"is that it?" mrs. kim nodded in understanding after sunwoo told the whole story to her. they were in the kitchen, away from the living room in fear of disturbing shiho's sleep.

shiho had not waken up at all ever since sunwoo brought her home. even when mrs. kim was treating her wounds, her brows would furrow at times when the ointment touched her wounds but never once she whimpered or showed signs of being awake.

it was as if she was trying to sleep through it and she was afraid to wake up. or maybe it was her defense mechanism and the aftereffect of relying on sleeping pills when facing with this kind of situation.

"can she sleep at our home tonight? her father is away on business trip and i'm afraid to leave her alone at this time." sunwoo explained. he needed to be careful when explaining about shiho. his parents still did not know the true nature of his relationship with shiho.

"of course. tonight, you should sleep in minwoo's room. let her sleep in your room. i'll change your bedsheet in a moment."

minwoo was baffled, "why is he sleeping in my room? i don't want to sleep with him!" he complained.

"kim minwoo, our house only had three rooms. if she is not sleeping in your brother's room, should she sleep in your room instead? either way, you will still be sleeping with your brother." mrs. kim gave minwoo a pointed look.

"whyy? just let hyung sleep with her. she is his girl–" minwoo was stopped with a slap on his mouth, clearly from none other than kim sunwoo. he forced out a smile and spoke lowly, "are you crazy, dear brother? shut your mouth before i throw away your stinky teddy bear out the window."

mrs. kim just shook her head and continued her work at the kitchen. she was just making dinner before minwoo interrupted her. however, there was a smile on her lips because clearly, she understood what minwoo was about to say.

–

when shiho finally woke up, it was already eight at night. her surrounding was unfamiliar and the wounds on her palm and knees stung. she lifted her hands to see that her wounds had been treated and wrapped. sitting up, she saw a young kid sitting at the opposite sofa, reading a book in his hand.

"..you are?"

minwoo lifted his eyes from the book he was reading, "oh, nuna is awake." he smiled, put down the book on the coffee table and stood before shiho, holding out his hand for a handshake. "hello nuna, my name is minwoo. nice to see you."

"h-hi?" shiho hesitantly shook his hand in confusion. she really did not remember what happened and how could she end up here.

"are you hungry? my mom is preparing dinner now. my brother– well, you don't need to know about him. anyway, nuna, why don't we play a game board while we wait for dinner? i heard from hyung that you are the smartest girl in class.."

"huh?" who is the brother...

just then, sunwoo climbed down the stairs and saw minwoo pestering shiho. he frowned, approaching them and pulled minwoo away from shiho. "don't mind him. he talks too much sometimes so you can just pretend that he is a broken radio."

oho, you dare? minwoo incredulously looked at sunwoo with a raised brow before his lips curved into a smirk and he shouted loudly, "eomma, your daughter-in-law is awake!!"

"yahh!" sunwoo gritted his teeth and tried to catch the brat but minwoo was quick enough to run away, teasing sunwoo along the way.

shiho laughed at the scene, making sunwoo embarrassed. kim minwoo, just wait and see, i'll throw your stinky teddy bear inside the washing machine and clean it thoroughly!

"sunwoo, what time is it?" shiho asked once her laughter ceased. she became aware of the fact that she was in his home and his parents were probably at home. she should probably head home now.

sunwoo checked the time and told her, "it's about eight. why?"

hearing that, she gasped. oh my, she was sleeping that long?? how embarrassing!

"i'll head home now–"

sunwoo quickly stopped her, "just stay the night here. i've explained to my parents about your situation. i can't be at ease letting you go back to an empty house."

"don't worry, my father will return home tomorrow morning. i will be fine–" she was about to insist when sunwoo gave her a look that made her shut her mouth.

"you sit here first. i'll fetch you a glass of water. in the meantime, you might want to call your father and tell him what happened." sunwoo handed her his phone because all her things were left behind at the cafe. then he left to the kitchen.

shiho looked at the unlocked phone and pondered for a moment before she finally made her decision to call her father. the call was connected after a few rings, "hello?"

"d-dad, it's me, shiho..."