Work Text:
It was already late in the evening, but Haein still couldn’t will herself to sleep after the small argument she had with Hyunwoo outside their house. She was contemplating whether to let things be or to apologize, remembering that Hyunwoo seemed a bit hurt by her words.
"But I’m just telling the truth," Haein tried to reason with herself. "We’re already divorced, so Hyunwoo no longer needs to protect me and suffer because of my issues."
Right? Right.
Haein let out a loud sigh of frustration and worry.
But my words probably came out too harshly. Should I apologize to him? She couldn’t shake the image of him looking so dejected from her mind. His fallen shoulders and the hurt in his eyes bothered her deeply, a knot of guilt tightening in her chest as she replayed their argument over and over, recalling how her words crushed Hyunwoo’s spirit more and more with each passing moment.
For the umpteenth time that night, Haein heaved a sigh. For the first time in her life, she was unsure of what to do, so she decided to let the night pass for now. Just as she was about to get ready for bed, she heard a muffled voice coming from outside Hyunwoo’s room.
“ She likes me. She likes me not. ”
Haein got up and headed for the door to check for the owner of the voice, but her hand froze in the air when she recognized it was Hyunwoo’s.
“ She likes me. She likes me not. She likes me. She likes me not—Oh? ”
Haein’s hand hovered over the doorknob as she listened to Hyunwoo. Is he plucking a flower?
“ She likes me? ” Even without seeing him, Haein could sense the smile on Hyunwoo’s face. “ Really? ”
Is he talking about me?
The next thing Haein heard was his laugh, which she absolutely loved. Even after all these years, his boyish laugh never failed to make her heart thump loudly against her chest because of its genuine tone. It was a laugh that always made her heart beam with joy every time she heard it because it assured her that Hyunwoo was truly happy. “ Aigoo... But that’s not the case for me. ”
Haein’s brows furrowed at his words. Huh? What does he mean that that’s not the case for him? Does he not… like me anymore? A heavy weight settled in Haein’s chest as a sudden wave of uncertainty crashed over her, like a bucket of ice-cold water dousing her warm hopes.
Slowly, she withdrew her hand from the doorknob, her heart sinking deeper into her stomach as she considered retreating back to the bed. But just as she turned, Hyunwoo’s next words froze her in place.
“ I love her. I love you, Haein-ah. ”
Oh?
Oh.
The quiet whispers of Hyunwoo’s confessions cut through the stillness of the night, piercing Haein’s heart like a warm sunbeam breaking through dark clouds after a storm. His voice was soft and gentle, yet it rang loud and clear in her ears, making her heart beat erratically in her chest once again.
He loves me?
The realization sent tears welling in her eyes, blurring her vision.
He still loves me.
Haein wouldn’t openly admit it, but his words shone upon her like a radiant glow of sunlight, dispelling the shadows of doubt and fear that had clouded her mind. Without thinking, she instinctively turned the knob, swinging the door open to reveal a surprised Hyunwoo.
“Haein-ah,” he blurted, eyes wide with shock at her sudden appearance. Hyunwoo stumbled backward, landing hard on his butt with a loud thud.
“Hyunwoo!” Haein exclaimed in a hushed tone, careful not to wake their family. She rushed to his side, her face etched with worry. “Are you okay?”
“Ow!” was all Hyunwoo could manage as he rubbed his sore bum.
“Does it hurt badly?” Haein probed, helping him to his feet. She guided him carefully to his room and made him sit on the edge of the bed.
Instead of answering, Hyunwoo just looked at her with a huge, goofy smile. “Haein-ah, why are you still awake?”
“Hyunwoo… were you drinking?” Haein asked, noticing his flushed cheeks and the slightly hazy look in his eyes. His hair was disheveled, and as she stood just inches apart from him, she caught the faint scent of alcohol lingering around him.
Hyunwoo giggled, his eyes almost disappearing as his cheeks rose in laughter.
Why is he so cute? Haein thought, feeling her heart beat faster at the sight of his happy, childlike state. I couldn’t possibly let other women see him like this when he’s drunk, could I? Should I take him back?
“Yes, I was drinking with Hyuntae Hyung,” he answered, gesturing with his thumb behind his back. “We were actually talking about you.”
“What?” Haein asked, surprise flashing across her face. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him sternly. “Were you badmouthing me? Did you tell your brother how unhappy you were in our marriage? How I made your life miserable—”
“I bragged about how you cleaned my wound and put this bandage on me,” Hyunwoo said, leaning forward and tilting his face slightly to show her the bandage.
Haein felt her tense muscles begin to relax, her hands falling limply to her sides as she heard his response.
“I also told him you said I make your heart race when I’m drunk. Do you still feel the same way, Haein-ah? Do I make your heart race right now?” Hyunwoo continued, his faltering gaze steady on hers. Haein noticed the pain, fear, and hope lurking behind the innocence in his eyes. “Because my heart races when I look at you. I get butterflies, and I feel happy every time I see your face. I miss you when you’re gone, and every time I look at you, I’m terrified by the thought that I won’t ever see you again.”
“Baek Hyunwoo…”
“I hate the distance between us, Haein-ah. I want to be able to do things for you again. I want to be by your side again. But I also don’t want to make you uncomfortable with my presence. What should I do?”
Haein’s heart broke at the realization that Hyunwoo was grappling with the same internal struggle as she was. I also want to be by your side again, Hyunwoo. More than you could ever know.
Haein sat beside Hyunwoo, who was now sprawled out on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She positioned her face in his line of vision, gently squishing his cheeks as a small, genuine smile spread across her face, expertly masking the emotions raging within her. “Baek Hyunwoo, I love you too,” she said in the sweetest, softest voice she could muster.
Hyunwoo's eyes widened at Haein's words. He abruptly sat up, nearly bumping his head against hers if she hadn’t been quick enough to dodge. “What did you say?” he asked, stunned, the effects of the alcohol slowly wearing off.
“I said, I love you too, Baek Hyunwoo,” Haein repeated, softly running her fingers through his hair. Her eyes conveyed regret and apology as she added, “I’m sorry for being so harsh and for walking out on you earlier. I just don’t want to see you suffering because of me.”
“But I’m more than willing to go through tough situations for you—”
“Please don’t,” Haein begged. “We can think of other solutions that don’t involve you getting humiliated or suffering from false accusations, alright?”
She cupped Hyunwoo’s cheeks in both her hands and, despite the voices in her head telling her not to, kissed him gently on the lips, her eyes closed. “I still love you, Baek Hyunwoo.”
She opened her eyes, feeling Hyunwoo smile against the kiss, and saw him looking at her with a glint of glee and adoration in his eyes. “I love you more than anything in this world, Hong Haein.”
“Even more than Eomoni’s sweet red bean porridge?” Haein asked teasingly.
“Even more than Eomma’s sweet red bean porridge,” Hyunwoo replied with a chuckle. “Just don’t tell her, alright?”
They both laughed as they lay down in bed, Haein wrapped securely in Hyunwoo’s embrace. She snuggled closer to him, resting her head against the steady thumping of his heart. “Have I told you how much I love hearing your heartbeat?”
“Hmm, I think this is my first time hearing that.”
“It calms me down,” Haein said with a smile, adjusting her position to look at Hyunwoo. For a moment, they quietly held each other’s gaze, their eyes loudly conveying the words they couldn’t say. “I’m sorry for divorcing you. I thought it was the best option to keep you away from my family’s troubles and—”
Hyunwoo cut her off with a kiss on the lips. “Shh. Let’s save that talk for tomorrow, okay? For now, let’s just enjoy this moment. I’ve missed holding you in my arms so much.”
Haein smiled sweetly and once again captured Hyunwoo’s lips in a longing kiss. Hyunwoo rolled over her, anchoring his forearms on the bed to support his weight. Haein wrapped her arms around Hyunwoo’s nape, her fingers raking through his hair as she skillfully angled her head to further deepen the kiss. Their tongues explored each other’s mouth, savoring the taste they had secretly craved for so long. And when they pulled apart, Hyunwoo and Haein were both breathless after the passionate kiss they had just shared, looking at each other with smiles on their faces that mirrored each other’s joy and relief.
“I missed you,” Hyunwoo said, planting a soft kiss on Haein’s forehead.
“I missed you,” he repeated, this time kissing both of Haein’s eyes.
“I missed you.” A kiss on her pointed nose.
“I missed you.” A kiss on her left cheek. “I missed you.” Then, a kiss on her right cheek.
“I love you,” Hyunwoo said this time, followed by a kiss on her lips—a long, sweet kiss that made Haein’s heart soar with delight.
“I love you, Hyunwoo,” Haein replied, letting half of his weight rest against her as she hugged him close. “I missed you, too.”
She adjusted their position so they could face each other. “I can’t see myself fighting my battles and growing old without you by my side, Hyunwoo,” Haein vulnerably admitted, her vision blurring with tears that threatened to fall. “I lie every time I say I can do it on my own. I need you in my life, Hyunwoo.”
“I’m here, Haein-ah,” Hyunwoo reassured her, gently wiping the tears that were starting to slide down her cheeks. “I promise to never leave you, even if you push me away.”
“Should I push you away again, just pull me with you so we can still be together,” Haein joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“I might just do that,” Hyunwoo said with a soft chuckle as he tucked Haein’s hair behind her ear. “But seriously, I’m here for you, okay? Always remember that. Don’t feel bad about me going through troubles for you—I’m willing to do that for you, Haein-ah. I want to cry with you as much as I want to laugh with you. I vowed to be with you through sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, didn’t I?”
“But we’re divorced now.”
“It doesn’t matter. I plan to marry you again anyway,” Hyunwoo said, sincerity shining in his eyes.
“Really?” Haein asked, surprised.
“Really,” Hyunwoo replied. “Why? Don’t you like it?”
“If that’s the case, then I should start going on a diet now so I’ll look pretty in my wedding dress,” Haein said with a determined look on her face. “I don’t want to walk down the aisle looking like a bloated balloon.”
“Will you believe me when I say that you’re beautiful no matter your weight?”
“So you’re saying I’ve gained weight?” Haein asked, her left brow arched and her gaze piercing.
“That’s not what I meant, Haein-ah,” Hyunwoo quickly defended himself.
“Just wait and see. I’m going to be the most beautiful bride you’ve ever seen, Baek Hyunwoo,” Haein said with conviction, lightly but firmly nudging him on the shoulder to emphasize her seriousness.
Hyunwoo caught Haein’s hand and wrapped it around his torso. “I’m already certain of that. You’re the most beautiful woman in my eyes, Hong Haein, no matter the occasion.” He cupped the back of her head with one hand and placed the other on the small of her back, pulling her close. He then gently patted her in a soothing rhythm to lull her to sleep. “It’s late. Go to sleep. We’ll talk more about us in the coming days, okay?”
Haein relaxed in his arms, allowing herself to finally drift off to dreamland. To be honest, she was scared—no, she was utterly terrified of what the future had in store for both of them. But tonight, even just for tonight, she would let the comfort of Hyunwoo’s embrace and the warmth of their close proximity wash away all her fears and doubts. Tonight, she would allow herself to bask in the solace of his unconditional love, letting her mind, body, and soul feel at ease in his calming presence. Even just for tonight.