Author's POV

The Same Night

Jae-yong sat in his dimly lit office, the only sound being the faint hum of the air conditioner. He was trying to finish his last report of the day. The clock on the wall ticked relentlessly, and when he glanced at his wristwatch, it read 9 p.m.

"Damn, I'm so late! Mom's going to worry," he muttered to himself, his pen still scrawling the conclusion of the medical report. With a sigh, he reached for his phone on the desk.

He dialed his mother's number and held the phone between his shoulder and ear, his hand still working on the report. The call went unanswered, and an automated responder kicked in.

Frowning, he called again. Once more, no response.

A sense of unease crept into his chest. Why isn't she picking up? What happened?

His thoughts were interrupted by a voice from the door.

"Hey, Jae-yong," Sohee greeted, stepping into his office. "Want to grab dinner? There's this new place down the street, and-"

But her words didn't register. His mind was preoccupied, consumed by worry about his mother's silence.

"Hello? Earth to Jae-yong?" Sohee waved a hand in front of his face.

"I'm sorry, Sohee. I have to go," he said abruptly, standing and shrugging off his white coat. He quickly powered down his computer. "Rain check on dinner, okay? Something urgent came up. Mianhae!"

"Oh," Sohee replied, clearly disappointed. "Well, fine, but you owe me dinner!" she called out as he rushed past her into the hallway.

Within minutes, Jae-yong was in his blue car, speeding through the night streets of Seoul. He tried calling his mother repeatedly, but there was no answer. His grip on the steering wheel tightened with every unanswered ring.

Finally, after thirty minutes of frantic driving, he arrived home. He burst through the door and ran to his mother's room.

"Mom! Where are you? Mom!" he shouted, panic lacing his voice.

"Son? Why are you shouting, dear? I'm right here," came a calm voice from the living room.

Relief washed over him as he turned to see his mother sitting cross-legged on the floor, a serene expression on her face.

"Mom! Why didn't you answer your phone? I've been worried sick!"

"Omo, my dear," she gasped, pausing the meditation video on the TV. "I was following this tutorial, and they suggested turning off all distractions. I'm so sorry, sweetie. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Aigoo, eomma," he sighed, placing a hand on his chest as his heart rate began to settle. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," she reassured him, smiling warmly. "Come, I'll warm up some dinner for you."

"No, eomma, I'll handle it," he offered, but she waved him off.

"Nonsense! Go freshen up. I'll have everything ready by the time you come back down."

Knowing better than to argue, Jae-yong nodded. "Okay, eomma. Thank you."

Upstairs, he changed into a comfortable brown hoodie and black sweatpants. As he checked his phone for any notifications, a message from Sohee popped up.

Sohee 🐑

"Don't forget you owe me dinner 😐"

Feeling a twinge of guilt, he decided to respond immediately.

Jae-yong

"Sorry about earlier. Something urgent came up. Let's have dinner tomorrow instead-my treat. Does that work?"

Sohee 🐑

"Of course! Thanks, sweetheart 😊. See you tomorrow 💌."

Jae-yong

Okay, good night!

Sohee 🐑

Good night Doctor!

Smiling faintly, he set his phone aside and headed downstairs to join his mother for dinner.

---

Meanwhile

In another part of Seoul, a young man strolled through the streets, the cool night air brushing against his face. His phone buzzed, and a familiar name lit up the screen. His lips curled into a smile as he answered.

"Look who finally remembered I exist," he teased.

"Hey, Nam! How've you been, man? It's been ages!"

"I'm good, Ra. And you?"

"Fine... well, I got kicked out of my own home. Can you believe that?"

Namjoon chuckled. "Let me guess: Kook's involved somehow?"

"Not directly, but he's part of the reason," Saera admitted.

"Figures. Where are you now?"

"I'm at Joseon Park, near my apartment."

"I'm two blocks away. Wait there-I'm coming."

"Okay. I'll wait."

Sliding his phone back into his pocket, Namjoon quickened his pace. He'd known Saera for nine years, and in all that time, his feelings for her had only deepened. She was more than a friend to him, though he never dared to confess it. For now, being someone she could rely on was enough.

When he reached the park, he spotted her sitting on a bench, staring off into the distance. There was a heaviness in her posture, a loneliness that tugged at his heart.

"Hey, sad owl," he called out softly.

She looked up and smiled. "Nam!"

Before he could say another word, she stood and hugged him tightly. The gesture caught him off guard, but he quickly wrapped his arms around her, savoring the rare closeness.

Moments like these were precious, even if they left him wondering. How long can I keep these feelings to myself?

For now, he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present. Saera needed him, and that was all that mattered.

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