"When the crisis occurred, many people decided to commit suicide because their businesses were destroyed. My father was even close to ...." Daehyun suddenly stopped before he finished his words.

I asked curiously, "your father ... what?"

The corners of Daehyun's lips lifted, showing bitterness on his face. "He's ... ah, no. Nothing — drop it — it doesn't matter."

His face also lost its pleasant expression. As if silenced by his own words, he clamped up. His attitude suddenly changed, made him look like a statue that didn't have a single expression, yet still looked alive.

Was it really bittersweet for him to recall?

I, who was also silent beside him, turned my face out of the window, not wanting to force things he didn't want to say, so that silence filled up along the way again.

At this time, the car drove in silence as we were quiet in it. There was only the sound of the engine roaring on the road. Until Daehyun stretched out his hand, then put on the music to break the ice between us.

As the music played, I tried to reconcile my thoughts with him, but it was useless. Daehyun seemed reluctant to do it. So, I just kept staring at the scenery out there and he focused on his car.

Half an hour later, we arrived.

Daehyun and I also walked towards the door. In front of the door, I immediately took out the key from my pocket, then opened the door.

When the door opened, stuffy air and darkness greeted us immediately. Daehyun was about to step inside, but I shortly held him and asked him to wait for fresh air to seep into this dark room that looked stifling.

After a while, then the two of us went inside and closed the door.

We walked up the stairs. Daehyun, who was following me behind, suddenly said anxiously, "Chunghee, are you okay? You seem to have a hard time walking."

Without turning my head, I replied, "I'm fine. My legs are just a little heavy."

I smiled, lamenting my own words. Apart from deteriorating my eyesight, I also had more difficulty moving some of my limbs, especially my legs. I realized that soon I would be paralyzed.

As soon as Daehyun heard my response, he immediately stepped beside me. "Then, rest in your room."

I nodded in agreement. The suggestion he gave was a good thing for my current condition. There was nothing else I could do but lie down on the bed helplessly.

When Daehyun opened the bedroom door, we both froze for a moment. The room atmosphere was still the same since we were last here, which was a bit messy, making us freeze before Daehyun spoke, "Um, Chunghee, you better come back downstairs. I'll clean up this room first."

I sighed softly. Almost all the time, Daehyun was the only one who did all the household chores. He cooked for me and cleaned the house. He took care of me like a helpless old man. So, since I felt that now that I was at my place, that was my turn to treat him well as a guest.

I tried to deny his good intentions, "No need. I can do it. Besides, this room is also not that messy, though."

"That's right. And because of that, it didn't take long to clean up. So you better get down and wait downstairs." He touched my arm gently and smiled. "Listen to me this time, okay?"

Hearing his words, I agreed. I turned around and was about to go downstairs, but he suddenly exclaimed, "Chunghee, wait!"

He took something out of his jacket pocket, then handed me a long-lost familiar thing. "Here, I forgot to give it to you."

I felt dazed, and muttered softly, "The ring ...."

I was about to take the ring on Daehyun's fingers, but he immediately grasped the ring tightly into his fist as if he was reluctant to give it to me.

I looked at him confusedly without a word.

Daehyun felt his jacket pocket again, then immediately took out a blood-red ring box. He opened it and immediately revealed a pair of expensive silver rings with a small sparkle in the middle.

Seeing the rings, I was suddenly shocked silently as if my blood had stopped right in my heart. I lifted my gaze, looked at Daehyun with mixed feelings. I could also feel my whole body start to shake.

On the contrary, Daehyun looked at me with hope in his eyes. He touched my face, who was currently in a daze, and said, "I will return your ring if you want to put this ring on your finger."

Even though Daehyun said his words gently, I could feel the threat in his sentence. "Put on this ring, I beg you," he said once again with a tone of sorrow.

I lowered my gaze, stared at the ring for a while, asking in a deep voice, "Why do you have to return it if you want me to put on another ring? Why don't you just throw it away?"

He answered carefreely, "Because I feel that I need to show it to you."

As soon as Daehyun finished his sentence, he took my hand, then put the ring on my ring finger very piously. While I could only watch how someone was putting a strange ring on my finger as if forcing me to marry him. I helplessly accepted it.

After that, Daehyun handed me another ring that was still in the box and said, "Now, it's your turn."

The word "your turn" was clear enough where he wanted me to put the ring on his finger. He wanted to exchange rings with me like a couple who were getting married.

Waiting a long time without any response from me, he begged, "Chunghee, please put it on my finger."

I was stunned for a long time before my hand moved, took out the ring, then slowly put it on Daehyun's finger.

The deeper the ring was attached, the more devastated I felt.

This wasn't what I expected so far. I treated him well didn't mean it had to end like this. In the past, I always watched news related to forced marriages, witnessed how some women were forced to marry a man her parents chose so that not a few of them committed suicide. I used to think that it was no big deal, and suicide was too much of a choice for a problem like this.

However, now, I knew how it felt. When you were forced to marry someone you didn't love, your heart felt broken to pieces. Now, I thought that suicide was the best choice.

But, what could I do?

Should I jump from a high place to drown in the crowd?

Should I cut my veins?

Or, should I stab my heart?

By just imagining it, already made me feel more painful than cancer that I suffered.

The ring was fully attached to Daehyun's finger. His face immediately showed a smile, even his eyes were smiling cheerfully. He held my hand, rubbing the ring on my finger gently.

I hung my head to hide my feelings, not daring to lift my face to look at Daehyun's eyes. I said in a low voice, "Give me the ring back. I bought it with the money I earned for a year. I will lose if I have to throw it away."

Hearing my words, Daehyun held out the ring right away.

Cautiously, I grabbed the ring and looked at each side, turning it over to make sure it was really the ring I had considered a short while ago as a thing of the past.

The silver color faded slightly but didn't reduce the beautiful impression in it. As soon as I saw the name engraved on the other side, made me smile faintly. Either because I was glad to find it again or because I had to throw it away.

Now, there's no place on my finger for this ring. However, I also couldn't throw it away. There were many beautiful memories that didn't deserve to be forgotten in it.

After a moment's pause, I lifted my gaze, then asked, "Where did you find it?" Daehyun immediately replied, "I found it behind the bedside table when I picked up my card that fell."

His sharp eyes were a reliable tracer when it came to finding things. The deeper he looked at me, the more things he knew.

After staring at the ring for a moment, in a low voice, I muttered to myself, "You shouldn't show it to me anymore ...."

"I just don't want you to accuse me of hiding the ring again. You can throw it away if you want," Daehyun replied indifferently.

At first, I thought that only I would hear my own words. However, I realized that there was only me and Daehyun in this silence. It was impossible if he didn't hear anything, it's different if he pretended and stayed quiet. However, Daehyun was very straightforward, even giving comments.

I didn't give any response and immediately grasped the ring tightly, then turned around, and descended the stairs.

This ring was too precious to throw away. I couldn't possibly do that even though there was a lot of pain I had to endure.

There was no reason to do something like that even though with our current relationship — even we would never be together like we used to be.