Season two, chapter sixty-five

"No matter how hard I tried,
it was her, and it will always
be her"

THEA SKILLFULLY USED her agile hands to help her boyfriend add the appropriate ingredients to the frying pan, ensuring that the dumplings they were preparing were neither bland nor excessively seasoned. She neatly pushed back the sleeves of her black hoodie to evade any obstacles while swiftly slicing the vegetables on the wooden surface.

Her face brightened with joy as she experienced the comforting embrace of her boyfriend's robust and powerful arms encircling her slender waist effortlessly from behind. Without uttering a word, Thea carried on with her activities while allowing Mun to nuzzle into the curve of her neck. A tingling sensation ran down her back when he swiftly pressed a gentle kiss on the fragile skin of her neck.

Despite the limited time they had to express their affection as they previously did, both of them appreciated these significant small instances.

Thea rotated her body, encountering Mun directly. Upon realizing this, he smiled at her with such gentleness that it melted Thea's heart. Acting on impulse, she gently kissed her boyfriend on the lips, leaving him surprised and feeling bashful. Thea was unable to resist the temptation to gently pinch his cheeks after seeing the surprised look on his face when she unexpectedly kissed him.

"My god, I'm dying" Jeok-bong complained as he emerged from his room after several hours of continuous sleep "I feel nauseous. I'm burning up" he lazily slumped onto the counter, but his head immediately shot up upon seeing Mun and Thea very close to each other "You could cook eggs on my forehead. I wonder if I can still smell" his eyes narrowed with resentment and his hands clenched into fists, momentarily considering ripping his shirt

"Oh, no. Poor Jeok-bong. I bet you're too sick to eat dumplings" Ms. Chu exclaimed as she placed a tray in front of him with a bowl of porridge to help him recover quickly

"What?" Jeok-bong shifted his gaze away from the couple towards the bowl in front of him

"Have this instead" Ms. Chu pushed the tray towards him, encouraging him to take the first spoonful

"What is this?" Jeok-bong with suspicion, sincerely inspects the food in front of him as if it could potentially be poisoned or something along those lines

"The dumplings are ready" After Thea pushed him away to prevent the dumplings from burning, Mun proudly took his hands off her and held the frying pan. Throughout the whole situation, he had been clinging to her closely like gum. Now, he deliberately passed the frying pan in front of Jeok-bong to torment him with the mouthwatering aroma

"Dumplings" Jeok-bong repeated, feeling a sudden urge to satisfy his appetite. Ms. Chu playfully nudged Mun on the arm, signaling him to cease his teasing of the unfortunate boy "Dumplings. I should eat well at times like—"

"No, you shouldn't push yourself" Mun disagreed, shaking his head completely and placing the frying pan on the counter "He was groaning a lot in his room too. What if you get an indigestion? You can't eat these. Thea, have some"

"I feel so bad" Thea exclaimed sorrowfully as she received the dumpling that Mun was offering her "It's okay" she reassured herself before taking a bite, all while being observed attentively by Jeok-bong and Mun "It's so delicious. The meat, the vegetables, and the skin complement each other so well" Thea explained, savoring the food in her mouth to further tease Jeok-bong

"Did I do a good job?" Mun asked with crossed arms, anxiously awaiting his girlfriend's compliment

"Of course you did" Thea smiled, gently pinching one of Mun's cheeks "Have one too" she offered him a dumpling, which Mun happily took a bite of and then went over to Jeok-bong, who instantly became excited as his eyes sparkled

"Thanks" Jeok-bong expressed his gratitude while Mun instead ate the dumpling, causing Jeok-bong to stay still without moving. As a result, Thea snorted, finding the scene amusing beyond her expectation

"Jeok-bong, eat your porridge. Get better so you can help us catch the evil spirits" Mun cheerfully remarked with dumplings in his mouth, amusingly watching his girlfriend's efforts to hold back her laughter

"You want death to be knocking on my door again, don't you?" Jeok-bong asked with a serious expression as he reluctantly sat on the chair. He glared at the couple in front of him and remarked "I Guess we didn't have any abalones?"

"I was worried it'd be too much for your stomach" Ms. Chu explained after he examined it and failed to locate what he was searching for "He's hungry so he won't last long" She playfully whispered to the couple

"He's just pretending" Mun added, receiving a playful punch from Ms. Chu and a pinch on the cheek from Thea

"Gosh, my back" Jeok-bong suddenly complained aloud "Why is my back acting up now? I heard abalone or octopus were good for gas inhalation" Mun, noticing Jeok-bong's interest in the dumpling, picked one up and came closer to him, who eagerly watched the delicious dumpling, hoping to be able to eat it soon "I'm dying here. I can't even have dumplings because I tried to catch some evil spirits" he whined, slumping back onto the counter once again

Thea sympathized with Jeok-bong and was about to offer him a dumpling when Mun's phone suddenly rang. Shortly after, her own phone rang as well. She couldn't proceed with her kind gesture, so she took her phone out of her pocket and answered a call from her friend SooAh.

"What's up SooAh?" Thea asked, taking a bite of her dumpling as judgmental looks were directed towards her and Mun. "What? SuHo with Taehoon? Having a fiery time? Those two guys are driving me crazy. I'll be there—"

"What guys?" Jeok-bong swiftly stood up, fixedly gazing at a bewildered Thea in response to his sudden actions. Her eyes even widened as Jeok-bong consumed a dumpling

"Hey, Ung-min" Mun responded cautiously, raising an eyebrow as he picked up his friend's phone call. He observed Thea and Jeok-bong, who were standing too intimately for his comfort, with suspicion in his eyes "What? Hana noona is with some guy?" he exclaimed loudly, his eyes widening, causing everyone in the room to turn their heads towards him, like a magnet attracting attention

"Hana? With a guy?" Thea asked, astonished. Although she was already aware of Hana's altered mood, she hadn't had the opportunity to inquire about it or delve into her memories. Nevertheless, this revelation completely astounded her

Thea had a strong desire to accompany Ms. Chu and Jeok-bong to secretly observe Hana's unexpected date. However, she found herself in a situation where she had to urgently search for SuHo on the streets of Seoul. The fact that SooAh had contacted her to find him indicated that it must be a matter of great significance. Thea was aware that SuHo would not willingly go out with friends, so she assumed that Taehoon must have forced him to go to that location.

Additionally, Suho had very few acquaintances.

As SooJin's best friend, it was her responsibility to safeguard her partner while SooJin was away for a few days engaging in volunteer work overseas. SooJin had entrusted him to Thea until her comeback.

As Thea approached the entrance, she reduced her speed. SooAh forcefully seized Taehoon by his jacket and vigorously shook him, displaying no hesitation. She persistently interrogated him, inquiring about his presence in that location. Despite Thea's knowledge that their relationship had ended years ago, it was evident that both individuals still had feelings for each other, albeit consistently denying it.

"What about SuHo? Where did he go?" Thea asked, approaching her two friends who fought like an old married couple

"Let go of me! We went over there!" Taehoon exclaimed, pushing away from SooAh as he stood up suddenly and pointed at a sign in front of the entrance

"Kiln Sauna?" Confused, SooAh furrowed her brow upon hearing. Meanwhile, Thea let out a long, tired sigh

"That's right!" Taehoon proudly responded as the gazes shifted to SuHo, who was drunkenly squatting in a corner, cradling a basket in his arms like a little child

"It's Thea!" SuHo's vibrant cheeks mirrored the rosy hue of a young child, his eyes gently shutting as he beamed with joy

"At a place with good water..." Thea started speaking, observing the boy and piecing together the information she had "You guys had a fiery time!" Thea remarked, pointing at SuHo with a concerned expression on her face. He would have fallen if he hadn't caught himself with his hand

"Fiery, fiery. It really was, seriously!"

Thea let out another tired sigh as she quickly made her way towards SuHo, who was currently leaning his cheek against the vending machine next to him.

"It was really hot" SuHo commented with a smile, as he saw Thea approaching him with concern

"Hey, lee SuHo! Why is he like this?" Thea questioned with confusion, shaking him by his jacket when the boy closed his eyes "He's acting weird like seaweed!"

With a furrowed brow and crossed arms, Taehoon questioned "We went to the spa and I gave him some alcohol, but what should I do with him?"

"Hey, SuHo. Get a grip!"Thea firmly held onto his shirt collar and shook him to awaken him, but she fell completely silent when SuHo opened his eyes and flashed her an innocent smile

"Tthea!" Suho smiled affectionately, stumbling over his own words like a young child

"What did he just call her? Tthea?" Taehoon questioned with confusion, while SooAh smiled amusingly at the interaction between their two friends

"You must be very drunk. I will take you home. Hey, I'm leaving first" Thea quickly remarked, gripping SuHo's arm tightly

"Okay"

"Do that"

"Hey, get up!" Thea urged him, easily supporting SuHo's arm around her shoulders as they started walking after she managed to get him standing

"Get home safely!" SooAh shouted after them, waving her hand from side to side with a smile on her face

"Oh, taxi!" Thea exclaimed upon spotting a taxi driving nearby, prompting SuHo to enter the vehicle by holding open the taxi door "No, not over there" she guided SuHo into the car. "Let's go. Hey, we're leaving!" She waved to her two friends before joining SuHo inside the taxi

Upon reaching the building that housed SuHo's apartment, Thea assisted him in alighting from the taxi and expressed gratitude towards the driver as the vehicle departed. Exhaling deeply, Thea then effortlessly lifted SuHo onto her back, making provisions for a arduous and lengthy expedition towards his apartment.

While Thea's super strength made Suho feel weightless, what troubled her and caused her hairs to stand up was the proximity of SuHo's face to her neck, where she could sense his breath gently brushing against her fragile skin.

"Where are we?" SuHo sleepily asked in a barely audible voice once inside his apartment

Luckily, Thea had not forgotten the password to his apartment; otherwise, they would have been stranded outside, enduring the wait for SuHo to recover his sanity, and merely contemplating it fills Thea with a nauseating sensation.

"Here? It's your house" Thea replied, clutching onto his legs tightly to prevent him from falling

"I'm dizzy" SuHo exclaimed, tilting his face closer to Thea's neck as she shivered within seconds

"Be careful. Here, be careful!" Thea cautioned before gently yet quickly laying him onto his bed, wondering repeatedly why she was there taking care of someone who no longer belonged to her

She convinced herself that the reason behind her actions was her platonic affection for him, and she went as far as removing his shoes to enhance his comfort level.

In the end, she took a seat on a white chair beside SuHo's bed. His cheeks were flushed with a reddish hue, giving the impression of shyness. As Thea observed SuHo's desk, she noticed that he had kept all the presents she had given him for their anniversaries. This stirred a pang of pain in her heart, as she had discarded everything to begin anew with Mun.

"Look at how his eyes crinkle while smiling when he's drunk... this won't do" Thea teased and expressed concern as she noticed SuHo's eyes crinkle while he drunkenly smiled with closed eyes "SooJin told you not to go around smiling like that"

"Huh? But who are you?" SuHo questioned, his eyes still closed, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion

"What is this?" Thea almost burst into laughter at his sudden change in behavior, finding it strangely peculiar but enjoyable to witness

"Who are you to come into my house like this?" His tone of voice was somewhat gentle yet so peculiar at the same time that Thea couldn't help but smile with a hint of joy

"I'm Park Athena" Thea replied, playing along, as she cleared her throat to hold back laughter

"Park Athena?" SuHo repeated, turning his head with a very playful tone of voice "My girlfriend's name is Park Athena too. But you are pretty too" SuHo commented, opening one of his eyes as he unabashedly inspected her

Thea was taken aback by his unexpected response, causing her eyes to widen. It made her wonder if he had been influenced by alcohol to the point where he couldn't recognize his own girlfriend.

"Is that so?" Thea lowered her gaze, realizing that SuHo might have never truly gotten over her "Then, do you want to break up with your girlfriend and date SooJin instead?"

"Nope! I am Park Athena's man!" exclaimed SuHo, raising his voice and shaking his head as if he were a soldier

"That is a pity. Then I will leave now" Thea expressed regretfully while swiftly rising from her chair to leave as expeditiously as feasible "Get some rest" she kindly suggested to her companion, casting a final glance at him with a warm smile before turning away from him

"Wait a moment" SuHo stopped her from proceeding any further by swiftly catching her arm "Come here," Thea gasped when SuHo pulled her onto the bed, who held her closely in his sturdy embrace while softly singing a tender tune into her ear. Coincidentally, it was the very melody he had sung to her previously to provide solace

Thea's body became rigid and motionless when SuHo's lips pressed against hers in an unexpected kiss that was both gentle and commanding, catching her off guard and immediately provoking a reaction from her.

She couldn't believe what had happened, so she forcefully pushed the boy aside and got to her feet, staring at SuHo. Despite her actions, she couldn't get rid of the sympathy she felt for the boy, who was blissfully unaware of the damage he had done.

Maybe he had mistaken her for SooJin, or maybe he still had lingering feelings for Thea. Piqued by curiosity, Thea delicately placed her hand on SuHo's forehead, instantaneously triggering a flood of the young boy's recollections to merge with her own awareness, resembling a fast-flowing river.

"Bump bump"

Whenever Thea was near, SuHo's heart would instinctively begin to beat faster without him realizing it. Suddenly, everything changed and SuHo found himself sitting on his couch, clearly annoyed with himself as he constantly reaffirmed that his true love was SooJin, not Thea.

Thea opened her eyes and delicately withdrew her hand from SuHo's face. She looked at him with a blend of sadness and doubt, sensing the turmoil of emotions within him. Most importantly, she never meant to be the reason behind SuHo's suffering, especially since he occupied a significant position in her heart as her initial love.

She felt a hint of regret as she let out a deep breath, abstaining from holding him responsible for the uninvited kiss and choosing not to inform him either. Thea picked up the blanket from the bed and carefully placed it over SuHo's body, causing him to move slightly as the cold fabric touched his skin after a short while.

To conclude, Thea collected her belongings and left the place, making sure that everything was well organized before her departure.

What the hell had happened?

Author's note;

I really feel so sorry for SooJin, but on the other hand, I understand SuHo since it has happened to me several times 😭 You can never forget your first love no matter how much you try because it leaves a big impact on your heart. But can you imagine how SooJin and Mun are going to react when they find out about this?

Question of the day: Do you believe in past lives? 😳

Honestly, I don't know, but I have a feeling that it's true 💀 See y'all in the next episode!💕