Right after Minjin's taekwondo training, she went straight to the hospital lobby where Kim Aecha had said she would wait for her via chat. Minjin scanned the area upon arrival. She spotted Kim Aecha on the corner couch. A subtle smile appeared when she noticed Kim Aecha cut her hair into a short apple style.
She slowly walked over to her but noticed that Kim Aecha seemed to be slumping her shoulder.
"Aecha-ah?" Minjin called out as she stood in front of her.
Kim Aecha lifted her head from her phone. She quickly smiled when she saw Minjin. "Minjin-ah."
Minjin sat down next to her. "Have you come to visit oppa?"
Kim Aecha nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I just got here. I was just waiting for you."
"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?" Minjin asked, looking worried.
Kim Aecha gave a faint smile and looked directly into Minjin's eyes. "How are you doing, Minjin-ah?"
Minjin tried to smile as she focused her gaze ahead and sighed. "You know I used to be a strong and courageous young girl, Aecha-ah. Before, I would just cry in front of you and Minjun-ah. But after leaving Minjun, I learned that I need to feel and absorb the pain. I have learned to let it out and cry when I want to. When my ex-husband said he wanted a divorce, I allowed myself to feel the pain and cried about it. It was very painful; I didn't have the energy to pretend it didn't affect me."
She sighed deeply and lifted her head to hold back the swelling tears. "But I realized that even though I had always been foolish in love, I had always chosen myself. At the center, honored by the King of the UK, I understood that the world recognizes my value and worth, Aecha-ah. But those men didn't. I knew it was never my fault."
Kim Aecha lowered her head. "How are you feeling after meeting Minjun-ah?"
Minjin sighed deeply again. "He's been treating me like a stranger. I understand why, though." She let out a faint chuckle as she lowered her head.
A moment of silence passed between them before Minjin turned to Kim Aecha.
"What about you, Aecha-ah?"
But Kim Aecha couldn't help but suddenly cry.
Minjin leaned closer and placed her hand behind her. "What's wrong, Aecha-ah?"
Kim Aecha sobbed briefly as she attempted to wipe her cheeks. "I was so worried about you, Minjin-ah. It got to the point where it felt like it was killing me. I couldn't do anything for you. I couldn't be there for you," She said between her sobs.
Minjin's eyes widened at her statements, and this time her tears finally fell down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Aecha-ah. It's my fault; you don't have to blame yourself. I'm sorry I couldn't communicate with everyone for so long."
Kim Aecha finally lifted her head and held Minjin's hand. "You know how much I love you, right? Besides my mother, you have always been my second favorite person, Minjin-ah. When the news broke that you were captured by the rebels, I left my job and rushed to Tae-sung-oppa. I wanted to come with him, but he insisted I stay because I was panicking and anxious. I wanted to be with you, Minjin-ah."
Minjin's tears kept falling as she embraced Kim Aecha's side.
"I fought for you, Minjin-ah, even though everyone spoke badly about you. But Soo-yeon said you wouldn't want us to get involved in those malicious accusations against you. I've known all along that you did that to them because they were abusive. Just like what you've done to me."
Kim Aecha then lowered her head again as she continued to cry. "I spoke to the guy who had also accused you of assaulting him. I threatened him, saying I'd get involved in the investigation and introduced myself as a victim. That guy has a family now and a daughter. Ironic, right?"
Kim Aecha chuckled faintly, "But you've always been a genius, Minjin-ah. You left those letters from those abusers for Soo-yeon; did you know she'd become a lawyer someday?"
Minjin chuckled softly and turned to Kim Aecha, keeping her arm behind her. "Yeah, she mentioned that before I left. You know how articulate and brave she is. I've always believed she could be a great lawyer."
"Minjin-ah, you weren't the only one at fault for our lack of communication. I worked hard to financially support my mother after we left my stepfather. In my industry, we're required to put in extra effort. It's never acceptable to make even a tiny mistake." Kim Aecha then started sobbing again. "But Minjin-ah, I'm exhausted. I don't want to keep doing this anymore. But I can't give up for myself and my mother. I have to work harder and more diligently. I have no choice."
Minjin rubbed Kim Aecha's back as she continued to sob. "I am so tired, Minjin-ah. I couldn't cry in front of my mother because I don't want her to feel like a burden to me. I hate seeing her cry. I often break down in the bathroom at home and even work when everything feels overwhelming. I wanted to be a drama writer, but my scripts were rejected. They say I'm better off in variety, but the pressure stresses me out. The caution and strictness are suffocating me. But I know I need to keep going and move forward."
Kim Aecha then turned to face Minjin. "Minjin-ah, can I come to you in America? I think I'm burnt out."
Minjin smiled softly as she tucked Kim Aecha's hair behind her ear. "You look so much cuter now that you're in your 30s, Aecha-ah."
This finally made Kim Aecha smile softly.
"Why don't we spend time together when you have free time? I can adjust my schedule for you," Minjin said as she wiped Kim Aecha's cheeks.
Kim Aecha smiled faintly and began to cry again. "Is it alright if I become clingy again?"
Minjin finally chuckled. "Of course, it has always been fine with me."
Kim Aecha then wiped her cheeks. "I'm really glad I have you alone now, compared to when you were with Minjun."
Minjin smiled and hugged her. "Yeah, this time I'm completely yours."
Kim Aecha hugged her back. "I missed you, jagiya."
Minjin gently chuckled. "Nado, I missed you."
###
When they returned to Tae-sung's room, Minjin and Kim Aecha walked hand in hand. When they slid the door opened, they both halted on their tracks when they saw Minjun with some interns and a nurse behind him.
Kim Aecha subtly grinned and pulled Minjin toward them. She stood across the side of the room to face Minjun.
"Aecha-ah, you are still here?" Tae-sung said.
Kim Aecha glanced at Tae-sung with a smile, "Ne, oppa. "
She then shifted her eyes to Minjun. She held Minjin's hand tightly and slightly raised them to let Minjun see it. "Now that Minjin is back, I'll always be my her side again. I can have her alone this time without anyone stealing her from me," she said playfully.
Tae-sung couldn't help but chuckle, while Kim Bon-hwa looked confused.
Minjun saw how Kim Aecha held Minjin's hand. He tried to conceal his smirk from the other side. But then Kim Aecha suddenly said with a teasing tone and a sarcastic smile. "Gomawo, Minjun-ah."
Minjin couldn't help but stifle a laugh on her side.
Minjun smirked slightly in front of her before turning back to Tae-sung. "Get some rest tonight, hyung. I'll see you tomorrow for your surgery." He then gave a slight bow to both him and Kim Bon-hwa.
When Minjun turned his back to them, he couldn't hide his annoyance. "She just apologized to me earlier for being childish; now she's doing it again," he thought to himself.
The interns behind him exchanged glances again, silently nudging each other while whispering. They stopped when Minjun stood across from the nurse's station to give them his instructions.
After Minjun finished, one of the interns suddenly spoke up.
"Kang-seonsaengnim."
Minjun turned to him.
The interns exchanged curious glances with one another before one of them said, "You seem close to them."
Minjun sighed deeply. He tried telling them about Minjin and himself but realized he couldn't. "My father and their father were once colleagues. Make sure to check on him tonight."
The interns bowed their heads in unison and responded respectfully until Minjun walked away.
Minjun went directly to the doctor's sleep quarters, where Im Sung-ae lay in bed, browsing on his phone. He sat down in the chair, leaning back wearily.
"Are you going home tonight?" Im Sung-ae said while his attention was still on his phone.
"No, I'll stay at my apartment tonight. I have surgery tomorrow. I need to be mentally and physically prepared," Minjun said as he leaned back and lifted his head, resting it behind the chair.
Im Sung-ae glanced at him momentarily before returning to his phone. "Aren't you hungry? Let's have dinner."
"I don't feel like eating."
"What's wrong, Minjun-ah?"
"I'm just tired," he sighed deeply before closing his eyes to think.
As time passed, he noticed that every girl he met reminded him of Minjin. He thought this would help him love the next woman even more. However, the hurt from his first loss made it hard for him to feel safe or fully invest in new relationships.
Before, he believed that losing her revealed his true character. The first event with Minjin lacked sufficient context, which made it easier for him to view it as a reflection of himself. However, as he studied the situation more deeply, he realized that he had concentrated too much on this negative experience.
He often questioned, "Did what happened to us reveal my true self? Would others have made similar choices in that situation?"
In recent relationships, he learned to understand external factors. Seeing Minjin's progress, he realized they were both intelligent with potential, leading them in different directions.
But he felt foolish for not being able to tell everyone that the great Park Minjin had once been his and had loved him too. This first relationship with her was intense; it left an imprint on his mind that could be triggered if he wasn't careful around her. He let out a deep sigh. He felt a sense of relief now that he understood how the brain works and human behavior.
But then he suddenly opened his eyes, recalling the faint grin and comments from Heo Yeong-hwan. Kim Aecha had also shared her desire to be with Minjin again.
Minjun chuckled to himself, feeling a blend of annoyance and amusement. "Minjin has also imprinted in their brains. Since they've interacted with her, they embrace her back."
Im Sung-ae finally sat at the edge of the bed. "What are you mumbling about?" he asked.
"I'm upset."
"Why? Did one of the interns mess up again?"
"Never mind," Minjun replied as he stood up and grabbed his backpack. "I need to get some rest."
"Okay, see you tomorrow—" Im Sung-ae began, but his voice trailed off as Minjun slammed the door behind him.
"He's always been moody," he said with a sigh, shaking his head as he lay back in bed and resumed browsing on her phone.