chapter 17

It had been two weeks already.

Two long, quiet weeks since her grandmother's passing. And Bo Mi was only now beginning to face the new shape of her reality.

But the silence inside the apartment was deafening.

She had taken time off from school, needing space. Her mother had done the same, staying home as if trying to rebuild something quietly. But between them, only small conversations passed-"yes," "no," "I already ate"-words that carried no weight, just filled the room enough to pretend everything was normal.

And Sugang-before leaving her at the apartment that day-had told her that he would be flying abroad with his father for two weeks for work. He had promised he'd call if he could, and said he'd be back before she even noticed he was gone.

But she did notice.

It had been two weeks.

Now, as they sat across from each other eating a simple breakfast in near silence, her mother spoke.

"I'll be leaving today."

Bo Mi nodded slowly, not meeting her eyes.

"If you ever feel like you need someone... just call me. I'll come. No matter what."

Another nod.

Then her mother's eyes fell to her plate. Her voice softened.

"Bo Mi."

"Hm?" she answered, still not looking up.

"I'm sorry. For everything."

Her voice cracked.

"It's hard for me too. I act like I'm strong, but the truth is... I'm not."

A pause.

"Before I leave-would you go somewhere with me?"

That made Bo Mi finally lift her eyes.

Her mother looked vulnerable in a way she rarely had-tired, eyes swollen from nights of quiet crying, the kind of sorrow that clung to her bones.

"To visit your Appa."

The room fell still. The eggs on her plate had gone cold, but her heart felt warmer somehow-if only just a flicker.

For the first time in weeks, their pain aligned.

Bo Mi didn't nod this time.

She simply whispered, "Okay."

____

They now stood in front of her father’s grave.

The cemetery stretched in quiet rows—stone after stone, name after name—each one holding a world of memories for someone. A light breeze carried the faint scent of incense and dried leaves. Time itself felt slower here.

The ride had been silent, with nothing but the hum of the engine and the weight of thoughts left unsaid.

Together, they laid fresh white lilies on the grave. Bo Mi lit the candle, and her mother lit the Florence sticks—letting the smoke curl up gently into the air, as if sending their thoughts to the sky.

They both knelt.

The grass beneath them was slightly damp. Bo Mi's eyes settled on the name etched into the stone, her father’s name. Her throat tightened. Still, she remained calm—like always—because someone had to be.

But when she rose from her knees, brushing the dirt off her hands, she saw her mother still bowing low.

Unmoving.

Then came the softest sound.

A broken sniffle.

Followed by another.

Then, without warning, her mother broke.

Her shoulders trembled, and the grief she had tried so hard to keep pressed inside came crashing out in thick, shattering sobs.

Bo Mi froze.

Her mother’s voice cracked as she wept, bent over her husband’s grave like a flower wilting in the rain.

“I’m sorry,” she cried, over and over, “I’m sorry…”

Bo Mi's chest ached.

For all the things they never said.

For all the time her mother had hidden her pain just to seem strong.

And now, here she was—falling apart in front of the man she lost too late.

Bo Mi stood motionless beside her mother, her gaze fixed on the gravestone. The name engraved on it seemed heavier than ever—like it had been carved into her chest too.

Her mother’s sobs broke through the quiet, raw and helpless.

“Honey… I’m sorry for everything,” she choked out. “I regret always putting my career first… while you gave up everything. For me. For Bo Mi. I miss you so much.”

She clutched the base of the gravestone, her fingers trembling.

“Please… it’s too hard to be strong. I can’t. I just can’t anymore.”

Her voice cracked with every word, her shoulders shaking as though the weight of all the years she never said these things had finally broken her.

Bo Mi stood in silence.

Her lips parted, but nothing came out.

She stared at the name—at the years written below it.

A part of her wanted to cry too, to scream, to kneel down and sob just like her mother.

But instead, she just stood there. Staring.

Because for once, the loudest thing wasn’t the silence around her.

It was the truth laid bare in her mother’s voice.

As the car came to a soft halt in front of the apartment, her mother shifted in her seat and spoke gently, “Bo Mi… call me if something doesn’t feel right.”

Bo Mi gave a small nod, unbuckling her seat belt with slow fingers.

Then she turned to her mother, voice steady but soft.“Omma, I’m sorry too. I kept blaming you… I never really tried to hear your side of the story. But I just want to say… you’re strong. Even if you feel like you’re not.”

Her mother looked at her, eyes glassy but wide, caught off guard by the sincerity in Bo Mi’s words.

Without another word, Bo Mi leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her mother.

The hug was warm and trembling. Like a truce made of skin and breath.Her mother froze for a second—then pulled her in tighter, clutching the back of her daughter’s head as if she might slip away again.

It wasn’t just an embrace.It was all the years unsaid, stitched into one silent moment.It was “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you” and “I still need you” all at once.

After a long pause, they let go.

Bo Mi smiled faintly and stepped out of the car.

As she climbed the stairs and entered her apartment, the familiar quiet greeted her—not empty, but echoing with something gone.

Gone, but never erased.

The couch still carried her grandmother’s scent.The floor still creaked where they used to sit for late night chats.Laughter from the past still clung to the corners.

She stood in the middle of the room, looked around, and smiled softly.

Then, feeling strangely at peace, she laid down on the couch, letting her eyes flutter shut.

And for the first time in weeks, her sleep felt like rest.

She stirred from her nap at the sound of sharp knocking.

Her eyes fluttered open.

"Who might be here?" she mumbled, still groggy.

She turned her head to check the time."Heh?! It’s already 7:00?"

With a yawn and a stretch, she pushed herself off the couch and padded toward the door.

Unlocking and opening it—

There he was.

Sugang, standing tall in the hallway, backlit by the golden hue of the setting sun. His hair slightly tousled, a bag in one hand, and that familiar unreadable expression on his face.

Her eyes widened—and then softened.

Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him.

“You’re back finally,” she whispered into his chest.

Sugang was caught completely off guard—his hand awkwardly hovering before slowly returning the embrace.

Then, she pulled back slightly and looked up at him, her eyes glimmering.“I missed you.”

Sugang felt a strange pause in his heartbeat—something warm and inexplicably delicate wrapped around his chest.

Then she broke the hug and raised an eyebrow with a playful grin."You brought me something??"

He nodded, the corner of his lips twitching into a smile."Of course."

"Come in."

They both moved to the couch, and he handed her the small gift bag.

Bo Mi took it eagerly, pulling the soft paper apart. Her hands stopped mid-movement as she unveiled a silver pendant inside—a delicate teardrop shape with a tiny, glimmering stone in its center.

Her breath hitched.

Her hand flew to her mouth.“Wow… it’s so pretty.”

She looked up at him, eyes wide, touched.

“Thank you.”

Sugang looked at her, that small smile still on his lips.“You’re welcome.”

He didn’t say much.He didn’t have to.In that quiet, everything was felt.

“Hmm.”Bo Mi held the pendant out to him, tilting her head slightly.

Sugang blinked in confusion.“What—?”

“Put it on me,” she said with a soft smile, turning around and sweeping her hair to the front, revealing the nape of her neck.

He paused for a moment, then gently took the pendant from her.His fingers brushed lightly against her skin as he clasped it around her neck, careful, slow—as if afraid to break something so delicate.

A smile tugged at her lips.

She turned around, the pendant resting perfectly on her collarbone.“Well? How do I look?”

Sugang cleared his throat.“Good.”

She narrowed her eyes and pouted.“Good? Only good? Come on.”

He chuckled, lowering his head as a laugh escaped him.Her sulky expression was too cute.

“What are you laughing at?” she asked, leaning down to meet his eyes.

He lifted his head with a teasing glint in his eyes.“Why should I tell you? Did you tell me last time when I asked?”

Her eyes widened in mock shock.“Huh?!”

Sugang looked at her—really looked at her.

So different from the last time he’d seen her.Back then, her face had been soaked in tears.Now, she glowed. The redness in her eyes had faded.Her smile—real.

His heart clenched softly.

She squinted at him.“Whattttt?”

“Nothing.” He smirked.

“No, no, no—” She narrowed her eyes. “You’ve definitely got something going on in your mind. Tell me right now.”

She leaned in, their noses almost touching.

He inhaled slowly, then exhaled.

“You look… very pretty.”

Her eyes widened at his words.

A flush climbed up her cheeks so fast that she could barely react.

Then she noticed how close their faces were—so close she could feel his breath.

And judging by his expression, he definitely noticed how red she had become.

She stumbled back a step, flustered.“I should—”

“I missed you, Bo Mi.”

Her breath caught.

She looked at him, still flustered, but now something deeper settled in her chest.

Sugang’s eyes softened.“I missed you.”

And this time, everything felt still.Warm.Like coming home.

And Sugang just looked at her.

As if there was nothing else he wanted to say, and yet everything he wanted to tell her was in those three words.

Bo Mi’s breath wavered.

She sat back down beside him, slower this time. A little more careful.A little more honest.

"I missed you too," she whispered, barely audible.

He smiled again. Not the teasing kind. Not the smug one.This one was softer. Real.

Then she looked down at the pendant resting on her chest.

She touched it gently.

“Thank you. For this. For coming. For… being there when I didn’t know I needed someone.”

"Sugang. If I being honest. There was not a single day when i didn't thought about you. I don't want to accept this. I don't know when and how this happened. I always tried to push you back. Convincing myself to stay away from you but I just can't. I tried every possible way to avoid you but it's just that you always come. But the one and only to come at my hard times, comforting me."

She took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Breaking up with you was my plan. But you know what happened i couldn't break up with you, i couldn't escape you.""When you kissed me back then, that night i couldn't sleep. My heart was pounding so much. I don't know why but pushing you away was so hard. Iam scared of love I had for you. Because i knew it will ruin me. And I also know that I will let it."

She finally looked at him.His calm expression.