"You need space? From me?" Wooyoung asked.

There were hundreds of things he would prefer to be doing instead of sitting there listening to Haneul's nonsensical request. He questioned whether he heard it right, but the helplessness that slowly grew in him told him that not only his ears didn't deceive him, but also that Haneul was completely serious and determined.

"Yes." she regretfully said.

"Haneul-ah, don't be silly.. You're mistaken about everything. A burden? You? That's nonsense!" Wooyoung rose from his seat, couldn't keep his body still as he paced around trying to make her understand him, "Cautious, you said? Maybe. I was so scared of hurting you, the thought that I might lose you has made me consider many things before I speak my mind to you. But does it make you burdensome? NO! Definitely no. Haneul-ah, it's because you're so precious to me. I don't want anything to hurt you anymore."

"Exactly, Woo. I don't want you to continue making an effort so that I won't get hurt. I'm an adult, whether I get hurt or not, it's my problem to face!"

"And just like you want to deal with your problem by yourself, I also want to take care of you using my own ways. I do all of that for the sake of myself. If anyone is burdening anyone at all, it's me to myself. Not you." he insisted.

"Why?"

"Are you really that clueless? It's because you're so dear to me, I.. I care so much about you, I.. I.."

I love you. The words kept on being stuck in his throat, adding to his frustration.

"You're also dear to me, Wooyoung-ah. That's why I want us to be able to being carefree around each other like the old times. I hate us being on our toes each time, and lately it's been unbearable.."

"So you want to get away from me instead?" he asked in a whisper.

"I think time and space apart will allow us some perspectives.. Hey, we always go back to each other, don't we?" she said trying to assure him.

Not this time, you're slipping away from me.. Wooyoung couldn't help but think.

"No. I don't want to."

"Can't you just think about it?"

"No. You should also stop thinking about running away from me. That won't happen. We can set things straight without staying away from each other."

Haneul sighed. It also wasn't easy for her to come up with the decision. Wooyoung had always been around, thus not seeing him would surely be difficult. However, she was tired feeling like a damsel in distress around him. It would be hard, but she wanted to live for herself. 

Deciding that Wooyoung wouldn't budge with his decision, Haneul left her seat and entered the convenience store. She needed more drinks to calm herself down. It wasn't that she didn't understand him, but she really thought leaving their relationship as it was would only make things worse at the end. She would have to wait before talking about it again with him. She paid for her things and approached the door. When she was finally outside, Wooyoung was on his phone.

"Nae, arasso omma. We'll be back soon." he said as Haneul approached. He looked up at her with unreadable expression.

"Wae?" she mouthed, asking him why his mother called.

Wooyoung hung up the call and shoved the phone back to his pocket, looking annoyed. He took the beer in her hand almost forcefully and stood up. "Let's go. Just remember, our conversation isn't finished."

"Where are you going?" Haneul asked as she followed him heading back to the main road. Instead of answering, Wooyoung continued to walk while he emptied his beer can and threw it to the nearest trash bin. Without looking at her, he said in a concealed anger.

"Maybe you shouldn't have ignored him, Haneul-ah. He's here. Junho is at our house."

*

"They'e coming back soon. I guess they don't know you're coming tonight, they are still downtown when I called Wooyoung just now." Mrs. Jang said guilty to Junho who was sitting on the living room's couch.

"It's okay, eommoeni. I didn't tell them I was coming, so it's my own fault." Junho said politely and added, "I'm really sorry that I come in so late at night."

"You're welcome anytime. Just think of it as your own house."

Time passed slowly with a polite conversation with Wooyoung's parents. Junho looked around the room from time to time, and noticed traces of Haneul in some family pictures. She indeed had lived there, he thought. He had been here once years ago but never had really realized it. The feeling that he should had knew her sooner filled his mind again. If he had, things would be so much different now.

The sound of the front gate being opened broke their conversation.

"I think it's them," Wooyoung's mother looked at the house entrance, waiting for the two to appear. When they finally did, she excused herself from Junho, "I think it's time for me to rest. You said you're going back to Seoul tomorrow? You should spend the night here, well if you don't mind sharing the couch with Wooyoung, that is."

"Ah, yes. If it's okay with you, I'll spend the night here." Junho said as Wooyoung and Haneul joined him in the room. He came here impulsively, so it took some time before he could finally say something to them. "Hey. You didn't read my messages.." his eyes followed Haneul since she came in. She mumbled something incoherently and tried to look away from him. 

"I didn't know you were in Busan," Wooyoung said instead, trying to be as casual as he can be, "Shouldn't you be busy these days?"

"Haneul-ah, let's talk." Junho said with urgency, dismissing Wooyoung's question. He couldn't help but be fixated on the one he came here to see. 

"You've always been bad at small talks, Junho-ah. At least acknowledge that I'm also here. This is