“Breaking news: the Do Group’s vacation villa in Cheongpyeong was caught on fire this early morning. Their heir, Do Kyungsoo, was the only survivor. The President and his wife were announced dead upon their arrival to a hospital near the villa. Causes of the fire are still unknown, but it is suspected that the President’s wife—”

Kim Sookhee holds onto her son’s hands dearly as she pulls her mournful gaze away from burial site of her deceased friend. She feels an arm draping around her slightly trembling shoulders, her frame soon pressed closely to her son’s side before her tears escape quietly. A young Junmyeon glances down at his mother’s crying form, and his heart swells with grief and guilt. “Mother, it’ll be okay.” He whispers these comforting words to her, and then trails his eyes to the young teenager standing across from them.

Kyungsoo stands there with little emotions, his heart too damaged from the shocking news and eyes too swollen from crying the night before. He stands next to his grandfather as he watches his deceased parents being lowered deep into the ground, droplets of rain sliding down their coffins in the process.

“Your parents died because of you!”

“She never wanted this marriage!”

“She stayed for you – her child!”

“They weren’t the happiness couple behind the flashing lights and cameras…”

Kyungsoo nervously grips onto his phone underneath the table, his gaze lacking its usual confidence and lungs feeling constricted of air. Everything from the past is coming back to him all at once with Junmyeon’s mother’s unexpected appearance. Everything that the CEO has tried so hard to forget, to burry deep within his memories, is beginning to surface without hesitation. He remembers his parents’ death - how the flames caught onto the velvet curtains and devouring the villa’s interior within seconds, the grey smoke that clogged his lungs and blocked his vision, and his mother’s weak apologies before he out completely.

Do Kyungsoo remembers it all.

There isn’t a piece that’s left out, and along with Junmyeon’s accident that followed days later from his parents’ funeral, Kyungsoo has been bearing all of the guilt on his shoulders for these past ten years silently. However the very moment Kim Jongin begins to melt his cold barrier, he’s slowly revealing his past bit by bit. Maybe Jongin will understand him, his reasons, for being so cold and distant when he finds out the truth about his past. Maybe Jongin will understand why he doesn’t dare to admit his feelings. But if Jongin does discover his dark past, will he still love him – will Jongin still love Kyungsoo without a doubt? Kyungsoo doesn’t want to hurt another soul; he doesn’t want to damage another’s life anymore. He has tried so hard to push the idol out, that in the midst of doing so he’s fallen for the idol.

Everything is his fault; from his parents’ death to Junmyeon’s accident, Kyungsoo takes up all the blame without hesitation.

Kyungsoo’s afraid that if Jongin continues to stay by him, he’ll end up getting hurt.

But Kyungsoo, oh Kyungsoo, he’s selfish.

He wants Jongin to stay so bad.

Sookhee sits across from him, quietly taking in his grown appearance from the last ten years she’s been away. Truthfully, she doesn’t quite despise Enchantment’s CEO, but the death of her late husband and son’s life lasting injury causes her to see bitterness in the young man in front of her. She’s been emotionally wounded greatly, and all she wants is to set her heart at peace. But because of the bitterness within her, she cannot make the right decisions at times. Letting out a soft sigh, Mrs. Kim speaks up. “Kyungsoo, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Upon hearing his name, the CEO pulls away from his deep thoughts and slowly nods his head. “How are you, auntie?” Kyungsoo tries his best to not sound timid, his gaze now moving up to meet hers.

“You’ve taken great care of Enchantment,” Sookhee decides to ignore his question.

“Uncle would’ve done the same.”

“He would’ve done better, Kyungsoo.”

“I—” Kyungsoo parts his heart-shaped lips but closes it seconds later, not sure of what to say or do in this situation. It’s clear to him that despite her friendly gestures, Junmyeon’s mother still has a something against him. He doesn’t blame her though – how could he? He was the cause for her son’s disability at such a young age; he was the reason why Junmyeon couldn’t inherit Enchantment after Sookhee’s husband passed away. Do Kyungsoo was the one who took over Enchantment; he was the one who took his family’s business partner’s company away and made it a part of the Do Group. Despite him never wanting to become Enchantment’s CEO, he felt it was his responsibility to at least give Enchantment a name in the harsh business world – Kyungsoo wanted to redeem himself.

Yet, it seems that everything he’s done isn’t good enough.

Mrs. Kim shakes her head and takes out a sealed envelope before placing it on the table. “Let’s not drag this out any longer. I came back to Korea with a purpose in mind.”

Enchantment’s CEO stiffens in his seat instantly, his eyes glued to the manila envelope and heartbeat speeding faster in panic. “This, this…” he mutters softly against his plush lips, having a slight knowledge of what the middle-aged lady wanted to do. The grasp on his phone tightens in realization.

“That’s right,” Sookhee says calmly. “I want Enchantment back.”

“I’m Kim Junmyeon.” The man sitting in the wheelchair introduces himself with a friendly smile, small wrinkles appearing at the corners of his chocolate brown orbs. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” He continues his speech, seeing that the idol is in a state of shock.

Jongin nods his head, still not being able to register everything in clearly at once. This man that is in front of him, Kim Junmyeon, has connections with his boyfriend, Do Kyungsoo. Immediately, flashes of the CEO pain-stricken voice muttering Junmyeon’s name makes Jongin furrows his brows in confusion. What exactly happened between Kyungsoo and Junmyeon? How does Junmyeon know Kyungsoo to begin with? And why does Junmyeon seem to have good memories of Kyungso based off of his phone’s lockscreen? And yet, why does Kyungsoo seem to have horrible memories of this man? All that the idol knows doesn’t add up to an answer.

“I – I’ve heard of you before,” Jongin quickly says to get rid of the awkwardness between them.

Junmyeon chuckles in gratitude, “That’s an honor to hear.” He takes notice of his phone still in the idol’s hold, and extends his hand out. “If I may please…”

Realizing that he has the author’s phone, the idol mutters a soft apology and hands the phone over. “I found it lying on the ground.” Jongin explains in case there is a misunderstanding.

“I can see that.”

Jongin parts his lips seconds later, his heart desperately begging for an answer as to why Junmyeon has a photo of Kyungsoo on his phone, but decides against his conflicting urge and closes his lips completely. He then searches for something else to talk about, because the rising awkwardness is making him uncomfortable again. “Kai is my stage name, but most people call me Jongin.”

“Is that—”

“I see that you two have met!” Jessica’s cheerful voice interrupts the short conversation, the sound of her bl