On a radiant sunny day, I lie on the weathered bench in our backyard, my gaze fixed on my grandma as she tends to her beloved mini garden. The sunlight dances across my face, warm and inviting, prompting me to instinctively raise my hand to shield my eyes from its brilliance. A sudden breeze sweeps through, playfully lifting the hem of my school uniform and nudging me into a more upright position. I fold my legs beneath me, the wooden bench creaking softly under my weight.
"Halmi, will you be gone for long?" I call out, my voice laced with a mix of hope and fear. My grandma's back is turned to me as she lovingly waters her vegetables, each droplet glistening like tiny diamonds in the sun.
"Not at all, my baby," she replies with a laugh that dances in the air like a sweet melody. "I'll only be gone for two nights."
Her answer leaves a hollow ache in my chest. "Are you sure I can't go with you?" I press, the words tumbling out with a desperate urgency.
She sighs softly, setting down the watering can before joining me on the bench. "You can't skip school. You are a senior now. You need to prepare for your upcoming exams."
As she gently pats my hair, a familiar comfort envelops me, but it isn't enough to quiet the storm brewing inside. "But I'm scared," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.
A heavy silence wraps around us as I look into her eyes—eyes that sparkle with love but also bear the weight of years and worry. She looks so much older than I remember, with tired lines etching across her face, tugging at my heartstrings.
"I'm afraid…" I croak, tears spilling down my cheeks. "What if something happens to you? What if you leave me too?"
In an instant, she pulls me into her warm embrace, her arms encircling me like a protective cocoon. She rubs my back in soothing circles as I sob into her shoulder.
"Nothing bad will happen to me. I will always be here with you," she whispers, her voice steady and reassuring.
"Promise?" My voice cracks as I cling tightly to the fabric of her dress, desperate for reassurance.
"I promise, now stop crying. Watching you grow has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I'll be here with you for a long time." Her words wrap around me like a soft blanket but doubt still lingers in the corners of my mind...
Suddenly, memories flood my mind—fading images of laughter and warmth from when I was young. But they are overshadowed by the stark reality of today. Grandma sitting in a wheelchair at the nursing home garden, her spirit dimmed by illness. The doctor's diagnosis echoes in my mind—stroke. It has been years since that fateful day when everything changed, years since I have taken on the responsibility of caring for my grandma, just like she took care of me when I was a child.
"Halmi," I say softly, forcing a smile despite the heaviness in my heart. "The sun is shining really bright today just as you like. I know you can't water the plants like you used to, but I know you would love to be outdoors on a day like this." Gently, I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
I shift from where I have scooted in front of her to take a seat on the bench beside her. Together we stare at the clear blue sky above us.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" I whisper, tilting my head to catch her gaze.
"Halmi," I begin slowly, feeling emotion welling up inside me. "Life hasn't been the same without you by my side. Sometimes when it gets so hard… all I wish for is to feel your hands patting my back softly like you used to." My voice trembles as I continue, "I miss your hugs. I miss your beautiful smile."
My heart shatters as I speak, tears threatening to spill again as I fight them. "It's so hard," I confess, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me.
I sob beside her while she remains still in her wheelchair, gazing blankly at the vast expanse of blue sky above us. It breaks me to see her like this—a person once vibrant and full of life now reduced to a shell, waiting for a moment that feels like it could be her last…
As I walk down the lit streets in the cold night, a whirlwind of emotions swirls within me. The glow of the streetlights casts a warm halo around me, but it does little to chase away the chill creeping into my bones. Quitting the job at Lee Ye's mansion is one thing, but finding a new job feels like a difficult challenge. Each step I take echoes in the quiet night, a reminder of my uncertainty.
I pull my jacket tighter around me, trying to ward off both the cold and the growing sense of dread. As I pass a small café, the warm light spilling from its windows pulls my attention. I pause for a moment, watching people inside sip their drinks and share laughter. Their smiles seem so far from my reality and I long for that kind of joy—but somehow it feels out of reach…
As Lee Ye stands in the recording booth, the air is thick with tension. A large glass wall separates him from the control room, creating a transparent barrier that allows him to see the faces of those watching him closely. The dim lights cast a soft glow over the room, illuminating the faces of his uncle, Mr. Lee, the CEO of his agency, and his manager, Ye Jin. They huddle around the soundboard, their expressions a mix of concern and impatience. The music producers sit nearby, tapping their fingers on the table, and exchanging glances that speak volumes about their growing frustration.
Lee Ye takes a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. He positions himself in front of the microphone, but as he opens his mouth to sing, the words stop in his throat. Anxiety grips him like a vice, squeezing tighter with each passing second. He can feel the weight of expectation pressing down on him, stifling his creativity.
"Come on, Lee Ye," Ye Jin encourages gently. "You've got this."
But her words only amplify his anxiety. He closes his eyes, imagining the notes dancing in his mind, but they slip away like sand through his fingers. The producers exchange frustrated looks. They've been at this for hours with little progress.
"Let's take it from the top again," Mr. Lee suggests, his voice firm but laced with frustration.
Lee Ye nods and tries again, but as he sings, doubt creeps in, making each note feel heavier than the last, and soon he finds himself stumbling over his lyrics. The frustration mounts within him until it becomes unbearable.
"Stop!" Mr. Lee finally barks, cutting through the tension like a knife.
Lee Ye rips off the headset in frustration, throwing it aside. He stands there for a moment, staring at his reflection in the glass. With a deep breath, he turns away from the recording booth and strides out into the control room.
"This is exactly why I told you to play along with that dating scandal with Kara. You need to stay relevant while you figure this out!"
Lee Ye's heart sinks at the mention of Kara. "I don't want to hear anything about that anymore," he replies defiantly, shaking his head. "I am Lee Ye, and I don't need your dirty PR antics. It's not only absurd but it's also a big insult to my fans. And you know what, Uncle? My music will speak for itself."
"Well, guess what Mr. Lee Ye? Your music isn't speaking right now!" His uncle's voice rises in exasperation. "You need to get your shit together before you lose everything you've worked hard for."
The words sting more than he expects. Lee Ye clenches his fists at his sides, fighting back a wave of anger and hurt. "I'm trying! You don't understand what it's like for me or to be me," he snaps back, frustration bubbling over.
Mr. Lee sighs deeply, rubbing his temples as if trying to ease a headache that has been building for days. "You think I don't understand? I've been in this industry long enough to know how it works. You need to always give people something to talk about."
Lee Ye takes a moment to collect himself before speaking again. "Why hasn't my housekeeper been coming to work for over two weeks?" he asks suddenly.
His uncle looks taken aback by the change in topic but responds quickly enough. "The agent from the recruitment agency informed me that she quit. They're working on getting you a new one."
"No," Lee Ye says firmly, shaking his head. "I don't want a new housekeeper." The thought of someone else taking care of his space, and replacing Seo Yeon feels too wrong.
With that declaration hanging in the air, he turns on his heel and strides out of the studio, leaving behind a trail of confusion and disappointment.
Mr. Lee watches him go with a furrowed brow and turns to Ye Jin with a sigh. "He's been off even more than usual," he mutters.
Ye Jin raises an eyebrow knowingly. "He's still struggling with performance anxiety?"
"Of course! He's like a cat stuck in a tree—too scared to come down," Mr. Lee replies with a loud groan.
"Maybe we should just put out some old performance videos online for fans to enjoy while he figures things out," Ye Jin suggests.
"Great idea. Let's give them something to chew on while we wait for our star to shine again," Mr. Lee quips back with a chuckle.
Lee Ye steps outside into the cool night air. He approaches his car and orders his driver to hand over the keys. He takes a moment to breathe deeply before sliding into the driver's seat and starting the engine.
The hum of the car engine is soothing as he drives off alone into the night—a stark contrast to the chaos left behind in the studio. He thinks of Seo Yeon—her smile, her warmth, a deep sense of longing igniting within him. With determination, he drives toward her building, navigating the quiet streets that seem to mirror his inner turmoil. Each turn brings him closer to her, and with every passing moment, anticipation builds in his chest.
Finally, he arrives at her building and parks his car under the dim streetlight glow. As he steps out, the chill in the air is long forgotten and all that matters is finding her. He leans against his car, lost in thought as he debates whether to go upstairs to meet her or simply get back in his car and drive away.
Then he turns slightly, and his eyes land on her. His heart beats loudly against his chest, as if rejoicing at the sight of her again. Without wasting any time, he pushes himself off the car and strides toward her with every fiber of his being. When he finally stands in front of her, he places a hand over his racing heart in an attempt to calm himself.
"Seo Yeon," he calls out softly.