Author's Pov :

"Hey, champ", Mingyu gave a high five to Jiho. "Appa, you know today Seokmin uncle came to cafe. I did a mistake just like you but Eomma forgave me", he gestured Mingyu to come near, "You know you are cute, just act a little more cute and Eomma will forgive you".

Mingyu looked at him and then at Aera. She turned her gaze away from him, "He was about to get hit by a car. Seokmin pulled him back".

"What were you thinking while doing that?", Mingyu asked. "I know I am sorry Appa. Eomma, Mrs. Kang and Seokmin uncle all three scolded me. I won't do that again. Please now you don't scold me", Jiho whined.

"Okay, I won't but remember, don't do any such things like that", Mingyu pinched his nose. "Jiho-ya", Aera said, "Will you sleep with us today?". Jiho looked confused for a second, "Can I?". Aera nodded. "Okay then. I'll sleep with you", Jiho grinned.

After Jiho went to his room, Mingyu asked, "Does he know something? Like about us?". Aera glanced at him, "He heard you crying yesterday after I went. He thinks you did something wrong which you actually did". Mingyu looked at her, "Aera, not like I really treated you bad".

Aera looked at him in disbelief, "You really think you treated me good, Mingyu? Everytime, I repeat everytime I called you Mingyu, you never spoke properly, you always yelled at me saying you are busy. You always got annoyed for simple things. I used to get up early in the morning that you won't go empty stomach but what did you do? You always left. All my work went to vain. Did I ever argue with you about that? Whenever Jiho wanted you, where were you? I am not saying all the times you weren't there for us. But for most of times. But really treated her opposite. You think I don't know that you used to spend time Eunji all the time saying you are out with your friends. That day Mingyu, you went out saying there was a meeting but you never went to office. Everytime, she called you, you went to her. You want second chance Mingyu, when you did all the things that will lead us for divorce. Even I could have got swayed away easily just like you did but I didn't, why? Cause I loved you, I really did and I still do. Mingyu, what would you have done if you were in my place? Answer me".

Mingyu stood silent knowing he would have done the same thing she is doing right now. "Answer me, Mingyu. Don't keep your mouth shut", Aera pushed him, "You could have stopped that, Mingyu. You could had a lot of chances. You could told me everything the next day of your so called event, Mingyu. But you decided to hide it. At a point it was okay Mingyu if you had thought that I'll hate you because of that but you continued. I met Seokmin today. He told me everything. How you messaged her and the very next day, I saw you cheating".

Mingyu looked down, he let her speak everything she wanted to. Aera was never such a person who will let her anger come out at once. He couldn't met her gaze, her eyes held hatred which he never wanted to see. He remembered Eunji's words

'I'll give you chance either kiss me or push me away from you. If you push me I'll leave the job and never come back here or see you'

He had chance, he could have pushed her but he didn't. She is right, he could have stopped but he didn't. "Don't be quiet Mingyu", she said. "I-I am sorry", he said.

"You say that everytime Mingyu and I hate it. I have told you before, even now I am telling you, Your sorry won't change anything", Aera gritted her teeth. "No matter how much you push me away from you, I'll find a way", Mingyu said.

"You said the same thing 7 years ago Mingyu", Aera reminded him, "It was totally a different situation back then"

Flashback:

2 months. It's been 2 months since Mingyu proposed her. It's been 2 months since Aera is ignoring him. It's been 2 months since she left him there without answering.

Aera was working like regularly. She kept glancing at the door time to time. Mrs. Kang noticed this, "Waiting for him?".

"Waiting for who?", she shrugged her shoulders eyes still on the door. "You think I don't know what's going? I have lived 10 years more than you, I have experience 10 years more than you. I saw everything, since the day he first came here till yesterday. How you both look at each other, your eyes filled with love. He confessed it but you are afraid", Mrs. Kang caressed her head.

"It's nothing like that, Mrs. Kang. I know I am afraid of accepting it. He might have found someone else. To be honest, he actually needs someone else who is far better than me. I am nothing but an impure girl as they say. Who would like to be in love with a girl like me. That person would get annoyed and break up with me in 2 weeks", Aera joked.

Mrs. Kang smacked her head, "Stop joking about that. You are a sweet girl, Aera. Anyone could fall in love with you", she held Aera's hand and caressed it, "You are not impure, Aera. Remove it your of your head. It was that man who is impure".

"But that wouldn't change the fact that I was ra-", Aera stopped as a new customer came. "Does Mingyu know about this?", she asked. Aera nodded, "Unfortunately, yes".

"If he knows that and still wants to be with you then I don't think he is a bad guy", Mrs. Kang said. "But-"

She received a message from Seokmin,

'Mingyu is in hospital, he got into an accident. He needs you right now. He is in critical condition'

Aera took off her apron, "I need to go", saying this ran to the hospital. She tried searching for taxi but it was in vain. Not wanting to waste a minute she ran to the hospital. Tears streaming down her face.

Rushing into the hospital, she saw Seokmin there. He brought her to his room and said, "He is inside". Aera slowly opened the door and peeked in.

Mingyu was sleeping on bed. She walked towards him, bandages wrapped on his head and hands. Her vision went blur because of tears. "Please get well soon, Mingyu", her voice quivered.

Mingyu opened his eyes and stood up seeing her cry, "Please don't cry". Aera looked at him in shock, the bandages fell down. She understood everything, "You lied?", she squinted her eyes.

"I know, Aera. It was really a bad idea but I wanted to meet you. But you kept ignoring me in all possible ways", Mingyu said, "Also, I did get into an accident but a minor one".

Mingyu showed his small wounds on hands and his knees. "You know how much scared I was", Aera shouted, "I came running here leaving everything there".

"Aera, please listen to me once", Mingyu said and made her sit, "Aera, you think I don't know that you love me too? You wouldn't have been here with me right now. Did you see your face right now? Your are still crying. My intention was not to hurt you. To begin with I never wanted to exaggerate it. Seokmin was the one who messaged you and later told me everything".

Aera looked at him, "Why do you need me, Mingyu? Why? You know I am nothing but a women who is still stuck in her past. You should find a lady who is suitable for you".

Mingyu gave a shy smile, "I have found a girl who is suitable for me. I am 100 percent sure it's her". Aera felt jealous, "Who is she?".

"It's you, Aera", Mingyu said, "No matter how much you push me away from you. I'll find one or the other way to your heart, Aera"

Present:

"That time you said the same thing, Mingyu. The only difference is I was broken by someone else back then and you healed me but this time, you broke me", Aera said.

She wanted to shout but knowing Jiho can easily hear them, she didn't. Like everytime, this time too, Jiho was her first priority and no one else, not even Mingyu.

Aera went to their room, Mingyu followed her. After the dinner, Jiho came to their room. Aera made him sleep between them, "Good night sweetheart", she kissed his forehead.

"Eomma, give Appa one good night kiss too", Jiho said. "Jiho sleep", Aera sternly said. She rarely talked to him in a strict tone but whenever she talked Jiho would understand that it is better to keep quiet but today he didn't.

"Eomma, one good night kiss for Appa, please", he showed her puppy eyes. "Jiho-", "Eomma please".

Aera closes her eyes for a second. She took Mingyu's hand in her. Covering the back of his hand, she kissed it. "Enough, now go to sleep", Aera said. She unknowingly wiped her hand which didn't go unnoticed by Mingyu.

"Eomma", Jiho whispered. Aera hummed. "Please forgive, Appa", saying his he hugged her. Aera looked at Mingyu who was looking at the other side.

'I wish I could easily forgive him'