Chapter 3

“Ajumma…”

Young Saeng hesitated for a moment after calling out to Ji Eun’s mother. 
Ji Eun had been avoiding his calls since that day and he was getting restless. 
He finally decided it wasn’t such a good idea in case she sensed anything amiss.

“Young Saeng ah, what is it?”

“Nothing much… I'll be taking the afternoon off from work today”

“Oh, you‘ve finally sorted out your thoughts”

“Sorted out my thoughts?”

“De. You're even taking time off from work now, that's a really big change”

He couldn’t recall the last time he took a day off work, and wouldn’t have 
noticed if ajumma didn’t point it out. 

But today was an exception. He needed to see her. 
And it would probably take another week if he didn’t do so today. 
Ji Eun would visit the old folks home on this day every week.

Ji Eun was playing on the piano and singing along with the old folks when Young 
Saeng arrived, but he motioned to the people around to remain silent about his 
arrival and took a seat together with them.

He had been pondering it over the past few days, ever since he lost himself and 
stole a kiss on her lips.

The flush on his face as he neared her and furiously beating heart when their lips 
were just several inches away from each other… 

This is the girl he wanted to protect and give happiness to, just like how she 
unconditionally cared for him and stayed by his side.

He knew it was only natural she had her insecurities, but he wasn’t going to give up just like that.

“Ji Eun's a good girl, it's really a pity she's missing out on so much in life because of the accident”

“Aniyo, she’s really positive about life. She wouldn't miss out too much”

“I can see that you really like her a lot. Oh, she's coming over”

Young Saeng was about to move away when the older lady stopped him 
and assured him it was ok.

“Ajumma, who is it you‘re chatting with?”

“A nice young man who‘s here to look for you”

“Really? Who is it?”

“It's me, Ji Eun ah…”

Ji Eun froze as she heard him, the voice she realized she had been missing since that day.
The voice that had been helping her feel the world around her.

She turned to leave but was stopped by the old lady who reprimanded her for 
being rude, so she stayed behind to continue chatting with her for a moment, 
together with Young Saeng. 

The old lady smiled as the two of them made their way out of the old folks home 
soon after, as she kind of drove them away to spend some time together.

“Mianhae. I shouldn't have…”

Young Saeng said as he returned with ice cream. 

She said nothing as she dug the spoon into the ice cream and went on to 
savour the taste of it.

“Mmm… cookies and cream…”

“Yah, I'm talking to you…”

“Forgiven”

“Really?”

“Just… don't do it again”

“But Ji Eun ah, I'm really”

“You know it's not possible”

He’s the heir to a business empire. 
She’s just a girl from a modest little family. 

And she wasn’t exactly normal to begin with, she was blind. 

It would be something that would be frowned upon. 
And her mother wouldn’t be too happy about it, she was quite certain.

“If it's because of your disability, I won't take that as an excuse. You have 
every right to enjoy life in every way possible, to fall in love and be loved…”

He went on to speak as she remained silent.

“There was this boy who grew up alone under the care of total strangers hired by
his parents. They were so busy with their own lives that the only time he got to see 
them was probably on his birthday every year which they set aside for him. 

As he grew up he soon found another way to see them, by doing well in school and 
getting scholarships. They would then be present at the ceremonies, beaming in 
delight as he stood on the stage and when the teachers went on to sing praises 
about him. 

Now that he's all grown up he gets to see his father more often, but only in the 
business meetings and functions he has to attend. All these he did, just to live up 
to their expectations of him and get the bit of acknowledgement from them.

He was working his life away until he met a young lady who reminded and taught 
him how to take things slowly and enjoy the little things in life. She's really unlike 
the other girls who threw themselves at him with ulterior motives. She really cared 
for him and made him feel human, and loved.

She once told him to be nice to himself, and now he wants to tell her that she too deserves it…”

Young Saeng reached out his hand to wipe off the tears that had been streaming
down her face and patiently waited for a response. 

“But omma and appa wouldn't approve of it…”

“It's ok if you don't want them to know, we'll let them know when the time is right”

“Are you sure”

He didn’t wait for her to finish the sentence but instead pulled her into a hug 
before she could change her mind again.

“Positive”