ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏɴᴅ ᴏғ ʟᴏᴠᴇ || ʟᴇᴇ ʜᴇᴇsᴇᴜɴɢ [✔️]

🪻 Strawberries & Cigarettes

◤──•~❉᯽❉~•──◥

"Even in the chaos of life, I've learned that love isn't just about holding on-it's about finding the strength to let someone in, even when you're afraid of breaking again."

~ Kim Nina

◣──•~❉᯽❉~•──◢

From the day Heeseung made his heartfelt promise to Nina, he spared no effort to prove his sincerity. Every morning, Nina would wake up to a breakfast delivery-perfectly arranged pancakes, her favorite hot chocolate, and a warm note wishing her a good day. Sometimes, the notes were sweet and simple, and other times, they carried a playful humor that left her chuckling.

At lunch, Heeseung would make it a point to visit her at the hospital where she worked. No matter how hectic his day, he showed up with a packed lunch for the two of them, sitting across from her in the hospital cafeteria. His presence brought warmth to her otherwise busy days.

If work kept him away, a text or call would suffice. "Eat well, Nina. Don't overwork yourself. I need you happy and healthy for our date tomorrow." His tone always carried a blend of tenderness and determination that left her smiling despite herself.

Weekends became sacred. Heeseung, Nina, and Rowoon planned picnics at the park or simple movie nights at home. These moments, though ordinary, became precious as they bonded as a trio. Frequent Phone calls were happening between the duo, all sweet talks and words of reassurance and comfort were passed in between. But in the past week, things had started to shift.

Nina noticed it first. She noticed how Heeseung had been pushing himself to his limits, his exhaustion is visible to her. Heeseung had been arriving late to their meetings, his smiles tight around the edges, his eyes rimmed with fatigue. He brushed off her concerns with reassurances. "I'm fine," he would say, leaning in to kiss her forehead as if to end the conversation. But Nina saw through it-he was stretching himself thin.

When she asked Rowoon, the little boy confirmed her fears. "Dada's always on his laptop at night," Rowoon said with a pout. "He thinks I don't see, but I do! He looks like a zombie!"

The comment, though innocent, weighed heavily on Nina's heart. Heeseung was fulfilling his promises to both her and Rowoon, but it was coming at a cost.

-

Deciding it was time to intervene, Nina prepared lunch herself and made her way to Heeseung's office unannounced. She carried a thermal bag filled with home-cooked food and a thermos of hot green tea, hoping it would offer him some comfort.

When she arrived at his company, she was greeted warmly by Yunah, Heeseung's assistant. Over the weeks, Nina had grown fond of Yunah, who had been Rowoon's accomplice in many of his antics. Yunah's expression, however, betrayed her concern as she escorted Nina to Heeseung's office.

"I'm glad you're here," Yunah confessed softly. "Mr. Lee's been pushing himself too hard. Between work, his music, and spending time with you and Rowoon, he barely rests. He won't listen to me, though."

Nina nodded, her resolve hardening. "I'll make him listen."

When she entered Heeseung's office, she found him seated at his desk, staring blankly at a stack of papers. His posture was stiff, and his usually sharp eyes seemed distant. Hearing the door open, he looked up, his expression softening immediately when he saw her.