Dinner arrived not with tension, but with warmth.
The dining table looked fuller than it ever had. Bora had literally prepared a feast tonight. Suho paused for a second, genuinely impressed, eyes moving over the variety of dishes laid out neatly in front of him.
"Waah… Bora," he said as he settled into his chair, clearly pleased. "You never cooked like this for me all these years."
Bora smiled as she adjusted the bowls, entirely unbothered. "That's because I like ma'am more," she said without missing a beat.
Suho froze mid-movement, slowly turning his head toward her with the most betrayed expression he could manage.
Bora caught it and smiled wider.
Hauen walked toward the table just then, still drying her hands. "Your ma'am is my wife," Suho added quickly, voice slipping into playful offense. "And I love her enough, thank you very much."
Hauen blinked at them, confused, already popping a piece of kimchi into her mouth before even sitting. "What happened?" she asked, chewing.
"Sir is jealous because I said I like you," Bora said lightly while setting the plates.
Hauen turned to Suho. He was sitting right across from her now, wearing a deliberately sulky face.
"Really?" she asked, amused. "You like me, Bora?"
"Very much," Bora replied mischievously. "More than anyone."
Suho's eyes widened just a fraction.
Hauen, instead of calming things down, smiled wider and joined hands with Bora. "Thank you, Bora," she said sweetly. "Even I like you… more than any—"
The look Suho shot her could have stopped gravity.
Bora bit back a smile, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Should I tell your fiancé that you're cheating on him with my wife?" Suho asked calmly, already plotting her downfall.
Both Hauen and Bora snapped their heads toward him, eyes wide in synchronized panic.
Hauen grabbed a paper napkin and threw it at him. He caught it effortlessly.
"What are you saying?" she hissed.
"I'm saying what I'll do if she tries to steal you," he replied casually, finally taking a bite of the fried pork as if issuing romantic threats over dinner was perfectly normal.
Bora immediately placed her hands together and bowed dramatically. "I'm sorry, sir," she said with exaggerated seriousness. "I will not steal your wife. And I love my fiancé very much," she declared with theatrical sincerity.
"Good," Suho nodded solemnly. "Now serve the feast you prepared for your ma'am."
Hauen shook her head, completely done with both of them, and finally sat down.
The food was warm. The laughter lingered. And for the first time in a long while, dinner felt like home.
Later that night, Suho finally returned to the bedroom after ending the call with Kevin.
Kevin had asked the obvious things. Whether Yerin was arrested. How is Hauen doing? And then, as always, business.
Suho answered calmly. He could tell Kevin was hurting for Yerin, even though he masked it behind that smug, bubbly tone of his. He had even teased Suho mid-call, calling him teddy like nothing in the world was heavy anymore.
When Suho entered the room, Hauen was already lying on her side, staring up at the ceiling. Lost somewhere deep. The moment she heard the door, her gaze shifted to him.
He smiled.
"Kevin called," he said casually, walking toward the drawer. He pulled out the lip balm, applied it carefully, evenly, like a habit more than a need.
"What did he say?" she asked.
Suho closed the drawer and walked back to the bed, hopping onto it with ease. He leaned over her slightly, one arm bracing his weight.
"Just as expected," he replied lightly. "About Yerin."
The name fell from his lips without weight. No tension. No hesitation. As if it belonged to the past now.
Hauen watched him quietly.
This was the same Suho who once spoke Yerin's name as if it held his entire world. And now… it sounded like she was someone distant. Someone detached. Someone who didn't stir anything inside him.
She didn't know why, but guilt stirred inside her. Yerin's voice echoed in her mind, sharp and accusing.
After you came into our lives, I lost my Suho. You stole him from me. You're a home wrecker.
Hauen swallowed.
Suho looked at her, smiling softly.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, gentle and warm. Then her nose. Her cheeks. And finally her lips, peppering her with small, unhurried kisses. He had no idea about the storm slowly tearing through her thoughts.
But when he pulled back, something felt off. The warmth in her eyes had shifted.
His expression changed instantly. His smile faded into concern almost instantly.
"What happened, Jagi?" he asked gently.
Her gaze lifted to meet his. The scream was there, trapped behind her eyes.
"Suho," she whispered.
"Hm?" he hummed, his thumb brushing her cheek in slow circles.
She blinked, holding back tears. A fragile smile curved her lips, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"You were happy with Yerin… back then, right?" she asked.
His expression fell as he tried to understand where this was coming from. But he didn't interrupt. Didn't rush her.
"If I had never come into your life," she continued softly, "you both would've been happy. Together. "She swallowed. Her voice trembled. "And this day would've never come."
Her breath hitched.
"Yerin wouldn't have changed like this. She was good… beautiful… charming. She loved you." Her eyes shimmered. "And you loved her too."
She looked away for a second, gathering herself.
"You must've imagined a forever with her," she whispered. "A life. A future."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the blanket.
"But because of me…" Her voice cracked. She inhaled, forcing steadiness. "Everything changed."
She shook her head slowly, almost in disbelief.
"It feels like I became the reason you were separated. The reason she ended up behind bars." Her lips trembled. "And I can't stop feeling bad for her, Suho."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I feel guilty."
A pause.
"I feel ashamed, too."
Her voice cracked on the last words, heavy with guilt. She looked back at him then, raw and unguarded, waiting.
Suho's heart ached. The Hauen in front of him felt unfamiliar. He had never truly seen this side of her before. She was always the one who laughed things off, the cheerful one, practical, who chose logic over emotion, who stood steady even when storms passed through her life. Seeing her now, carrying guilt that didn't belong to her, felt like someone was slowly twisting a knife in his chest.
He hadn't realized she was still holding this much inside.
"If I never happened… You would've been happy with Ye—"
"I don't know about that, Hauena."
His voice cut in, gentle but firm.
She stopped mid-sentence and looked at him. Her eyes were wet, fragile.
"I don't know if I would've been happy with Yerin in the future," he continued quietly. "Yes… in the past, I loved her. With everything I had back then. I dreamt about a future with her." He didn't deny it. He didn't soften it. He told the truth. "But not anymore."
He exhaled slowly. "I remember the moments I spent with her… but not the feelings. They're gone. When I think of those years, I feel nothing. Just numb."
His voice grew quieter, deeper. "But with you… I feel alive."
His gaze softened. "And I remember every single moment with you, with feelings."
To be continued...