Chapter 75 : Learning about love

“Sis. What happened… Sis?”

The café door opened, and a familiar voice was heard. With the warm air, Ahyeon’s scent wafted in.

A subtle perfume smell, and the familiar presence.

I was sitting at a table.

A window-side seat.

Outside, the lights of the filming set faintly glowed.

On the table, a lukewarm coffee.

I had ordered it earlier, but hadn’t taken a sip.

I slowly raised my head.

And looked at Ahyeon in front of me.

Brown hair.

Warm eyes.

A worried expression, gazing at me.

I reached out my hand without a word.

Unconsciously.

“…Sis?”

Ahyeon looked at me, flustered.

But I didn’t answer.

Instead, I held her hand.

A small, warm hand.

At that moment, my heart sank strangely.

The warmth that touched my fingertips.

Familiar, yet somehow unfamiliar.

I gripped her hand tightly.

And I didn’t let go.

“Sis?”

Ahyeon called again.

I didn’t respond.

I just held her hand.

The sensation of our fingers touching was so vivid.

My palm, which had blood on it just a moment ago.

Now, Ahyeon’s hand was touching that spot.

I grabbed it a little harder.

“……”

Ahyeon flinched slightly.

But she didn’t pull her hand away.

She quietly stared at me.

And slowly, she spoke softly.

“Sis, your hand…”

Only then did I realize how tightly I was holding.

“Ah…”

I looked down at my hand, flustered.

And then, I looked back at Ahyeon.

She was still looking at me.

That gaze was somehow unfamiliar.

Ahyeon spoke again.

“What happened? Your hand is injured…”

I trembled my lips.

But no words came out.

What should I say?

What should I say?

I felt like I should let go of her hand.

But…

I didn’t want to let go.

Just a little longer, really just a little longer.

I grabbed her hand again.

Quietly, very quietly.

Ahyeon maintained her silence.

Then, gently, she stroked my hand with her delicate fingers.

The comfort was so warm.

“…Ahyeon.”

I couldn’t let go of that hand.

The sound of cars in the distance, the soft music filling the café.

On the table, a lukewarm cup of coffee and… Ahyeon’s hand, which I couldn’t let go of.

I held that hand tightly.

A small, warm hand.

Much softer than mine, with a palpable warmth.

I opened my mouth.

But no words came out.

‘How should I explain this feeling?’

It was so complicated,

So unfamiliar,

So… fearfully emotional.

“…What is love?”

I whispered quietly.

As if asking myself.

As if I wanted to hear an answer from anyone.

Ahyeon, who had been holding my hand, flinched slightly.

I looked up at her face.

As if surprised,

As if worried,

But somehow understanding.

“Ahyeon.”

I called her name.

And I squeezed her hand a little harder.

“I don’t know.”

At that moment,

It felt like something tied inside my chest was finally unraveling.

“I have to act like I love, but I don’t know what love is.”

“…Sis.”

“I don’t even know what it is, but I have to act.”

I didn’t avert my gaze.

I stared straight into Ahyeon’s dark eyes.

“I wasn’t acting love. I was acting out the fear, confusion, and fear of being forced to love.”

“…”

“But I really thought I was expressing love.”

“……”

“But I was wrong. It wasn’t love.”

I quietly exhaled.

“Then… what is love, Ahyeon?”

My question scattered in the air.

A hollow cry without meaning.

At that moment,

Ahyeon quietly wrapped her hand around mine.

A hand slightly bigger than mine.

Now, a hand that I was relying on more.

How pathetic, relying on my daughter when I’m the mother.

She slowly spoke.

“…I don’t think you don’t know what love is.”

I blinked.

“What do you mean?”

Ahyeon, still holding my hand tightly,

Smiled very quietly.

“People who don’t know love don’t worry about what love is.”

“If you didn’t know love, you’d just say you don’t know it, but you keep wanting to know, don’t you? It’s not that you don’t know love at all, it’s that you know it a little bit, so you’re confused…”

I was about to say something but closed my mouth.

Ahyeon looked much more mature than me.

Her gaze seemed like she knew everything.

For a moment, my heart felt heavy.

What is this feeling?

I still didn’t know.

“How do you think of me, Sis?”

“…I want to protect you, and I want to see you often.”

“What about the contrail?”

“…It’s a little scary, but I’m thankful.”

“Then, the snowflakes. The viewers?”

“…I’m thankful, I cherish them, I want to show them something more fun… Ah.”

Broadcast.

Ah.

A sigh that slipped out of my mouth unintentionally.

For a moment, my mind went blank.

‘Thankful, cherish, want to show something more fun…’

The moment I said that,

I realized that I already knew that feeling.

“…Ah.”

My fingertips tingled.

Every word I said vividly came to mind.

‘I want to protect, and I want to see often.’

The feelings I had for my daughters.

‘It’s scary, but I’m grateful.’

The feelings I had for Bihaengwoon.

‘I cherish them, and I want to show them more.’

Even the feelings I had for my viewers.

I finally realized that all those emotions…

Were the same emotion.

“This is love.”

I already knew it.

When I thought of Ahyeon,

When I recalled Bihangwoon,

When I looked at my viewers.

I was already in love.

With everything around me.

I just hadn’t explained it.

I just hadn’t called it love.

I wanted to protect them,

I wanted to be with them,

I wanted them to be happy.

But other people call that love.

“…I already knew it.”

That small realization made my whole body feel lighter.

It resonated within me, like a small bell ringing.

My mind became clear.

Maybe, from the very beginning, love was always inside me.

I just didn’t know it.

“So…”

I slowly closed my eyes and opened them again.

Now, I understand everything.

“I just have to show it through acting.”

I thought I had never felt love before.

But I didn’t need to feel it.

I just had to do what I had always done.

I already knew.

How to look at someone I wanted to protect.

How to treat someone I cherished.

How to want to show someone more.

If that’s love,

Then I had already been acting with love.

All this time.

And from now on.

“…It’s done.”

I smiled quietly.

It felt like I had overcome a massive wall.

It had tormented me for a long time.

But it never broke me.

And in the end, it was nothing more than a small step, not a real wall.

Ahyeon held my hand tightly and smiled softly.

I was finally,

Ready to become a true actor.

Ready to deliver a performance so perfect, even Yoon Byeolha would be shocked.

“Thank you, Ahyeon.”

Now I can finally give that weirdo a taste of his own medicine.

Yoon Byeolha arrived at the filming set and took a small sip of coffee. The morning air was still crisp.

The staff bustled around, preparing for the shoot.

Yoon Byeolha was looking forward to today’s first scene.

Suhyun’s performance yesterday had been impressive, but it was still incomplete.

She had tried to act out love, but what she expressed was confusion and fear instead.

But Suhyun was a monster.

A monster who could learn anything, even without formal training in acting.

Surely, she must have grown in some way after hearing Yoon Byeolha’s words.

‘What kind of performance will she show today?’

Half expectation, half curiosity.

But honestly, there was more doubt than expectation.

Could someone who didn’t understand love change overnight?

If that were possible, it would be nothing short of a miracle.

But—

“…Huh?”

Yoon Byeolha’s hand stopped.

In one corner of the set, sitting quietly and reading her script, was Suhyun.

She had an entirely different aura from yesterday.

A quiet focus.

A calm breath.

And an oddly peaceful expression.

Something that hadn’t been there yesterday—serenity.

No, it wasn’t just serenity.

It was certainty.

“…She’s changed.”

He muttered without realizing it.

Maybe she heard him because Suhyun slowly lifted her head.

Her gaze was different from yesterday.

Clear and unwavering eyes.

Yoon Byeolha quietly observed her.

And suddenly, he realized something.

Yesterday, Kang Suhyun had been acting “perfectly.”

But today, she wasn’t acting.

She was simply feeling the emotions naturally.

Method acting.

The difference was immense.

“…Looks like you figured something out?”

He slowly walked toward her.

Standing in front of her, he looked straight into her face.

“So, do you feel certain now?”

Suhyun quietly stared back at him.

And then, very slowly, she smiled.

“Yes.”

Just one word.

Short, but filled with everything.

Yoon Byeolha narrowed his eyes.

This wasn’t the same Kang Suhyun as yesterday.

She had realized something.

And she didn’t just understand it—she had made it her own.

He hadn’t expected that to be possible—

‘…She’s incredible.’

He smirked in admiration.

“Alright. Let’s check it out then.”

Yoon Byeolha raised his hand lightly.

The set was cleared, and a tense energy filled the air.

“Everyone, get ready. We’re rolling soon.”

And then, the camera started recording.

Ready—action!

At that moment,

Yoon Byeolha realized his prediction had been completely wrong.

“Wow… unbelievable.”

His expectations were pleasantly shattered.

“You really learned what love is. You insane genius.”

Suhyun had grown once again.