Lovely Runner 2: Finding Grandma

Chapter 10: You & I

Taking Bo Ah in his arms, Sun Jae gently places her in the backseat.

"She'll come back...right?" Bo Ah sniffles, glancing up at him with glossy eyes.

Bending down to her level, Sun Jae's gaze softens with understanding. He pats her head and grins. Something in her brown eyes reminds him of Sol, the way she had looked at him before when the world seemed frozen under their feet, when all they could cling to was each other.

"I promise," he assures her, catching sight of Sol standing under the streetlight, a smile igniting when she looks at him.

During the ride home, Sol's hand rests in his as she falls to sleep. Arriving at the apartment, he carries Bo Ah and helps Sol out of the car, letting her lean against his strong frame as they take the elevator up.

Laying Bo Ah on the couch, he leads Sol to the bedroom and tucks her in. As he pulls away, Sol nestles closer to him, pinning his hand under her head.

Seeing her like this, his expression softens as he gazes at her, coming face to face with her. They're so close that he can trace every detail. Sun Jae's heart beats faster as he remembers that rainy day—the day he met the woman he would die for again and again; and he still would.

Interlocking his hand with hers, he thinks about the first time, when he hesitated to touch her, when she didn't yet know he loved her.

Sol's eyes flutter open, glowing in the warm light. "Hello..." She smiles, ruffling his fluffy hair. "My prince..."

"Hyah!" Sun Jae says, acting offended.

"You weren't asleep?"

Shaking her head, Sol closes her eyes, nudging closer to him. "I'm not letting go." She teases.

"What if my arm falls asleep?" He complains.

"Mmm..." She thinks for a moment before pressing a kiss on his cheek. "I guess you'll have to sleep with me then?"

"You!" He blushes, smirking.

Wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders, she pulls him close, lying next to him and stroking his soft hair. His eyes glisten in the light.

"I saw you that day..." Sol says, softly.

"On that day..." Sun Jae's eyes flutter. "You weren't asleep at the video store...on my hand??" He stares at her, confused.

"Ani." Sol chuckles. "The second time...when..."

"Ah! When you tried to erase me." He teases.

"Ha!" She scolds, playing. "I was saving your life."

Seeing her face turn red, he tries to hide his grin. She looks cute when she's mad.

"Araseo!" He says, brushing her cheek. "You're my hero." Sun Jae pulls her closer, squeezing her tight. "My Sol hero!"

When the doorbell rings, they get up to meet Hyun Joo and Im Guem at the door. Guem picks up the sleeping Bo Ah from the couch before returning to his wife in the doorway.

"You didn't find Halmeoni?" Hyun Joo asks Sol.

"No." Sol shakes her head. "We didn't."

"I'm so sorry, Sol-ah." Hyun Joo places a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Tae Sung is still looking for her...I'm sure he can find her..."

Turning her eyes away from her friend, she strains a smile, hiding the truth when she glances up. "I'm sure..."

Thanking Sol and Sun Jae for finding their daughter, Guem and Hyun Joo turn to leave.

It's just the two of them now. Sol locks fingers with Sun Jae as they return to the bedroom.

Plopping herself back down on the bed, Sol sighs. "Ay! Sun Jae-ah!" She covers her face with her small hands. "What are we going to do?"

He plops himself next to her, jostling Sol when he lands with his tall frame.

"Hyah!" Sol complains. "The baby!"

"Sorry..." He says, rubbing her belly.

"Sun Jae-ah!" She squeezes his face, squealing. "Sun Jae-ah! Sun Jae-ah! Sun Jae-ah!"

Face turning red, Sun Jae chuckles.

"You know..." Sol smiles, brushing back the hair on his forehead. "Before...When I was just your fan, I had a poster..."

"A poster?"

"Mmm-hmm! A big stand-up poster."

"Of me?"

"Mmm-hmm! And every day I would blow a kiss goodnight and good morning."

Blinking, Sun Jae can't believe it. He wants to hear more. He's happy that she loved him that much before they really knew each other or the time travel.

"You did?"

"I did." She snuggles closer to Sun Jae, feeling the warmth of his presence. "But now I can kiss you like this..." She says, pecking his forehead.

When she pulls away, Sun Jae turns and leans over her, his gaze taking her in, as if unable to believe she was with him. Like no matter how close she was, she wasn't close enough. Their lips meet, folding into each other's embrace.

When they part, Sol's eyes drift, questions arising in her mind despite him being in her arms.

"Do you think we can find another?"

"Another?" Sun Jae doesn't catch on.

"Another watch..." She says.