Be My One

About Him

Italic is flashback!

The night's events ended successfully. As everyone headed to their rooms, Yeonjun kept thanking Soohyun, grateful that he could finally take revenge on the enemy who had been targeting Karina.

Soohyun arrived home late, his footsteps echoing through the silent house. The moment he stepped inside, the cool, lonely atmosphere wrapped around him like a shroud. On the wall hung a large portrait of him and her, a relic from a time when he was a different man—before he became the "maniac psychopath mafia." Instead of retreating to his room, he found himself drawn to the living room, where he sat and gazed at the portrait, a small, bittersweet smile tugging at his lips.

His vision blurred as tears welled up, slipping down his cheeks and splashing onto the cold floor. Memories of a time long gone played in his mind like a broken cassette, haunting him.

"Oppa!" Her voice was filled with joy, a smile lighting up her face as she ran toward him.

"I missed you so much." She tilted her head to look up at him, and he leaned down to press a tender kiss to her lips.

"I missed you more, my precious," he had whispered, lifting her into his arms and twirling her around. Their laughter echoed through the air, filled with the happiness of a world that felt like it was theirs alone.

Soohyun sat there for what felt like an eternity, lost in the portrait's image of him and Jiwon, her arms wrapped around his neck, looking straight into his soul, while his hand rested protectively on her back. She was perfect in her long white dress, and he, in a matching white suit, looked at her as if she were the only thing that mattered in the world.

"I miss you so much, Jiwon-ah," he whispered, his voice breaking as sobs overtook him. For all his power and ruthlessness, he was just a hopeless romantic, a man who had given his heart entirely to one woman. Harshly wiping away his tears, he forced himself to leave the living room, taking refuge in a long, hot shower before collapsing into bed. He needed rest—he had to pick up Jiwon later, and the last thing he wanted was for her to see him like this.

The next morning, Soohyun stood at Jiwon's door, his heart lighter as she greeted him with a wide, radiant grin.

"Good morning!" he said, trying to match her enthusiasm.

"Morning! Come in," Jiwon replied, opening the door wider to welcome him inside. The warmth of her home enveloped him, a stark contrast to the cold emptiness he had left behind. From across the room, he could see Mr. and Mrs. Kim enjoying their breakfast. Mrs. Kim's face lit up with happiness when she saw him, and she quickly rose to pull him into a hug.

"It's been too long, Kim-sobang," Mrs. Kim whispered softly, her voice filled with affection. Soohyun felt a lump in his throat, doing his best to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. This was why he had avoided Jiwon's family for so long—guilt gnawed at him, even though the tragedies that had befallen them were not his fault. He had isolated himself, becoming an overprotective monster in his quest to shield Jiwon from any further harm.

"Omma, you can see Oppa after breakfast," Jiwon teased, making Mrs. Kim laugh as she reluctantly let go of Soohyun. She cupped his face, her eyes filled with motherly pride and love. She had no son of her own, but in Soohyun, she saw the perfect son-in-law, the man who had captured her daughter's heart.

"I just missed him a little too much today," Mrs. Kim admitted with a smile, guiding Soohyun to sit beside Mr. Kim. The family settled into a comfortable routine, with Jiwon placing food on Soohyun's plate, an unconscious gesture of care that hadn't changed even after she lost her memory.

"Eat up, Oppa," Jiwon urged with a smile, and Soohyun obeyed, savoring every bite she offered.

"Omma, Appa, we're heading out now!" Jiwon called as she struggled with her boots, taking longer than usual to put them on.

Mr. Kim pulled Soohyun into a brief but tight hug. Although he didn't say a word, his gaze spoke volumes. The family knew that pushing Jiwon to remember everything could damage her fragile state, and none of them wanted to risk going through that pain again.

"Let's go, Oppa!" Jiwon finally managed to get her boots on, hugging his arm as they headed to the car. Before they left, Soohyun thanked Jiwon's parents for breakfast, bowing respectfully. Jiwon opened the car door and carefully shielded her head, a small gesture that made Soohyun's heart swell with affection.

As they drove, Jiwon caressed his hand, her touch warm and reassuring against his cold skin. Soohyun focused on the road, but his mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts of the past and future.

"Honey, I had a dream last night," Jiwon began, breaking the comfortable silence between them as they were stuck in traffic.

"About what?" Soohyun asked, though he feared her answer.

"Us." The single word made his breath catch in his throat.

"I saw myself in a beautiful wedding dress," Jiwon continued, her eyes drifting to Soohyun, who glanced at her briefly before refocusing on the road.

"And I saw you, standing there in a perfect white suit." She smiled, the memory—no, the dream—feeling so real to her.

"We were so young, and so happy. Everyone around us was happy too," Jiwon added, oblivious to the fact that she was recounting a memory that had been lost to her illness.

Soohyun's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he fought to keep his emotions in check.

"Darling, I feel so lucky to have met you in this life. I might sound greedy, but I want to meet you in every life, and in the hereafter too. I just want you, only you, forever," Jiwon confessed, her hand gently caressing his face.

Soohyun's eyes filled with tears, but he managed a chuckle, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing it softly.

"I would trade everything I have for you, baby. I'd do anything just to keep you by my side. I just want you in my life—nothing else matters," Soohyun replied, his voice thick with emotion.

"Everything?" Jiwon asked, her eyes searching his.

"Everything," Soohyun affirmed without hesitation. As they arrived at the military base, a heavy silence settled between them, both lost in their thoughts.

"Please don't trade your life for me," Jiwon whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Soohyun shook his head, his gaze never leaving hers.

"You are my life, my precious," he said softly, turning to fully face her.

"Do you want to know why I call you 'my precious'?" Soohyun asked, his hands gently holding hers as he looked deep into her eyes.

"Why?" Jiwon asked, thinking it was just a sweet nickname.

"Because that word perfectly describes you. 'Precious' isn't just a pet name—it's a word that expresses how much I value you, how much I cherish and adore you. You are the most precious thing in my life, Kim Jiwon," Soohyun explained, his voice tender yet firm.

Jiwon's eyes filled with tears, and all she could say was, "Saranghae."

Soohyun pulled her into a hug, holding her close as he kissed the side of her head.

"Nado. Neomu saranghae," he whispered against her hair, a vow as much as a declaration of love.

In that moment, Soohyun silently swore to protect her from everything, to help her regain her memories—even if it cost him his life. For her, he would do anything. Only her. Always her. His Kim Jiwon.

To be continued

The potrait on Soohyun's living room