Scene 1 – Reunion
📍 Hospital Room
Jiho stood outside the hospital room for several minutes.
His hand rested on the doorknob.
He hadn't seen his mother properly in years.
He was afraid.
Manager Hyun placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She's waiting."
Jiho took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The room was quiet.
His mother sat near the window, looking weaker than he remembered.
When she saw him...
Her eyes filled with tears immediately.
"Jiho..."
His throat tightened.
For the first time in years, he looked like a lost child instead of a superstar.
"Mom."
Neither moved.
Then she opened her arms.
Jiho crossed the distance between them.
The tears he had been holding back finally fell.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
His mother shook her head.
"No... I'm sorry."
She gently touched his face.
"You've grown up so much."
Jiho laughed through his tears.
"You've gotten older too."
His mother smiled.
"I had no choice."
The room filled with soft laughter.
A laughter that carried years of pain and love.
Scene 2 – Jiho's Request
Later that evening.
Jiho walked Kiara toward her car.
Neither spoke for a while.
Finally—
"Kiara."
She looked at him.
"I need some time."
Kiara blinked.
He looked down.
"I want to spend time with my mother."
"There are things we need to fix."
"And things I need to understand."
Kiara listened quietly.
Jiho continued,
"I don't want to disappear again."
"So I'm telling you this now."
He hesitated.
"Can you wait for me?"
Kiara looked at him for several seconds.
Then nodded.
"I can."
Jiho smiled softly.
"Thank you."
Kiara adjusted her bag.
"I have a business trip tomorrow anyway."
"For a week."
Jiho frowned slightly.
"A whole week?"
Kiara raised an eyebrow.
"You survived years without me."
Jiho looked genuinely offended.
"That's different."
Kiara almost smiled.
"Take care of your mother."
Jiho nodded.
"And you take care of yourself."
Scene 3 – One Week Apart
Days passed.
Kiara attended meetings overseas.
Conference rooms.
Presentations.
Business dinners.
Everything went perfectly.
Except...
Her mind kept wandering.
She checked her phone more often than usual.
No messages.
No calls.
Secretary Ryu noticed immediately.
"You're distracted."
"I'm not."
"Then why have you checked your phone seventeen times?"
Kiara put the phone away.
"I wasn't counting."
Secretary Ryu smiled.
"You miss him."
Kiara looked out the window.
"No."
"...Maybe."
That night, alone in her hotel room...
Kiara stared at Jiho's contact.
She never called.
But she wondered.
Is he okay?
Did his mother recover?
Is he eating properly?
Then she frowned.
Why am I worrying?
Scene 4 – An Unexpected Meeting
📍 Airport Café
After returning home, Kiara stopped at a quiet café inside the airport.
As she ordered coffee—
A familiar voice spoke behind her.
"Kiara."
She froze.
Slowly turning around.
"...Mom."
Silence.
Years of distance stood between them.
Her mother smiled awkwardly.
"You've grown into an incredible woman."
Kiara shifted uncomfortably.
"You look healthy."
"Thank you."
Neither knew what to say.
Eventually, they sat together.
Two women.
Both strong.
Both lonely.
Both blaming themselves.
Kiara's mother spoke first.
"I know you're angry."
Kiara looked down at her coffee.
"I'm not."
"You should be."
Kiara shook her head.
"I know everything."
Her mother stiffened.
"I know about the divorce."
"The arguments."
"The unhappiness."
The guilt in her mother's eyes deepened.
Kiara continued quietly,
"You chose your life."
"I chose mine."
Her voice remained calm.
"I don't blame you."
Her mother lowered her head.
"Then why does it still feel like I lost my daughter?"
Kiara's fingers tightened around the cup.
After a long silence—
"Because we stopped trying."
Tears formed in her mother's eyes.
Kiara stood.
"Let's stay like this."
Not strangers.
Not family.
Something in between.
"We don't have to force anything."
Her mother nodded.
Because she understood.
They were too similar.
Always blaming themselves.
Always sacrificing.
Always creating distance before someone else could.
"I'll wait," her mother whispered.
Kiara hesitated.
Then softly replied,
"...Okay."
Scene 5 – Jiho's Realization
📍 Hospital Rooftop
Jiho stood beside his mother.
The evening breeze was cool.
His mother glanced at him knowingly.
"Do you love her?"
Jiho blinked.
"What?"
"Kiara."
Silence.
Then—
"I think I've always loved her."
His mother smiled.
"You think?"
Jiho looked toward the sunset.
"No."
A small smile appeared.
"I know."
He remembered.
The rooftop.
The comic store.
The rain.
The bicycle.
The way he looked for her first in every crowd.
He laughed softly.
"I fell in love before I even realized it."
His mother's expression softened.
"Does she know?"
Jiho shook his head.
"Not everything."
"Then tell her."
Jiho looked uncertain.
"What if it's too late?"
His mother smiled gently.
"Jiho."
"You've already been given a second chance."
"Don't waste it being afraid."
Scene 6 – The Decision
That night.
Jiho sat alone in his apartment.
An old photo album rested on his lap.
One picture caught his attention.
A younger Kiara.
Frowning.
Holding a school project.
Young Jiho standing beside her.
Smiling proudly.
On the back of the photograph, written in messy handwriting:
Future CEO + Future Superstar
Jiho laughed softly.
Then his expression became serious.
For years...
He had wanted to tell her.
Even before he left.
Even before fame.
Even before fear.
His phone lit up.
A message from Kiara.
Kiara: I came back safely.
Jiho stared at the screen.
Then smiled.
Slowly, he typed:
Jiho: Welcome home.
His fingers hovered above the keyboard.
Then he added:
Jiho: There's something I've wanted to tell you for a very long time.
He paused.
Before pressing send.
His phone rang.
Caller ID:
Lee Minseok (Dad).
Jiho frowned.
At the same moment—
Kiara received an unexpected call from her mother.
And somewhere in the city...
Someone opened an old photo album.
A photograph slipped out.
Four teenagers smiling at the camera.
Young Kiara's Mother.
Young Jiho's Mother.
Lee Minseok.
And Kiara's Father.
On the back was written:
"No matter what happens, let's stay friends forever."
The ink had faded.
But the memories hadn't.
To Be Continued...