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chapter 33
Do-hyun still hadn’t told them that the person who left him at the orphanage wasn’t his biological parent.
He knew his adoptive parents would be more hurt than he was—
“Not yet.”
At his short reply, Sophia fell silent for a moment before speaking softly again.
“Even if the results don’t turn out the way you hoped, don’t be too disappointed. Just remember, you still have us by your side… okay?”
After hanging up, Do-hyun swallowed back the lump rising in his throat.
It was because they wanted him to find his birth parents more than anyone else. The weight of their longing left his chest aching.
At that moment, the bathroom door opened, and Kayla came out after her shower.
He quickly composed his expression and turned around.
Sensing his faintly subdued mood, Kayla stopped toweling her hair and asked,
“What is it? Something wrong?”
“Nothing. I was just on the phone with Mom.”
At that, Kayla suddenly clapped her hands as if she’d just remembered something.
“Oh, right! Mom told me to call her when I got to the airport…”
“Nice of you to remember now.”
When he glared at her, Kayla stuck her tongue out slightly—a habit of hers whenever she had nothing to say. The gesture was so cute that the corners of Do-hyun’s lips curved upward on their own.
“Call her later.”
“Okay.”
He nodded and asked,
“I’m making spaghetti. You really don’t want any?”
Her eyes sparkled at the question.
“Like I could ever say no to your spaghetti.”
Do-hyun chuckled knowingly and headed for the kitchen, resuming the prep work he had paused earlier.
Fifteen minutes later, he placed a steaming plate of spaghetti on the table just as Kayla, now with her red hair completely dry, bounced over.
“Wow! It’s been ages since I had your spaghetti. I really missed this.”
“Eat up.”
Watching Kayla clap like a seal in delight made a natural smile tug at Do-hyun’s lips.
Though she’d claimed she was full, Kayla inhaled the spaghetti without pausing for breath, then washed down the richness with cola before asking slyly,
“Does the girl next door know?”
“Know what?”
Do-hyun glanced at her while clearing the dishes.
“That you came to Korea to find your birth parents.”
“No.”
“You like her, but you haven’t told her yet?”
“She’s already uncomfortable with the fact that I like her. I don’t want to burden her with more.”
“Make sure you tell her if you two start dating.”
“Of course.”
He said the words, but in truth, he’d had plenty of chances to tell her.
Still, he hesitated.
In Australia, yes, but especially in Korea, prejudice against adoption ran deeper than most expected.
If she were to see even that as another burden—he was afraid their relationship itself might vanish.
He quietly carried the dishes to the sink, as if shaking off his thoughts.
From across the table, Kayla stood up and said,
“I’ll do the dishes.”
“No way. You just got off a long flight—you’re jet-lagged. Sit down.”
Rolling up his sleeves, Do-hyun began washing the dishes. His movements were practiced, almost as natural as cooking itself.
Watching him work, Kayla finally let slip the question she’d been holding back.
“So… how’s it going? With finding your parents, I mean. Any progress?”
His back flinched slightly, but his answer came out calm.
“Not yet. Still looking.”
Kayla caught the subtle weight in those few words and carefully pressed further.
“…If you find them one day… does that mean you won’t come back to Australia anymore?”
Do-hyun turned toward her, frowning slightly.
“What are you talking about?”
“I just mean… you’ve been apart from them all this time, so… you might want to live with them.”
Kayla’s voice trailed off as she averted her gaze.
But Do-hyun replied firmly,
“Kayla, no matter what happens with my birth parents, Melbourne is my home.”
His tone was steady, as if to say her worry was baseless.
Relieved, Kayla jumped up and threw her arms around him.
“Thank goodness… Honestly, I was so scared you’d end up a stranger to me.”
“That’ll never happen. You’ll be my little sister until the day you die.”
Do-hyun gently stroked her red curls.
Finally, the tears Kayla had been holding back spilled over, running down her cheeks.
She hadn’t said it out loud, but ever since Jayden had left for Korea, she’d been anxious.
If he didn’t come back—it would feel like losing the brother she relied on as much as their parents.
Sophia had tried to comfort her with, ‘Even if you live apart, he’s still your brother,’ but it wasn’t enough.
That’s why, the moment vacation started, she got on a plane.
On the surface, she had said she just wanted to “travel to Korea,” but deep down, she only wanted to hold onto him.
“…Promise me.”
Kayla held out her pinky finger, her voice trembling.
Do-hyun laughed softly, hooking his finger around hers.
At last, a smile bloomed on her tear-streaked face.
“Kayla, what happens if you cry and then laugh right after?”
“Ugh! Don’t say that!”
Kayla squealed in protest, pounding his chest with both fists.
Do-hyun just shook with laughter.
“Goodnight, team leader.”
“Good work today. See you tomorrow.”
As the elevator doors opened to the lobby, Yeon-ha waved to Jin-young, then headed down toward the underground parking lot.
B5. A hushed silence hung over the rows of parked cars, the dim fluorescent lights casting long shadows on the floor.
Just as she was about to start the car, someone suddenly tapped on the passenger-side window. Knock knock.
Her heart sank in shock.
Turning her head cautiously, she froze—Do-hyun was standing there.
Before she could ask why, he opened the passenger door without explanation and slipped inside, as if it were his own car.
His brazen attitude left Yeon-ha momentarily speechless.
“What are you doing?”
“I didn’t bring my car today. Mind giving me a ride?”
“Shouldn’t you ask before getting in?”
“I figured you’d say no.”
He buckled his seatbelt with a shameless grin. Despite herself, Yeon-ha couldn’t help but let out a baffled laugh.
It was the first time they’d met since she’d bolted from his place. She had spent the whole day avoiding him, never imagining he’d wait for her in the parking garage.
“Do-hyun…”
“Drive. Chief Jung is coming.”
She had just opened her mouth, trying to ease the awkwardness, when he pointed straight ahead.
Following his gesture, she saw Department Chief Jung stepping out of the elevator and heading toward her car.
Not wanting to be seen with Do-hyun, she pressed the accelerator without hesitation.
Once they were on the road, Do-hyun spoke first.
“I called you yesterday.”
Gripping the wheel tightly, Yeon-ha replied curtly,
“I was asleep.”
The truth was, she had seen the call but deliberately ignored it. It was the first time she’d been caught in such an intimate situation at a man’s house, and her head had been in turmoil.
“Good. I was worried you ignored me on purpose.”
“Why would I?”
When she glanced at him, Do-hyun met her eyes smoothly.
“I thought maybe you were mad about my sister being rude.”
“I wasn’t mad. Just… flustered.”
Her honest answer seemed to surprise him. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“Then let’s have dinner together tonight.”
The way he said it—so calm, so natural—almost made her agree on the spot.
But she caught herself. She couldn’t keep letting herself get swept up by his rhythm.
“Have dinner with your sister instead.”
Regaining her composure, Yeon-ha declined politely.
The shocked look in his sister’s eyes when she had seen her leaving his bedroom still burned too vividly in her memory.
