Minjin returned to the hospital, moving through the hallways with slumped shoulders. The realization that Lee Deji had hidden that part of Minjun’s life from her settled heavily in her mind. But she understood why.

Now, she knew she wasn’t the only one carrying regrets.

Back in Tae-sung’s room, she was taken aback to find Mun Sara standing beside the bed, engaged in conversation with him. She slowly approached them.

"Sara-ah," Minjin called, drawing Mun Sara’s attention.

Mun Sara turned toward her with a bright smile. "Finally, you’re back! Were you with Eun-kyung-ah?"

Minjin nodded. "Yeah."

"Did you have lunch with him?" Mun Sara asked curiously.

"Ani, just coffee," Minjin responded.

"Then let’s have lunch together. Oppa, I’m taking Minjin-ah for lunch. She’ll be back soon," Mun Sara said, turning to Tae-sung.

Tae-sung gave a nod. "It’s fine. You two go ahead."

Mun Sara bowed slightly to both Tae-sung and Kim Bon-hwa before gently taking Minjin’s arm and leading her out of the room.

"Minjin-ah, we have so much to catch up on!" Mun Sara said excitedly.

Minjin gave her a small, awkward smile.

The two found a nearby Korean restaurant and took a seat beside each other. Mun Sara ordered two bowls of samgyetang, knowing it was Minjin’s favorite.

As soon as the food arrived, Mun Sara carefully cut the chicken and served it to Minjin.

Minjin’s face brightened as she took her first sip of the soup. "Eun-kyung-ah, you still remember what I like."

"Of course! Eat up, Minjin-ah," Mun Sara replied with a smile.

Minjin took another spoonful, savoring the warmth of the broth. Mun Sara watched with a smile as Minjin eagerly dug into her rice while she began eating as well.

Mun Sara then turned to her with a serious expression. "I really missed you, Minjin-ah."

"Nado, I missed you too," Minjin responded with a playful smile, scrunching her nose.

"I’m so happy you’re back," Mun Sara said sincerely.

"Mianhae for not keeping in touch all these years, Sara-ah."

"How have you been?"

Minjin paused, setting down her spoon. "The last three years were chaotic. I came back to escape it all."

Mun Sara’s eyes widened. "Wae? What happened?"

Minjin attempted a small smile. "I became well-known, and with that came overwhelming responsibilities. I tried to manage it, but it got to be too much."

Mun Sara stared at her momentarily. "I... I had no idea. I’m so sorry."

Minjin gave her a reassuring look. "Things have been quieter in Seoul these past few months. I’m fine now, so don’t worry."

"It must have been really difficult."

"It was," Minjin admitted with a sigh.

"I followed all your interviews and read every article about you. I was so proud of you, Minjin-ah. I told everyone you were my friend, thinking you must be happy. I didn’t realize how hard it was for you."

"I never wanted the attention, Sara-ah," Minjin said softly, returning to her meal.

"You’ve always not liked attention... Only Minjun ever wanted you to shine," Mun Sara said before taking another bite of her food.

Minjin gave a weak smile. "I just came back to Seoul to rest."

Mun Sara’s expression became determined, and she turned to her. "Araso, now that you’re back, we’re going to do everything together."

Minjin’s smile grew. "Araso, I’d like that."

Noticing the floral tattoo on Minjin’s forearm, Mun Sara pointed at it. "This is beautiful."

Minjin let out a small chuckle. "Thanks."

Mun Sara then studied her hair. "You’ve become stylish now that you’re an adult."

Minjin laughed softly. "Since leaving Korea, I learned to style myself. I’ve changed my hair so many times over the years."

Mun Sara nodded with a smile. "That’s nice."

"So, how have you been, Sara-ah?"

"I’m working on my master’s in English language and linguistics, and I’m teaching English at Taejo."

Minjin’s eyes widened as she turned to her. "You went back to that?"

Mun Sara chuckled. "Everyone reacts the same way. Yeah, I returned to the rabbit hole."

Minjin returned to her meal. "Are you married now?"

Mun Sara shook her head. "Not yet, but I have a boyfriend."

"Will I get to meet him?" Minjin asked before taking a spoonful of soup.

"Of course. He knows about you. At first, he didn’t believe me until all our friends confirmed it," Mun Sara said with a small laugh.

Minjin suddenly turned serious. "How’s your mother?"

Mun Sara hesitated, spoon in mid-air, before finally meeting Minjin’s gaze. "I cut ties with them. It’s been five years now. I live with my boyfriend, his cousin, and his cousin’s cousin." She let out a light chuckle.

Minjin was momentarily surprised, but seeing Mun Sara’s content expression, she softened. "How did it feel? Leaving them behind?" she asked, resuming her meal.

Mun Sara let out a deep breath. "It felt liberating. I was able to save myself. You were right—my mother was being unreasonable." She then looked at Minjin. "Mianhae, Minjin-ah. I know I hurt you and blamed you for my insecurities."

Minjin gave her a gentle smile. "It’s all in the past now. I’m just glad you finally spread your wings, Sara-ah."

Mun Sara nodded, her smile warm. "You helped Minjun become a doctor, but you were an inspiration to me, too, Minjin-ah. At first, I was just being competitive, but later, I realized meeting you helped me find my worth."

Minjin’s smile widened. "You’re more incredible than you ever gave yourself credit for, Sara-ah."

Mun Sara smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I finally broke free from all the toxicity."

She continued watching Minjin as she quietly ate. Despite Minjin’s fame and international recognition, Mun Sara felt reassured that her friend remained the same at heart.

By the time Mun Sara finished her meal, Minjin was still working through her second bowl of rice. Seeing that she still had soup left, Minjin ordered another serving of rice.

"You still enjoy eating," Mun Sara observed.

"I skipped breakfast," Minjin replied before taking another bite.

The bell above the doorway chimed. Minjun turned around, his eyes immediately catching sight of the familiar blue-dyed hair of Minjin. He froze in place, but Im Sung-ae walked in beside him.

Minjin had also noticed Minjun as they headed toward an empty table. She hesitated to bring it up until Mun Sara followed her gaze and spotted him too.

"Minjun-ah!" Mun Sara called out, waving at him just as they were about to take their seats.

Minjun hesitated, reluctant to respond, but Im Sung-ae nudged him. "Ya, that woman is calling you."

Letting out a quiet sigh, Minjun finally turned toward Mun Sara.

"Come sit with us!" she invited cheerfully.

Minjun and Im Sung-ae exchanged glances before making their way over.

"Annyeong haseyo," Mun Sara greeted Im Sung-ae with a polite bow, and Minjin followed suit. "Have a seat, seonsaengnim."

Minjun hesitated momentarily before sitting across from Minjin, who was staring at him. But he avoided meeting her eyes.

The restaurant owner approached their table with a bowl of rice. "Agassi, you seem to be eating with great appetite. This is your third bowl of rice."

Minjin offered an awkward smile as she took the bowl. "It’s because your samgyetang is delicious, Sajangnim."

"I'm glad you like it! Eat as much as you'd like," the owner responded warmly before turning to Minjun and Im Sung-ae. "And what would you two like, seonsaengnim?"

"Two orders of seolleongtang, please," Im Sung-ae replied, and the owner left to prepare their food.

Minjin poured the rice into her soup and resumed eating.

Once she was no longer looking at him, Minjun took the chance to observe her. Seeing her eat so enthusiastically, he wasn't sure whether to smile or remain neutral—after all, he knew Minjin had always loved samgyetang.

"So? How do you know, Minjun-ah?" Im Sung-ae asked, breaking the silence.

"We’ve been friends since high school," Mun Sara replied.

Minjin maintained her composure as she continued eating.

Im Sung-ae glanced between Minjin and Minjun. "All three of you?"

"Ne," Mun Sara confirmed, sneaking a look at Minjun.

Im Sung-ae raised an eyebrow. "You told me she was just your patient’s younger sister."

Mun Sara’s eyes widened in surprise, turning to Minjun, who averted his gaze.

"Wait, we’re all the same age? I thought you were in your early twenties!" Im Sung-ae exclaimed, looking at Minjin.

Mun Sara turned away to stifle her laughter while Minjun smirked slightly.

Minjin offered an awkward smile and bowed her head. "Gamsahamnida, seonsaengnim."

Im Sung-ae nodded slightly in return. "Since Minjun said you were a younger sister of his patient, I assumed you were much younger than us."

Minjin let out a small chuckle and glanced at Mun Sara, who was still struggling to contain her laughter.

Minjin awkwardly bowed her head. "My name is Park Minjin, seonsaengnim."

Im Sung-ae’s expression shifted, his brow furrowing slightly upon hearing her name. Minjin noticed his reaction and exchanged a glance with Mun Sara.

"Park Minjin? Minjin?" Im Sung-ae repeated. "Whoa, your name is almost identical to Minjun’s! Just one character different!"

Minjin awkwardly glanced at Minjun, who continued to avoid looking at her. When she turned to Mun Sara, the latter was smiling at her before turning to Im Sung-ae.

"Yes, seonsaengnim, they got that a lot back in high school," Mun Sara said, watching Minjun’s reaction.

Im Sung-ae chuckled, shaking his head. He then gave a polite nod. "I’m Im Sung-ae. So, you and Minjun-ah have been friends since high school?"

Mun Sara nodded. "Yes, and Minjin knows all of his secrets," she added, throwing Minjun a pointed look.

That finally made Minjun turn to her with a deep frown.

Im Sung-ae grinned. "So, Minjin-shi, do you know about Minjun’s first love?"

Minjun immediately kicked Im Sung-ae under the table and shot him a glare.

"Ow! What is wrong with you?! You can’t keep it from me forever!" Im Sung-ae protested, rubbing his leg.

Minjin’s eyes widened momentarily, turning to Mun Sara in confusion. "His… first love?" she mouthed, subtly gesturing toward herself.

Mun Sara gave a slight nod.

Minjun caught Minjin’s reaction, and his expression turned incredulous.

He let out a dry chuckle. "You aren’t even sure?"

Minjin turned to him with a frown before crossing her arms. "Waeyo, seonsaengnim? Did I hit a nerve?"

Her response only irritated Minjun further. This time, he kept his gaze locked on her, and she did the same.

Minjin turned to Im Sung-ae while still keeping her arms folded. "It’s interesting that you know about his first love, but…" She returned her gaze to Minjun. "Kang-seonsaengnim never introduced her as such."

Minjin and Minjun continued staring at each other—his frown deepening while Mun Sara struggled to hold back laughter.

"Of course, everyone in our batch knew about her!" Im Sung-ae chimed in.

Minjin’s eyes widened as she turned to him. "Excuse me?"

"We all knew about her, though we didn’t know her name," Im Sung-ae explained.

Minjin let out a quiet chuckle of disbelief, then turned to Minjun with a frown. But Minjun was pretending to act cool.

"If I were her and found out what Kang-seonsaengnim had been saying, she’d kick him under the table too," Minjin said through gritted teeth, still looking directly at him.

Minjun finally turned to face her with a smirk. "Waeyo? Did it hit a nerve?" he shot back.

Mun Sara quickly covered her mouth, suppressing her laughter.

Minjin narrowed her eyes at him but then suddenly grinned, resting her arms on the table. "Tell your friend, seonsaengnim, who she is," she challenged him while gesturing toward Im Sung-ae.

Minjun’s eyes widened, taken aback by her words. He stared at her, recognizing the familiar teasing glint in her smile.

Im Sung-ae looked back and forth between them. "You two don’t seem like friends."

Minjin chuckled and turned to him. "I actually see her every day."

Im Sung-ae blinked in confusion. "Isn’t she abroad? You mean she’s back?"

Minjin glanced at Minjun with a mischievous smile. 

"Ne, she’s back." Her gaze lingered to tease.

Minjun’s frown faded into a shocked expression as he stared at her.

Their attention shifted when the restaurant owner arrived with their orders.

Minjin stood up, bowing slightly. "We’ll be going now, seonsaengnim. Come on, Sara-ah."

Mun Sara followed suit, bowing her head. "We’ll go first, seonsaengnim."