Author's Pov:

Soomin found herself sitting in her balcony, the cup of coffee in her hand long gone cold.

"What are you thinking?", Dohyun asked standing beside her, "The coffee is already cold now".

Soomin smiled, "Just like usual, lost in my own world".

Dohyun smiled sadly, taking her hand, "I'm sorry for not being there for you when you needed me".

Soomin chuckled, shaking her head, "It's nothing like that". With a playful smile she said, "I didn't even miss you".

Dohyun dramatically placed his hand over his chest, "I'm offended". She giggled staring at him, "You never change".

"Hmm", he answered looking down, "But you did", his tone became serious.

Soomin stilled at his words, "What do you mean?".

Dohyun sighed, "Back in college, you were so carefree, open, full of life", he hesitated before continuing, "Now you seem....guarded".

She blinked, momentarily stunned by his words. He wasn't wrong. Losing Jinhyuk had taken a part of her she wasn't sure she'd get back.

The carefree girl from the college had been replaced by someone more careful, someone who had learnt the hard way that life didn't always go as planned.

Soomin sighed, the weight of her past resting heavy on her shoulders as she spoke, "Back then, everything was falling apart. After Jinhyuk...everything changed. His father blames me for his death, said I took his only son away from him. I had to leave, had to move out, and for a while, I stayed with Minhee. Eunsoo was just two at that time and I was struggling to keep everything together".

Dohyun's face darkened with sympathy, "I never knew it was that bad".

Soomin nodded, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness, "It was rough. My mother well , she never talked to me after I married Jinhyuk. She disowned me and when Jinhyuk was gone...it was like she'd rather pretend I didn't exist. I wasn't going to crawl back to her for forgiveness".

Dohyun's expression softened but he stayed quiet letting her continue.

"I got this house somehow, worked long nights, all while raising Eunsoo on my own. It was exhausting, and I didn't have time to think about anything else. But...eventually I learned how to survive", Soomin glanced at him, "I'm not that girl from college anymore. I've moved on, in a way. Maybe Jinhyuk was right when he said we are just moving quickly back then".

"Not that girl but still strong", Dohyun remarked, admiration in his tone.

Soomin chuckled, "Strong? I don't know about that. I just had no choice. Soojin helped me a lot when she moved in. I could breathe again".

As silence fell between them, Dohyun carefully asked, "And Junhui? What about him? You two seemed close today".

"It's nothing like that, Dohyun. Junhui is just a friend", she replied slowly.

"You sure cause we all saw you blushing today when he said you look beautiful", Dohyun casually said.

Soomin sighed, "We've been through similar things and I understand him. I get what it's like to lose someone and feel the world keeps moving while you're stuck".

Dohyun watched her with curiosity, "What do you mean? Do you think that you're getting too close to him?".

"I don't know. He has lost someone he was really close to, just like I lost Jinhyuk. I mean, we've known each other for over a little month and I get him. He just hides it well, but I can feel it. That weight".

Dohyun titled his head slightly, curious, "You don't want the same thing to happened with him do you?".

Soomin exhaled slowly, "No. I don't. I don't want him to shut everyone out the way I did. He deserves to find happiness But there's a connection, you know? It's not romantic or anything as you are thinking. It's just....understanding", she said.

Dohyun chuckled lightly, leaning forward, "I don't know, Soomin. Are you sure it's not something more?'.

Soomin's lips curved into a small smile, "I don't think so. I mean, I'm not looking for anything like that. I haven't even thought about it honestly", she glanced away, a hint of confusion flickering in her eyes, "Junhui is a good friend. Someone I feel comfortable around...but that's it".

"Fine, I won't talk about this topic anymore but how about going out for a drink tomorrow? You, me and Minhee.....probably some seventeen members too. I liked those guys", Dohyun suggested.

Soomin looked at him with hesitant eyes, "I don't know....".

Dohyun nudged her, "Don't worry about Eunsoo, I've talked with Soojin. She is not going anywhere tomorrow". Soomin stared at him for a while, still unsure but then nodded.

Meanwhile,

Junhui rested his head on his mother's lap. She slowly caressed his head, "What's eating you up, dear?", she softly asked. Junhui sighed, sitting up, "Nothing. It was a bit tiring today", Junhui told her everything.

Mrs. Moon chuckled, "Poor child, I would have kicked you if you make me walk around the mall 4 times". Junhui playfully glared at her, "What was I supposed to do then?". His mother chuckled. 

"Junhui, I was thinking something. Why don't you bring them for dinner once again? Your father talks about Eunsoo atleast everyday. Last time she came, it was based on a lie but now I just want to invite her for a proper dinner. She must have felt  so awkward".

Junhui looked at her, "But Appa? He still  doesn't know the truth, does he?". His mother chuckled, "I told him everything the same day".

Junhui frowned, "But he never said anything to me though". Mrs.Moon smiled, caressing his head, "He was angry but then understood you did that for him. But yeah, his strict instruction is that not to pull such stunt again".

Junhui smiled, "I promise I won't". Mrs. Moon smiled, "How did the party go?". Junhui laid down, "It was fun".

Mrs. Moon smiled softly, caressing his hair, "I'm glad you had good time".

Back to Soomin's house:

"Dohyun uncle, you were friends with my Appa too?", Eunsoo asked, her eyes shining curious to know more about her father.

Soomin sighed, "Eunsoo, go back to sleep". Dohyun stopped her, "Soomin, let her spend her some time with her Dohyun uncle, right?", he said pinching Eunsoo's nose.

She giggled, "Yes!". Soojin stood behind Soomin, glancing at Dohyun once in a while.

"Dohyun uncle, you know Junhui uncle is Eomma's boyfriend", Eunsoo suddenly said.

Dohyun froze but soon looked up at Soomin with a smirk. Soojin's eyes widen. Soomin's heart skipped a beat.

"Eunsoo!", Soomin's voice came out sharpener than she intended, "You just can't say anything like that".

Eunsoo flinched, "B-But I thought it would be funny, Eomma", she softly said, her lower lip trembling slightly.

Soomin's heart was still pounding. She knelt infront of Eunsoo, trying to calm down her nerves before speaking, "Listen sweetheart, sometimes what we think is funny can be confusing or serious for others. It might even hurt them".

Eunsoo slowly nodded, a bit embarrassed, "I'm sorry, Eomma. I was just joking. I won't joke about something like this again".

Soomin sighed, "It's okay, Eunsoo. Time for bed now, go. Dohyun will be staying here for few days so you've will have a lot of time to talk to him", she gently pushed Eunsoo toward the door, her heart still racing at her words.

Once Eunsoo was gone, Dohyun turned to Soomin with a teasing look, "Junhui?  I mean your daughter knows it too".

Soomin shot a glare at him, "I'm kicking you out of this house. We have talked about this already, Dohyun". He simply raised his hands in surrender.

Soojin tried to hide her smile as she cleared her throat, "Well, she does spend quite a bit of time with him. It's no wonder she'd think something like that. Remember how she blushed when Junhui complimented her before?".

Soomin whined, "Not that again. I didn't blush okay? Even if I did, what's wrong in it?".

"Cause you only blush for person you feel something for. You only blushed when Jinhyuk flirted", Dohyun shrugged his arms.

"I'm going to bed and I think you need some sleep too cause you are talking non sense", Soomin said walking to her room.

Dohyun chuckled, "Do bare minimum for her and she will instantly fall for you".