Chapter 70. It Means I Have Patience

“What? Just like that, all of a sudden?”

Haeyoung’s voice echoed down the narrow alley.

“And how could you pack up someone else’s belongings without even asking?!”

“Oh dear, I’m sorry… but my useless grandson… haaa.”

The landlady stopped mid-apology and clutched her forehead, her wrinkled face creased with anguish.

“That damned grandson of mine went and got some poor girl pregnant!”

Then she launched into complaints instead.

“On a day this cold, he showed up with her—she’s about to pop any minute—and they’ve got nowhere to go!”

Haeyoung already knew the landlady’s sad story: she had lost her son and daughter-in-law when her grandson was young and had raised him alone. Maybe that was why she felt even more sympathetic.

“I must have raised him all wrong, huh? One of these days this will give me a stroke!”

The landlady pounded her own chest in frustration.

“D-don’t do that! You’ll hurt yourself!”

Haeyoung instinctively grabbed her frail arm, suddenly reminded of her own grandmother who had wasted away after her brother’s troubles.

But the landlady’s temper only flared further.

“I wish I could just cut it off myself!”

“Wh-what are you even saying? Grandma, please calm down. At least when your grandchild’s baby is born, it’ll be a blessing! These days the country’s in crisis because of the low birthrate—you’re practically a patriot now! Don’t you think?”

Haeyoung gently let go of her arm, trying to console her. Maybe it worked, because the landlady finally took a deep breath and apologized.

“I’m really sorry, Haeyoung. But my husband lives on the first floor, and I just can’t have my grandson’s wife-to-be living with us.”

“……”

“I’m sorry for packing up your things without asking.”

She fished a crumpled envelope out of her pocket and held it out.

“I calculated the leftover days on your rent and added a bit extra. Use this to stay somewhere for a few nights, and start looking for another place tomorrow.”

“…Okay.”

Haeyoung had no choice but to nod. She had no legal recourse anyway—she hadn’t even registered her address here.

She accepted the envelope and gathered up her belongings.

“Thank you for letting me stay here. I’ll get going now.”

“I’m sorry. Please live well wherever you go.”

And just like that, after exchanging awkward goodbyes, Haeyoung left behind the neighborhood she had lived in for quite some time.

In the dead of winter, she had suddenly become homeless.

A Lonely Walk

At some point, sharp, icy snowflakes began falling from the sky.

By the time she reached the subway station, Haeyoung had regained enough sense to call the café owner. She asked for permission to sleep at the café overnight.

It was too late to waste money on a hotel, and it was far too cold to sleep outside.

She figured she would sleep in the staff locker room with the heater on and then find a room tomorrow.

After getting approval, she trudged through the streets of Yeoksam-dong, dragging her heavy suitcase behind her.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

This wasn’t the thirty-year-old life she had imagined as a child. Back then, she had believed she would have achieved her passionate dreams and built a loving family by now.

She conjured up those childhood fantasies like the matchstick girl sparking matches for fleeting illusions, just to forget the biting wind for a moment.

Yes, back then, her dream was to live an ordinary life. She thought it would be easy.

But the older you get, the clearer it becomes:

Ordinary is the hardest thing to achieve, and everyone spends their days striving just to hold onto it.

Haeyoung stopped for a moment, gazing at the dazzling Seoul skyline.

The city had never been kind to her—except for that brief year when she lived in nineteen-year-old Joo Taeseong’s home.

But that time was now so far away, it felt like a dream.

Still, some memories were vivid. The warmth he had given her, the days they had shared their dreams.

Even her own sacrifice—hoping the boy she loved, who loved someone else, would find happiness.

“Funny how I remember even that so clearly.”

She let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.

Lost in her thoughts, she eventually arrived at the café.

But just as she was about to step forward, her feet froze.

“Joo… Taeseong?”

There he was, standing in front of the closed café.

He turned at the sound of her voice.

“Cha Haeyoung?”

As soon as he saw her, Taeseong strode toward her, his coat flaring behind him.

The anger he had worn the last time they met was gone, replaced only by concern.

“What’s going on? Why are you crying? And what’s with all this luggage…?”

His gentle voice left her expression dazed for a moment.

“Why… why are you here?”

She looked at him like she was dreaming.

“Why else would I be here? Who else would I come for?”

“I… I thought…”

As soon as she heard his familiar, gruff tone, reality came rushing back.

“I thought you wouldn’t come back…”

Her voice trembled with tears.

“I thought you were hurt by what I said and wouldn’t come back… hic.”

Her sobs grew louder and louder.

Haeyoung wiped her tears with the back of her hand, but they just kept flowing.

The days he hadn’t shown up at the café had been agonizing, though she hadn’t let it show.

“I thought I’d never see you again…! Waaahh.”

Taeseong stepped closer, crouching slightly to meet her tear-streaked face.

He cupped her wet, reddened cheeks in his large hands. They were cold from the winter air and from her crying—pitiful yet unbearably sweet.

With his thumbs, he gently wiped away her tears.

“Cha Haeyoung, you idiot.”

“Hic…”

“Did you really think I’d give up on you that easily?”

“Sniff…”

“I’ve spent ten years unable to forget you. Did you think I’d stop seeing you because of a few harsh words?”

His tender words made his dark eyes crinkle softly.

“Stop crying. You look ugly.”

“Waaahh, hic… I’m sorry, Taeseong…”

Her crying only worsened at his teasing.

“I’m sorry I said those awful things. Hic… I’m really sorry.”

Watching her cry her heart out and apologize with her whole soul made her seem impossibly precious.

Ten years ago, and even now—I can’t help but love you, Cha Haeyoung.

“Okay. I’ll accept your apology.”

“Sniff… okay…”

“But if you keep crying, I’ll take it back.”

“Y-you… seriously… hic!”

She lightly punched his chest, wrapped in his coat.

“Still throwing punches, huh? You haven’t changed.”

“You’re the one who makes me mad!”

Their bickering voices echoed warmly through the cold city street.

And by then, the sharp snowflakes had turned into soft, heavy snow, blanketing the world like falling stars.

An Invitation

Haeyoung now found herself inside a luxurious golden elevator, riding up to Taeseong’s home for the first time.

After her tearful apology, he had made an offer she couldn’t refuse.

“You’re hauling this luggage around because you’ve got nowhere to go, right?”

“……”

“Come to my place.”

“…No. I’ll just stay at the café tonight and find a room tomorrow.”

“Didn’t you say you’re sorry?”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“If you’re sorry, then listen to me.”

He had snatched her suitcase from her hands before she could protest, and now here she was.

But she still felt uneasy.

Was it really okay to go to his house? He’s a man living alone…

She glanced sideways at Taeseong.

“Why do you look so scared?”

Did he have eyes on the side of his head? How could he read her expression so easily?

“Do you think I’m going to eat you or something?”

…Who knew?

“I told you, I waited ten years for you.”

He turned his head and met her eyes, his voice smooth and teasing.

“What do you think that means?”

His grown-up gaze was deep, holding both calm and mischief.

“It means… I have patience.”

As soon as he said it, the elevator stopped and the doors opened.