A real smile.
Not a lost grimace.
Not a nervous spasm.
A true smile.
Sion froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
He stood there, motionless, unable to move, as if the scene were a mirage that would vanish if he blinked.
His mother lifted her eyes, and her smile grew even brighter.
— Sion…
My son…
Her voice was soft.
Steady.
Alive.
— Mom…
He walked toward her.
Slowly.
Like a child approaching a memory he no longer dared to touch.
He sat on the edge of the bed.
She took his hand.
Squeezed it.
Her eyes filled with emotion.
— You've become so handsome…
How long has it been since I've seen your face like this?
A painful warmth rose behind his eyes.
He swallowed hard and squeezed her hand tighter.
— You're the beautiful one, Mom.
She laughed softly—fragile but real.
— Don't be silly…
I'm an old woman.
— No.
— You… you're getting better.
She placed her hand on his cheek.
A gesture he hadn't felt in years.
A gesture that made his entire body tremble.
— It's thanks to you, Sion.
— You come so often.
— You stay with me.
— I don't feel as alone.
He lowered his eyes, embarrassed.
— It's normal.
— No…
You've grown so much.
And…
You met someone, didn't you?
Sion froze.
— Mom, stop…
— That girl… what was her name again?
She frowned, searching for the name in her memory.
— Nari.
That's it, isn't it?
Sion's ears burned.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
— You listen to the nurses too much.
— Oh no, Sion…
I can see it in your eyes.
He tried to look away, but she gently took his face in her hands to keep him facing her.
— You're in love.
He blinked.
His breath stopped for a second.
Then he turned his head away, embarrassed, almost sulky.
— … She's incredible.
Stubborn.
Unbearable.
Beautiful.
Too beautiful.
She drives me crazy.
And…
She makes me feel good.
His mother smiled, eyes shining.
— Oh, my heart… I'm so happy for you.
He shrugged, as if trying to downplay his confession.
— It's nothing.
— It's not nothing.
And listen to me carefully, Sion…
Her tone changed.
It turned serious.
Sharp.
A reminder.
A warning.
— Never be like your father.
Do not become a greedy man.
Or cruel.
Or manipulative.
Or violent.
Or… what he taught you to be.
Sion's heart clenched.
His jaw tightened.
He looked away.
— Don't worry about that.
— Sion.
He stood up abruptly, as if to escape the conversation.
— Mom… we'll talk about this another time.
You need to rest.
She looked at him for a long moment.
With love.
And worry.
As if she could see something in him he refused to see himself.
To lighten the mood, she suddenly continued:
— Ah yes! That reminds me!
There was a charming young man who came to visit me yesterday!
Very polite, very elegant…
He told me he knew you, and little Nari.
Sion slowly turned toward her.
— … Who?
— I don't remember his first name.
He must have forgotten to tell me.
But he told me to say hello to you…
And that he'd be coming back to Seoul soon.
She tapped his cheek, delighted.
— A real gentleman.
Sion's face slowly fell apart.
His gaze turned dark.
Frozen.
— Mom.
She smiled innocently.
— Yes?
— What did he look like?
The question hung in the air.
— What did he look like? Sion repeated, a bit louder, a bit more anxious.
His mother frowned.
Searched in her memory.
Then, slowly, her smile crumbled.
— I… I don't remember.
I'm sorry, my heart… I forgot.
A crack flashed through Sion's eyes.
A cold, dangerous anger crossed his pupils.
Before he could answer, there was a knock at the door.
A doctor entered.
— Mr. Jeon?
I… I need to give you this.
He held out a small envelope, folded in two.
— It's from the young man who came yesterday. He said he was close to you, so we let him in. He also spent some time with your mother, it was—
Sion didn't even hear the end.
He snatched the envelope from the doctor's hand, his fingers shaking with rage.
— Close to me?
His voice was icy, sharp as a blade.
— Who told you anyone had the right to come in here without my permission?
The doctor paled.
— He… he knew your first name, your last name… and your partner's. And he knew your mother was here. We thought that—
— You thought? Sion repeated, voice low, muffled, dangerous.
He almost shoved the doctor against the wall, a burning breath of rage on his face.
— Are you insane or what?!
The nurses rushed over, but Sion released the doctor with a short, brutal gesture, his jaw clenched.
He opened the envelope.
A white, cardboard card.
A single message.
"You having fun without me?
We'll make up for lost time.
See you very soon."
No signature.
No clues.
Just that repulsive feeling sliding into his gut, like a cold hand closing its fingers around his throat.