She brushed her fingers gently through his hair-an intimate, soothing gesture.
"You're not pathetic," she whispered. "You just don't fit the mold."
"Isn't that the same thing to most people?" His voice wavered-just slightly.
"Then their eyes are closed," she said firmly. "It doesn't make you any less worthy."
Luca didn't answer. But his shoulders relaxed, and he shifted her weight again-this time more smoothly, as if her reassurance lent him strength.
"I want to believe you," he said finally. "Because you're my girlfriend. But ... because you're my girlfriend, I can't believe what you say. You could've found a man who meets the standards society sets."
The words hit Seo-in harder than he realized.
Her hand stilled in his hair.
Because she could have.
Because her parents had tried to arrange exactly that-an arranged marriage she hadn't told Luca about.
And now ... she could feel that secret pressing like a stone against her ribs.