After a long while, Suho finally came back inside. Nearly two hours had slipped by like he'd vanished into thin air.
Hauen was sitting on the bed, phone in hand. She'd showered, freshened up, skin relaxed, posture calm… but her face carried an obvious message. Mad. Softly simmering, but mad.
The moment he looked at her, he noticed.
"What happened, Jagi?" he asked, smiling as he walked toward her.
She didn't look up immediately. "Where were you?" she asked flatly.
"Sorry," he said gently. "I had to attend a call—"
"This is our honeymoon," she cut in, finally looking at him. "You're supposed to be with me for these five days. Every minute. Every second."
Her voice tightened. "But what are you doing? Attending calls and disappearing for hours?"
He chuckled softly and hopped onto the bed beside her, pulling her into his arms before she could dodge.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "It was really important. And you went for a shower, so I thought I'd finish the calls then."
She glared up at him. "I went to shower for thirty minutes," she said. "Not for hours."
He laughed quietly, holding her tighter, rocking her just a little. "I know, I know. I messed up," he said softly. "But I'm here now. See?" He kissed her cheek gently. "Now it's just us."
Her irritation finally cracked. A small smile slipped through despite herself.
Peace returned.
For exactly five minutes.
Then his phone buzzed again.
And Hauen's glare returned at full strength.
He winced, already apologizing. "It's important, Jagi. I swear. Two minutes. I'll be right back."
And before she could reply, he rushed out.
She huffed, shaking her head, muttering under her breath as she turned her attention back to her phone.
Meanwhile, Suho stood outside,
"Yes, Mr. Nam. What happened?" he asked, voice calm but attentive.
There was barely contained excitement on the other end. "Mr. Kim, we have good news. A foreign businessman approached us. He's looking for land to build a residential tower, and he's very impressed with the Cheongdam site."
Suho straightened slightly.
"I quoted thirty percent above the actual market value," Mr. Nam continued, almost proud. "I assumed there would be negotiations and we'd settle near the real price. But… to my surprise, his team agreed immediately. They're ready to pay the full registration fee if the property is transferred by tomorrow, end of day."
A slow, genuine smile curved Suho's lips.
"Well done, Mr. Nam," he said. "And that thirty percent isn't unreasonable. The urgency alone tells us how valuable that land truly is. In three to five years, that price will skyrocket."
"Yes, Mr. Kim," Mr. Nam replied eagerly.
"Lock the deal. I'll be there tomorrow. Have the papers ready," Suho continued. "Ask them to transfer the amount to the new account, in U.S. dollars."
There was a brief pause before Suho added, almost casually, "And cutdown your commission from the payment. Take five percent instead of three."
"Thank you, Mr. Kim," Mr. Nam said quickly. "I'll try to secure an even better deal for another property by tomorrow."
Suho chuckled softly. "Alright."
The call ended.
************
That evening, they walked along the beach, side by side, fingers intertwined.
The waves hummed softly, the breeze playful as it brushed through their hair. Bare feet sank into the cool sand, each step slow, unhurried. The world felt distant. Peaceful.
"This is so calming," Hauen said, squeezing his hand.
Suho smiled. "Feels like home."
She glanced at him, studying his face. "You were busy all morning," she said gently. "Is everything okay? Did something go wrong because of… your absence?"
He stilled for just a second. Then smiled slightly, "Everything is fine." But the voice was heavy enough to be felt
She studied his face and understood that something wasn't right. Still, she didn't push. Instead, she squeezed his hand lightly, and they continued walking, letting the silence stretch without breaking it.
A little later, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and stepped a few feet away, turning his back slightly as he answered. She stopped walking and watched him from a distance. His figure stood against the dimming sky, voice low, posture composed. Too composed.
When he finally ended the call, he walked back to her.
She stood there, unmoving, eyes fixed on him. Her face was serious, blank, trying to read the spaces between his expressions.
He smiled as if nothing was wrong.
Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly, lifting her just a little off the sand. His warmth wrapped around her as he kissed her forehead, lingering there.
"Why are you staring at me like you'll kill me any second now, huh?" he teased softly.
She didn't smile. Just blinked. Slowly. Once.
He chuckled, unfazed, and leaned down to peck her lips, quick and playful. "What happened, Jagi?" he asked again, smiling… though this time, his eyes searched hers a little more carefully.
"You're hiding something from me, aren't you?" she asked, straight and unguarded.
His smile shrank, just a little. Not enough to disappear, but enough to crack. His eyes dropped, lashes lowering as if the sand suddenly deserved his full attention.
She reached up and cupped his cheeks, thumbs warm against his skin, gently forcing him back to her. "What's wrong, Suho?" she asked, voice softer now, careful. "Is everything alright?"
He sighed, then met her eyes. "Yeah. It's just Officer Park," he said. "He keeps calling about your kidnapping case. I was thinking of withdrawing it… so it doesn't stretch further or cause trouble for Kevin."
"Is that all?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied. "That's all."
Her face lit up instantly. Relief blooming. "You scared me," she laughed softly. "I thought something serious was bothering you."
He smiled back, watching the worry melt off her face, watching the ease return to her shoulders. That sight alone made his chest ache.
Inside, though, the truth stayed locked up. Things he wanted to tell her. Things he was too afraid to say, not because she wouldn't understand, but because understanding might hurt her.
So he pulled her closer instead, letting the ocean's rhythm fill the space where his honesty should have been.
For now, he chose silence. Not because he didn't trust her. But because he loved her enough to be scared of breaking her peace.
The sun slipped into the vast sea, leaving behind a trail of molten orange that slowly bled into dusk. The sky darkened in layers, and one by one, stars began to blink awake, shy at first, then confident.
They sat on the beach, feet buried in dry sand still warm from the day. Hauen was tucked into him, her head resting on his chest, fitting there like it always had. His arm wrapped around her securely, palm pressed against her arms, thumb tracing absent circles. Her hair brushed his cheek whenever the breeze passed, soft and familiar. Her eyes were fixed on the horizon, lips curved in a small, content smile, soaking in the quiet.
Suho looked down at her.
At the calm on her face. At the trust she carried so effortlessly.
His heart thudded louder than the waves.
After circling the thought a hundred times, he finally spoke.
"Hauena…"
She hummed, not turning, the sound lazy and comfortable.
"You trust me, right?" he asked.
She lifted her head and looked at him, amused by the sudden seriousness. "Wae? Why are you asking something like that all of a sudden?" she said, smiling.
He smiled back, softer. "Just asking."
She chuckled. "Did I ever make you feel like I don't trust you?"
He shook his head lightly. "No. Not like that." He paused, choosing his words carefully, like stepping on thin ice. "I mean… would you trust me without questioning, if I ever make some decisions for our better future? Even if I don't explain everything right away?"
She studied him then. Really looked into his eyes, searching for the weight behind his words. The ocean filled the silence between them.
Then she smiled.
"Yes, Suho," she said simply. "I trust you with everything." Her hand slipped into his, fingers lacing with his gently. "And I know you won't ever make a decision that hurts someone without a reason. If you choose something difficult, I know there must be something that forced you to choose it."
He just looked at her.
She lowered her gaze, squeezing his hand a little tighter. "I love you, Suho. I don't know how to measure it, but it's a lot. And I respect every decision you make. Because I know you always choose what you believe is right."
His breath caught.
His heart raced, not with fear now, but with something heavier and warmer. Gratitude. Love. Responsibility.
He leaned down, pressing a slow, tender kiss to her temple. "I love you," he whispered, the words sinking into her skin.
She smiled, looking up at him. "I know," she said softly. "And I love you too."
They stayed there, wrapped around each other as night fully settled, the sea whispering secrets only it could keep. In each other's arms, they felt it again.
Peace. Warmth. Home.