Sometimes it took a person’s absence to assimilate the importance of their presence. Dongwoo had always been in their midst; whether lost in his reverie, or having taken on the role of the guardian. It was his scrupulous duty to resolve the prolonged détente between individuals. They had grown accustomed to his ardour and dismissed the possibility of any unconscious relegation. However, had that been the cause of his disappearance?   “Where has he gone off to?” Youngtaek posed a foolish question.   “If we knew the answer, he wouldn’t be missing,” Jineul answered with her trademark eyeroll. “We are wasting time, mother. We must set forth and search for him.”   “Have you searched the area?” Youngtaek questioned again.   “It is pouring outside, thus limiting our search to nearby areas,” Sungyoon spoke.   Recognition at being the subject of the conversation made the thunders roar a flickering outburst that jolted everyone in place. Youngtaek had barely noticed the small drizzle growing into a big thunderstorm during their sojourn.   “We have searched around the house, but received no clues regarding his whereabouts,” Joochan added. He showed a doodle of the map he had drawn on a notepad, marking the covered areas with small x marks.   “To retrieve him, perhaps we need to identify the motive for his disappearance,” Sungyoon began.   “Why do you reckon he has a motive? What if it was a recurring episode of his breakdown?” Jineul asked, carefully eyeing Hyunmi to prevent any offense.   “Whenever his disease striked in the past, he remained under our watch and never strayed asunder. However, he left without a trace this time,” Sungyoon argued, silencing any attempted objection.   “Well, what could he possibly have wanted to achieve to instigate his sudden departure?” Youngtaek asked with a frown, not bearing the patience to solve the problem. He needed answers and solution.   “To meet father,” Donghyun suddenly exclaimed, the bright smile slowly fading when he realized the adults staring at him with perplexity. He cowered his body a little and began shuffling his foot against the floor. “Mother’s chagrin mood can only he absolved through father’s presence. Even Youngtaek and I went to meet father to try and bring him here, but he refused.”   Hyunmi exhaled out a long, slow stretch of breath, processing the information they witheld from her. “You went to see Woo... I mean, Mr. Nam?” she asked, shaking her head at her slip of tongue.   “Indeed, because we could no longer stand seeing your detrimental behavior after your tirade. It needs to stop, and we are all in one accord. I agree with Donghyun, Dongwoo may have gone to see Mr. Nam for this exact purpose,” Youngtaek spoke, raising his voice with every word he uttered. “Put your pride behind you and admit to your mistakes; it is time to assuage the afflictions.”   Hyunmi wondered what had taken place in the moments she stopped paying attention. Donghyun’s wisdom matured beyond his years, whereas Youngtaek’s loathing towards Woohyun was replaced by a solidary yearning to unravel their problems. It was true; a conflict made a person to grow over time.   “I shall head over to Woohyun, and the rest of you can continue searching this area. Someone needs to remain home in case my brother returns. Do use something to cover yourselves up,” Hyunmi commanded, taking her coat and boots.   “But mother, you do not know the way,” Sungyoon spoke worriedly.   “I do! It is the house with the cream colored marble pillars at the end of the wealthy street,” Donghyun yelled, showing off his knowledge. He went over a detailed description of the road to prove his credibility. “I brought us to the place before, so let me go with you, mother.”   Had it not been raining, the little boy could have come along to guide the way. With one hand on the door handle, she placed her other hand on top of Donghyun’s head. “Aren’t you afraid of the thunder?”   “Nay. Father says the thunder is needed to part the dark sky with its b light,” Donghyun recited what Woohyun had said to deplete his fear. “Light defeats darkness.”   Hyunmi easily recalled that moment and the eerie similarity it bore to today’s event. During a rainstorm, Dongwoo had gone missing. It was Woohyun who managed to retrieve him in time, and Hyunmi hoped history would repeat itself.   “Stay here and wait for Dongwoo,” she instructed the others one last time. As the thunders rolled, the darkening sky was parted by a b light, indeed. Hyunmi ran to the stall, retrieving her horse and quickly mounted it to follow the direction Donghyun had provided her with.   For once, she neglected proper safety, hauling the horse to gallop at its fastest speed, holding the rein securely between her fingers. She cared not for the rain dispersing against her body, nor for the muddy puddles that dirtied the bottom of her dress. Her heart yearned to find her brother, and another part of it anticipated meeting Woohyun again. She had left him as soon as the court trial ended, not knowing how to relay a proper gratitude. But such thoughts had to be saved for later.   The house with the marbled pillars came in sight after a moment, and Hyunmi jumped off her horse to approach the front door. She led her mount to stand underneath the balcony where it would be shielded from the storm. With Dongwoo being the sole occupant in her mind, she braved herself to knock on the door.   When the door opened, however, her heart had a different yearning altogether. A million words of apologies and gratitude caught itself in , unable to be conveyed to the one it was meant for. How could she inquire Dongwoo’s whereabouts if she hadn’t apologized for her accusations? How could she pretend to remain indifferent when all she wanted was to embrace him and feel his warm lips upon hers again?   “Hyunmi?” Woohyun uttered, equally surprised to see her presence. For a short moment, he disregarded the cold display between them, forgot their obstinate encounter at the trial, and neglected the disparity he was supposed to maintain. Seeing her entire body shiver against the soaking outfit, he did not think twice to take off his expensive blazer and placed it over her. Of course, she rejected his benevolent act.   “I am here to find my brother. Is he residing at your house?” she asked, the rush imminent through her clattering teeth and trembling voice.   “I haven’t seen Dongwoo. Is everything well?” Woohyun asked.   Hyunmi staggered her breathing, unable to bear the genuine concern in his voice. A person of such benign character was not deserving of her doubt and accusations. She was unworthy of his affection and did not dare stay in his presence a second longer.   “Excuse me, I need to find my brother.”   “Hyunmi.” This time, Woohyun caught her by her wrist, using force to pull her against him. The warmth of his body penetrated through the cold drapery against her body, embracing her with indescribable delight she should not have indulged in. “You look haggard. I am afraid you may faint if I were to let you return to the rain.”   “It is none of your concern. I need to leave,” she tried, only to have Woohyun tighten his hold around her. Her resolve to escape crumbled, for her beating heart betrayed her will and desired to stay.   “Of course it is my concern. You were, are, and will always be important to me,” Woohyun spoke, caressing the side of her face with his fingers. The cold water droplets felt warm against her burning skin. Her temperature reflected the start of a fever, but Woohyun knew she’d be too stubborn to rest. “If you need to leave, I insist on accompanying you.”   Hyunmi shut her eyes, unabling to stop her heart from desiring him. In the midst of chaos, her hand trailed over his, wrapping her fingers around his. “I do not deserve your kindness, Mr. Nam.”   “I am in no position to judge whom my kindness should and shouldn’t be disposed to. However, do me a favor and come inside to change out of those wet clothes. I do not oppose to nursing you if you were to fall sick, but I doubt Dongwoo would be ecstatic to know of your recklessness,” Woohyun grinned with implied humor. He grabbed her hand and lightly brought it to his lips, pressing light kisses against it.   Hyunmi could barely hold back a small giggle. Despite her panic, she knew the truth weighing in Woohyun’s words and inclined to his request. She had missed him too much to let the opportunity pass.   “I live in solitude without the presence of my parents. You needn’t worry about a possible encounter,” Woohyun spoke before she managed to pose her wonderment out loud. Seeing the discomfort, he told her to wait by the door as he retrieved a new set of garment.   Being in the luxury of the house itself, Hyunmi realized her inferiority compared to him. She was truly undeserving of his kindness, and unworthy for him. She was a lowly ranked orphan woman whereas he juxtaposed her mere existence. A relationship between them was erroneous, no matter how much he tried to proof otherwise.   Then again, how lonely must he have felt to be confined to such a majestic cage. Perhaps he had found genuine joy back at their humble house due to the overflowing presence of all the children. Why did she sent him away to a cold place of solitude?   “This belonged to my mother. She hasn’t returned here for nearly a decade,” Woohyun’s voice interrupted her troubling thoughts. He stretched his arm out, holding a pair of garment and the fluffiest towel a commoner had ever seen.   “I can’t,” Hyunmi hesitated, holding her hands up to decline his gesture.   “You can, and you shall,” Woohyun grinned. He took her hand and deposited the entire outfit in her arms. He placed a smaller towel over her head and gently tugged at the sides to dry her hair. “Why did you overlook the need to take an umbrella with you? If it were any of the children, you’d scold them by now.”   Hyunmi pressed her lips on a sheepish smile, unable to admit her pecuniary inability to afford a luxurious item such as an umbrella. There was no need to further increase the gap between their differing world. “Perhaps, I needed a reason for you to invite me in,” she jested instead.   Woohyun’s eyebrows sprun