Resonance

Christmas Eve

The chill of the winter night filled the air as Jung-Ha made his way back to the restaurant with a smile that seemed to light up the darkness around him. However, his steps faltered when he noticed In-Sung standing in front of the restaurant. A mixture of emotions swirled within him, and he hesitated for a moment before deciding to change his course and head straight home.

Meanwhile, In-Sung entered the restaurant, his presence unexpected. Hyu-Joo, who was going about her tasks, looked up in surprise and greeted him. "In-Sung, what brings you here?"

In-Sung offered a gentle smile. "I wanted to have Donkatsu for Christmas Eve."

Hyu-Joo nodded and motioned for him to take a seat. "Sure, please have a seat. I'll prepare it for you."

As the Donkatsu was served, In-Sung dug into the meal, his emotions swirling beneath the surface. He cleared his throat, finding the right words to say. "Jung-Ha... talked to me."

Hyu-Joo met his gaze, her expression soft and understanding. "I see. It must have been difficult for you too."

In-Sung nodded, his eyes welling up with tears that he couldn't hold back. He wiped his eyes with a tissue that Hyu-Joo handed him, his emotions overflowing. "I felt like I was dying inside."

Hyu-Joo reached out and gently patted his shoulder.

After they finished their meal, Hyu-Joo and In-Sung walked side by side, the weight of the revelation hanging in the air between them. The silence was thick with unspoken words, and In-Sung mustered his courage to break it.

"Merry Christmas, Hyu-Joo," he said shyly, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.

Hyu-Joo smiled back at him, her eyes warm. "Merry Christmas, In-Sung."

As they reached the front of Hyu-Joo's home, she turned to him and extended an invitation. "By the way, You should join us on New Year's Eve. "

In-Sung looked surprised but also touched by the invitation. "Is that okay with him?"

Hyu-Joo nodded. "Yes, Jung-Ha is the one who brought it up."

A mixture of emotions flooded In-Sung as he considered the invitation. "Thank you, Hyu-Joo. I'll be there."

With their wishes for a Merry Christmas exchanged, In-Sung left with a heart that felt a little lighter, and Hyu-Joo watched him go, hopeful for what the New Year would bring for all of them.

In the cozy ambiance of his home, Seung-Ryeong's phone chimed with a message notification. He picked up his phone to see a message from Ji-Young, wishing him a Merry Christmas. He smiled and quickly typed out a response, reciprocating her well wishes and expressing his hopes for her recovery.

However, his moment of reprieve was abruptly interrupted as his phone rang unexpectedly. Startled, he hesitated before accepting the call. Ji-Young's voice came through, and Seung-Ryeong's heart raced a bit as he answered, "Hello?"

Ji-Young's annoyance was evident in her tone as she questioned him, "Don't you want to see me anymore?"

Seung-Ryeong tried to keep his composure and assured her, "No, it's not that. I just want you to recover fully, so you can go back to your normal life."

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Ji-Young's voice softened. "I thought maybe we could have a date once I'm better."

Seung-Ryeong's heart skipped a beat at her words, his mind racing with thoughts. He absentmindedly glanced at a photograph of his wife, her smile frozen in time, as if offering him a silent reassurance.