𝗦𝗨𝗡 & 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗡 | ᴬᶰ ˢᵒᵒᴴᵒ 『English Version』

Epilogue

Two and a Half Years Later

The afternoon sun filtered through the window of the small apartment the couple had shared for the past two years, lighting up the floating dust particles and bathing the living room in a warm, golden glow.

Two and a half years had flown by, taking with them the darkest shadows and leaving behind a peaceful calm, the promise of a future Sooho and Hyeori were building day by day—with patience and a whole lot of love.

Hyeori sat on the couch with a thick anatomy book open on her lap, brows furrowed in concentration. Medical school was intense, and her part-time job at a small weekend clinic barely gave her time to breathe—but her passion for what she was doing gave her strength. Beside her, Choco—as Sooho had named him because, according to him, he looked like a big chunk of chocolate—an impressive dark brown cat who was now fully grown (as Sooho liked to say), napped peacefully. One paw rested on Hyeori's leg, as if making sure she was still there.

He reminded her of Jaxx in his unwavering loyalty—always following her around the apartment, silently offering comfort with his deep purring whenever her study sessions dragged on too long.

Across the room, at the small desk they shared, Sooho was typing away on his laptop, focused. He was close to finishing his final exams—the ones that would finally earn him his high school diploma, after making up the two years the coma had taken from him. His physical recovery was complete now. Physical therapy sessions were just a memory, and he could run, jump, and move with the agility he once had, though always with a deeper awareness of his body and its limits. He also worked part-time at a music store—a much calmer place than the jobs he used to seek out.

At Sooho's feet, curled into a neat, fluffy ball, slept Bomi—their bright orange kitten, now grown into a gorgeous cat with piercing green eyes and a personality that reminded them so much of Nala: independent, but completely attached to Sooho. She always looked for him to curl up with, tangled around his legs while he cooked, and at night, it was common to find her tucked against his back while he slept.

"How's your nervous system essay going?" Hyeori suddenly asked without looking up from her book, though her tone hinted she needed a break.

Sooho stretched his arms over his head, his back cracking slightly. Bomi yawned and looked at him in annoyance before curling back up.

"Almost done. Just need the conclusion. You? Have you figured out exactly where the sciatic nerve is? Because after everything I've been through, I think I could beat you on an exam right now."

Hyeori laughed and closed her book with a sigh. "Yeah, I think I've got it. Hey... I was thinking..." She stood, Choco instantly following her, and walked over to the desk, sitting on the edge next to Sooho. "The other day, I saw a listing for a small house on the outskirts of Yeondungpyo. Small, but with a little garden..."

Sooho's eyes lit up. They'd been talking about it for months. With their combined savings and the hope of more stable jobs once he graduated and she moved forward in her studies, the idea of having their own place—a real home for them and their two cats—felt less and less like a dream.

"Really? And how was it? Super expensive?"

"A little, but not impossible if we keep saving like we are now," Hyeori said, twirling a strand of her hair. "We'd have to tighten things up for a bit, but... picture it. Choco and Bomi running around the yard. And we could grow a tiny garden."

"That sounds amazing," Sooho admitted, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "A garden, huh... We could hang a swing. And grill on Sundays."