Seol Ah ran to the point where she forgot where she was heading. She saw the beach and lighthouse, panting as she walked closer to it. Once she stood in the middle of the bridge, she collapsed to her knees and cried loudly to herself.
Jin-ho breathed heavily as he stopped when he saw Seol Ah crying, her back facing him. He walked slowly toward her, placing his back against hers.
Seol Ah raised her head a little, but then remembered that Jin-ho had a habit of following her. She frowned and covered her face. Jin-ho sat quietly, letting her cry behind him. After she calmed down, she turned to him.
"Why are you here?" she asked, trying to sound spiteful. Jin-ho turned to her slowly and scratched his head.
"I was just trying to make sure you're safe…" Jin-ho half-heartedly admitted. Seol Ah sobbed as she looked away.
"Who cares if I'm not safe…? My whole life is a lie," Seol Ah stated. Jin-ho stared at her in silence.
"Then… Is stalking you also a lie?" Jin-ho wondered. Seol Ah flinched, staring at him. Thinking slowly.
"What?! No! You're definitely a stalker!" she argued. Jin-ho chuckled, grabbing the back of her head. He placed his forehead against hers. She blushed.
"Then your life isn't a lie… whatever happens, I'll stalk you," Jin-ho stated with a teasing smile.
Seol Ah coughed a laugh, frowning as much as she could. Ugh he's impossible. But… I kind of like being around him.
"You're so annoying…" she replied. Jin-ho laughed and stood. He reached a hand to her. Seol Ah looked at him and took his hand.
"Let's go back… your mother will be worried about you," Jin-ho said softly, pulling. Seol Ah quickly tensed up at the word "mother".
"She's… not even my real mother…" Seol Ah whispered. Jin-ho paused.
"Really?"
"I just found out that I was really adopted…"
Jin-ho leaned his head to look at her carefully. He closed the distance between their faces. Seol Ah's eyes widened as she began blushing.
"At least, you're adopted… I don't have my parents. I lost them," Jin-ho solemnly revealed.
Seol Ah quickly swallowed her gulp in shame.
"You mean…?"
Jin-ho smiled brightly.
"I'm an orphan, who's living with my uncle. But my uncle is hardly ever home…" Jin-ho said nonchalantly. Then he pulled Seol Ah closer, removing the distance between their lips. She gasped loudly.
"Jin-ho!"
"I'm sorry for trying to act like a superhero…" he whispered.
Her heart thudded hastenly as her body stiffened from the near warmth of his breath. He's way too close… is he purposely doing this to me? She curiously looked at his eyes, which locked to hers with deadly but with restraint. She gulped in fear. Those eyes… are filled with hatred.
Then Jin-ho leaned closer to her ear.
"Yes?" he asked. Seol Ah flinched, punching his chin.
They both froze with surprise. Seol Ah took a step back and bit her lower lip.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that," she said. Jin-ho chuckled as he held his burning chin.
"I'm fine… I was teasing you. I'm sorry," he replied warmly.
Seol Ah covered her face, filled with embarrassment and shame.
"I'm really sorry… I didn't mean to hurt you," Seol Ah couldn't stop saying. Jin-ho grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands down slowly.
"I told you, I'm fine… it was my fault," Jin-ho repeated. Seol Ah looked at him, saddening.
"I… it's going to be dark soon," she said, walking past him.
As she brushed through Jin-ho, he watched her. What does Uncle want from you to say that you're somehow related to a murderer? My parents' murderer. Jin-ho's eyes turned hollow before he turned his body to her and followed her.
As the sunset streamlined the orange horizon, Seol Ah sped her way away from Jin-ho. Jin-ho walked quickly to catch up to her pace and smiled. Before reaching the end of the wooden bridge to the sidewalk, he paused, staring at her back. She's so vulnerable… Uncle said to get closer to her, but she sounds like a child in distress. Someone who knows nothing…
Seol Ah turned around to check if Jin-ho was following. When she realized that he had stopped, she frowned, her brows furrowing. She raised her hand and waved.
"Kim Jin-ho! Are you coming?"
Jin-ho clenched his fists. Will I get closer to the murderer of my parents if I stick closer to her? He stared at her, waving her arm as widely as possible. He let out a low chuckle. Quiet and humorless.
"At least… life will be interesting from now on," Jin-ho commented, smiling slyly as he hid his face before raising it. The wind blew between them, a few feet away. Cold and unwelcoming. Then he hurried to Seol Ah, guiding her back home because she was still unfamiliar with the neighborhood.
Once she reached the small street to her home, Yu Young stood by the front door anxiously. Yu Young bit her nails, pacing back and forth. Seol Ah saw her and froze, crying.
"What do I even call you… if you're not my real mother?" Seol Ah asked herself. Jin-ho listened carefully, observing like a prey.
"Why don't you ask her if you're confused? If anything, she loves you like you're her real daughter… otherwise, she wouldn't be at the door," Jin-ho chimed in. Seol Ah spun her head to look at him.
"Easy for you to say that! All my life… she told me that I'm her real daughter! Only for the truth is that I was adopted," Seol Ah sobbed.
Yu Young heard Seol Ah's voice and raised her gaze at them.
"Seol Ah!" Yu Young cried, running to them. Seol Ah took a step back. Before she knew it, Yu Young quickly hugged her tightly.
"I…"
"Even if you're not my real daughter, I… I will always love you like you are," Yu Young said. She tightened her hug. "God sent you to me… for me to raise a beautiful and loving daughter. I'll forever be grateful for having you as a part of my life."
Seol Ah sniffled, withholding her cry as best as she could, but then she let out a loud cry. She held onto Yu Young tightly.
"Omma…"
Yu Young nodded, soothing Seol Ah.
"Yes… I'll always be your mother, Seol Ah. I'll always wait for you to come home," Yu Young reminded her.
Jin-ho watched them, his heart aching a little. If only I had just… no, because of me. Nothing would have changed. He tightened his fists until they turned pale as he glared at Yu Young. A mother.
Yu Young glanced at Jin-ho with a warm and welcoming smile.
"You should come inside and eat… because of me, you have left home," Yu Young ordered. Jin-ho parted his lips halfway without a voice.
"Omma…" Seol Ah frowned.
Ryu Yeol suddenly walked out, seeing Seol Ah.
"Seol Ah…" he called gently this time without any hatred filtered in his voice.
Seol Ah bit the corner of her bottom lip.
"O… Ryu Yeol…" she stammered.
Ryu Yeol averted his eyes, scratching his head nervously.
"It's cold… get inside," he demanded. Then he returned inside.
Seol Ah hesitated, but Yu Young patted her back.
"It'll be fine," Yu Young reassured her. Then Yu Young walked inside.
Seol Ah's feet glued to the front doorstep. Jin-ho noticed how she refused to take a step forward, so he strided to her.
"Let's go inside, where it's warm," Jin-ho stated. Seol Ah looked at him with fear in her face.
"I…"
"I'll be by your side… so if anything, just be comfortable with annoying me by your side," Jin-ho teased. Seol Ah chuckled faintly.
"You're so ridiculous…" she replied. He smiled.
"At least, being so made you smile," he added. She smiled and nodded.
Then they walked inside the home together. Ryu Yeol knelt down, waiting for Seol Ah. She moved slowly to the side, careful to stay in his line of sight.
"Seol Ah…" Ryu Yeol called.
"Yes!" she answered quickly, without thinking. Ryu Yeol turned his head toward her, then lowered his own to the ground. Seol Ah's eyes widened. "Oh, Ryu—"
"I'm sorry for how rudely I spoke of you all these years…" he said, clenching his fists on his thighs. "If anything, I was very jealous that Omma loved you more than us. To be a grown man and still act like this… I'm ashamed of myself. Please forgive me."
Seol Ah slid back from Ryu Yeol, fearful and almost-crying, tightening her chest.
"Why… are you acting like this?"
"Omma told me… that you did your best to protect her and Po Lim…" Ryu Yeol admitted, closing his eyes. "That you refused to abandon them, that you protected them… I… if I were in that situation, I don't think I'd have the courage you had."
Seol Ah turned to Jin-ho, who stared at her expressionless. Tears streamed down her face before she even realized it.
"I… I'm no superhero in this incident. He helped us…" Seol Ah admitted, stuttering.
Ryu Yeol lifted his head and shot a glance at Jin-ho.
"Oh… Omma told me about him, too! Thank you for saving them!" Ryu Yeol said gratefully. Then he looked at Seol Ah. "And… for you to charge at them for Omma, you are a hero, Seol Ah. Saving and protecting those you love is the kind of superhero that will always be admirable."