The Vow They Once Made.
*Soft morning sunlight filtered through the glass wall*
*Yuna gently brushed a few stray strands from Haemin's face*
*Haemin slowly opens his eyes*
"Yuna…"
*Yuna's eyes softened as she smiled*
"Good morning, Haemin."
*Haemin covered his mouth and yawned quietly*
"Is it morning already?"
"It's only nine. Sleep a little longer if you'd like."
*Haemin rubbed his eyes*
"Mmm… Yuna, you didn't go to work?"
*Yuna chuckled lightly as she brushed her finger against his cheek*
"I took three days off. I just want to spend this little time with you."
"Is it really okay for you to do that? You don't have to worry about me. I understand if you need to go."
*Yuna shook her head gently, still smiling*
"Harin is there to handle everything. It's fine if I don't go in for a few days."
"I see…"
*Yuna smiled warmly and leaned closer*
*She kissed him gently on the lips*
*Haemin's cheeks turned red*
"Why are your cheeks so red?"
*Her thumb brushing his flushed skin*
"W—Well…"
*Yuna smiled, her eyes warm but filled with clear desire*
*She leaned in again, kissing the corner of his lips*
"Last night… I might have overdone it, didn't I?"
*Haemin looked away shyly, pulling the blanket up to cover half of his face*
"It's fine… I don't really mind."
*Yuna chuckled softly at the sight*
*She reached out, gently lowered the blanket from his face before leaning in again.*
*Kiss*
*Her lips moved against his with gentle dominance*
*Pant*
*Gasp*
*Yuna finally pulled back*
*Haemin gasping softly, dazed and breathless, his cheeks flushed*
*Yuna looked at him with warm, lustful eyes*
"Don't do that often, Haemin."
*Haemin was still catching his breath*
"Do… what…?"
*Yuna brushing her thumb across his lower lip*
"The face you're making right now. To look at me like this with this cute face of yours, it's just too much for me."
*Haemin's blush deepened*
"Why…?"
*Yuna leaned closer*
*Voice dropping into a whisper as she gently pressed her body against his*
"Because it makes me want you even more."
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_____
Later that evening
*Yuna taps a section of the countertop*
*A hidden display lights up*
"So, here, Haemin."
*Yuna points at the display*
"If you want to activate the cooking surface, you press here first. The system will automatically recognize the cookware and adjust the temperature."
"I don't even have to set the heat?"
"You can if you want to. But the smart mode handles most of it."
"I see."
"Now try it yourself."
*Haemin carefully presses the display*
"Like this?"
"Yes."
"Then… this one?"
*Yuna nods*
"And after that…"
*Haemin presses another option*
"The cooking mode?"
*Yuna smiles proudly*
"See? You're learning already."
*Haemin looks slightly embarrassed*
"Take your time, okay? You'll learn everything eventually. But why do I get the feeling that you think I'm expecting you to memorize every single thing in this house?"
*Yuna lightly pokes Haemin's nose, sounding jokingly annoyed*
"Haemin, didn't I tell you not to be so cautious around me just because of my status? You do know it's completely fine not to know all of this because I'll be the one cooking for you, don't you?"
"N-No, I didn't mean it like that… you know, it's just… wouldn't it be easier if I knew how to do these things? Because it doesn't feel right relying on you for everything."
*Yuna raises an eyebrow*
"Relying on your wife isn't a crime."
"I know."
*Haemin scratches his cheek awkwardly*
"But I want to be able to do something for you too. You've already provided me with everything, and honestly, I don't even know how to repay everything you've given me. This is the least I can do. Let me take care of you too, Yuna."
*Yuna's eyes soften as she gently wraps an arm around his waist*
"Now who's the one saying sweet things?"
*Haemin becomes embarrassed and looks away*
*Yuna leans in and kisses his forehead tenderly*
"I won't stop you if you insist. But don't push yourself too hard thinking you have to do this for me, alright? I would hate it."
*Yuna smiles softly*
"Like I said before, you're my responsibility now, Haemin. That's why I don't want you doing something that will only burden yourself. Don't think that you need to repay me for anything. The fact that you're willing to marry me is already more than I could ever ask for, and I'm truly grateful for it."
*Haemin looked at her with a slightly puzzled expression before letting out a small laugh*
"What are you talking about, Yuna? Why do you make it sound like I'm someone so great that you have to be grateful to me? If anything, the one who should be grateful should be me instead. For someone as prominent as you to want to marry someone ordinary like me… I don't even know what you see in me. But thank you, Yuna."
*Yuna stared at him for a second before suddenly laughing*
"You really have no idea how attractive you are, do you?"
*Haemin immediately looked confused*
"What does that even mean?"
*Yuna gently flicked his forehead*
"Ouch."
"Stop underestimating yourself, Haemin."
*Haemin rubbed his forehead*
*Yuna smiled and shook her head*
_____
*Television running*
[Interviewer: "Ms Seo, as you already know, many people in this industry, along with the general public, regard you as one of the most influential business leaders of this generation. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing Nara Group today?]
[Yuna: "The biggest challenge? Honestly, growth itself isn't the challenge. Any company with enough capital can grow. The real challenge is maintaining that growth without compromising the standards and values that built the company in the first place."]
[Interviewer: "Could you elaborate on that so our audience can learn from your perspective?"]
[Yuna: "Look, many companies today become so consumed by short-term performance. Their focus is often placed on quarterly earnings and immediate returns. While profitability is certainly important, my responsibility is to ensure that Nara Group remains strong not just next year, but twenty or thirty years from now. That requires discipline, patience, and sometimes making decisions that aren't immediately popular."]
*Haemin sat comfortably on the sofa, watching the screen in quiet awe*
[Interviewer: "That's a very insightful answer, Ms. Seo. On a related note, do you have any advice for the young professionals who look up to you and hope to follow a similar path?"]
[Yuna: "My advice is simple. Focus on becoming reliable before becoming successful. Success may make you look impressive, but reliability is what earns trust. People can admire your talent, but if they cannot depend on you, that talent means very little in the long run."
[Yuna: "So make reliability your foundation because most achievements are not accomplished alone. At some point, someone will have to place their trust in you. The question is whether you've become the kind of person worthy of that trust.]
*Applause filled the studio*
*Haemin couldn't help smiling while watching the screen*
[Interviewer: "Wow, Ms. Seo… I'm honestly speechless."]
*The interviewer laughed awkwardly while the audience continued applauding*
[Interviewer: I think I speak for everyone in this studio when I say that we have truly admired you since your early days in the industry. We watched you rise as one of the country's most influential business leaders at such a young age before eventually becoming Chairwoman of Nara Group."]
[Interviewer: "Many people may not realize this, but that means you've dedicated most of your life to your work and to the development of this country. Looking back, is there anything you regret sacrificing for your career?"]
[Yuna: "No."]
[Interviewer: "None at all?"]
[Yuna: "You see, every choice comes with a cost. If I spend my time regretting every sacrifice I've made, then there would be no point in making those choices in the first place. I accept responsibility for my decisions."]
*Click*
*A door opened somewhere behind Haemin*
*Haemin immediately turned his head*
*Yuna walked out from the study room while loosening the sleeves of her blouse*
"Oh, Yuna, you've finished your work?"
*Muffled interview audio continued playing in the background*
"Yeah."
*Yuna walking over to the sofa*
"I'm sorry, Haemin. I said I was going to spend time with you today, but there were some urgent matters that needed my attention."
"No, it's fine. Don't worry about me."
*Yuna sat down beside him*
*The interview continued playing on the television*
*Yuna glanced at the screen and immediately sighed*
"You're really wasting your time watching this interview."
"Eh? Why? I like watching you talk, Yuna."
"You do?"
"Yes! Because you look really cool whenever you're talking about work."
*Yuna raised an eyebrow*
"Cool?"
"Very cool."
*Haemin pointed at the television enthusiastically*
"And honestly, I still can't believe the person on that screen is sitting beside me right now."
*Yuna looked at him with amusement*
"Is that so?"
"It is!"
*Haemin nodded repeatedly*
"You don't even realize how popular you are, do you? Every time you appear on television, the broadcast becomes a big hit! The clips get shared everywhere, and everyone watches them!"
"That's an exaggeration."
"It's not!"
*The interviewer continued*
"And everyone in my class always talks about you. Most of them see you as their role model!"
"Well, that's a little concerning."
"It's a good thing, Yuna!"
"What about you?"
"Hm?"
"Do you see me as a role model too?"
*Haemin's excitement paused for a moment, covering part of his face with his hand*
"Of course I am."
*Yuna looked at him for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh*
*The television continued playing*
[Interviewer: "While most people know Nara Group for its business achievements, many are less aware of the company's social contributions over the years."]
*A series of videos began appearing on the screen*
[Interviewer: "Over the last decade alone, Nara Group has funded hundreds of scholarships, sponsored educational institutions, supported medical research programs, and invested heavily in community development projects throughout the country."]
[Interviewer: "Many experts have even described Nara Group's educational initiatives as one of the most successful private-sector education support programs in modern Korea."]
*Several images flashed across the television screen*
[Interviewer: "One example often cited is Haewon Elementary School."]
*A large school building appeared on the screen*
[Interviewer:] "Ten years ago, it was an ordinary regional school known mainly within its local community. Despite its students strong academic performance, it had yet to gain widespread recognition beyond the area."]
[Interviewer: "Today, it has become one of the most respected elementary schools in the country, gaining recognition worldwide for its educational programs and student development initiatives."]
[Interviewer: "Much of that transformation has been credited to the long-term support provided through programs funded by Nara Group."]
*Haemin suddenly froze*
*His eyes widened*
"No way."
*Yuna glanced at him*
"What?"
"Wait."
*Haemin immediately sat up straighter*
"Wait, wait, wait."
*He pointed at the television*
"Yuna, are you seriously sponsoring that school?"
*Yuna looked at the screen*
"Haewon Elementary?"
"Yes!"
*Yuna shrugged casually*
"I suppose so."
"You suppose so?"
*Yuna leaned back against the sofa*
"I started sponsoring it around ten years ago when I first began taking on more responsibilities within the company."
*She thought for a moment*
"Actually, if I remember correctly, it was Harin who recommended it."
"Harin?"
*Yuna noded*
"Yeah. She brought the proposal to me. At the time, it was just another educational investment project."
*Yuna looked at the school building displayed on the television*
"Who would've thought it would become one of the country's most respected schools."
*A small smile appeared on her lips*
"Harin really has a good eye for these things."
*Haemin stared at the television in disbelief*
"Did you really not know!?*
"Know what?"
*Haemin slowly turned toward her*
"That was my elementary school."
*Silence*
*Yuna blinked*
"What?"
"My elementary school!"
"Haemin pointed at the screen again"
"I studied there."
*A genuine surprise appeared on Yuna's face*
"You did?"
"Yes!"
*A laugh escaped him*
"I can't believe this. Is this fate or something?"
*Yuna remained silent for a moment while looking between him and the television*
"That's strange."
"Hm?"
"According to the reports I received from Harin, your elementary school was Yeonggwang Elementary?"
*Haemin immediately looked confused*
"What?"
"Yeonggwang Elementary. That's what was listed in your background records."
*Haemin stared at her*
"What are you talking about, Yuna? That's not right at all."
*The old principal appeared on the screen during an interview segment*
*Haemin's eyes widened again and pointed excitedly*
"Look!"
*Yuna turned toward the television*
"That principal. He was my principal!"
*Haemin smiled instinctively*
"He was always really kind to me for some reason. I still don't know why."
*Haemin laughed softly*
"But he always looked after me whenever I got into trouble at school."
*Yuna stared at the screen for several seconds*
"Then that's very strange."
"Why?"
*Yuna's brows furrowed slightly*
"Harin has never made a mistake like this before."
"Well… everyone makes mistakes sometimes."
*Yuna didn't answer immediately. Yes, indeed, everyone makes mistakes. But not Harin. And not for a mistake as simple as this*
*The television program continued*
[Narrator: "Of course, Nara Group's contribution to education and public welfare did not begin with Ms. Seo."]
*Several old photographs appeared on the screen.*
*One of them showed Chairman Seo standing beside a newly completed school building while surrounded by smiling students*
[Narrator: "The foundation for many of these initiatives was established decades ago by the late Chairman and his wife, Han Sun-young."]
*The footage changed*
*This time, a woman appeared on the screen alongside the late chairman*
*They were visiting hospitals, schools, and community centers together*
[Narrator: "While the late chairman focused on industrial development, Ms. Han was recognized for her leadership across the group's educational initiatives as well as its wider development efforts."]
[Narrator: "Many institutions that received support during that period are still actively serving their communities today."]
*Haemin blinked*
"Wait."
*Yuna was still lost in thought about Harin when Haemin suddenly spoke*
"Hm?"
"The woman on the screen…"
*Yuna immediately followed his gaze*
"Oh."
*Her attention shifted away from her thoughts*
"Is that your mother?"
"Yes."
*Haemin stared at the screen, amazed*
"You two almost look alike."
*Yuna smiled faintly*
"I get that a lot."
*The program slowly moved toward its conclusion*
*A few minutes later, the television screen faded into a commercial break*
*The interview had finally ended*
"Wow."
*Haemin leaned back against the sofa*
*He turned toward her with a smile*
"I really didn't expect this. The fact that you were already connected to my life when I was in elementary school."
*Yuna smiled back*
"Yeah."
*But unlike her expression, her thoughts remained on Harin's mistake*
*Haemin didn't notice the slight distraction in her eyes*
"You know, Yuna…"
"Hm?"
"Thinking about it now, I know quite a bit about you. But… I don't really know anything about your family. You never talk about them publicly either."
"Why do you want to know about them?"
"Well, I'm kind of curious. Wouldn't it be better if I knew a little? I mean, I will end up meeting them in the future too, right?"
"There's nothing particularly interesting to talk about."
"But still—"
*Before he could continue, Yuna suddenly wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him closer*
"Eh?"
*Haemin nearly lost his balance before ending up closer to her*
"Yuna?"
"Why are we talking about my family? If anything, I'm more curious about yours."
"Huh? My family?"
*Yuna rested her chin lightly on top of his head*
"Yeah. I've already read the background report Harin gave me. But it was mostly basic information. I want to hear it from you instead. I want to know about your life before you met me."
"I don't know if my life is interesting enough for someone like you."
"It is to me."
*Haemin laughed quietly*
"Okay… I'll tell you. But you have to promise me something first."
"What is it?"
"If I tell you about my life, then you have to tell me about yours too."
*Yuna looked down at him for a moment before smiling*
"You really won't let this go, will you? Alright…"
*For the next hour, they talked about their lives, with Haemin being the one who spoke first*
*He talked about the parts of his childhood that he could still remember. About his mother, his aunt. And about the father he barely remembered because he had passed away when Haemin was still very young*
*He talked about the loneliness he sometimes felt whenever he saw other children walking together with their parents. How there were moments when he wished he could experience the same thing*
*But even then, he always tried his best to stay strong because he believed his mother would never want him to spend his life feeling sad over something that could no longer be changed*
*He talked about how he gradually became more introverted as he grew up. How he found it easier to keep things to himself*
*How he spent most of his time studying because he wanted to make his aunt proud and repay even a small part of the kindness she had shown him throughout his life*
*He talked about the countless hours he spent preparing for university entrance exam. About finally being accepted into university after years of hard work*
*About meeting new friends there. And about the struggles of adapting to a completely new life in a new environment where he had to learn how to take care of himself*
*But despite all the hardships, there had been good memories too. And somehow, while listening to him, Yuna found herself smiling more and more*
*Because the way Haemin talked about his past wasn't filled with excuses or resentment*
*Instead, it was filled with gratitude*
*Even when speaking about difficult moments, he always focused on how he tried to overcome them himself rather than blaming other people*
*Eventually, it was Yuna's turn.
*At first, she spoke casually. But as time passed, the stories became heavier*
*Yuna talked about how she could barely remember most of her childhood because there had never been much of a childhood to remember in the first place*
*She talked about the expectations that had followed her since she was a little girl*
*She told him about what it was like to grow up in the Seo family*
*About how every achievement she accomplished was treated as something expected rather than something worth celebrating*
*No matter how much she achieved, it was never enough. No matter how hard she worked, there was always something more expected from her*
*No one seemed to care about her or how she felt, not even her own parents. They often seemed to care more about the future than the daughter standing in front of them. As a child, Yuna spent years trying to earn approval that never truly arrived. This was also one of the reasons she didn't get along well with her parents*
*She used to studying until she fell asleep at her desk. She remembered pushing herself so hard that there were days when she could barely keep her eyes open*
*Over time, she learned how to hide her exhaustion, her loneliness, and her disappointment long before she became an adult*
*She talked about how every experience throughout her childhood slowly shaped her into the person she was today*
*She never really having a genuine friend because of her status. Many people approached her with hidden motives and personal agendas*
*She eventually stopped expecting sincerity from others and focused solely on the future that had already been decided for her*
*She talked about how there were times when she stopped seeing herself as a person and felt as though her entire existence had been shaped for a specific purpose from the very beginning*
*She never truly experienced many of the ordinary moments that other people naturally enjoyed while growing up*
*She spoke calmly, as if those memories no longer affected her. As if she had already accepted everything a long time ago*
*Haemin listened very carefully*
*When Yuna finally finished speaking, silence settled between them*
*For a moment, neither of them said anything*
*Then Yuna suddenly noticed something*
"Haemin?"
*Haemin quickly lowered his eyes*
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
*Haemin bit his lip, holding back his tear*
"Because… It's just not right…"
"Hm?"
"I don't care how important Nara Group was. I don't care how much responsibility they expected you to carry. You were still a child!"
*The more he thought about it, the more upset he became*
"Seriously, what were the adults around you even thinking? Who puts that kind of burden on a kid and then acts like it's normal?"
*Yuna quietly watched him*
"If a child studies hard, shouldn't the adults praise them? If a child is tired, shouldn't the adults tell them to rest? If a child is sad, shouldn't the adults comfort them?"
*Haemin shook his head*
"But instead, everyone just kept asking for more from you? And then people wonder why some children grow up unhappy. How could they not? They're supposed to be protected!"
"Haemin—"
"No, I'm serious."
*Haemin continued immediately*
"Even if they wanted you to become a great leader one day, couldn't they have let you enjoy being a child first?"
*His expression became even more dissatisfied*
"How is that fair to you?"
*Yuna couldn't help smiling a little*
*But Haemin wasn't finished*
*He crossed his arms*
"You keep saying you've accepted it, but that doesn't make it okay."
*His voice softened slightly*
"Just because you endured it doesn't mean you should have had to endure it."
*For a moment, neither of them spoke*
*Then—*
*A quiet laugh escaped Yuna*
*Haemin immediately looked at her*
"What?"
*Yuna shook her head*
"Nothing."
"No, tell me."
*A warm smile slowly appeared on her face*
"Thank you, Haemin."
*He blinked*
"For what?"
"For being angry on my behalf."
*The room became quiet again*
*Yuna looked at him gently*
"You're the first person who has ever reacted this way for me."
*Yuna felt a strange sense of comfort*
*Still smiling, she reached out and gently took Haemin's hand, lightly caressing it*
"Although, if you think about it, our lives weren't actually that different."
"Really?"
"Yeah. We both have our own struggles and grew up faster than we should have."
"No, no. I think yours was more of a struggle than mine, Yuna."
*Yuna continued gently holding his hand, her thumb softly brushing over his skin*
"Does it really matter how hard it was?"
*For a brief moment, Haemin was simply lost for words*
*Then he suddenly shook his head*
"No, no, it shouldn't be like this."
*Yuna tilted her head, confused by his sudden reaction*
"Yuna, listen to me, alright? I don't care if it sounds cringe or whatever, but I want you to know that as long as I'm here, I'll make sure you're happy. So, you don't have to carry everything by yourself anymore."
*Haemin's smile widened*
"You said you missed out on a lot of things during your childhood, right? Then we'll make up for it!"
"Hm?"
"We'll do all the things you never had the chance to do."
*Haemin began counting on his fingers*
"We'll travel."
"We'll go on dates."
"We'll make memories."
"I'll make you take random days off for no reason."
"And whenever you're too busy with work, I'll drag you out of the office myself."
*Yuna laughed*
"You'll drag me out?"
"Yes!"
"You know you'll just get into trouble with the security team, right?"
"Then you'll bail me out."
*Yuna continued laughing*
*Haemin's eyes softened*
"You've already spent enough of your life living for other people. So from now on, I want you to live for yourself too."
*For a moment, Yuna simply looked at him*
*Then she suddenly leaned forward*
*Kiss*
*Haemin immediately froze*
*His cheeks turned red almost instantly*
*Yuna smiled, her lips still close to his forehead*
"You really are dangerous, you know that?"
"Hm?"
"You keep saying things that are going to make me love you even more."
*Haemin became even more embarrassed*
"Yuna…"
*Yuna wrapped her arms around him and rested her forehead against his*
"I don't really mind all those things anymore."
*Her voice was warm*
"Not because they weren't painful."
"Not because they didn't happen."
"But because I have you now."
*Her fingers gently intertwined with his*
"For the first time in my life, I have someone who truly cares about my happiness."
*Someone who looked at her as a person instead of her status*
*Someone who worried about her*
*Someone who would stay by her side
*And somehow, that meant more than anything else she could ever have wished for*
*Yuna smiled softly*
"So let's make a promise."
"Promise?"
"Yeah."
*She squeezed his hand gently*
"Promise that no matter how busy life becomes."
"No matter how difficult things get."
"We'll keep creating new memories together."
*Her eyes softened*
"And when we're old one day, we'll have so many memories that neither of us will regret the years we spent apart before we met."
*Haemin smiled*
*Then he held her hand a little tighter*
"It's a promise, then."
*Yuna smiled back*
"It's a promise."
_____
*Beep*
*Beep*
*Beep*
*The sound of the alarm clock echoed through the room*
I slowly opened my eyes.
For a few seconds, I simply stared at the ceiling above me without moving.
The room was still dark.
Only a faint glow from the early morning light slipped through the curtains.
Without me thinking, my arm was already cover my eyes.
*
*
*
"So…"
*
*
*
"It's that dream again, huh?"
*Tears slipped down*