It had been a week since Suho started practicing walking at the farmhouse. Every morning, the quiet air would fill with Hauen's gentle instructions and Suho's occasional grumbles. His progress was steady; each day, a few more steps than the last. And every time he stumbled, Hauen was right there, alert and ready to catch him.
"Come on, one more step," she said, watching him closely.
"I'm done," Suho panted, gripping the support stand. "I need a break before my legs resign from service."
Hauen chuckled. "Alright, fine. Sit."
She helped him to the chair, her hands steadying him with practiced care. His breathing was heavy, sweat trickling down his temples.
She smiled softly. "You look like you just ran a marathon."
He leaned back, catching his breath. "It's not less than one for me."
She reached for a towel and began gently wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Good," she said teasingly. "You're giving your best, and I'm proud of you, Teddy bear."
Her voice was light, but her eyes were warm, focused entirely on him. A loose strand of hair slipped from behind her ear, brushing her cheek as she leaned in.
Suho's gaze lingered a moment too long. There was something peaceful about watching her, focused, kind, unaware of how her presence grounded him.
She caught him staring. "Stop staring at me like that," she said quickly, trying to sound strict.
He grinned. "And what will you do if I don't?"
Her heart skipped a beat. "Then maybe I'll pluck out your eyeballs," she blurted, and instantly regretted it.
Suho laughed, really laughed, the kind of laugh that made his shoulders shake and the sound that echoed through the room
"What's so funny?" she frowned.
He tried to calm himself but kept chuckling. "No wonder you're still single. You threaten people the moment they flirt with you. Who would dare to ask you out?"
Her brows shot up. "Excuse me? Did you just flirt with me?"
"Hauen-ah… please," he said, holding his stomach from laughing harder. "I'm an introvert myself and still managed to date someone. But you?" he grinned, teasing, "you're worse than me. You're hopeless."
She puffed her cheeks slightly and pouted, crossing her arms.
He stopped laughing when he noticed her expression.
"Nobody ever tried to take a chance on me," she said softly. "How would I even know all this?"
Suho's smile faded into something gentle. He reached out, taking her hand carefully. "Hey… don't feel bad," he said quietly. "You're someone worth loving."
Her heart began to race again.
"You're the kind of person who doesn't attract just anyone," he continued, his tone sincere. "It takes the right eyes to see how precious you really are. And if people failed to see that, it just means they didn't deserve you."
Hauen looked down, her fingers curling slightly around his hand.
"Don't worry," he added with a playful grin, trying to lighten the moment. "Once I'm fully recovered, I'll set you up with your crush."
Her heart skipped violently. Because that crush… was sitting right in front of her. And he had no idea.
"No need," she said quickly.
Suho raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Why not?"
She hesitated, her eyes dropping for a second. "It's… complicated. He went through a terrible breakup, and I don't think he's ready for another relationship."
Suho made an exaggerated "ooh" face. "That's even better, you've got a chance to win him back! Just tell me who he is, I'll talk to him."
"No," she said firmly.
"Why not?" he asked, still teasing.
"Because you can't meet him. And you won't." She crossed her arms, trying to sound strict. "So stop talking about my crush and start walking again. Break time's over."
Suho groaned dramatically and grabbed the support stand. "You're cruel, Kang Hauen," he muttered as he tried to stand up again.
She held his arms with a smirk. "And you're my dramatic patient. Now get up."
Grumbling under his breath, Suho pushed himself to his feet again, the faintest smile tugging at his lips, because somehow, even her scolding felt like care.
Next Day:
The next day, Suho had a meeting at the office, so Hauen accompanied him there. The meeting went smoothly, and everything was finally sorted out.
As they left the building, Hauen pushed his wheelchair toward the car.
"How about we have dinner outside today?" Suho suggested, glancing up at her.
She smiled. "What do you want to eat?"
"Something from a nice restaurant," he said thoughtfully. "Good food, good atmosphere… I just want a little change."
"Alright then, let's go," she said, and his lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Mr. Lee drove them to a nearby restaurant and then went to refuel the car while Hauen helped Suho inside.
"This feels nice," Suho said, taking in the cozy lights and warm scent of grilled food as he savored a bite of sizzling pork belly.
Hauen smiled, serving him another piece. "It's your favorite, isn't it?"
He nodded, his expression soft. "Yeah… it always makes me feel alive."
Then, out of nowhere, Suho smiled to himself.
"Why are you smiling?" Hauen asked, slicing the meat carefully.
"Nothing," he said, trying, and failing, to hide the grin tugging at his lips.
"Come on, say it already. I want to laugh too," she teased.
He looked at her, warmth in his eyes. "You remember when you were pregnant? You were allergic to pork belly back then. You banned me from eating it, in the name of our baby."
Her smile faltered slightly, the memory hitting her all at once.
Suho immediately noticed. "Hauen-ah…" he said gently, reaching across the table to hold her hand.
She tried to smile, but her eyes softened with emotion.
"Don't feel bad remembering the past," he said softly. "I know how hard it was for you. But some things are just… beyond us. If it was meant to happen, it would have. We weren't lucky enough to save that little soul, and we can't change the past now."
His voice was calm, full of quiet acceptance. "So let's keep the good memories, hmm? Leave the painful ones behind."
She nodded, her smile finally returning, faint but genuine.
Trying to lighten the mood, he asked with a grin, "So… tell me, does your crush also like pork belly?"
She gave him a sharp look. "Why did you suddenly remember my crush again?"
He smiled mischievously. "Just curious. You know, in case you actually end up with him someday, I should probably warn him, not to bring pork belly anywhere near you when you're pregnant with his child," he teased.
Her heart skipped violently, breath catching in her throat. Butterflies fluttered madly in her stomach.
Suho noticed her expression and tilted his head. "What? You look flustered…" he said, smiling.
"I'm not!" she blurted out, too quickly. "And stop talking about my crush. Focus on your recovery." She shoved a piece of meat into his mouth to shut him up.
He blinked, chewing in confusion before breaking into a knowing smirk. "Yaa, Hauen-ah… why do you keep hiding your crush from me? You're my best friend, right? I deserve to know him."
She glared. "No. I won't tell you."
"Why, though?" he pouted, eyes wide and childlike.
"Because I don't trust you with my crush," she said firmly.
He slumped back, pouting even more, looking adorably disappointed.
"Stop pouting," she said, trying not to laugh.
"Don't talk to me," he muttered dramatically.
She smiled, shaking her head. "Teddy bear is angry."
"Don't call me that," he protested, though the corners of his mouth twitched.
"Yaa, stop being stubborn," she said softly. "I really can't tell you about my crush."
"Then don't tell me. I'm not interested in your so-called crush anymore," Suho muttered under his breath.
"I heard that," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"So what? What will you do about it?" he snapped, looking away.
Hauen laughed softly. "Stop whining."
"I'm not whining," he said defensively. "I just don't get why you're giving so much importance to that mysterious guy."
She laughed again, amused. "Yaa… when did I ever do that? You're the one who kept asking about him, and now you're acting jealous for no reason."
"I'm not jealous," he said quickly, glancing at her. "I just don't understand why are you even hiding him from me?"
"Because…" she paused mid-sentence.
"Because?" he pressed, looking at her curiously.
She hesitated, then said quietly, "Because you're going to be my ex-husband once the contract ends. And if you start interfering in my non-existing love life, it might get… complicated. That's why I'm keeping him a secret."
Her words hit him like a quiet storm. His heart sank.
For a moment, Suho just stared at her, the words echoing in his mind. Ex-husband.Contract.He had completely forgotten the purpose behind their marriage, the reason she was by his side in the first place. Somewhere along the way, he'd gotten used to her presence, her laughter, her scolding, her warmth, and now, the thought of her leaving hurt in ways he couldn't explain.
She noticed his silence. "What happened? Are you okay?"
He looked up, forcing a small smile. "Yeah… I'm fine."
Hauen smiled faintly, unaware of the storm inside him, and served him another piece of fried meat.
Then Suho looked at her quietly and said, in a softer tone than usual, "Hauena."
"Hmm?" she replied, still focused on cutting the meat.
"Once the contract ends… will you still stay in touch with me?" he asked, his voice calm but sincere.
She froze for a second, unsure how to respond.
He continued, his eyes lowered. "Last time you said you'd leave and stay away from me… because you couldn't live near our baby as a stranger."
Her hands stilled. Her eyes dropped, a faint ache spreading through her chest.
"But now," he went on gently, "neither the baby is here… nor Yerin. Everything's changed. So I'm just asking… after everything is settled, can we still be good friends?"
Hauen looked up at him, seeing the quiet emotion behind his question, the sadness he was trying to hide, the longing in his gaze.
"Of course we can," she said softly. "You're one of the most precious people in my life, Suho."
Her honesty hit him deeply. His heart thudded harder, his chest tightening with emotion. He smiled faintly, eyes tracing her face, every feature, every little movement, like he was trying to memorize her.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
She smiled. "Thanks for what?"
"For everything," he replied, his voice carrying a fragile warmth.
She chuckled lightly. "You're getting too emotional. That doesn't suit you, Mr. Serious. Now smile and finish your meal."
He smiled, obediently picking up his chopsticks again.
And just like that, the heaviness between them slowly melted away. They spent the rest of the dinner talking about small, random things, laughing, teasing, bickering softly, like two people who had found comfort in each other's company without even realizing it.
As they finished dinner, Hauen pushed Suho's wheelchair out of the restaurant. The night air was cool, the street calm under the soft glow of streetlights. She was chatting lightly about the dessert they skipped when suddenly—
A blur of movement.
Before she could even process it, someone rushed toward them from the shadows, face covered, a glint of steel flashing under the light.
A knife.
Hauen's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in horror.
"SUHO!" she screamed, her voice trembling, the world around her slowing into a terrifying stillness.
For a heartbeat, everything stopped: the sound of footsteps, the cars, the chatter in the distance. All she could hear was the pounding of her own heartbeat and the sharp whistle of air as the attacker's arm swung toward them.
In that frozen moment, fear and instinct collided, and she moved.