"Haneul, what's wrong?"
Bora's voice trembled as she stood at the bathroom door.
Inside, Haneul had just finished washing his mouth after vomiting.
Water was still dripping from his chin.
His face looked drained of color pale, almost yellowish and his breathing was uneven.
He gripped the sink for support.
Bora quickly stepped forward and grabbed his arm.
"Careful.... you're barely standing."
Without waiting for his protest, she slowly guided him toward the bedroom.
His steps were weak, and he leaned most of his weight against her.
Haru was standing, quietly watching
everything.
Bora helped Haneul lie down on the bed, adjusting the pillow behind his back.
Haru didn't move.
She just stood there.
Watching and observing.
Haneul noticed her stiff posture and slowly reached out his hand toward her.
"Come here"
"Look, I'm fine… okay?"
His voice was soft but weak.
Haru didn't answer.
She only kept staring at him with wide, worried eyes.
Bora crossed her arms, looking at him seriously.
"Haneul, what was that?"
Haneul let out a slow breath.
"I don't know I've been feeling nauseous for a few days."
"A few days?"
Bora's eyebrows knitted together.
"Are you taking any medicine?"
He slowly shook his head.
"No."
As Haneul picked Haru up and settled her softly onto the bed.
Bora frowned deeper.
"Does sir know about this?"
Haneul's gaze shifted slightly away.
"I..... didn't tell him."
Bora inhaled sharply and took a long breath, trying to calm herself.
"Look at yourself Haneul.
Do you even know how pale you've become?"
She stepped closer.
"Have you eaten anything from outside?"
Before Haneul could answer
The bedroom door opened.
Mina walked in holding a warm cup.
Steam gently rose from it.
"I brought some ginger tea (saenggangcha),"
She said calmly.
"It helps with nausea."
She glanced at Haneul.
"I don't know what's been wrong with him and sir lately.
They've both been reacting too much to smells and food these days."
Bora turned her head slowly toward Mina then back at Haneul.
There was a small silence in the room.
Mina handed the cup to Haneul.
He accepted it slowly, his fingers slightly trembling from weakness.
The warmth from the cup spread into his palms.
Before drinking, he looked at Bora.
"Did you give Haru her medicine?"
Bora blinked.
"I didn't
I was worried about you. I'll bring it now."
She turned and left the room.
Haneul nodded faintly and then looked at Haru.
She was sitting beside him on the bed still staring at his face with that same unreadable expression.
He forced a soft smile.
"Haru-ah, I'm fine. What's wrong with you?"
Slowly, Haru moved closer.
She wrapped her small arms around his waist.
"Medicine….. take."
Her voice was quiet, almost whisper-like.
Haneul's eyes softened.
"Yes, I'll take medicine. But you first."
As he gently held her, something felt wrong.
His expression changed slightly.
Just a few minutes ago her body had been warm.
Warm enough that he thought her fever was returning.
But now... she felt too cold.
He slightly pulled back to look at her.
Her skin wasn't pale but her temperature had clearly dropped.
Why?
Was it because of him?
Because of his sudden sickness did her body react like this?
A strange unease crept into his chest.
Without thinking further, Haneul quickly pulled the blanket around Haru's small body and wrapped it tightly.
He held her closer against his chest.
"It's okay, umma is here."
Haru didn't speak.
She only tightened her arms around him.
Bora returned with Haru's medicine.
She paused at the door for a second.
"Here Haru-ah."
[9:00 PM/ Downstairs]
The kitchen was unusually quiet.
Bora stood in front of the sink, absentmindedly placing dishes inside.
Her hands were moving but her thoughts were far away.
Mina noticed.
She wiped her hands on a towel and looked at Bora carefully.
"What's wrong? Where are you lost again?" She asked gently.
"Your mother?"
Bora snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Mina.
"No, not mother,"
She said quietly.
Mina tilted her head.
"Then?"
Bora hesitated before speaking.
"Haneul why do I feel like this isn't just normal nausea?"
Mina froze slightly.
"I also don't know,"
She admitted.
"But haven't you noticed?
He's been very picky lately."
Bora looked up.
Mina continued, lowering her voice.
"He asks for meals and before even taking a proper bite, he suddenly pushes it away and says he doesn't want it.
Sometimes he craves something specifically and then nausea hits him immediately."
She paused.
"It's almost as if he's pregnant."
Silence.
Mina's own eyes widened as the logic suddenly connected in her mind.
She slowly turned to Bora.
Bora was already staring back at her eyes widened, heart pounding.
"So, Haneul is he"
Mina's mouth opened in shock.
Before she could finish
Bora suddenly rushed forward and covered Mina's mouth with her hand.
"Shh!"
The helper was still in the corner, cleaning.
Bora forced a tight smile.
"Mina, it's already late.
You should leave.
We'll figure this out later."
Mina blinked, still stunned.
"But"
"Sir is about to come,"
Bora said quickly.
"Let's go."
Mina swallowed her words and nodded.
She grabbed her coat, still zoning out, her mind spinning with the same impossible thought.
As she walked toward the living room,
Bora called out softly,
"Call me when you reach home."
Mina nodded and stepped forward
Just as the main door opened.
Taekyun entered.
He stepped inside with his usual composed presence.
Mina immediately bowed.
Taekyun gave a small nod in acknowledgment.
Mina left quietly.
Taekyun's gaze shifted toward Lihan, who was standing nearby.
"The files are in the study,"
Taekyun said calmly.
"Take them."
Lihan bowed slightly.
"Yes, sir."
Just then, Bora approached.
Both Taekyun and Lihan turned their attention to her.
Bora bowed respectfully.
Taekyun gave a small nod in response.
Taekyun's voice softened slightly.
"You're back."
"Yes, sir,"
Bora replied.
"How was your mother?"
For a second, Bora's face left stunned.
"She's doing much better,"
She said with a polite smile.
"She was discharged.
I also resolved everything with my brother
so they're fine now."
Taekyun nodded, satisfied.
"That's good."
A brief pause.
"You should leave early and get some rest."
Bora bowed again.
"Yes, sir."
Without another word, Taekyun turned and walked upstairs.
His steps were steady.
Lihan looked at bora for a moment before speaking.
"How were your days there?"
Bora smiled faintly.
"They were good."
Then she added, slightly teasing but with a hint of complaint
"But you didn't even call me once."
Lihan blinked, caught off guard.
"I was too busy covering things.
I didn't even get a single minute free."
Bora gave a small smile.
"It's okay. I know I'm not that important enough."
Lihan immediately looked down at her.
"Oh.... no, it's not like that,"
He said quickly.
"I told you I'm handling the office department cases nowadays."
Bora crossed her arms lightly.
"You've been handling those from the start. They're not something new."
Lihan hesitated.
His gaze dropped slightly.
"Yes….. but it's not only that."
Bora narrowed her eyes at him.
"Also?"
Lihan exhaled slowly.
"Mongi is staying at my place.
You know I have to look after him."
Bora softened a little.
"And also?"
She pressed again.
Lihan looked at her more seriously now.
"Sir reopened Miss Harin's case."
Bora's expression shifted instantly.
"What?"
"I'm looking over it. Visiting the police station daily."
The warmth disappeared from her expression.
"Why…. why again?"
She asked quietly.
Lihan lowered his voice.
"You already know. Sir didn't accept Haneul at first because of Jiwon."
He paused.
"But now for the same Haneul, sir is reviewing the case again.
To see if Jiwon was actually guilty."
They slowly entered the study room.
Lihan began gathering the files from the desk.
Bora stood still for a moment.
"Jiwon was also like Haneul,"
She said softly.
"I never believed from the start that he would do something like that."
She swallowed.
"It was an accident that took both their lives."
Lihan stopped flipping through the file.
"It wasn't just a normal accident."
Bora looked at him sharply.
There was something in his tone.
Lihan closed the file calmly.
"Let's hope things end the way they're supposed to."
Bora nodded slowly.
"Hmm"
"I'm going home now."
Lihan looked at her.
"Let me give you a ride."
She smiled faintly.
"It's barely a few steps away."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Maybe this way I'll get your mercy and you'll forgive me for not calling."
Bora raised an eyebrow.
"No. You have to buy me a meal."
Lihan almost smiled.
"Ahhh, i see..... so when?"
She shrugged.
"Depends on when I'm free."
He glanced at the wall clock for a few seconds.
Then looked back at her.
"What about now?"
Bora blinked.
"Huh?"
"You're going home. Which means you're free,"
He said calmly.
"And I haven't had dinner yet."
Bora hesitated.
"But I already"
"Look,"
Lihan cut in gently,
"I won't be free for the next whole month.
You have a chance now."
She stared at him for a moment.
Then sighed.
"Okay then."
A small smile formed on her lips.
Together, they walked outside the residence.
The night air was cool.
Bora stepped into the passenger seat, and Lihan got into the driver's seat.
As the car engine started.