As time went on, we both grew closer.
Winter came. I was asleep in my bed, tucked under heavy blankets.
"…It's winter," I said sleepily. "Why does it feel so warm?"
Half-asleep, my hand moved. "What is this…?" I mumbled. "It's soft."
I squeezed it once and then again.
The sensation was real. Too real.
I jolted awake. I opened my eyes beneath the blanket.
My eyes widened. My face felt hot.
"W-What are you doing in my room, no, in my blanket?!"
My heart raced. "And this feeling… don't tell me I—"
I slowly looked up. Straight at her chest.
Thud. My mind blanked.
I wanted to disappear right then.
"Don't be rude, Seo-jun," she snapped, her face just as red as mine.
"And don't look like you were dreaming about it!"
"I—I wasn't!" I shouted. "I don't like you for your body! I like you for who you are!"
For a brief moment, no one talked
Then, she threw a pillow at my face and dashed out of the room.
That was the first time I saw her truly flustered.
I chased after her but didn't get very far.
My foot caught the edge of the stairs.
I tripped. The world tilted, and then arms wrapped around me.
She caught me. "Seriously," she said, keeping me upright, "you're unbelievably clumsy."
For a second, we froze like that.
Too close. It should have looked like one of those cheesy romance scenes— except it felt the opposite completely.
Before either of us could react—
"Yah." My mom's voice. Yuri quickly let go. Thud.
"Ouch!" I groaned from the floor. "Why did you drop me?!"
She crossed her arms, cheeks flushed. "Why do you think? I know you were enjoying being in my arms."
"H-Hey!" I protested. "We're still fourteen!"
"So what?" she shot back. "I don't care."
Then she turned away quickly.
"Wait. Let me change. Then we'll go to our secret hideout."
After I got dressed, I called to the kitchen, "Mom! We're going out!"
That day, we played, laughed, talked, and wasted time like only kids can.
Eventually, Yuri pulled something from her pocket.
A ring. It was simple, nothing special—but it felt incredibly important.
It was the ring we exchanged that day.
We sat quietly for a while, the air thick with unspoken feelings.
Then Yuri said softly, "Seo-jun, promise me." I looked at her. "When we grow up…"
She hesitated, then met my eyes. "…we'll get married."
My mind went blank. My heart raced.
It felt like butterflies were tearing through my stomach.
I swallowed and nodded.
"I promise," I said. "Twelve years from today, I'll marry you."
Seo-ah looked at me quietly after I finished.
"So… where is she now?" she asked. I smiled faintly.
"Do you want to see her?"
I raised my hand and pointed at the sky.
"There she is."
Seo-ah followed my finger.
The sky was pale blue, stretching endlessly above us. Clouds drifted slowly, careless and indifferent.
The sounds of birds chirping mixed with the noise in the café.
She stared at it for a long moment.
"…That's not funny," she said quietly.
I didn't say anything. Her brows furrowed. She looked back at me, searching my face, as if expecting me to laugh and say I was joking. But I didn't.
Slowly, her expression shifted. Understanding settled in.
Her lips parted slightly. "You mean…" Her voice wavered. "She's…?"
I nodded once. Seo-ah's hands clenched in her lap.
"Oh." That was all she said. She looked down, blinking quickly.
Her shoulders trembled slightly. "—I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"I didn't know."
"You couldn't," I replied. "I never told anyone."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, clearly frustrated with herself.
"You waited twelve years," she whispered.
"You really meant it."
"Yes."
Then she looked at me again—this time with something different in her eyes.
Not pity, not curiosity. Respect.
"…So that's why," she said softly. "Why, you've never looked at anyone else. Why do you always push people away?"
I didn't deny it. She took a slow breath, steadying herself.
"Then that blind date," she added.
"You were never going to go, were you?"
"No."
She let out a small, sad laugh. "Figures."
Seo-ah moved beside me, following my gaze back to the sky.
"She must've been really important to you," she said.
"She still is." She nodded, accepting it without argument.
After a moment, she spoke carefully.
"…Can I stay?" she asked.
"Not as your secretary. Just as someone listening."
I glanced at her. "…You already are."
She smiled faintly, her eyes still glossy.
For the first time, the weight on my chest felt a little lighter.
We left the café.
"Seo-ah, can you wait in the car? I'm going to visit her."
"Sure," she said.
"Take your time."
I walked down the street toward the Memorial Hall.
As I searched for her memorial,
I noticed a little boy standing alone.
"Hey, boy," I called gently.
"What's your name? And… what are you doing here?"
He opened his mouth to answer but hesitated, then gave me a small, calm smile.
His eyes contained something deep, something ancient.
Finally, he spoke. "I'm Shin. I'm alone. I don't have parents."
"Oh… I'm sorry," I said softly.
"It's fine," he replied.
I asked again, curious, "Shin, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to correct a mistake I made long ago."
His words hit me hard. My mind raced. This child… he's just like me. He's here to face his own past. If only I had been as brave as he is…
I chuckled. "Long ago, huh? Are you some kind of immortal being?"
He looked up at me, his expression unreadable.
"I'm just kidding," I added quickly.
Under his breath, he muttered, "Straight left, the last-second shelf."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing," he replied, his eyes shifting.
I sighed. "Okay… Shin. Bye."
"See you soon," he murmured
after a moment, almost like a whisper carried on the wind.
After some time searching, I finally found Yuri's belongings.
Coincidentally, I noticed it. Straight left. Last-second shelf.
Exactly where Shin said.
My hands came together as I began to pray.
"Yuri… if you're still somewhere in heaven, look at me. I'm still unmarried.
"All this time, I've been running from you."
" From the promise. From the pain. But not anymore." My voice trembled.
"It's been twelve years, Yuri. I'm here now."
I placed the ring gently on the memorial—and then froze.
There was already a ring there. The same ring.
The one Yuri had given me that day.
My breath caught as I slipped it onto my finger.
"Yuri… I hope you're reborn someday.
But not in this world. This world is too cruel."
I bowed my head. "Rest in peace."
After a while, I turned and walked away, heading back to the car where Seo-ah was waiting. Yet my mind held onto one thing. Shin. When I reached the car, Seo-ah looked up.
"Everything okay?" I smiled faintly.
"Yes. Everything's okay."
I held up my hand. "Look. The same ring Yuri gave me back then."
"It's beautiful," Seo-ah said softly.
Then I hesitated. "Seo-ah… did you see a boy coming out of the memorial?"
"A boy?" she frowned. "No. You were alone the whole time."
"What? No, there was a boy inside. His name was Shin."
"Full name?"
"I… don't know."
She studied my face. "You probably imagined him."
"No. He was real." But even as I said it, doubt crept in.
"Something about him felt… wrong."
"Wrong?" "His eyes," I said quietly.
"They carried something old. Ancient.
His presence didn't feel like a child's.
The way he spoke—it was like listening to an old man."
Seo-ah blinked, then let out a weak laugh. "Oh wow. A junior goblin? What—Gong Yoo reborn as a kid now?"
I didn't laugh. Because no matter how much I tried to rationalize it, I knew one thing for sure. A child like that shouldn't have known where Yuri was. And yet… he did.