Daehyun's eyes started to fill with tears as he reminisced about his past. He took a deep breath before continuing, "The government was isolating people who had infected the virus, so my mother had to be there alone. My father tried everything he could to sent her back to this country, but useless. And, after a week of being treated in one of the hospitals there, she finally died ...."

I had nothing to say. I didn't expect that a man like him, who always looked tough in my eyes, would have darkness that had been buried for all this time.

I was speechless, feeling empathize.

Losing someone important was indeed the most painful thing. We couldn't even take it for years or even die with that feeling.

I knew how painful it was to lose someone who was you considered as an important person in your life. I had felt it before, and the pain still lingered in my heart.

Soon, he said again, "But, it was only conveyed by my father."

"What do you mean?"

He glanced at me for a moment, smiled with sadness in his eyes, then spoke, "I wasn't there on the day of her death and that's what I regret until now."

"Where were you?" I asked curiously.

"At that time, I was in France. I had been there since I was in high school. I argued with my father, so he sent me abroad, and forbade me to return until I finished my study. So, I never met my mother except her, who came to visit me there."

Paused for a moment, he continued, "Nobody told me. Everyone kept it hidden from me at the behest of my father. He only told me after one year of her death. You can imagine how I felt at that time." He smiled bitterly, then added, "That's why I'm not close to my father. From then on, I didn't want to go back to this country and choose to live in France. But, five or six years later, he came to apologize to me and persuade me to return."

"Yes, I returned because I thought that I couldn't keep being childish all over the time, so I tried to make up with him. However, do you know what happened when I returned to this country? I just found out that my father had a purpose. He wanted me to marry the daughter of his business colleague but of course, I declined, and again, we argued." Daehyun's expression drastically turned irritated as soon as he revealed that.

"However, in the end, he agreed with my decision, but on one condition that I had to return to France and run my business there. Of course, it's not a big deal for me. Besides, I have friends who could help me there, so I agreed. Heh, from the start, I had never intended to return then if it wasn't him who asked me to, though."

Hearing about the story of him, made me think that we weren't that different. We both had lost someone who mattered in our lives. The difference was, his father was a loyal person and passed on that loyal nature to his son at this time. As for my father ... heh, I could only show a bitter smile when I remembered about him.

But, even though he left me for years, I never hated him or held a grudge for leaving me. He's my father and would still be a father to me, no matter how bad he was.

I always thought that if he only came back, I would welcome him as a child who was waiting for his father to come back. However, unfortunately, that never happened until now.

Imagining it was like hallucinating. The reality was very unlikely.

Feeling guilty, I spoke, "Daehyun, about your mother, I'm sorry for asking that."

"It's okay. I was just a little surprised earlier because no one had ever asked me such a thing before. Usually, people would ask: how is your business? How is the curve in your company? The only questions I hear are questions about my job." He looked at me deeply, and added, "You're the only one who asks me such a question ...."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Um, still, I'm sorry if my question bothers you."

"No. I'm not bothered at all. On the contrary, I'm delighted if you want to know more about me. You don't need to hesitate. Ask whatever you want to know, then I'll tell you everything."

I sighed softly, relieved. Knowing that he didn't mind, I ask him again, "Um, then, you said that you didn't want to come back, then why were you here in the end?"

"It's because of you. I've always thought of you, so I decided to come back."

I shook my head lightly, feeling that it was just a joke from him. "Don't joke around. I'm seriously asking that."

"Me too. That's my main reason. But, if you ask another reason, it's because I just feel bored. I tried to get close to my father again and persuaded him to give up a company for me so he handed over TU shares to me," he said with a smile. as if he regretted nothing.

"You know, I'm very grateful he gave that company because I could meet you there. This is like destiny. We met very easily," he continued.

I was stunned for a moment when I heard the word "destiny". I thought to my mind that his words might have some truth. These were the lines of destiny, arranged so neatly that no one could even tell that there was something unexpected in the scenario.

Daehyun's presence made me quite close to him again like we used to do. But, besides that, there's Donghwa who constantly felt jealous, and even accused me of being the one who cheated on him?

Then, how did he call his affair?

Heh, he did accuse me too often with other people who were even my own friends since then, while I just let him be all this time to avoid the arguments.

This might be called my fault from the start.

However, I only needed to live the rest of my life with someone else even though I also had to endure a lot of burden in my heart.

In silence, Daehyun said again," You know, after knowing that if you work at that company, I intend to always be with you. So, I asked one more company so I could have a good reason if, at any time, my father wants me to return to France."

I lowered my gaze. Either out of admiration or out of shock, those words left me unable to think of anything for a while.

"What's wrong?" Daehyun asked curiously.

Lifting my eyes, I replied, "Ah, nothing. I just didn't expect you to go that far."

He smiled gently. "I'm just afraid that I have to lose you a second time."

I suddenly fell silent. Somehow I felt that our conversation getting more intense, so I tried to change the subject by asking, "Um, if you are from Gyeongsang, why did we meet at [1]Gangwon?"

[Note: Gangwon is one of the provinces in South Korea]

Hearing this, he immediately burst out laughing like he was laughing at a child who was asking such a silly question.

He replied, "My father is a businessman. Wherever he went at that time, he would definitely bring his family." He chuckled softly, then said derisively, "Geez, I didn't think you would ask this."

I snorted in annoyance. "You idiot. I was just asking what was going through my head."

With a pause, he tilted his head slightly, then gave me a weird look. "You dare to call me idiot, huh? The last person who said that to me, I beat him in the face."

Frowning, I replied, "So, why? Are you waiting for me to regret it? If you want to beat me up, go ahead."

Daehyun smiled. He put his arm around me, then said solemnly, "Of course I won't. How could be! It's just that ... you're so cute when you tease me. I kind of want to bite you." While saying, he chuckled and showed a sparkle in the corner of his beautifully curving eyes.

"Heh, it's you who have been teasing me a lot lately."

He smiled.

We paused for a moment before his voice was heard again, "Um, then what about you?"

Still frowning, I swept my gaze at him, "What?"

"What about you? I also want to know more about yourself. It's not fair if I'm the only one who talks a lot here."

Stunned for a moment, I sighed heavily. I asked, "What do you want to know?"

"Everything. Just tell me everything."

With a pause, I started to tell, "I ... I was born in Seoul."

He frowned in confusion when he heard the first sentence of me. "Hmm? I thought that you were from this area."

"No. I was born in Seoul. But, I already consider this town as my hometown." I smiled. There was a feeling of gratitude when I said my words.

Daehyun chuckled. "I feel like I've been cheated."

"What do you mean?"

He pulled my arm, then hugged my body tighter so that my position seemed to sink in his broad chest.