— So you want to go to dinner with me.

Seo Hyun said.

— Okay, let’s go eat.

Once inside the car...

— You know, Hyun, I’m sorry.

— For acting that way.

— 

— It’s okay.

— Hyun, do you have a family?

—

— I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.

— It’s okay.

— I don’t have a family.

— My mother died, and my father died before my mother.

— I’m sorry for asking something so important to you.

— It’s okay; you’re the only person I tell this to.

Kang Ji-ho turned his face toward the window because he was blushing and decided to change the subject.

After dinner.

Hyun walked in without knocking.

— 

— Ji-ho, we have to —

—

He fell silent.

—

Ji-ho was on the couch...

surrounded by papers.

—

But they weren’t company documents.

— 

They were books.

—

"Healthy Relationships"

"How to Express Affection"

"Love and Boundaries"

—

Seo Hyun blinked.

—

—What is this?

Kang Ji-ho tensed up.

—

— Nothing.

—

— Are you... studying?

—

Silence.

Kang Ji-ho looked away.

—

— You told me to learn.

—

I don’t know why he’s asking if he asked me to.

Besides, I don’t want him to leave me; that’s why I’m doing this.

Kang Ji-ho thought.

—

— Seo Hyun felt something on his chest.

—

Something soft.

— You’re weird, Kang Ji-ho.

Hyun said and smiled.

—

— I know.

—

End of Chapter 19:

“If studying means staying… I’ll do it.”