[8:00 AM / Taekyun's Condo /Shanghai]
The morning was unusually quiet.
Soft sunlight filtered through the dining room windows while breakfast came to an end.
Taekyun slowly stood from his chair.
Lin Meiying immediately looked up from collecting the empty dishes.
"Miss Lin."
"Yes, Sir?"
Taekyun picked up the napkin beside his plate and placed it down.
"I'm going to see Haru."
His voice remained calm.
"At the hospital."
Lin nodded immediately.
"Of course, Sir."
Taekyun glanced toward Haneul's room before speaking again.
"When Haneul wakes up."
His eyes lowered slightly.
"Make sure he eats breakfast."
"Don't let him skip it."
A warm smile appeared on Lin's face.
"I will."
"You don't have to worry."
Taekyun nodded slowly.
Then he remembered something.
"Oh"
He grabbed his phone from the table.
"His therapist will be coming around eleven."
"Lisa."
Lin smiled knowingly.
"Okay sir."
"I'll make sure he's awake and have eaten before she arrives."
A tired smile appeared briefly on Taekyun's face.
"Thank you."
"Leave him to me, Sir."
Taekyun nodded once more.
He grabbed his coat, car keys, and phone from the nearby counter.
Then slowly walked toward the door.
Just before he left, Lin suddenly called after him.
"Sir."
Taekyun paused.
"Yes?"
Lin's smile softened.
"Give my love to Haru."
Taekyun lowered his gaze.
"Hmm."
The simple sound carried more emotion than words.
A second later, he stepped outside.
The door closed behind him.
[On the Road]
Shanghai's streets were already busy.
Cars moved steadily through the morning traffic.
Taekyun drove quietly.
His thoughts remained where they always were.
With Haru.
With Haneul.
With the child that would soon enter the world.
His phone suddenly buzzed.
The screen displayed a familiar name.
Bora.
Taekyun immediately accepted the call.
"Good morning, Sir."
Her calm and polite voice sounded from the speaker.
"Morning..... Bora."
A brief silence followed.
Then Bora spoke carefully.
"Sorry, Sir."
"I know it's early."
"I just wanted to ask....."
She hesitated.
"How Haneul is."
"And Haru."
"And you."
Taekyun's eyes remained on the road.
"It's okay."
He answered softly.
"Everything is going... likewise."
The same answer he always gave.
The same answer everyone had learned to expect.
"I'm heading to the hospital now."
"To see Haru."
Bora immediately became quiet.
Then carefully asked,
"Is she recovering, Sir?"
Taekyun tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"All her injuries have recovered."
His voice lowered.
"But she's still asleep."
Silence filled the call.
Bora couldn't find any words.
Eventually she whispered,
"She'll wakes up soon."
"And comes back."
Taekyun didn't reply.
Because he hoped for the same thing every day.
After a while Bora spoke again.
"And Haneul?"
"Is he okay?"
Taekyun stared ahead.
"He talks..."
A pause.
"Maybe a bit."
"To everyone."
His voice became quieter.
"But not to me."
The words hurt even after saying them.
Bora immediately bit her lip.
Trying not to cry.
Taekyun asked instead.
"How is the residence?"
The moment he asked, Bora's voice trembled.
"Sir..."
"Please come back."
Taekyun remained silent.
As Bora continued.
"The residence feels empty."
"There's nothing left for us to do."
Her voice cracked.
"Except taking care of Mongi."
At the mention of the puppy, Taekyun's expression softened slightly.
"Lihan brought him back."
"Yes, Sir."
Bora sniffled quietly.
Taekyun looked out the windshield.
"Take care of him."
A pause.
"Maybe Haru will need him again after she wakes up."
The sentence made Bora freeze.
"What.... do you mean, Sir?"
But Taekyun didn't explain.
Instead he spoke gently.
"Bora."
"Look after everyone."
"Take care of the residence."
"We'll talk later."
Bora swallowed her emotions.
"Yes, Sir."
A pause.
"You take care of yourself too."
"And Haneul."
"And Haru."
"Hmm."
The call ended.
[Shanghai Central Hospital]
Taekyun entered Haru's room.
The room was bright.
Almost peaceful.
Haru remained exactly where he had left her yesterday.
Sleeping quietly.
As though six months had never passed.
Taekyun slowly approached the bed.
Then leaned down.
And kissed her forehead.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"I'm back."
No response.
Only the soft sound of machines.
Taekyun sat beside her.
His hand immediately found hers.
Small,warm and motionless.
The door opened.
A nurse entered carrying a tray.
"Good morning, Sir."
"Morning."
Taekyun nodded politely.
The nurse placed several prepared injections and medications nearby.
Then smiled.
"You continue."
"I'll come back later."
Taekyun nodded.
As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped.
"Oh."
"I almost forgot."
Taekyun looked up.
"The doctor said if you arrived"
"He would like to see you."
"He has something to discuss."
Taekyun already knew what it would be about.
The therapy.
Still, he nodded.
"Sure."
The nurse smiled and left.
Silence returned once more.
Taekyun looked back at Haru.
His thumb brushed gently across her hand.
"How are you?"
A pause.
"How are your dreams?"
His eyes softened.
"Have you seen me there yet?"
A loose strand of hair had fallen across her forehead.
He carefully moved it away.
Then stared at her longer.
"Your hair has gotten longer."
"And prettier."
A tiny smile appeared.
"We'll get a haircut."
"When you wake up."
His voice became quieter.
Almost a whisper.
"Don't you want to meet your new sibling?"
His gaze moved toward her sleeping face.
"He'll be here soon."
"So make sure you're there too."
Another kiss landed on her hand.
"You have to protect them."
"You're the older sister."
For a moment, Taekyun imagined hearing her laugh.
Hearing her call him Abba.
But the room remained silent.
Just like always.
The reality remained unchanged.
Haru continued sleeping peacefully.
And Taekyun continued waiting.
[10:30 AM / Taekyun's Condo]
After Haneul was done with his Breakfast .
Lin Meiying picked up the empty tray from the bedside table.
Meanwhile, Haneul slowly pushed himself up from the bed.
Immediately Lin moved toward him.
"I'll help."
She crouched down and carefully helped him put on his socks.
Haneul quietly thanked her with a small nod.
Afterward, he slowly walked toward the closet.
Opening one of the drawers.
Inside rested a diary.
The one he had begun writing in whenever Taekyun left the house.
Only two people knew about it.
Lin.
And Lisa.
Haneul held it carefully against his chest before walking toward the window.
Then slowly sat down.
The morning sunlight fell across his pale face.
Lin watched him quietly.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"You seem a little happier today."
Haneul looked toward her.
A weak smile appeared briefly.
Gone almost instantly.
Lin's expression softened further.
"Only if you smiled like that in front of Sir..."
She sighed.
"Maybe he'd gain some strength too."
The smile disappeared from Haneul's face.
His eyes lowered.
Lin hesitated before speaking again.
"Why are you punishing him so much?"
The question lingered heavily in the room.
Haneul slowly looked toward her.
Pain flashed through his eyes.
Then he turned away.
Looking outside the window.
As if avoiding the answer.
As if he couldn't bear to say it aloud.
At that moment,
The doorbell rang.
Lin immediately straightened.
"Oh."
"That must be Lisa."
Haneul turned his head immediately.
Lin laughed softly.
"Sir said today is your last session for this month."
Then she suddenly frowned.
"Oh dear..."
"I completely forgot."
"My old mind."
She shook her head.
"But Sir said eleven."
She looked at the wall clock.
"There's still half an hour left."
Muttering to herself, she walked toward the door.
Leaving Haneul alone by the window.
Haneul looked outside once more.
Only one thought remained inside his mind.
Only a few days.
Only a few days left.
The front door opened.
A bright voice immediately entered the condo.
"Wow."
"Look at this."
Lisa stepped inside carrying her bag.
"Someone is sitting by the window today."
Lin laughed as she closed the door.
Lisa pointed dramatically toward Haneul.
"Miss Lin."
"Don't you think our soon-to-be adorable mother is looking a little energetic today?"
Lin smiled.
"I noticed too."
The truth was both of them knew nothing had really changed.
But encouraging Haneul had become a routine.
One they never stopped trying.
Lisa dramatically nodded.
"Exactly."
"I think this deserves celebration."
"Maybe coffee."
"And cookies."
Lin laughed.
"You sit."
"I'll bring them."
"Miss Lisa."
Lisa immediately groaned.
"Lin."
"No."
"Don't call me Miss Lisa."
She pointed at herself.
"My name is Ning Ning."
"We're friends."
"I've told you several times."
Lin laughed harder.
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Ning Ning."
Satisfied, Lisa nodded proudly.
"Good."
Lin shook her head and walked away.
The moment she disappeared into the kitchen, Lisa's smile softened.
She slowly walked toward the window.
Then sat beside Haneul.
Her eyes immediately landed on the diary.
"Again?"
She pointed at it.
"You want to leave..."
Her voice lowered.
"But you're still writing."
Her gaze lingered on the notebook with a teasing smile.
"As if you're making sure someone never forgets you."
Haneul stared at the diary.
His fingers tightened around it.
For several moments he remained silent.
Then,
"I..."
His voice was weak.
Lisa immediately froze.
Haneul lowered his eyes.
"I ...decided."
The smile vanished from Lisa's face.
Completely.
Her heart suddenly sank.
"Decided what, Haneul?"
Silence.
Then,
"I'll...."
His voice trembled.
"go."
Lisa's expression changed instantly.
"Haneul."
"I'll go."
The room became quiet.
Lisa stared at him.
Eith disbelief and frustration
Everything appeared at once.
"Don't do this."
Her voice shook.
"You promised me."
"You promised the baby."
Her eyes moved toward his stomach.
"The.... baby..... will stay."
Haneul's hand slowly rested over his belly.
"It'll.....stay."
Lisa frowned.
"What do you mean it'll stay?"
[Shanghai Central Hospital]
Inside the doctor's office, silence filled the room.
The doctor looked across the desk.
Toward Taekyun.
"So...."
He folded his hands.
"What do you think now, Mr. Taekyun?"
Taekyun lowered his gaze.
"I..."
The words refused to come.
The doctor sighed softly.
"Mr. Taekyun."
"Trust me."
His voice became gentler.
"I'll personally supervise everything."
"I'll make sure she doesn't suffer unnecessarily."
Taekyun remained silent.
The doctor continued.
"Don't make a final decision out of fear."
"Sometimes that creates even bigger regrets."
He opened Haru's file.
"Yesterday one of our nurses noticed slight eyelash movement."
"We already informed you."
Taekyun nodded.
The doctor smiled.
"And we believe this therapy could help."
A pause.
Then,
"Please don't say no."
His expression softened.
"Think of me as an older brother."
"Not just a doctor."
For several seconds, Taekyun stared at the desk.
Then finally,
He nodded.
A small movement.
Barely visible.
But enough.
The doctor's shoulders relaxed instantly.
A smile appeared.
"That's what I was hoping for."
He closed the file.
"Don't focus on percentages."
"Don't focus on risk."
His eyes shifted toward Haru's room beyond the glass wall.
"In all my years...."
"This is the first patient making me feel this way."
Taekyun looked at him.
The doctor smiled.
"My heart keeps telling me she'll come back."
"Don't ask me why."
"It just does."
Silence followed.
Finally Taekyun took a slow breath.
"I hope..."
His voice was rough.
"you keep your promise."
The doctor nodded immediately.
"I will."
A few minutes later, Taekyun left the office.
The hospital corridor felt unusually cold.
His footsteps echoed quietly.
This was a huge decision.
Perhaps the biggest one he had made in months.
He didn't know where it would lead.
Hope or regret.
Recovery or loss.
Everything felt possible.
For some reason,
His chest felt heavier instead of lighter.
As if he had handed something precious to fate.
And now all he could do was wait.
[Back At The Condo]
"Haneul..."
Lisa slowly stood from her chair.
"This is a huge decision."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Do you really want to leave him alone?"
Haneul lowered his eyes.
Lisa looked away for a moment.
Trying to calm herself.
Then she spoke again.
"I feel bad for him."
A pause.
"Really bad."
Her voice softened.
"The man I knew from television."
"The man everyone talked about."
She shook her head.
"He doesn't exist anymore."
"The famous pharmaceutical Holder I see now."
"He's drowning."
"Every day."
"Every single day."
Haneul's fingers tightened around the diary.
Lisa continued.
"He left everything."
"His country."
"His career."
"His life."
"For you."
"For Haru."
"For this baby."
Her eyes burned.
"And now you're leaving him too."
Silence.
"I know your mother won't stop chasing you."
Lisa whispered.
"But don't let history repeat itself."
Haneul froze.
Lisa looked directly at him.
"His first wife left him with a daughter."
"And now you're planning to leave him in same way too."
"With another child."
"And no promise you'll ever come back."
"Just because you believe Haru will wake up."
"And they'll live peacefully."
The room became silent.
For several moments, Haneul didn't move.
Then,
A small smile appeared on his face.
Sad but certain.
His hand rested protectively over his stomach.
And finally he whispered,
"I know..."
His eyes drifted toward the window.
Toward somewhere far away.
"they will."