He looked at Nora.
Then turned, about to leave—
But stopped.
A pause.
Something held him there.
Slowly… he turned back again.
His gaze fell on her once more.
This time, his hand lifted.
Reaching out—
Toward her face.
Closer…
Almost there—
But he stopped.
His fingers curled back into his palm.
Restraint.
He turned again, ready to walk away—
When suddenly—
A soft grip.
Nora, still lost in sleep… had caught his hand.
Everything stilled.
And in that instant—
Something flashed through his mind.
A memory.
No—
A dream.
Moonlight spilling over Nora's face…
Soft. Silver. Ethereal.
And him—
Leaning over her.
Closer… closer…
Drawn to her without reason.
Then—
Her eyes opening.
And in them—
the reflection of the moon.
For a moment, it felt as if the entire night had gathered inside those eyes.
His breath had quickened then.
Just like now.
The memory hit him like a shock.
He pulled his hand back immediately.
As if burned.
Confusion flickered across his face.
He didn't understand—
What he had just seen.
Or why it felt so real.
He turned again to face her—
But this time, he didn't leave.
Instead, he reached for her hand once more.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As if testing something.
His fingers wrapped around hers.
His eyes closed.
And another memory surfaced—
Nora.
Slipping.
Falling.
Toward the edge of a cliff.
Her movements rushed, unsteady—
Fear flashing across her face.
And him—
Reaching out.
Desperate.
Trying to catch her.
But—
Too late.
Their fingers—
slipping apart.
Again.
No Gul's eyes snapped open.
A sharp breath left him.
Fear.
Real.
Uncontrolled.
He let go of her hand instantly.
As if the memory itself had hurt him.
"…I saw it," he whispered under his breath.
"…Both of us."
His brows furrowed.
Confusion. Disbelief.
"This… what is this?"
A pause.
"We've never met…"
Then quieter—
"…We haven't."
But even as he said it—
Something in him refused to believe it.
He looked at her once more.
For a second—
Too long.
Then abruptly—
He pulled the blanket over her properly.
Almost hurriedly.
As if trying to escape the moment.
Without another glance—
He stepped out.
✦ Outside ✦
The night air hit him sharply.
Cold.
Grounding.
But not enough.
In one swift motion—
He climbed up along the building walls, moving effortlessly through the shadows with unnatural ease —
Until he reached the top floor.
Alone.
Silent.
He stopped there.
Breathing slightly heavier than usual.
His throat felt dry.
His fingers moved to his collar, loosening the top buttons.
He took a deep breath.
Then another.
Trying to steady himself.
Below—
The city shimmered.
Lights flickering in the darkness.
Peaceful.
Distant.
But his mind—
Was nowhere near calm.
All he could see—
Was her face.
Those eyes.
That moment.
Again.
And again.
And again.
He exhaled slowly.
"…...What is happening to me? "
.....Morning came softly...
Nora stepped out of her room, rubbing her eyes—
Half asleep.
Half awake.
Even after brushing, she still stumbled slightly, her steps slow and lazy.
Then—
A scent.
Something warm.
Familiar.
It drifted gently into her senses.
She paused.
Her gaze lifted—
And there it was.
On the table in front of her—
Breakfast.
Neatly arranged.
Waiting.
Her sleepiness faded instantly.
She hurried over and sat down.
There was a note.
She picked it up and opened it.
✦ A While Earlier (Flashback) ✦
A few moments earlier—
After placing the breakfast and medicine neatly on the table, No Gul stood there for a second.
Still.
Thinking.
His gaze shifted to the blank paper in his hand.
"…I should write something."
A pause.
"…Like a loving husband."
His expression remained unreadable—
But his brows furrowed slightly.
"…Otherwise, she'll get suspicious."
He picked up the pen.
Wrote a few words—
Stopped.
Looked at it.
Then—
Crumpled the paper.
Another one.
"…No."
Crumpled.
Again.
"…That sounds strange."
Another sheet ruined.
And another.
Soon—
A small pile of discarded papers lay beside him.
Ten… maybe twelve.
His patience was thinning.
He stared at the paper again.
Silent.
Thinking harder than he ever did for business deals or missions.
"…What do people even write in this situation?"
A pause.
Then slowly—
He began writing again.
Carefully this time.
Each word measured.
Each line… deliberate.
When he finished—
He looked at it for a moment.
Then folded the note quietly.
"…This should be enough."
-----------
Her lips curved while reading.
"Eat breakfast. Take your medicine on time. It's kept in front."
"…Lots of love."
"From—Yeobbo."
For a second—
She just stared at it.
Then—
A soft smile spread across her face.
Unmistakable.
A faint blush followed.
She could feel the effort behind those words.
And somehow—
That mattered more than the words themselves.
Nora smiled softly, holding the note between her fingers.
"…Nora, you might not remember anything properly about your past… even if it's all incomplete, broken…"
She paused, her lips curving.
"But one thing I have to admit…"
A quiet giggle slipped out.
"…you really chose a husband one in a million."
She held the paper closer to her chest, a soft "aww…"escaping her, eyes shining with a mix of warmth and shy happiness.
She finished eating, still smiling to herself.
Then got up, placing the utensils back.
The soft clinking sound echoed lightly—
kht… kht…
She paused.
"…Seok-ah?"
No answer.
Curious, she walked toward his room.
Knocked.
Once.
Twice.
Silence.
She slowly pushed the door open.
The room was empty.
"…Seok-ah?"
A little louder now—
"Devar ji?"
Still nothing.
She frowned slightly—
And stepped inside.
Then—
Suddenly—
"Boo."
She flinched.
Turning quickly—
Ho-Seok popped up from behind the bed, holding the cat in his arms.
Nora stared at him.
Blank.
Unamused.
"…You're alive."
"I thought you'd already slipped away…" she muttered under her breath.
Ho-Seok:"Did you say something?"
Nora: "No… I was just watching your little stunt," she replied dryly. "Looks like your back has completely recovered."
Ho-Seok quickly stumbled back and dropped onto the bed.
"I was just saving Duri," he said defensively.
Nora blinked.
"Duri?"
Ho-Seok gently patted the cat in his arms.
"Her name is Duri," he said proudly. "Right, Duri?"
But the cat clearly didn't agree.
With an annoyed little twitch, she wriggled out of his hold—
And darted away on her own.
Nora looked at him with a strange expression.
"…That's your cat?"
Ho-Seok glanced at her, a little offended.
"Of course she is. I'm telling you, she's mine," he said quickly. "She's just a bit moody. Otherwise, Duri sleeps curled up right next to me."
Nora nodded slowly.
"…I can see that."
Ho-Seok frowned slightly. "Hmm?"
Nora pointed at him, completely straight-faced.
"…It's all over your face."
There are some cat's furs on face and shoulder.
— To Be Continued —