After his heartfelt confession in Sin's room and leaving her there, Noon eventually made his way down to the living room. He had taken some time to sort through his emotions and return to his usual self. The rest of the day passed without anything significant—just eating, watching TV, playing a little with Sin's younger siblings, and occasionally chatting with his younger brother. That last part, however, was often interrupted by the fact that his brother seemed constantly absorbed in something with Reem. It made Noon silently form a few theories of his own about the nature of their relationship.
He opened his phone and spent the remaining hours reading the latest chapters of his favorite web novel. Strangely enough, it felt even more enjoyable than usual that day.
By evening, he returned home with his sister and brother. Their mother hadn't come back yet, so Noon headed straight to his room on the upper floor. He lay back on his bed, his mind replaying the morning's events. Without even realizing it, he drifted into a deep sleep—something rare for someone so used to staying up late. That night, he fell asleep far earlier than usual.
When he woke up the next morning, he felt surprisingly refreshed. Yesterday had been his day off, but today he only had classes in the afternoon, so there was no reason not to join the family for breakfast. He took a cold shower—a new decision he intended to turn into a daily habit—then walked downstairs… only to be greeted by a scene that didn't quite fit.
The dining table, which usually seated just three people, now had four.
Noon paused on the staircase for a moment, unsure, but then he recalled a saying: "The first time you try something is the hardest. Every time after that gets easier." He had already stepped outside his comfort zone once—why not do it again?
He continued down confidently, pulled out the chair next to his mother, and sat down calmly.
At first, everything seemed familiar—his younger brother was immersed in his phone, and their mother watched the TV quietly. Noon lifted his gaze toward the unfamiliar presence.
The man had orange hair streaked with gray, a sharp yet kind face, and deep, calm eyes. His clean-shaven face bore a gentle smile, and he wore a thin, white shirt. Despite his lean frame, his shoulders were broad.
Their eyes met. The man smiled softly at Noon.
Noon quickly looked away, then glanced at his sister. She seemed unusually quiet—no phone in her hands, completely absorbed in her thoughts.
He focused on her, suspicion slowly forming in his expression. Their mother noticed and said with a warm tone:
"Oh, you're wondering what happened, Noon? Well, you went to bed early last night. After your father and I came home, your big sister told us something… surprising. But everything's fine now."
Noon raised an eyebrow, silently urging her to explain.
Catching the hint, his mother added:
"Oh, you want to know what she said? Well, it's not such a big deal. She just… told us that she's getting married. And that we should arrange a meeting with the guy's fa—"
"What?!" Noon interrupted, completely shocked—so unlike his usual calm demeanor. "She's getting married?!"
He stared at his sister in disbelief. She lowered her gaze, a soft, uncharacteristic smile curling on her lips.
Their father let out a small laugh, saying sarcastically:
"Well, every bird eventually leaves the nest."
Noon's expression shifted. He turned to his father, clearly annoyed, and muttered in frustration:
"As if you ever cared..."
The atmosphere at the table instantly changed, tension rising. Noon stood up and left without even touching his breakfast.
At university, he sat through classes half-heartedly until he remembered exams were coming up. That was enough to snap him into focus, and he decided to make at least some effort.
By the end of the day, his father had vanished again—just like always. But his mother pulled Noon aside and spoke to him privately, trying to justify his father's behavior, like she always did. Noon couldn't help but think sarcastically:
"Like that ever helps. A man who puts work before family and cares for no one but himself... I still don't get what my mom saw in him to marry him."
That thought reminded him of the topic of marriage. His mother had shared more details: apparently, the guy who proposed to his sister worked with her in the same department at her company. He'd approached her directly, stating his honest intentions to marry her. She seemed genuinely happy… and maybe she'd kept it secret at first. That wasn't surprising—his sister had always been confident and composed.
Noon didn't feel anything particularly strong about the news, but he did decide on one thing: he needed to meet this guy who wanted to marry his sister. And if he didn't approve, he wouldn't allow it. His father's opinion meant nothing when it came to judging people.
Yet, all of this remained in the background of his thoughts. What truly weighed on his heart was something else entirely.
Sin's response.
She had promised to give him an answer after exams were over. And while he was pretty sure she felt the same way he did, there was something about hearing it directly—from her lips—that he deeply longed for.
And so, the days passed.
He forced himself to study, to sleep, to hang out with his friends at university, and to continue his daily life. Waiting was hard at first… but somehow, it was beautiful.
During that time, Noon tried to improve himself as much as he could. He met Park occasionally, ran into Nai at the bus station from time to time, and saw other familiar faces too. Just like that, time moved on.
The exams finally began. Unfortunately, he couldn't meet his so-called "sister's fiancé" because of them, but he asked his mother to invite him over later so they could meet in private.
Despite moments of laziness during the exam period, things turned out… okay, somehow.
Noon finally walked out of the last exam room, exhaling deeply. It marked the end of a long stretch of pressure and anticipation—and more importantly, the end of the wait. Ever since his confession to Sin, they hadn't spoken at all. No messages, no calls, not even accidental encounters. It had been a silent promise between them, an unspoken agreement not to disturb the moment of confession until the exams were over.
And now… it was time to break that silence.
As he walked toward the bus stop, the air around him felt different—lighter. He took out his phone and opened the messaging app. A list of unread messages greeted him: from Park, from his younger brother, from his mother. But he skimmed past them quickly and tapped directly on "Sin's" name.
He started typing, his fingers trembling slightly:
> "Hey Sin, the exams are over. Where should we meet?"
But before he could hit send, her message popped up—as if she'd been writing at the exact same moment:
> "Noon, are you free today?"
His smile widened. He typed quickly:
> "Yes! Are you still on campus, or did you go home?"
A minute passed. Then came her reply:
> "My exam ended early, so I went home with some friends. How about we meet at a café in the neighborhood?"
He responded even faster:
> "Of course! I'm good with anything. Just send me the place and time, I'll be there. I'm getting on the bus now."
. . .
Later, Noon sat on the bus, next to Park and another guy with neat black hair and gentle features.
Noon couldn't stop moving—his body was shifting left and right unconsciously, like his excitement was bursting out.
Park grabbed his shoulder and spoke seriously:
> "What's wrong with you, man? You look like you're about to fly."
Noon turned to him, eyes sparkling and a wide smile stretched across his face:
> "Honestly? I kinda want to."
Both Park and the other guy looked at him in surprise.
Is he really that happy the school year is over?
That was the only explanation that crossed their minds.
Once they arrived at the station, Noon said a quick goodbye and hopped off the bus. He rushed home, darted into his room, and changed his clothes in record time. As he ran downstairs, his mother called out to him:
> "Noon, don't forget to be back by eight."
He replied absentmindedly, his mind still locked onto his upcoming meeting:
> "Okay, I won't forget."
It was four in the afternoon. He didn't think it would be a problem.
He left the house with brisk steps, his heart racing ahead of his feet. On the way to the café, every thought of Sin made a smile bloom across his face without him realizing. He didn't know exactly what she was going to say—but he was ready to hear anything… as long as it came from her.
. . .
Across town, Sin sat at a window-side seat in the café. Her hands were clasped together on the table, her heart pounding, but her eyes held a quiet confidence. She wasn't afraid—just nervous… and completely ready.
When she spotted Noon crossing the street with eager steps, a soft, affectionate look filled her gaze. A gentle smile formed on her lips.
This was the moment she had been waiting for.