The penthouse had fallen into an uneasy silence.
Yerin was gone. Bora was in the kitchen, quietly cooking dinner. She was genuinely happy that Hauen was back, yet the argument she had witnessed and the truth she had overheard left her heart unsettled. Happiness and discomfort sat together in her chest.
Hauen was in the bathroom, washing away the exhaustion of the day. But no amount of water could wash away the images in her mind.
Yerin's tears. Her broken face. The way she had collapsed, crying in pain.
Yerin was guilty. She deserved punishment. Hauen knew that.
Yet… Hauen didn't like how everything had unfolded.
She had seen how Suho loved Yerin in the past. She had lived beside that love once. And today, the way Suho confronted Yerin so coldly, with no softness left in him at all, shocked her. It made her realize how deeply he had been hurt, how long he had endured all this pain, silently.
It disturbed her more than she wanted to admit.
Suho sat quietly, thoughts tangled in his mind. Relief sat in his chest, warm and aching. Hauen was back. His Hauen. Yet the past refused to stay buried. Yerin's choices. The separation. The damage done without mercy. Even relief came with shadows.
The bathroom door opened. She stepped out of the bathroom, hair damp and skin warm, her face wore a calm like a practiced mask.
Suho looked at her. Their eyes met. She offered him a gentle smile.
"Go get fresh," she said softly, turning toward the mirror.
But he didn't move right away. His gaze followed her for a second, then he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her. Just a hug. No explanations. No apologies. No questions.
She stiffened for half a heartbeat, surprised. Then her arms lifted on their own, holding him back.
His eyes closed as he breathed in her scent, the mild fragrance of her shampoo from her damp hair. It calmed him, like his racing thoughts finally found a place to rest.
"You okay?" she asked, her voice muffled against his chest.
"Not really," he admitted quietly.
Her hand moved gently over his back, slow and comforting. "Don't overthink," she whispered. "Everything is fine now."
"Hmmm," he murmured.
After a moment, she pulled back slightly and looked at him. "Go get fresh," she said again, softer this time.
He studied her face, then spoke hesitantly, almost like a kid asking for comfort. "Can you wash my hair?"
She blinked, then a small smile bloomed on her lips. "Sure, Teddy. Come."
That single word made something ease inside him. A faint, flustered smile touched his lips.
"I'll get the bathtub ready," he said. "Till then, dry your hair."
She nodded, smiling to herself as he walked into the bathroom.
A few moments later, his voice echoed out. "Hauena…"
She was still drying her hair, but answered immediately. "Ye… coming."
She walked toward the bathroom.
He was already settled in the bathtub, soaked in warm water and soap bubbles.
As she walked in, she gave him a naughty little smirk. He noticed it and immediately splashed water toward her.
She laughed, dodging it with her hands.
She pulled a small stool and sat behind him. Socking his hair wet, "Teddy has become sexy these days," she teased.
"Yaa… don't start already," he muttered, suddenly feeling warm. His cheeks burned.
"What?" she said innocently. "I'm just appreciating my husband's beauty."
She poured shampoo onto her palm and began massaging his hair gently. He closed his eyes, finally relaxing.
"And how do you know that?" he asked suddenly, dragging his words, shy but curious.
"What?" she asked.
"that... I've become sexy now," he added, eyes still closed, ears turning pink.
She smirked at his sudden confidence. "What do you mean by that?" she asked.
His cheeks grew even redder, a small smile forming. "I mean… you saw me when I was chubby," he mumbled. "Not… sexy."
She smiled at his flushed face, eyes still shut, clearly feeling brave because he couldn't see her.
She leaned closer to his ear and whispered, clearly teasing tone. "Right now, I'm seeing your real, raw, sexy beauty, Mr. Kim. Because water is transparent, you know."
That was it. His eyes flew open instantly. He looked down, then around, panicking slightly as he tried to cover himself with his hands.
Hauen laughed out loud at his sudden reaction, completely unable to stop herself.
He looked at her, utterly done with her antics. "Yaa… Hauena… how can you do this?" he complained, splashing soapy water toward her.
He looked ridiculously adorable, foam sitting on his head like a crown and bubbles covering him up to his chest.
Hauen was still laughing. "What happened, Teddy?" she teased. "Why did you panic all of a sudden?"
He made a small betrayed face, lips pressed together.
"Oh my God… you're so adorable, come," she said, finally calming down. She gently pulled him back, making him rest comfortably again.
"Don't tease me like that," he said in a sulky, offended tone.
She chuckled, shaping his foam-covered hair with her fingers. "Why not? I'm allowed to tease you, husband. And why did you react like that, huh? As if I assaulted you."
He glanced at her. "You did," he replied seriously.
She smiled wider. "I was just having fun, Teddy."
She leaned closer, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind, and kissed his cheek softly. "And why are you acting shy with me?" she whispered. "As if we've never done naughty things together before."
He pressed his lips together, trying hard not to blush, trying even harder not to melt. But he failed anyway and looked away, ears burning.
Hauen laughed again, softer this time, her heart warm at how easily he still turned shy with her.
"Yaa… Hauena… hajima…" he whined softly, half-drowned in water and pride. "You're really making me regret asking you to wash my hair."
Hauen chuckled, fingers still working gently through his hair. "You married trouble, Mr. Kim," she said lightly. "And since you're not willing to leave me in this lifetime, you have no other option." She leaned closer, voice sweet and unapologetic. "So bear with me."
He let out a long sigh, finally giving up. "My bad," he muttered, surrender written all over his face.
She laughed and hugged him from behind again, her cheek brushing his. A bit of shampoo foam smeared onto her face, but she didn't care. She just kissed his cheek softly. "And I love you," she said, almost childishly.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, visibly melting, struggling not to give in too easily. "You'll have to take a shower again," he said, trying to sound serious. "You ruined yourself."
She smiled, that familiar glint appearing in her eyes. The warning sign he always ignored.
"I don't mind," she whispered, leaning closer. "I can take another shower… with my sexy bear."
That was it. Not again...
Suho immediately tried to slide lower into the water, attempting to hide himself entirely. Survival instincts kicking in.
She burst into laughter and quickly grabbed his arm. "Yaa! Suho! You'll choke on the water," she said between laughs. "Okay, okay… I'll stop."
She was laughing freely now. Fully. The kind of laughter that filled the room and stayed in the air.
He just looked at her, quietly, admiring her happiness. Her mischief. Her warmth. The way she teased him so shamelessly while his shy heart still reacted like it was the first time.
They stayed there, being themselves, forgetting everything that had hurt them before.
She continued washing his hair, still slipping in the occasional flirty line, and he accepted his fate without protest. Because he had chased this life. Chosen it.
And now, he had it. His happiness. His peace. With just a little trouble attached. Now she sat right behind him, laughing, loving him, washing his hair, and healing him with one gentle touch at a time.
And he enjoyed every second of it, secretly, silently, completely.