He gave a bitter smile. "I heard everything."
"Suho…" she gasped softly.
"Yerin is right, Hauen," he said, his voice trembling. "I don't have a future anymore. I'm just a burden. She made the right choice… why should she waste her time on me? She deserves to think about her own life."
He took a shaky breath and continued, "And you shouldn't waste your time on me either. Let's end the contract. You don't need to stay tied to someone like me. I'm done for life… I'm not useful anymore." His voice cracked, tears welling up in his eyes.
Before he could say more, Hauen rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly. The moment she held him, his walls broke. Tears streamed down his face as he finally let himself cry.
"Why me? Why do I have to go through all this?" he sobbed. "I loved her so much… I... I..." his voice failed him.
Hauen held him close, gently rubbing his back, trying to calm him down. But he was trembling, completely shattered.
"You're not worthless, Suho," she whispered through her own tears. "You don't deserve this pain. She didn't deserve you. Anyone would fight a war just to have a heart like yours. You're a pure soul."
He cried his heart out, completely breaking down. The pain was too much, the heartbreak too heavy. Hauen held him tightly, not letting him fall apart. Her hand moved slowly across his back, trying to calm the storm inside him.
Bora watched from a distance, her own eyes glistening with tears. It was hard to see them like this.
"I understand, Suho," Hauen said softly, her voice trembling yet steady enough to comfort him. "I know how much you loved her. I know how it feels when the person you love walks away as if you meant nothing. It hurts... it really hurts."
She took a deep breath, brushing his hair gently. "But please remember this, this isn't the end. This is just the last chapter of your pain."
He lifted his head slightly, eyes red and lost. Hauen smiled faintly through her tears.
"You deserve better, Suho. So much better. Maybe this happened to save you, to free you from someone who couldn't value you. You can start over. Fresh, new… with a brighter future ahead. Just because someone said you don't have one doesn't mean it's true. No one gets to decide your future but you."
"You can get back up, Suho," she said softly but firmly. "You can walk again, you can rebuild yourself, become even better than before. Trust me, I'll be with you every step of the way, guiding you, supporting you, never leaving your side."
Her voice was steady, full of warmth and conviction. "You'll show the world how strong you are. You're not weak, Suho-ya… you're just gentle. Soft-hearted, kind, too sweet for this harsh world. And Yerin… she's the one who lost. She couldn't see your worth. But one day, when she looks back, she'll regret every word she said today. I promise you that."
He stayed silent, tears still rolling down his cheeks.
Hauen pulled back slightly and cupped his face in her hands, making him look at her. "You're my strong man," she whispered. "I know how capable you are. Don't give up so easily, hmm? Show the world how you can rise again."
He looked down, broken, and she tilted his chin up gently. "Hey… look at me. I know it hurts. I know it's not easy. But maybe this is God's way of saving you from something worse. Yes, it's painful, but use that pain, Suho. Burn it into fuel, and use that fuel to rebuild your future."
He let out a small chuckle. "Don't waste your energy trying to motivate me… I'm just weak right now," he said quietly.
She smiled softly. "Okay, fine. Then, how about we have dinner and a little soju? Maybe it'll help you forget all the bad memories."
He looked at her, his eyes red. "It's not easy to forget someone you loved so deeply."
Her heart ached hearing that. "I know… but you have to try, right? Look at how easily she left you, Suho."
He gave a bitter smile. "Maybe she didn't love me all these years, but I did. My love was real and honest."
She sighed. "Alright then… take your time. Forget her slowly if you need to. But please, focus on your health, okay? If Haraboji finds out you're not doing well, he'll kill me," she said, trying to lighten the mood.
He chuckled softly, then looked at her. "Why do you care so much about me, Hauen? You even cried for me… You do so much without expecting anything in return."
Her smile faded, and her heart began to race. "Because…" she started, but her voice trailed off. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him. He was looking at her, waiting, his eyes full of quiet curiosity.
"Because?" he asked again, watching her closely.
She looked into his eyes and said, "Because I owe you five billion won."
He stared at her, trying to read her expression. "That's the reason?"
She nodded slightly. "That's a lot of money for me. And I'm not leaving you until you're perfectly fine and walking on your own two legs," she said firmly.
He let out a soft laugh. "Don't waste your time on me, Hauena… I'm serious. Don't ruin your future because of me."
She crossed her arms. "Stop talking like a broke soul, okay? Enough of this crying and heartbreak. Bora and I made dinner with so much effort. Come on, let's eat." She changed the topic quickly.
He sighed. "I don't have an appetite. I just—"
"You want me to get scolded by Haraboji? He warned me to take good care of you," she interrupted.
He let out another sigh. "Hauena… I'm telling you—"
"A little," she pleaded softly, her eyes almost childlike.
He finally gave in. "Okay…" he said quietly.
She smiled, wiped away his last tears, and pushed his wheelchair toward the dining area. She fed him a little, keeping him distracted with light conversation. Bora watched them, especially Hauen, impressed by how much effort she was putting into making him happy.
"Enough, if I eat more, I'll become a pig," he said.
"Not a pig, a teddy bear, soft and fluffy," she teased. He laughed weakly at her words. She smiled, wiped his mouth, and asked, "Want some Soju?"
He thought for a moment. "Okay…" he said slowly.
She grinned. "Okay, five minutes." She served herself the dinner in bowls and grabbed two Soju bottles.
"Bora, serve Mr. Lee dinner, and have yours too, and then you go rest, okay?" Hauen instructed. Bora nodded, and Hauen led Suho to the living room.