Fragments of You. | Park Sunghoon

XXXII

HWAMIN AND SUNGHOON SAT QUIETLY AGAINST THE WALLS OF THE ABANDONED WAREHOUSE, THE REMNANTS OF ICE SLOWLY MELTING AROUND THEM. The tension and fear that had gripped them both moments ago had given way to a peaceful silence. They didn't need words to express what they were feeling; their presence was enough.

Hwamin's warmth continued to radiate, keeping the chill at bay. She glanced over at Sunghoon, who looked calmer than she had seen him in a long time. His breathing was steady, and the color had started to return to his face.

After a while, Hwamin broke the silence, her voice soft and filled with determination. "Sunghoon, we need to find a way to break this curse."

Sunghoon nodded, staring straight ahead. "I don't know if it's possible, but it wouldn't hurt to try. I guess."

He didn't want to think about his trouble right now.

Sunghoon slowly got to his feet and extended his hand toward Hwamin, a gentle smile playing on his lips. Hwamin looked up at him, a bit confused but intrigued by the change in his demeanor. Tentatively, she took his hand, feeling the warmth of his touch.

"Come on," Sunghoon said, a playful glint in his eyes. He concentrated for a moment, and the ground beneath them began to freeze, transforming into a smooth, glittering surface of ice. "Let's go ice skating."

Hwamin blinked in surprise. "Ice skating? But I'm not good at ice skating. You've know that ever since we were kids."

Sunghoon chuckled softly, his grip on her hand reassuring. "I know, but I'll teach you again. It'll be fun. Trust."

Hwamin hesitated for a moment, but the genuine smile on Sunghoon's face and the playful twinkle in his eyes melted her reservations. She nodded, allowing him to guide her onto the icy surface. Her initial steps were wobbly, and she clung to his hand for support.

Sunghoon moved with grace and confidence, effortlessly gliding across the ice. He kept a firm but gentle hold on Hwamin, encouraging her with every step. "Just relax and let yourself glide," he said, his voice calm and steady. "I'll be right here with you."

Hwamin took a deep breath and tried to follow his lead. Her movements were shaky at first, but with Sunghoon's guidance, she began to find her balance. They skated slowly at first, and as her confidence grew, she started to enjoy the sensation of gliding over the ice.

Laughter filled the air as they moved together, their earlier worries momentarily forgotten. Sunghoon's playful spirit was infectious, and Hwamin couldn't help but smile as they skated hand in hand.

"You're doing great," Sunghoon praised, his eyes shining with pride. "See? I told you it would be fun."

Hwamin laughed, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "Okay, you were right. This is fun."

As Hwamin and Sunghoon continued to skate, the joy and laughter of the moment enveloped them. Hwamin found herself becoming more comfortable on the ice, guided by Sunghoon's steady hand and encouraging words.

However, as she glided along, a quiet memory surfaced. One of her dates with Chase had also been an ice skating outing. The memory of that day brought a sudden rush of mixed emotions—regret, pain, and an underlying sense of guilt. The warmth of her powers responded unconsciously to her distress, and she felt a surge of heat.

Before she could control it, her body heated up, burning a hole right through the ice on the ground. The sudden loss of balance made her stumble slightly, and she quickly steadied herself, looking down at the damage she had caused.

"Oh no," Hwamin murmured, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She looked up at Sunghoon, eyes wide with apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

Sunghoon gently squeezed her hand, his smile reassuring. "It's okay."

He released her hand briefly and knelt down, placing his palm over the hole. Concentrating, he used his powers to refreeze the ice, seamlessly repairing the damage. The hole disappeared as if it had never been there, and the rink was once again smooth and perfect.

Sunghoon stood up and took her hand again, his eyes warm and understanding. "There, all fixed. Let's keep going."

Hwamin felt a wave of gratitude and relief wash over her. His acceptance and easygoing nature made her heart swell with affection. She nodded, smiling shyly.

They resumed skating, the brief interruption doing nothing to dampen their spirits. As they glided together, the memory of Chase faded, replaced by the present joy of being with Sunghoon. The warmth of her powers, now under control, blended harmoniously with the cold of the ice, symbolizing the balance they were learning to achieve together.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

Yoon Mirae stood on set, the bright lights casting shadows that danced around her as she delivered her lines with heart-wrenching intensity. She was playing a character who had just been betrayed by someone she trusted deeply, and the script called for her to cry. Tears streamed down her face as she poured herself into the role, her emotions raw and exposed.

The cameras rolled as she delivered her lines with heartbreaking sincerity, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "How could you do this to me?!"

The director yelled, "Cut!" but Mirae couldn't stop crying. The tears that had started as part of her performance now flowed from a deeper, more personal place. She thought of Park Jihoon, the man whose life she had helped ruin. She had severed their business ties, using her power to erase him from every record, leaving his family in shambles. The guilt of her actions had always lingered at the back of her mind, but now it felt overwhelming.

It was ironic how she was playing a character that was a victim of fraud.

Mirae struggled to compose herself, but the weight of her past actions bore down on her. She couldn't shake the image of Jihoon's face, the hurt and betrayal in his eyes when she had turned her back on him. She had done it to protect Hwamin, to secure their future, but the cost had been far greater than she had ever anticipated.

As she wiped her tears and tried to regain her composure, another worry gnawed at her. Hwamin hadn't called her in days, and her calls had gone unanswered. A sense of unease settled in her chest. She couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong.

Just then, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw it was her accountant, Mr. Kim. She quickly answered, hoping for some distraction from her troubled thoughts.

"Mr. Kim, what is it?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Ms. Yoon, do you know why Hwamin took out such a large sum of money?" Mr. Kim's voice was tinged with concern.

Mirae's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, a large sum of money?"

"The amount she withdrew... it was substantial. I thought you should know," he replied.

"Well, how much?" His response after left her struck.

Mirae's mind raced as she processed the information. The amount. She recognized it immediately—it was the exact figure that she had once promised to Park Jihoon. She put the pieces together in an instant, a sense of dread washing over her. Hwamin had found out. She had discovered the truth about the past and was trying to make amends.

"Thank you, Mr. Kim," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she ended the call.

She sat there, her mind spinning. The realization that Hwamin knew about her betrayal to Park Jihoon, and had taken it upon herself to right the wrongs, filled her with a mix of pride and sorrow. She had always wanted to protect her daughter from the harsh realities of the world, but now she saw that Hwamin had grown stronger and more compassionate because of it.