Chapter 159
Her sense of smell awakened first.
The scent of the sea.
Deep, rich, and so dark blue it was nearly black.
‘This is…’
Next came her hearing.
“…Ga-eun. G-G-Ga-eun. W-wake up. I-I’m s-scared.”
…Aunt?
At Seon-mi’s anxiously trembling voice, Ga-eun struggled to lift her heavy eyelids.
Her face involuntarily winced at the bright light.
Then, something large shielded her eyes.
It was a left hand.
With a ring on the fourth finger.
…Was this an illusion?
Ga-eun closed her eyes again.
She thought she’d seen that man’s face before she collapsed.
In truth, he occasionally appeared in her dreams too.
It couldn’t be helped.
Even when she didn’t want to, she found herself thinking of her husband at every opportunity.
‘…Husband? Who am I kidding.’
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
She felt pathetic for still having such thoughts.
“G-G-Ga-eun, a-are you in p-pain?”
At her aunt’s words, she slowly opened her eyes again.
Her vision gradually came into focus.
The first thing she saw was her aunt’s face.
“G-G-Ga-eun, are y-you awake?”
“…Aunt.”
“Y-yes. I’m G-Ga-eun’s aunt. N-not Juhan’s aunt.”
Wondering what that meant, Ga-eun tried to sit up.
“G-Ga-eun, are y-you going to g-get up?”
“Yes, Aunt. I’m fine now. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“G-Ga-eun wants to g-get up. H-help her.”
Seon-mi raised her head and spoke to someone by the door.
It must be Kim Juhan who came with them.
That’s what Ga-eun thought as she turned her head to the opposite side of her aunt.
Ga-eun froze in place.
One step. Two steps.
The man approaching with just a few strides of his long legs wasn’t Kim Juhan.
If she had been holding anything, she would have dropped it to the floor.
Even if it were her own heart.
“Aunt.”
“Y-yes. A-aunt is l-listening.”
“May I have a moment to speak with Ga-eun?”
“Umm… mmm.”
Watching Seon-mi hesitate, Si-heon casually added.
“Director Noh should have some candy.”
“C-candy? The c-candy we h-had on the way to the h-hospital?”
“Yes. You can have as much as you’d like.”
At Si-heon’s words, Seon-mi nodded immediately.
“O-okay! A-aunt will w-wait outside.”
“Thank you for allowing me.”
“C-call aunt if you n-need me!”
Ga-eun stared blankly at her aunt’s retreating figure, scurrying away with excited steps—a stark contrast to the worried face that had been looking down at her moments before.
Thud-
The door closed with a loud sound.
In the sudden silence, the scent of the deep ocean permeated the air.
Taking a breath, Ga-eun slowly shifted her gaze.
The moment she met those black eyes,
She unconsciously held her breath and clutched the sheets tightly.
“Are you going to get up?”
That low, deep voice.
Undoubtedly Si-heon’s voice.
But Ga-eun still couldn’t distinguish whether this was a dream or reality.
Kwon Si-heon, addressing her aunt so respectfully with an expressionless face.
Her aunt’s completely unguarded attitude toward such a Kwon Si-heon.
She even had a satisfied smile on her face, apparently pleased with being called “aunt.”
Moreover…
Si-heon had clearly said “thank you” to her aunt.
During their time together, those words had never once left his lips.
It made sense.
Kwon Si-heon was more accustomed to receiving such courtesies.
That was surprising enough, but even more astounding was that he had asked permission for his actions.
Since when did Kwon Si-heon need anyone’s permission?
“This must be a dream…”
What a strange dream.
Though she’d thought of Kwon Si-heon often, she’d never imagined anything like this.
“Do you wish this were a dream?”
“…..”
“If you want to lie down longer, do so.”
But the Si-heon before her eyes was too vivid.
His scent, his voice, his gaze.
As she blinked in a daze, Si-heon moved closer.
The moment his hand touched her cheek,
Ga-eun, finally realizing this wasn’t a dream but reality, hastily tried to sit up.
“Slowly.”
An arm supporting her back.
The warmth of a hand embracing her shoulder.
Those eyes, several shades darker and deeper than others, steadily meeting hers.
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