RACA 102

“Jaebeom-ssi too?”

Looking at Eunsol’s round rabbit eyes, Jaebeom finally felt like everything was falling back into place.

“When?”

“I think it was around the time you were with your grandma.”

That meant 49 hours before Eunsol regained consciousness. At that time, Jaebeom had been calling for the medical team in growing fear as the body in front of him grew colder and colder. But all he got back were firm words.

‘There’s no major problem with his health. He’s asleep, so you’ll need to give him time.’

They told him to rest assured, but there was no way he could. He didn’t even remember how many times he’d called Eunsol’s name while holding his unresponsive hand.

He stroked Eunsol’s still swollen cheek and smoothed his messy hair, wondering what he had done wrong.

There were too many things.

‘I’m sorry, Eunsol. It’s all because I wasn’t enough…’

He whispered that over and over and held Eunsol’s hand tightly. He swore that if Eunsol came back, he’d treat him better than ever before.

Then suddenly his eyelids grew heavy. He clenched his teeth, telling himself he couldn’t fall asleep at such an important moment, but once his eyes started to close, he couldn’t fight the weight pressing them down.

In the end, his consciousness was swept away like a current, and when he opened his eyes again, he was standing beneath a wall covered with blooming trumpet creepers.

“……”

Jaebeom caught his breath and looked around. Soon he saw Eunsol not far away, climbing a staircase with a pile of filming equipment in his arms, barely keeping balance.

He instinctively walked toward him. The moment Eunsol’s foot caught the edge of a step, Jaebeom reached out and grabbed his slim waist.

“Thank you. For saving my Eunsol’s life that day.”

He had just helped Eunsol up when a voice came from the side. The tone was soft yet firm. Jaebeom turned toward the sound.

A woman with long hair tied back stood there, smiling gently. It was hard to guess her age.

She looked as if she could be well over seventy, yet maybe also in her late fifties. Perhaps it was because of the air and expression she exuded.

But Jaebeom felt a sense of familiarity. She was Eunsol’s grandma, and also the person he’d met before he came into this world.

Besides that, there was another reason Jaebeom knew who she was.

“…Actress Hong Sehee, it’s nice to see you again.”

“Oh my, how did you know I was an actress?”

Her eyes widened in surprise. He now realized how much she resembled Eunsol.

“My grandfather was a fan.”

“Oh, I see.”

Rather than looking happy, she clasped her hands and seemed lost in thought, as if recalling a long-forgotten past, then spoke again.

“I never imagined we’d meet like this. I only thought of myself as someone who’d stay by my lonely grandson’s side for life.”

At her words, Jaebeom looked between Eunsol and Hong Sehee. Even in her soft smile, traces of Eunsol were visible.

Fate was truly strange. He didn’t think he would meet the actress his grandfather had once loved so much in this way.

More than that, realizing that the being Eunsol had talked about was her filled Jaebeom with something warm.

“Then why am I here?”

Jaebeom glanced down at Eunsol, still resting quietly in his arms, and looked around. He already knew this was a dream.

What he wanted to know was how he ended up meeting her like this, and why here of all places.

“Because today is the day you first saved our Eunsol.”

Her words carried a certain weight, hinting that he had saved Eunsol’s life again.

“Not just that day, I know you’ve helped our Eunsol many times without him knowing. It’s late, but thank you.”

Jaebeom quickly shook his head.

“No, I only did what I wanted to do.”

At that, a smile returned to Hong Sehee’s lips.

“I know. But I still wanted to thank you, so you don’t have to refuse it.”

Her tone wasn’t as soft as Eunsol’s; it had the authority of an experienced actress.

“During the last shoot too, you rushed in to save our Eunsol. I felt sorry and grateful.”

“If you mean the motorcycle accident, I should be the one to apologize. It happened because I threw the paper wrong and blocked his view.”

Jaebeom remembered the moment of the accident vividly because it involved Eunsol.

“That was an unavoidable accident. Even if not then, it would’ve happened someday, somewhere.”

She shook her head.

“What do you mean by that?”

Jaebeom suddenly felt his heart drop. He pulled Eunsol closer into his arms, but the weight that had felt real a moment ago now seemed endlessly light.

As his fear grew without warning and he began to lower his head, her voice stopped him.

“Sadly, that’s how my grandson’s and your fates turned out. You saved him once here, but that was as far as it went.”

Jaebeom’s eyes widened as his heart seemed to tumble down into the depths below.

“That’s impossible. That’s…”

“It was too sad and painful, so heaven itself pleaded. It said, ‘You can’t send these two away like this.’”

She looked at Jaebeom, who couldn’t bring himself to speak, her eyes full of pity. But Jaebeom didn’t notice. He was too busy checking Eunsol’s pale face, limp in his arms.

“Maybe it’s because of the good I’ve done, or maybe because you’re someone precious, but heaven told me of one way. To call both of you over to this side.”

She let out a low sigh and turned her head. Before they knew it, they were somewhere else. As Jaebeom lifted his head, he realized where they were.

More precisely, when they were. He could see himself from behind, waiting outside the operating room after sending Eunsol in. The person in his arms had already disappeared.

“So you did it to save us.”

Jaebeom’s shoulders trembled. If he hadn’t come here, he would’ve gone on living forever in loneliness and emptiness.

“It was the best I could do. I’m sorry for acting on my own without asking your consent.”

“No.”

This wasn’t something she needed to apologize for. It was a chance given to him, a man who had almost ended his life without even facing Eunsol properly.

And the one who had given him that chance was none other than Eunsol’s grandmother.

“It’s fine. You left Eunsol with me, so I should be the one thanking you.”

She seemed relieved when she heard his words. Now that Jaebeom knew the truth, he no longer felt like staying here. He had to return to the one waiting for him, the person he loved.

“Thank you. Please take good care of our Eunsol from now on.”

Before Jaebeom could turn away, she bowed first.

“Grandma!”

Jaebeom, who had known all along that she was Eunsol’s grandmother and had been calling her “actress,” changed the way he addressed her.

He ran to her and helped her stand. Relief that could no longer be hidden filled her expression.

“Eunsol means everything to me. You don’t have to say that.”

“I know. But I can finally leave in peace now, and that’s why I said it.”

With a gentle smile, she suddenly hugged him. Her warm embrace caught him off guard, and he stayed still, unsure of what to do.

Soon, the warmth surrounding him began to fade. When Jaebeom, who had unconsciously closed his eyes, opened them again, he was back in the hospital room.

“……”

With calmer eyes than before, he looked at Eunsol, who was still asleep. He knew his omega would wake soon, so he didn’t feel anxious. Instead, he began to gather his thoughts about how to explain the meeting with the grandmother.

After some time, Eunsol’s eyelids began to tremble. Jaebeom, suddenly anxious, called to him, and soon met the eyes of his beloved omega.

He’d once thought that as long as Eunsol existed, it didn’t matter where he was.

That belief felt stronger than ever now.

“Grandma was right. We really are meant to be.”

What mattered to him were Eunsol and the twins. Now all he needed was to live in this world with them in his arms.

There was nothing else Jaebeom wished for.