As the evening sun dipped low behind the horizon, casting a warm amber glow over Micha's living room, she and So Hyung sat together on the couch, their hands intertwined. The weight of their earlier conversation about marriage still lingered between them, but now it felt lighter, less daunting. They had shared their dreams, their hopes for the future, and their love for one another. Micha's heart felt fuller than it had in a long time, but there was still a sense of fragility, as if this moment was too precious to last forever.
So Hyung glanced at the clock, his brows furrowing slightly. "Micha, I have to head home soon," he said softly, his thumb still gently stroking the back of her hand. "I have an early meeting tomorrow at work, and I need to prepare for it."
Micha's heart sank a little at his words, even though she knew this moment was coming. She leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes as she absorbed his warmth for a few more moments. "I wish you didn't have to go," she whispered, her voice tinged with sadness. "Every time you leave, it feels like there's a part of me that leaves with you."
So Hyung turned slightly, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "I feel the same way, Micha. But you know I'm always with you, no matter where I am. Work is important, but you're my priority. I'll come back to you as soon as I can."
She pulled back slightly to look into his eyes, her own filled with a mix of emotions—love, longing, and a touch of fear. "I know you will," she said quietly. "But sometimes... sometimes it's hard. I feel like I'm all alone, especially with my family gone now. It's just me here, in this big house, with all these thoughts. I keep thinking about the dreams I've been having... and it scares me."
Her voice cracked as she spoke, and she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes again. She had been holding them back, trying to be strong, but the weight of everything—the dreams, the loneliness, the uncertainty—was too much. A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away, embarrassed by her own vulnerability.
But So Hyung didn't let her hide. He cupped her face gently in his hands, his touch warm and reassuring. "Micha, listen to me," he said, his voice firm but full of love. "You don't have to be strong all the time. It's okay to feel scared, to cry. But you're not alone. I'm here, and I always will be. Those dreams... they're just that—dreams. They don't control our future. We do."
Micha blinked up at him, her vision blurred by tears. "But what if they mean something? What if something bad is going to happen? I just... I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you."
"You won't," he said, his voice steady and unwavering. "I promise you, Micha, nothing will come between us. Not work, not dreams, not anything. I love you too much to let that happen."
His words were like a balm to her aching heart, soothing the fear that had been gnawing at her for weeks. She let out a shaky breath, resting her forehead against his. "I love you too, So Hyung," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "More than I can even put into words."
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's warmth, their breaths in sync. Micha felt the tension slowly melting away, replaced by a quiet sense of peace. In this moment, with So Hyung holding her close, everything felt right.
Eventually, though, the reality of the situation crept back in. So Hyung still had to leave, still had to go home and prepare for his early morning meeting. Micha knew she couldn't keep him here, no matter how much she wanted to. She sighed softly and pulled away, giving him a small, bittersweet smile.
"I know you have to go," she said, her voice soft but steady. "But promise me you'll take care of yourself. Don't overwork, okay?"
He chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled at her. "You're one to talk," he teased gently. "You're the one who's been working nonstop and not eating properly. I'm more worried about you than I am about myself."
Micha blushed slightly, averting her gaze. "I'm fine," she mumbled. "I've just been a little... distracted lately. But I'll be better. I'll take care of myself, I promise."
"Good," he said, standing up and pulling her up with him. "Because I need you healthy and happy. We have a lot of plans for the future, you know."
She smiled at that, her heart fluttering at the thought of their future together. "We do, don't we?" she said softly, leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around her. "I can't wait."
After a lingering embrace, So Hyung finally stepped back, his hands still resting on her shoulders. "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" he said. "And we'll make plans to meet with our parents soon. We need to tell them about... everything."
Micha nodded, her heart swelling with anticipation and a touch of nervousness. "Yeah, we do. I'm ready."
He gave her one last smile, full of warmth and love, before turning to leave. Micha watched him go, her heart both heavy and light at the same time. She hated saying goodbye, but there was a part of her that felt more secure now, more certain of their future together.
As the door closed behind him, Micha stood there for a moment, letting the silence of the house settle around her. It was quieter without him, but the loneliness didn't feel as overwhelming as it had before. She knew he would be back, that they would face whatever came next together.
With a deep breath, she made her way upstairs to her room. As she crawled into bed, she couldn't help but think about the dreams she had been having. They still haunted her, lingering at the edges of her mind, but now they didn't seem quite as terrifying. She had So Hyung by her side, and that made all the difference.
Micha closed her eyes, letting the exhaustion of the day wash over her. She didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful. Whatever happened—whether it was good or bad—she knew she wouldn't be facing it alone.
And with that comforting thought, she drifted off to sleep, her dreams already starting to blur and fade, like distant echoes in the night.
But as the darkness of sleep overtook her, Micha found herself once again in the midst of that familiar dream. The eerie sounds of cries echoed in her ears, the blurred figures surrounded her, and the unmistakable sense of dread settled in her chest. This time, though, it wasn't just faceless strangers. She saw So Hyung there with her, his face full of concern as he reached out for her. And just as before, blood trickled down, and the world around her seemed to fracture.
Micha woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was still dark, the quiet night pressing in around her, but the dream had felt so real, so vivid. She glanced at her phone, the clock reading 3:00 AM. The same time as before.
Her breathing was shaky as she pulled the blankets closer to her. The dream… it wasn't just a random nightmare anymore. It felt like a warning, a sign.
Micha lay in her bed, her heart still racing from the vividness of the dream. She could feel the remnants of fear clinging to her, the images of blood and cries echoing in her mind. But there was something else now—something that hadn't been there in the previous dreams. So Hyung. He had been there, in the middle of the chaos, reaching out to her. His face, though blurred, had been unmistakably filled with concern. It wasn't just the dream itself that scared her anymore, but the thought that something could happen to him.
Sitting up in bed, Micha glanced around the dark room, the silence almost suffocating. She pulled her knees to her chest, her thoughts swirling in a confusing mix of fear and love. So Hyung had promised to always be by her side, but the dream made her feel like something ominous was looming over them. She knew she couldn't keep this to herself any longer. The weight of it was becoming too much.
Micha grabbed her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed out a message to So Hyung. She needed to hear his voice, to feel reassured.
Micha: "Are you awake? I know it's late… but I had the dream again."
Her thumb hovered over the send button for a moment before she pressed it. She stared at the screen, waiting anxiously for a response. The seconds stretched into what felt like minutes, but finally, her phone vibrated.
So Hyung: "I'm awake. Do you want to talk about it?"
A wave of relief washed over her as she saw his message. Even through a screen, he always managed to make her feel better.
Micha: "I do. It felt different this time… you were in the dream. It was so real, and I'm scared."
She sent the message, her heart beating faster as she waited for his reply. It wasn't long before her phone lit up with his response.
So Hyung: "I'm coming over. Stay where you are."
Her breath caught in her throat at his words. Despite the late hour, he was willing to drop everything just to be with her. Micha's heart swelled with love, and for a brief moment, the fear subsided. She knew, without a doubt, that no matter what the future held, So Hyung would always be there for her.
Minutes later, Micha heard a soft knock at her door. She rushed to open it, and there he stood, his expression filled with concern and love. Without a word, Micha threw her arms around him, feeling the tension in her chest begin to ease.
"I'm here," So Hyung whispered into her hair, holding her tightly. "I'll always be here."