He stepped out of the mansion and walked toward the car, the gravel crunching softly beneath his shoes. Before getting in, he paused and looked back at the house one last time. His chest tightened, a sharp ache curling around his heart, but he refused to let it spill over. He didn't let the feeling bloom into regret. He didn't let guilt pull him back by the ankle.
He reminded himself again, firmly, that he had chosen right. That this was the best solution. For everyone.
He opened the car door and slid inside. As soon as he did, he felt her eyes on him.
Hauen was already watching him, her eyes tracing his face as if searching for cracks he hadn't allowed to show. He gave her a small, careful smile.
"Did you cry, Suho?" she asked slowly.
He didn't answer. Just looked away.
She reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, warm and grounding. His gaze dropped to his lap.
"Teddy?" she called softly.
"Let's go. We have a flight to catch," he said, changing the subject before his voice could betray him. "We need to reach the airport. Did you call your parents there?"
She looked at him for a long moment, as if weighing her words, reading everything he refused to say.
He didn't look back at her again. He started the car, the engine humming to life, and drove off toward the airport, leaving the mansion behind him, shrinking in the rearview mirror like a chapter he had forced himself to close.
Incheon International Airport
The airport was wrapped in its usual hush, the kind that hummed with departures and unspoken goodbyes. All the procedures were done. Luggage checked in, passports stamped, visas cleared. There was nothing left to do but wait.
They sat in the waiting area, the lights above slowly shifting as evening melted into night. Hauen's head rested against Suho's shoulder, her arms wrapped securely around his. He stayed still, letting her cling, his gaze fixed somewhere far beyond the glass walls and runways.
Time passed.
Then hurried footsteps cut through the calm.
"Hauena…"
Her head snapped up instantly.
"Omma."
She stood up at once, and Suho rose with her, instinctive, steady at her side.
Her mother reached her in seconds, pulling her into a tight embrace, hands clutching her back. "Wae… what happened?" she asked, voice thick with worry. "Why did you suddenly decide to move to America?"
Mr. Kang stood beside his wife, his expression controlled but his eyes searching. He looked at Suho. "Is everything alright, Suho?" he asked gently.
Suho blinked. For a brief moment, his gaze dropped to the floor, as if gathering scattered pieces of himself. Then he looked up and offered a polite, composed smile to his father-in-law.
"Yes, Appa," he said calmly. "We're moving to the USA for better opportunities. Everything happened quite suddenly, so we couldn't inform you earlier." He paused, then added softly, "In fact, Hauen only found out yesterday."
Mr. Kang studied Suho closely, his eyes lingering, weighing every word he had just heard. He wasn't convinced. Not fully.
Sensing it, Hauen stepped forward, slipping her hand into Suho's as she looked at her father. "We're moving for a better life, Appa. Nothing else," she said gently. "After everything, we just felt like starting fresh somewhere new. Don't worry. We'll be fine."
Mr. Kang's gaze softened, though doubt still flickered beneath it. He didn't press further. Instead, he pulled Hauen into his arms, hugging her tightly, his hand resting protectively on the back of her head. "Take care," he murmured, kissing her hair.
Then he turned to Suho.
He embraced him as well, warm and firm, and pressed a gentle kiss to his head, just like he would his own son. Lowering his voice, he whispered, "Take care, my son. Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything from us. We're always here for you."
Something in Suho cracked quietly.
He smiled and hugged his father-in-law again, holding on a second longer than necessary. Mr. Kang noticed. He smiled, rubbing Suho's back in slow, reassuring circles. "Don't worry, my son," he said softly. "Whatever the reason behind this decision, everything will be fine."
Suho pulled back, his smile steadier now. "Thank you, Appa. And don't worry about Hauen," he said with quiet certainty. "I'll take care of her."
Mr. Kang smiled, the kind that carried trust rather than questions. "We know, my son."
Suho then turned to Mrs. Kang and hugged her as well. She kissed his hair gently, hands resting on his shoulders. "Take care," she said, her voice warm and motherly.
"We'll call you once we reach there, Appa," Hauen said, holding her father's hands tightly. "And don't stress about the business. Take care of your health. If you face any problem, don't keep it to yourself. Call me." Her voice wavered, then firmed up again. "And if you ever try something stupid again, I'll never forgive you."
Mr. Kang laughed softly, eyes shining. "I won't. Now I have you and Suho. I fear nothing." He looked at both of them, his voice turning gently stern. "And if you need anything, let us know. Don't keep things secret from us."
Hauen and Suho chuckled, a little broken, a little relieved.
Suho slipped his hand into his pocket and took out a set of keys. He stepped forward and placed them in Mr. Kang's palm. "This is my car key, Appa. It's for you. Don't mind… I just felt like handing it over to you."
Then he took out another key and turned to Mrs. Kang. "And this is our penthouse key. I was planning to sell it, but everything happened so suddenly. For now, I'm giving this responsibility to you both. You can use it if you want, or just take care of it until I find a buyer."
Mr. and Mrs. Kang looked at the keys, then at Suho.
Mr. Kang smiled, the kind of smile that carried acceptance, not questions. "Don't worry. We'll take care of it."
Suho smiled back. "Thank you, Appa. And once we settle there, please visit us. It would mean a lot to have you with us."
Everyone smiled, the moment suspended between goodbye and promise.
Then the announcement echoed through the terminal.
Suho lifted his gaze to the screen.
Their flight had arrived.
"Time to go, Appa," Suho said softly.
Mrs. Kang's composure finally cracked. Hauen stepped into her arms immediately, holding her tight. "Don't worry, Omma… we'll be fine," she whispered.
They hugged their parents one last time.
"Take care," Mr. Kang said, his voice steady but eyes warm.
Suho smiled, slipped his fingers into Hauen's, and bowed deeply to the elders. Then, without looking back again, he turned and walked with her.
Mr. and Mrs. Kang stood there, watching them go. Suho's hand never loosened around Hauen's. When they reached the escalator, Hauen turned, waved at her parents, and smiled until they were out of sight, until the space swallowed them whole.
On the Flight
The flight had long since taken off. Hours passed, the sky outside dark and endless. Hauen rested her head on Suho's shoulder, her arms wrapped around his, fingers tangled with his. He looked down at her, the soft rise and fall of her breathing easing something tight in his chest.
He smiled and bent slightly, and kissed the top of her head.
Her hold tightened.
He smiled, breath leaving him quietly, and kissed her again.
Her fingers shifted, clinging more.
He did it again. And again. Slowly. Deliberately.
Until she finally stirred.
Hauen lifted her head and looked at him, eyes confused, sleepy, searching. He met her gaze with a bright smile. She studied his face carefully, reading between the lines he wasn't speaking.
He chuckled at her reaction and leaned in, brushing his nose against hers, foreheads touching gently.
"What happened, Jagi?" he murmured.
She looked at him, concern flickering instantly. "You okay?"
Suho smiled, softer now, truer. "When Hauenie is with me," he said quietly, "I'm always okay."
She kept looking at him, eyes slow and careful, as if peeling layers to see whether he was truly fine or simply tucking the ache away where she couldn't reach it.
He caught it. Of course he did.
Suho chuckled softly and leaned in, stealing a quick peck from her lips before she could react. "Stop thinking too hard," he whispered against her mouth, voice light. "Or else you'll get hungry."
She frowned instantly, adorably offended, brows knitting together in that way he loved far too much. Without a word, she hugged his arm again and rested her head back on his shoulder, eyes closing in quiet protest.
He smiled to himself.
Then he leaned closer once more and whispered, barely a breath, "Saranghae."
Her lips twitched, a small unconscious smile betraying her. She lifted his hand slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to his forearm, answering him without words.
Suho's breathy chuckle left him softly.
He rested his head against hers, eyes closing, his smile lingering even as something heavy stirred in his chest. The pain was still there, a dull echo of everything he'd walked away from. But he knew one thing with absolute certainty.
No matter what he chose, he would have been hurt. And choosing Hauen was the less painful choice.
Because she had always been his calm, his shelter, his quiet reason to keep standing. And for that peace, for that love, he was ready to lose anything.
As long as he didn't lose her.
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