Two days later, around 1.30 p.m, I prepared to meet with Dr. Jeong in the hospital and get some medicines.

However, before stepping out of the bedroom, my eyes stopped on the empty bed, muttering softly to myself, "He didn't even come home all night ... heh."

Yesterday, Donghwa said that he would go to sign a contract with a huge electro company from China and would come back before dinner, but those words were commonplace. I was quite used to the same promises which would end in breaking them.

He always said that he would come back in two days; a week; a month; two months; three months; until he didn't come home for months without any news.

After all, even if I complained to him, it would be useless. He would only nod as if he was an obedient kitten who listened to my words as he was scared that I wouldn't give him food. But, he would repeat the same mistakes in the end. It would just waste my time to brag like a mother who was advising her stubborn child.

I reached out to grab the scarf which was hanging beside the door and immediately put it on, then started walking towards the door.

As I was about to turn the doorknob, I was surprised when I saw Donghwa who was standing in front of me, where now he was also about to go inside. His appearance looked quite messy as he had been wrestling all night.

His untidy hair, hastily stuffed clothes, the smell of alcohol, the smell of someone else's perfume. All of them were no different from what he used to do when he spent all night with someone else out there.

I thought that he didn't play with that guy anymore, who was the owner of that smell on his body, because I had never sensed the same smell on the shirt he was wearing for a month, so I tried to forgive him. But, seemingly, it was the wrong thing. Today he had proved himself that he was a man who would never change like he used to be.

"Are you going back to work?" Donghwa asked while touching my face gently.

It seemed that he made me want to shed tears as soon as he gave a soft touch on my face, but it hurt my feelings at the same time.

I didn't know if this feeling happened as I loved him or whether because of the painful feeling of loving him. Everything looked gray in my head.

He looked at me with a tired face and his smile that he was covering up his inner resentment while handing me a plastic parcel. "Here, I brought your favorite food. And ... here, Yul-lan cake ... for you. I'm sorry because I didn't buy it at that time."

His tired face and smile were commonplace. I was also quite used to them when he came to me as his relationship with that guy wasn't okay.

I smiled at him to cover the disappointment that was stifling my chest, then said softly, "I have to go. Just keep the foods in the pantry. I'll eat them when I come back."

When I was about to take a step, he quickly grabbed my wrist. "Chunghee, from now on I will spend a lot of time with you. I will never make you wait again. I will also give you news if I come home late, and I will try to always come home before dinner so we can have dinner together. Come home early today. I'll make your favorite food."

Stunned for a moment, I said with a frown, "You're weird. Are you okay?"

He smiled at me broadly after I said my words. The same smile as ten years ago, and reminded me of his old self. However, even though he showed me that smile, it didn't melt me down anymore. It was too late for him to become someone I used to know.

I sighed silently. "Well, do you want to have lunch with me? I'll make lunch if you want to before leaving."

"Sure! I'll do it." With sparkling eyes and a big smile, he looked different.

I didn't want to think about it any longer and immediately walked in, followed by him.

After he prepared the food on the dining table, he immediately pulled out a chair and asked me to sit down.

I stared at him as he sat across from me. I watched him secretly. His face, which was shabby when he arrived earlier, now became even more pleasant.

After a while no one spoke to each other, I glanced at his hand then asked calmly, "Donghwa, You haven't found your ring yet?"

He suddenly gasped in silence. His bright face revealed a clear shock and gradually turned pale.

He stared at his hand and stammered, "Um ... looks like ... my ring ... yeah, I haven't found it yet."

I didn't know, was that the real answer or the way to escape, so I could only remain silent until he spoke again, "Chunghee, are you angry? I'm sorry. Give me one more time to look for it or, we can buy a new one. "

I grinned coldly while eating my food. However, in my own heart, I was screaming really loudly, 'Buying a new one?! You say that too easily!'

The rusty ring wasn't just an old metal. I didn't even care about the ring — a ring that was just an ordinary ring. However, the feeling implied in the ring was something so meaningful to me.

'Heart bounded - (names of each other)', his ring engraved my name and vice versa.

Has he forgotten, why did I engrave those words?

That's because I think of it as a prayer for our lifelong relationship!

Since I didn't want to exaggerate the matter, I replied with a casual tone, "Don't worry. It doesn't matter. It doesn't cost much either," with a pause, I continued, "Maybe, to be fair, I just need to put off my ring too."

I was about to put off the ring from my finger, but he stopped me by gripping my hand tightly. "Chunghee! Please, don't do that." There was an affirmation in his sharp eyes and a pang of dominant guilt. "I know you're mad at me for losing it but I promise, I'll find it soon."

"Donghwa, this is just an ordinary ring. You don't need to think about it."

"Chunghee! I'm mad at you if you insist on doing it! Please, it isn't the time to be stubborn!"

I was momentarily stunned. "Hmm, alright."

I didn't obey him as I was afraid of him. Rather I only thought that if I sympathized with him for once, it wouldn't be a problem.

I put the chopsticks on top of my food bowl, lowering my hands under the table. "Donghwa, actually I don't work at that company anymore. Sorry for not telling you first."

He was stunned for a moment, then looked at me with a complicated look. "Chunghee, you don't take my words seriously, right? If you are comfortable with your job, you don't have to do what I said at that time. I trust you. I'm sorry for being too suspicious all this time."

"Hmm, that's not it, but after thinking about it these days, being an assistant was tough enough for me. So, I decided to quit."

There was exhilaration in his glowing browny eyes while saying, "Are you sure?"

I nodded softly to confirm it in response.

Smiling for a moment, he suddenly exclaimed, "Wait! If you quit from your job, where are you going now?" He looked at me with suspicion and impatience.

"I'm going to the hospital."

Finishing the words, the irritation on his face faded. He slowly showed sympathy, then turned into shock. His eyes widened open in startle, "Are you sick?! I'll take you to the hospital right now!"

I took a deep breath. "No need. You look so tired today. I just want to take some medicines for aid kit which is running low."

"No ... I want to drive you there."

I sighed once again, and spoke coldly, "Lee, can you listen to me for just this once?"

He frowned tightly in confusion. His sharp eyes seemed to find something strange from me but didn't ask anything. The eyes also showed so many questions in his head at this time, which often freaked me out when he started to show a fit of anger.

"Hmm, I'm done. I'll be leaving now."

I immediately stood up and left him.

He called me once before I stepped out, but I just smiled at him and showed him that I was okay with all these painful things.

He had not even asked me about my condition. It was obvious that I always looked strong in his eyes. It was both good and bad news for me. So, I decided to never say how I was and how long I could endure.

Now, I know what I should do!