Jeha opened the door, and there stood Mina, wrapped in a stylish winter outfit. Her dark coat fell just above her knees, and a thick cream-colored muffler was wrapped snugly around her neck. The cold had dusted her cheeks with a soft pink hue, but her glare was anything but warm.

Jeha blinked in surprise, then raised his hands in mock surrender. Without waiting for an invitation, Mina marched inside, her boots clicking against the floor. She plopped onto the couch, her muffler still covering half her face, her arms crossed tightly. Jeha closed the door behind her, locking it with a soft click.

He walked over and sat down next to her, watching her with curiosity. "What’s wrong? Why are you here?"

Mina didn’t look at him, her voice muffled under the layers of her scarf. "Some man you are..."

Jeha tilted his head, confusion evident on his face. Mina finally turned to him, sitting upright with a sharp glare that made Jeha flinch slightly.

"To not tell your girlfriend why you’re leaving work early, or to not even mention where you’re going...how dare you!" she burst out, her voice rising in exasperation.

Jeha sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he chuckled softly. He quickly cleared his throat when he saw Mina’s glare intensify, but he couldn’t entirely hide his amusement.

"What’s so funny?" Mina snapped, fuming. "You could’ve at least told me Kaneisyeon was home alone and that you’d come here early! Do you know how I found out? From In-Ha ma’am, when I called her an hour ago!"

Jeha leaned back, his lips quirking into a small smile as he reached out to pull Mina into a side hug. She didn’t resist, though she was still glaring at him from the corner of her eye.

"Oh, Mina honey," Jeha said softly, resting his head back against the couch. "It’s not like I didn’t want to tell you. I was just so focused on the poor kid being here all alone. I didn’t think it through."

Mina softened slightly but didn’t let go of her annoyance just yet. "...I’m sorry for being inconsiderate," she murmured, guilt creeping into her voice.

Jeha shook his head and interrupted her gently, "Shh. You came all the way here just to check if everything was okay. How does that make you inconsiderate, my love?"

Mina let out a sigh and finally relaxed, leaning into Jeha’s chest. She nodded quietly, feeling the warmth of his embrace ease her frustration. It was hard to believe this was the same girl who had once hated Jeha with a passion.

Back when they had first met during the zombie outbreak, Mina had been vocal about her distrust. She had constantly accused Jeha and the group of hiding bites and had tried to push them out for fear of infection. But now, here she was, dating the very man she had loathed, finding solace in his arms.

Mina worked in the same company as Jeha, though her role as a product analyst was different from his as the assistant general manager. Her responsibilities included analyzing product designs, drafting their pros and cons, and managing teams of freshers and juniors. Despite her efficiency, Mina often found herself frustrated by the pressures of work, much like Jeha, who had to deal with constant harassment from his superior.

Breaking the silence, Mina looked up at Jeha, her expression thoughtful. "You know," she began, her voice soft, "I never thought anyone would forgive me after the way I acted. I mean, I tried to push out people I thought were bitten, even when they weren’t."

Jeha nodded silently, his arm still wrapped around her as he listened intently.

"But then you...you accepted my proposal," Mina continued, her voice faltering slightly. "And the group forgave me, saying it was only because I was scared. I didn’t deserve that kindness, but I’m so thankful. I might’ve been...an absolute bitch, but at least I was given a chance to redeem myself."

Jeha tilted his head, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "It was hot, though."

Mina’s face turned crimson as she pushed him aside with a muttered, "Stupid."

Jeha laughed, leaning closer to her, his body teetering on the edge of the couch. She refused to meet his gaze, her embarrassment evident in the way she fidgeted with the hem of her coat.

"You’re adorable when you’re flustered," Jeha teased, earning another shove from Mina.

"Stop it," she muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

Jeha leaned back, watching her with soft eyes. Moments like these, where the past felt like a distant memory and the present was filled with warmth and love, made all the struggles worthwhile.