Sooji doesn't say a word since she's inside Shihyun's car. "I am sorry...I didn't mean to force you to go home with me...it's just...I am worried about you...", Shihyun says. Still staring straight at the street.
"Shihyun ah..."
"Hmm?"
"I hate you..."
Shihyun hits the brake. Too surprised with Sooji's words. He knows he shouldn't be. He knows he deserved to be hated. But hearing it directly from her still hurt. "I am so sorry...", there's nothing else he could say.
"Why it took so long for you to come back...", Sooji mumbles.
"What??", Shihyun turns to look at Sooji. Making sure he heard right.
"Stupid Shihyun...", she mumbles again with closed eyes.
Shihyun sighs when he realizes Sooji is talking in her sleep. She's drunk. It was the alcohol talking. He convinces himself. He doesn't know whether to feel sad or relief. He continues to drive in silence.
"You should come back sooner...because you're the one who left...", she mumbles.
=================
Shihyun is standing in front of Sooji's apartment door. Carrying sleeping Sooji. Now he's thinking how to push the bell without waking her up. After a few tries, he finally succeeds.
A teenage girl opened the door. "Miss Sooji...is she okay?", she is surprised seeing a man carrying unconscious Sooji.
It must be the sitter. "She's just sleeping...can I put her inside?"
The girl looks hesitant.
"Uncle Shihyun!", Shian comes out from his room, smiling cheerfully. "Mom...", his smile is gone when he saw Shihyun, carrying his mom.
"She's fine... she just falls asleep..", Shihyun repeats his words.
"Do you know him?", the sitter asked Shian. Still not sure if she should this stranger in.
Shian nods. "Yes, noona...uncle Shian is my mom boyfriend...".
"What?", Shihyun is surprised by Shian's answer. But he chooses to play along. "Oh...yeah...I am Sooji's boyfriend...", how much he wishes it was true.
"Oh...sorry...come in...", she finally let them in. And lead them to Sooji's bedroom.
Shihyun puts Sooji in the bed gently. He strokes her hand and staring at her peaceful face. Why this feels so familiar. He knew why.
"Excuse me...I need to go home, Sir...".
"Oh...sure...", Shihyun almost forget that the sitter still in the room.
Shian is staring at his sleeping mom worriedly. Shihyun covers Sooji with a blanket and approach Shian.
"Hi buddy...", Shihyun crouch down in front of Shian. "She just needs a rest...dont worry, okay?"
Shian just nods weakly. His mother is his everything.
"Now you should go to sleep...", Shihyun gets up and holds his small hand. "Let's get you to your bedroom..."
Shian follows him obediently. He lays down on his bed and Shihyun covers him with a blanket as he did to Sooji. Shihyun checks her watch. It's almost midnight. "You should sleep...and I should go...", Shian didn't say a word, so Shihyun just excuses himself. "Good night...see you again soon...", he pats Shian's hair.
"Uncle, wait...", Shian grabs Shihyun's hand and stop him from leaving.
"What's up..."
"Can you stay...", Shian looks at him pleadingly.
