Seonjae had always believed that trying to protect you from the harm you unknowingly walked toward was a futile endeavor. Each time he went back, each sacrifice he made—he couldn't stop you from stepping into the same traps, the same pain. But despite the hopelessness that gnawed at him, he kept returning.

He never regretted it. Not once.

Because he loved you in a way that transcended time itself. He would do anything, endure any burden, just to see you smile once more.

But as the cycle wore on, the weight of it all began to settle in his chest. It wasn't about saving you anymore. It was about cherishing whatever moments he had left. The fleeting, simple moments.

Like this one.

He watched you, laughter dancing in your eyes as you took a bite of shaved ice, the coolness brightening your expression. How could he not want to keep this? Keep you? But time was a cruel thing, and it always took him away before he was ready.

"You enjoying the shaved ice?" Seonjae asked softly, a smile tugging at his lips. But it wasn’t just a smile; it was bittersweet.

He would miss this. He would miss you.

But there was nothing he could do. All he could do now was savor the moments until the clock started ticking again.