The Way I Loved You

The Ups and Downs

AN: Updating a little early this week since it's a public holiday and I need to study for finals this weekend. This chapter was inspired by my realisation that the only time I recall Hyunwoo calling Haein 'Haeinie' was during his video message to himself before the wedding which made me wonder why he stopped. Throughout the drama, it was only her family + Eunsung who called her that even though Hyunwoo is older than her.

Apologies if the flow is a little off because this is the first chapter I wrote without watching the drama. It's a little hard to write because I used to watch edits and the drama for inspiration

Note: if you're just here for the story and the vibes, don't read the note at the end

Now that they had their own space, they began to settle into a new routine. That included having all three meals together every day, going for walks outside after dinner, and other random activities like watching tv together or going to the baseball batting cage.

The schoolyard which Haein had once walked past alone when she was stalking his movements became one of their frequently visited places together, watching the children run and play as they tried to outwalk each other without running. Haein's competitive streak was always especially triggered on those evenings when the winner would get to choose the show they were watching for the night even if she couldn't care less about what was on the screen.

They would compete at baseball too, Haein wearing proper shoes for once just so she could stand steady to hit the ball higher than Hyunwoo. It was in these places that she'd once walked, wondering what was wrong with her that made Hyunwoo unwilling to bring her along. Now, here she was doing all the things she'd wished for with her husband, to spend time together, simply happy to be in each other's company.

She had learnt that even the most mundane things in life could be special when she was doing it with Hyunwoo. They played silly games with each other while waiting in line to try out a new restaurant, picked out bread at the bakery for their breakfast the next morning. No matter what she was doing, it felt fun as long as she was holding his hand.

Even though they'd known each other for close to four years, she was still learning new things about him every day. When they were at coin baseball, she'd admitted to having traced his footsteps after her father sent his men out to tail him, and asked why he enjoyed it so much.

"All I need to focus on is hitting the ball. That's what I liked." He explained, coming closer to her through the partition.

"Does that make you feel better?" She asked, linking it to the troubled life he'd led before they reconciled.

He knew that she was feeling guilty again, so he was careful with his words. "Well, it was nice to focus on one thing when things were complicated. I just need to concentrate on what is most important." Every now and then, Haein's guilt over the way he'd been treated by her and her family would resurface. He'd assured her that it was okay, that it didn't matter anymore, but he could understand how it was difficult to let go, especially when he still felt horrible for trying to divorce her. But slowly, those moments were becoming fewer and further apart, a sign that they were both healing.

She took a deep breath. "And what is that right now?"

His head protuded from behind the partition so he could look at her properly. "Saving you, of course."

She smiled, the guilt fading.

"That's all that matters. I'll only focus on that."

Indirectly, he was telling her that the past didn't matter anymore. He didn't care if she mistreated him in the past, he didn't care that she'd made him a prisoner of her own family, he didn't care about all the harsh words they'd thrown at each other in anger. All was forgiven, as long as she could live. The fact that he had such a simple wish despite the luxuries he had been exposed to as the legal director only emphasized how important she was to him. Not her wealth or her power, but Hong Haein alone.