Days passed with Aeri living in the eerie, abandoned forest with a stranger. Yet, to her surprise, Taesan wasn't such bad company. Although reserved and reluctant to open up, Aeri felt safe around him.

But why was she still there when she was only supposed to stay for a night?

That night, she slept in a small yet cozy room he provided. However, things took a turn when a severe thunderstorm began.

"The only exit to the city is blocked due to the heavy rainfall from last night," was the first thing he told her in the morning.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Aeri asked, panic creeping into her voice.

"Wait," he shrugged.

"For how long?"

"I don't know, until the blockage is cleared."

"Isn't there any other way?" Aeri persisted.

"If there was, I wouldn't hide it from you," he replied bluntly.

Aeri sank onto the couch, unsure of what to do next. He sat down beside her.

"If anyone from your family is looking for you, I'm sure they'll get in with the help of authorities," he said softly.

"No one will be looking for me. My parents live abroad and haven't visited me in years. We're not in close contact. They wouldn't know even if I went missing for months. As for my friends, the ones who matter are the ones I lost contact with here," she sighed.

"Who are you eager to return to if you don't have anyone?" he asked, his tone emotionless.

"I can't live here with a stranger forever," Aeri replied, her frustration mounting.

"If you spend a night safely at someone's place and wake up unharmed, they’re no longer a stranger," he shrugged again.

"Sweetheart, the food is getting cold," Taesan called out.

"Give me a minute, Taesan," Aeri replied, giggling to herself.

"I won't reheat it if it gets cold," he declared, setting the dishes on the dining table.

"I'm here," Aeri said, sitting at the dining chair beside him.

"What were you doing?"

"Admiring your taste in books," she smiled, picking up her plate.

"It's been months and you're still not over that," he shook his head, looking away.

"Why do you always look away when we're talking? Don't you know it's basic manners to maintain eye contact?" she asked, stuffing her mouth with a piece of bread.

He didn't respond.

"Mr., I just asked you a question."

"How's the food, sweetheart?" he countered.

"It's good as always, but stop calling me that," she whined.

"But your diary—"

Aeri cut him off, "Stop it already. That was something I wrote when I was young. I don't mean it anymore."

"I want someone to call me 'sweetheart' once in my life, dear diary," he mocked what she had written when she was too young to even understand its meaning.

"I regret showing you my diary," she said, playfully smacking his arm.

He smiled to himself, but Aeri didn't see that rare sight...