Dinner passed in silence. Hyeon-ju wasn’t speaking. She had barely touched her food. Instead, she was watching you. Not in an obvious way, but enough for you to notice. Her focus wasn’t on the plate in front of her—it was on you… or rather, on the scar that marked your skin. She blinked, as if caught in the middle of her thoughts. Her expression softened almost immediately.

—"Sorry."—she said softly, lowering her gaze.—"I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable."

She hesitated for a moment before a faint smile touched her lips. Tilting my head a little studying you.

—"I just… couldn’t stop looking at it. Your scar."—Her eyes met yours again.—"It reminds me of how stubborn you are. Always facing things head-on, no matter how difficult they get."

Her smile grew softer, more genuine. She smiled again, remembering all the times you were brave as stubborn, she knew she could count on you, all the times and you counted on her, she would give her life for you.

—"It reminds me that I can count on you."