The journey home felt longer than the journey there.
Perhaps it was because everyone was exhausted.
Or perhaps it was simply because two days of sleeping on the ground, hiking through trails, and surviving on campsite food had drained whatever energy they had left.
By the time the car finally entered the Hwang mansion's driveway, Yerin could barely keep her eyes open.
She stepped out of the car and stretched her arms.
"I'm never camping again."
Do-hyun closed the car door.
He looked at her.
"Then why did you go?"
"Emily."
That answer was enough.
Do-hyun gave a small nod.
"Fair."
They walked inside together.
The house was unusually quiet.
Most of the family had already gone to their rooms, leaving the mansion peaceful after the chaos of the past few days.
Yerin climbed the stairs beside Do-hyun.
Neither spoke.
They were simply too tired.
When they finally reached their room, Yerin pushed the door open.
She dropped her bag beside the bed.
Do-hyun followed behind her.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then, almost at the same time—
They collapsed onto the bed.
Yerin landed on one side.
Do-hyun on the other.
Both let out exhausted sighs.
"I can't feel my legs," Yerin murmured.
"Same."
They remained like that for several seconds.
Then Yerin turned onto her side.
At the exact same moment, Do-hyun turned too.
They froze.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Neither moved.
Their eyes met.
For one long second, the exhaustion disappeared.
Yerin's eyes widened slightly.
Do-hyun seemed just as caught off guard.
Neither of them knew what to say.
So they simply stared at each other.
Then Yerin quickly sat upright.
"Uh..."
Do-hyun sat up too.
"Yeah."
She cleared her throat.
"I'm... going to change."
"Fine."
Another awkward silence.
Yerin stood.
"Okay."
"Okay."
She walked toward the bathroom.
Do-hyun watched her disappear behind the door before letting out a quiet breath.
"What was that?"
He rubbed his face.
It was probably exhaustion.
That had to be it.
After changing into her comfortable clothes, Yerin returned to the room.
She stopped.
Do-hyun was already asleep.
He lay on the bed with one arm resting near his head, his breathing slow and steady.
Yerin stared at him.
For some reason, she didn't immediately look away.
He looked different when he was asleep.
Quieter.
Less guarded.
Less like the stubborn person who constantly argued with her.
She shook her head.
"What am I doing?"
She quickly walked toward the vanity.
She sat down and began her skincare routine, deliberately focusing on anything except the person sleeping behind her.
A few minutes passed.
She glanced at him through the mirror.
Still asleep.
She sighed.
"We should probably actually sleep."
She stood and walked toward the bed.
"Do-hyun."
No response.
She gently shook his shoulder.
"Do-hyun."
He moved slightly.
"Wake up."
Nothing.
Yerin frowned.
"Seriously?"
She touched his arm.
Her expression changed.
His skin was hot.
Very hot.
She immediately placed the back of her hand against his forehead.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh my God."
She moved closer.
"Do-hyun."
His eyes slowly opened.
"What?"
"You have a fever."
He blinked.
"I'm fine."
"You're burning."
"I'm just tired."
"Tired doesn't make you this hot."
He tried to sit up.
The moment he did, his face tightened.
Yerin immediately noticed.
"See?"
He leaned back again.
Yerin placed her hand against his forehead once more.
"How high is it?"
"I don't know."
"You need to take a bath."
He looked at her as though she'd just suggested something ridiculous.
"Now?"
"Yes."
"I'll do it later."
"No."
He sighed.
"Yerin..."
"You can't sleep like this."
He tried to get up again.
But his movements were slower than usual.
Yerin quickly stepped forward.
"Wait."
She took his hand and carefully placed his arm over her shoulder.
"Come on."
He looked at her.
"I can walk."
"Then walk."
He stood.
For a second, he seemed fine.
Then his weight shifted slightly.
Yerin tightened her grip.
"You're definitely not fine."
He didn't argue this time.
Together, they slowly made their way toward the bathroom.
At the door, Yerin stopped.
"You can manage from here?"
Do-hyun nodded.
"Take a proper bath."
He gave her a tired look.
"You're bossy."
"And you're sick."
She turned around.
"Same thing."
She walked toward his closet.
Yerin opened the closet and looked through his clothes.
She found a comfortable night suit and carried it toward the bathroom.
She knocked.
"Do-hyun?"
"Yeah?"
"I have your clothes."
The door opened slightly.
A hand reached out.
Yerin placed the clothes into his hand without looking.
"Here."
"Thanks."
She turned around immediately.
Then she walked toward the vanity cabinet and took out the first-aid box.
She found the medicine he would need and placed it beside a glass of water.
When Do-hyun finally came out, he looked exhausted.
Yerin immediately moved toward him.
"Come on."
He didnt argue becuase he had no energy too.
She helped him back toward the bed.
He sat down.
Yerin handed him the medicine.
"Take it."
He swallowed it with the water.
Then she pulled the blankets over him.
"Try to sleep."
He looked at her.
"You don't have to do all this."
"I know."
She adjusted the blanket.
Do-hyun didn't answer.
His eyes slowly closed.
Yerin stood beside the bed for a moment.
Then she walked out.
The house was completely silent.
Everyone was asleep.
Yerin quietly made her way downstairs and opened the refrigerator.
She took out an ice pack.
The cold against her hand made her shiver.
She carried it upstairs and returned to the room.
Do-hyun hadn't moved.
Yerin placed the ice pack gently against his forehead.
She pulled a chair closer and sat beside the bed.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
She occasionally checked his forehead.
Sometimes she adjusted the ice pack.
Sometimes she simply sat there.
She hadn't planned to spend her night taking care of him.
Yet somehow, she couldn't bring herself to leave him alone.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with her.
Around four in the morning, Yerin slowly moved toward the couch.
She curled up beneath a blanket.
Her eyes closed.
And within minutes, she was asleep.
Neither of them woke up for breakfast.
Neither woke up when the morning light entered through the curtains.
The house became busy downstairs.
But their room remained silent.
It wasn't until almost noon that someone finally came looking for them.
A soft knock sounded against the door.
"Do-hyun?"
No answer.
Another knock.
Still nothing.
The door slowly opened.
Mrs. Choi stepped inside.
She stopped.
Her eyes moved toward the bed.
Do-hyun was still sleeping.
Then she noticed Yerin on the couch.
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
She hadn't expected to find both of them asleep at this hour.
She walked toward Yerin.
"Yerin."
Yerin stirred.
"Mm..."
"Yerin."
Her eyes slowly opened.
She sat upright immediately.
Then froze when she saw her mother-in-law standing in front of her.
"Mother?"
Mrs. Choi smiled faintly.
"You two didn't come down for breakfast."
Yerin looked toward the window.
The sunlight was bright.
She blinked.
"What time is it?"
"Almost twelve."
Yerin's eyes widened.
"Twelve?"
She looked toward the bed.
Then remembered.
"Do-hyun..."
Mrs. Choi walked toward him.
"What's wrong with him?"
Yerin stood.
"He has a fever."
Mrs. Choi placed her hand against his forehead.
Her expression immediately changed.
"He's burning."
"He had a higher fever last night."
Mrs. Choi looked at her.
"How high?"
Yerin hesitated.
"One hundred and four."
Mrs. Choi's eyes widened.
"And you took care of him?"
Yerin nodded and she rubs the back of her neck.
She didn't think there was anything unusual about it.
"I gave him medicine and put an ice pack on his forehead."
Mrs. Choi looked at her for a moment.
There was something warm in her expression now.
She didn't say anything.
Instead, she reached toward the nightstand and noticed the thermometer.
She picked it up.
"Let's check again."
Do-hyun slowly woke when she touched his shoulder.
"Mom?"
"Wake up."
He opened his eyes.
His mother helped him sit upright.
"You're sick."
"I'm okay."
"You don't look okay."
She placed the thermometer carefully.
They waited.
The result appeared.
102°F.
Mrs. Choi sighed.
"Still high."
Yerin quietly looked at the thermometer.
"At least it's lower."
Her mother-in-law looked at her.
"How high was it last night?"
"104."
Mrs. Choi stared at her.
Yerin gave a small sigh.
"He's better now."
Mrs. Choi looked toward her son.
Then toward Yerin.
"Thank you."
Yerin blinked.
"You don't have to thank me."
Do-hyun looked between them.
He seemed too tired to understand the conversation.
His mother helped him take his medicine.
Yerin went to the vanity and brought the medicine over.
"Here."
Mrs. Choi took it.
"Thank you."
Yerin nodded.
Then she turned toward the door.
"I'm going downstairs."
"Why?"
"I'm going to ask the chef to make something warm."
Before Mrs. Choi could answer, Yerin had already left.
A short while later, Yerin returned upstairs.
Behind her, a servant carried a tray.
"Beef soup broth," Yerin said.
Mrs. Choi smiled.
"You even remembered what he likes."
Yerin paused.
"I just thought something warm would help."
She placed the tray on the table.
Do-hyun was sitting against the headboard.
His mother carefully helped him eat.
Yerin stayed nearby.
She watched quietly.
Do-hyun looked toward her once.
Their eyes met.
Yerin immediately looked away.
"Eat."
He gave a faint smile.
"Yes, ma'am."
She frowned.
"I'm serious."
His mother noticed the exchange but said nothing.
The rest of the day passed quietly.
Do-hyun remained in the room, resting.
Yerin occasionally checked on him.
By evening, his fever had started to settle.
When Yerin returned to the room that night, she found him sitting on the balcony.
She stopped at the doorway.
"You should be resting."
"I'm tired of lying down."
She sighed.
"Do you want coffee?"
Do-hyun looked at her.
"Coffee?"
She nodded.
He gave a small nod.
"Sure."
Yerin walked toward the coffee machine.
She prepared two cups.
A few minutes later, she stepped onto the balcony and handed him one.
"Here."
"Thanks."
She sat beside him with a distance.
The city stretched beneath them.
Thousands of lights glittered in the distance.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Do-hyun took a sip.
"Better."
Yerin smiled.
"Good."
He looked at her.
"You were awake all night."
She looked down at her cup.
"Don't start."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
"You didn't have to."
She looked toward the city.
"you were sick."
He stayed quiet.
Then he said softly,
"Still... thank you."
Yerin looked at him.
This time, she smiled.
"You're welcome."
They continued talking.
Not about their families.
Not about the marriage.
Not about the strange photograph.
Just life.
Small things.
Old memories.
Places they wanted to visit.
Things they wanted to do someday.
For once, the world felt quiet.
Eventually, the coffee cups were empty.
They went back inside.
And sometime later, both fell asleep.
The room was dark.
The only light came from the moon filtering through the curtains.
Yerin was deep asleep when her phone suddenly vibrated.
She stirred.
Her hand searched across the nightstand.
The phone vibrated again.
Still half asleep, she answered.
"Hello...?"
She listened.
Her expression slowly changed.
The sleep disappeared from her eyes.
She sat upright.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
Then tears suddenly filled her eyes.
Yerin stood.
Do-hyun stirred beside her.
He slowly opened his eyes.
"Yerin?"
She didn't answer.
He sat up.
"What happened?"
She remained completely still.
Her eyes were fixed on the phone.
Do-hyun looked at her.
"Yerin?"
Still nothing.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
And whatever she had just heard...
Had changed everything.
...To Be Continued...