“You’re going to see me again and again.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Haewon picked up a side dish and put it on Adam’s rice.

* * *

Adam finished washing the dishes by himself.

He served the grapes on a plate. Even with his naked eye, he could see that the flesh was supple.

“Thank you for washing the dishes.”

“I used the plates at my will, so I have to organize it.”

“You eat it.”

“I’m going to eat it.”

Adam picked up a grape and tilted his head. Hae-won laughed silently because she had nothing to say.

“Go to sleep.”

“?”

However, the grape, who thought it would go into Adam’s mouth, came into Haewon’s mouth. Adam then picked up a new grape and took it to his mouth.

“I’ll feed Haewon first.”

Adam smirked and bit the grape. Haewon, who had been frozen in surprise, chewed fruit belatedly.

Sweet pulp flowed out and soaked her mouth. The grape’s unique deep scent tickled his nose pleasantly.

It was time for them to talk about things while eating dessert. Adam changed the subject as if he thought of something.

“Come to think of it, it was my mom’s death anniversary, too.”

“What? Adam’s…….”

Mother. Haewon carefully blurted out the end of the sentence.

‘His mother died.’

She had never heard of it before. This was not all. Come to think of it, Haewon didn’t know anything about Adam’s childhood.

“I forgot about it. Because I never held a ceremony, and I never took any special care of it.”

Adam slipped his eyes down.

His sad past seemed to be reflected through his silver gray eyes hidden by his rich eyelashes. Haewon laid her palm on the back of Adam’s hand.

“Are you okay?”

“…….”

Adam glanced at the back of Seo Haewon’s hand and asked implicitly.

“What about Haewon?”

“I…”

Hae-won took a moment to answer.

“My mother died before I was born. So, honestly, I don’t know. I feel sad, but I can’t really relate to it…….”

“I see.”

Adam nodded. Then he looked at Haewon. Adam flipped Haewon’s hand and put their fingers together.

“Korea is very strange.”

“?”

“Don’t you feel anything when you talk about your mother? But, speaking of my mother, this.”

Adam put his other hand on his chest.

“It’s kind of… It’s weird.”

Adam’s eyebrows are wrinkled.

“I think it hurts.”

The vague expression of being in pain, makes his answer sadder. Haewon’s heart sank. She felt like she was looking at herself as if she wasn’t even confident in what she felt.

“When did your mother die?”

Asked Haewon cautiously.

“When I was very young.” Adam replied.

He was silent for a moment, thinking of the memories he had made with his mother.

The existence of parents is absolute to a child. In particular, the younger you are, the more essential for survival, because their parents are the child’s world itself.

For Haewon, her father was like that.

A child experiences unconditional love for the first time in her life.

“When my sister died in an accident, Jung Eun-chan threatened my family to abort you.”

But Jung Eun-chan’s love was too short.

‘We said we couldn’t give him a penny. He would rather leave you. But your maternal grandmother was weak in her heart.’

His paternal love was based on thorough profit. When she realized that, Haewon experienced a deep loss.

The sense of loss still lingered throughout Haewon’s body. She couldn’t get away with being an adult. No, this pain is inevitable as an adult.

She knows in her head what a terrible human being her father is, but her heart still stayed in the days of a child who craved his love and recognition.

Haewon didn’t grow up to be a decent adult. It’s just that she’s come all the way here with age day by day by day. And there was a man in front of her who suffered the same loss as her.

Haewon wanted to love the man. Without any conditions, she wanted to give the love he longed for.

Even the reality of a political marriage was useless in the face of her rising emotions toward this man.

At least, at this moment.

Haewon rose from her seat and stood before Adam. And she hugged a wound that looked like her.

“Haewon?”

“……I’ll be next to you from now on.”

Adam closed his eyes in the arms of Haewon. His heart tickled pleasantly at Hae-won’s gentle touch on his back.

Maria.

I didn’t expect your death to be so helpful.

A fishy smile spread around Adam’s mouth. However, Hae-won, who was busy consoling him, had no idea. Adam, who eventually monopolized Haewon’s pity, acted childishly to his heart’s content.