He paused for a moment, then replied, "No, I didn't. You might put it in the wrong place."

I shook my head. "I remember that I put it there." I looked closely at Daehyun, and suddenly a bad thought came to my mind. I asked suspiciously, "Are you hiding it?"

Of course, Daehyun was surprised at the sudden question. "What the ... how could you ... I'm not hiding it."

In disbelief, I began to urge him, "Be honest. I won't be mad."

Daehyun sighed silently, trying to convince me, "I'm telling the truth. It's up to you if you want to believe me or not."

Hearing his words, it seemed that I had misunderstood. Thus, feeling guilty, I apologized, "I'm sorry. Please forgive what I said before."

He sighed in silence and added, "Get some rest. Tomorrow, I'll help you to find it."

After saying this, he turned his back facing me.

I was about to stand up to find the ring, But I immediately gave up after thinking about Daehyun's words. I then laid down beside him.

I slowly shifted my body to get closer to him, putting my arms around his body. I could feel the warmth behind his back.

Feeling me hugging his body from behind, Daehyun turned back towards me. He asked anxiously, "Are you feeling unwell?"

I shook my head, burying my face in his arms. "I'm fine. But ...."

"What is it? Say it ...."

I lifted my chin, looking at him for a moment before asking, "Will you take me for a walk tomorrow night?"

He was stunned for a few seconds, then replied with a heavy heart, "Chunghee, what should I do? I have a lot of work to do this week. I can't promise you, but I'll try to go home before dinner tomorrow, okay?"

Hearing that answer, I froze for a moment, staring at him in silence, then said, "Hmm, it doesn't matter. I should just stay here."

"Chunghee, I'm really sorry. I—"

"It's okay. Go sleep now."

After that, I closed my eyes. Daehyun shifted his body slightly upwards, and let me be in his chest until I fell asleep.

All those years, being in Donghwa's arms, made Daehyun's scent was something strange for me. I wasn't used to it but I tried to enjoy it.

Daehyun had a soft scent that could make anyone feel at home in his arms.

I was sure that many people wanted to be in my position right now.

Day after day, everything seemed the same as before. Daehyun was working and coming home late while I was at home waiting for him alone. There's nothing changed as if I was destined to keep waiting for someone in solitude.

Until one night on a different day.

The night sky was cloudy. Only a few stars were decorating the gloomy night without the pale moon glow. I stared at the sky blankly but I didn't know what I exactly expected from the gloomy sky in the night as if waiting for a falling star to grant the requests I made.

I smiled faintly.

I lowered my gaze, musing through the window before I returned to gaze blankly at the expanse of the city out there from a distance while hugging my knees. If I had always enjoyed the scenery out there before, this time was different. The state looked run-off the mill.

Since I lost my ring two days ago, I had never felt better and been pushing everything these past two days.

Daehyun and I also searched for the ring at the place where I put it at that time. But, even we had searched all over the place, we still couldn't find it.

We didn't find the ring even with a great effort as if it had never existed in this world. It disappeared without leaving any traces that could make it memorable. Although I could clearly remember that I put it on the bedside table, but it wasn't there.

A few moments later, footsteps that sounded light were coming towards me. It was Daehyun, he then immediately sat beside me by putting two glasses of hot chocolate near me.

Daehyun came home before dinner today. He said that he didn't have work that required him to stay at the company until late, so he asked A Yeong to take care of the rest so he could accompany me tonight.

His eyes were sharp, yet radiating a gentle noble aura, fixed on the scene beyond the window. He sipped his hot chocolate and smiled as if something had just caressed his heart. He said, "Chunghee, don't be so gloomy."

I was silent without a word. Hearing those words, he seemed to imply to me that I was dreary all day long like a teen who just had a broken heart out of a rusty object.

He said again, "Chunghee, um, what about we go for a walk tomorrow morning? That night, I didn't have a chance to accompany you, so what about tomorrow morning? You must also feel bored being here all day, right?"

I sighed, then turned to look at him. "No need. I thought that there was no need to do such a thing." I paused for a moment, then added, "But, you know, lately I also keep thinking about ... what should I do to repay all your kindness."

The smile on Daehyun's face gradually turned gloomy as if it contained a deeper and painful meaning, but he didn't say anything.

I didn't dare to look into Daehyun's eyes any longer, so I quickly swept my gaze out the window while saying, "Tell me, what should I do? I'll do anything for you. But, if you want me to love you, give me time to confirm how I feel."

"You always think of useless thoughts. How many times have I told you that you don't have to think that you owe me for what I do to you." While saying, his voice sounded flat and cold. He sipped his glass of hot chocolate as if he were restraining himself from acting out of his control.

Finishing his words, I was about to reply. But, before I said the words that were already on the tip of my tongue, my throat suddenly felt itchy. I coughed continuously.

Daehyun, who was currently beside me started to panic. He immediately approached me and accidentally nudged the two hot chocolate glasses in the middle of us. However, he ignored it and let his expensive white marble floor get dirty. He asked anxiously, "Chunghee, tell me, which part you feel hurt?"

I waved weakly as a sign that I was okay.

However, a few seconds later, Daehyun suddenly became even more panicked when he saw the clot of blood I vomited. Without saying anything else, he immediately carried me, taking me to the bathroom to clean the blood on my face.

"Daehyun, I'm okay—"

"You're not okay! How can you say that you're okay now?! Do you think I'm stupid?! Blind?! As I thought, taking you out of the hospital is not a good idea. We're going back to Seoul tomorrow morning," he said irritably.

He was about to stand up, but as if I already knew what he was going to do, I immediately stopped him by hugging his body from behind. "No! You don't understand!"

He paused for a few seconds. His hands were clenched into fists so tightly that they revealed the faint bulge of blue veins on the back of his hand that had begun to tremble. Holding back the emotion inside of him, he said, "Chunghee, should I use the brute force for you so you want to hear me? Should I act like Lee so that you will obey my words? Just say it. I can even do it — worse than he did."

I could only be silent, not dare to make a noise, as if the slightest noise would wake up a bear that was in hibernation.

He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. As he spoke, there was anger in his tone although he tried to say his words gently, "When you feel better, get some rest."

After finishing his words, he immediately let go of my hands. He got up and walked out without saying anything and not even looking back at me.

Without seeing his face, I could feel how intense anger enveloped him.

Stunned for a moment, I slowly stood up and walked out of the bathroom.

On the bed, Daehyun laid on his hand, while his other hand played with his cell phone. The light of the cell phone fell on his face, revealing an angry face without a smile in his eyes.

I sat beside him, clutching the blankets. I was hesitant to start a conversation, but I was a person who always felt guilty in his heart. So, I desperately pushed myself to ask his feelings, "Um, are ... are you angry?"

Daehyun suddenly froze for a few seconds. He then got up from a lying position, turning his head to the side with a death glare. He was displeased with the question.

"I've never even been this angry before, so what now?" He replied coldly.

We stared at each other for a moment before I finally asked doubtfully, "Do ... Do you want to do it tonight?" I bit my lip.

Hearing about this, he suddenly gave a cold grin. He put his cell phone on the table, then asked as if he was sneering, "Is this how you seduce Lee when he's mad at you?"

"No." I looked at him deeply and added sternly, "I've never even asked him for something like this."

"So, should I be proud of your bullshit? I'm even more insulted than your blowjob offer before."

I tried to convince him, "No. This time it's different. I will—"