he the one who made you cry? He must pay! He must apologize!"
"Mother, no—it has nothing to do with him."
"Don't protect him! Do you love him that much?" Mrs. Choi demanded.
Ji-hoon's eyes shot up, startled. "You cried…?"
Ga-young's voice trembled. "You're misunderstanding. This has nothing to do with him. Please, let him go."
Mrs. Choi finally lowered her slipper, glaring at Ji-hoon. "If she sheds a tear because of you again, I'll take your head." With that, she stormed off.
Ga-young immediately bent down to him. "Are you okay? She didn't hurt you, did she?"
"No… but why were you crying?" he asked gently.
Ga-young avoided his eyes. "Let's go outside before she changes her mind." She pulled him out the front door.
---
At the gate, Ga-young exhaled shakily. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. My mother can be… intense."
Ji-hoon chuckled softly. "It's fine. She just loves you. A little… aggressively."
"Exactly," Ga-young muttered. "But why did you come?"
"I wanted to check on you. I heard you weren't well."
"I'm fine now. I just overworked myself."
"You should rest more often," he said, concern flickering in his eyes.
"I'll try."
He hesitated, then spoke earnestly. "Ga-young… you don't always have to go through things alone. Let me be there for you. Lean on me."
Her lips parted, caught off guard. "Ji-hoon…"
"I like you," he confessed suddenly.
The words hit her like ice water. Too sudden. Too real. She stared, speechless.
"I want to be the one you rely on," he said, his voice firm yet vulnerable. "Your solid rock."
"Ji-hoon, I—"
"Don't." He smiled faintly. "Don't reject me yet. Let me at least keep the illusion a little longer." He reached out, patting her hair gently. "It's cold. Go back inside before your mom hunts me down again."
Ga-young hesitated, then finally nodded. "Thank you." Without looking back, she walked into the house.
"Good night," Ji-hoon whispered as he watched her disappear inside.
---
Back in her room, Ga-young lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. His words replayed over and over in her head. Ji-hoon? Of all people? She sighed again and again, unable to settle her thoughts.
Then her phone buzzed.
She picked it up sluggishly, and when the caller ID flashed across the screen, her heart sank.
"Good evening, Mr. Min-jae," she said carefully, forcing her voice steady.
"Ms. Choi, how are you feeling now?" His smooth, deep voice carried through the line.
"I'm much better, sir. Thank you for everything."
"As much as you love to work, you should learn to take care of yourself. Only God knows what would've happened if you hadn't been treated in time."
"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to trouble you. I'll be more careful from now on."
"Don't do it because I told you to. Do it because you care about yourself," Min-jae said firmly.
"Yes, sir."
"Take your medicine diligently and rest until you finish the dosage, take some days off."
"Sir, really—"
"It's an order. Not a request."
Her chest tightened, but she swallowed her protest. "Yes, sir."
"Sleep well," he said before hanging up.
Ga-young threw herself face-first into the bed, muffling a scream into her pillow.
"This is so annoying! Why do I always end up doing whatever he says? And I can't even be mad because the guilt keeps charging at me, On one side is my job, on the other my debts. And now Ji-hoon? oh my God! "
She pulled the blanket over her head, her muffled voice breaking through in frustration.
"Why did it have to be him, stupid little Ga-young you should've messed with someone else…"