After his talk with Seo Yuhui ended, Seol Jihu went out to catch Phi Sora on her way home. This, of course, wasnt his idea, but Seo Yuhuis.

How much time do you have left? Why dont you try talking to Miss Phi Sora before you leave?

I already know more or less what happened that day. Miss Phi Sora talks about it every time shes drunk.

She wont know youre you. You should at least try.

Seol Jihu waited for Phi Sora in a park near the apartment complex. Some time went by, and just as he nervously raised his cell phone to check the time, he saw a familiar woman near the front gate at the foot of the hill. She was wearing a pair of high heels and a suit that he thought didnt complement her.

Sweetheart?

Phi Sora, who quickly walked up the hill, seemed surprised to see Seol Jihu there.

What a coincidence. Were you on your way somewhere?

Seol Jihu shook his head.

So then why are you out here? You couldnt have been waiting for me. Oh, I thought you had a meeting today?

Yes, I did. It went well, and now Im back.

Thats great. But.

Phi Sora scrutinized Seol Jihu before suddenly narrowing her eyes.

Why do you look so nervous? Could it be that youre having an affair again?

Seol Jihus shoulders slumped. Hed heard this accusation so many times that it didnt even surprise him anymore.

No. Um. Look, can we talk?

Here?

Yes, here, and now.

Phi Sora tilted her head. A look of suspicion crossed her face. Seol Jihu could tell that she was thinking, What did he do this time? Followed by Is it Yi Seol-Ah? No, wait, it has to be Miss Yun Seora. Im sure of it.

This isnt about women. I just want to talk to you.

Seol Jihu assured her, and she finally answered him.

Okay. But we should sit somewhere first.

The pair settled on a nearby bench.

Today, Sohu made me naengmyeon.

Seol Jihu followed Seo Yuhuis advice and mentioned naengmyeon.

It wasnt perfect, of course but he improved a lot since the last time.

Because Seo Yuhui asserted that as long as he tied everything to naengmyeon, Phi Sora wouldnt be suspicious.

Wow, really?

Phi Soras eyes widened.

Yes, it was fascinating. The moment I tasted the soup, an old memory came rushing back to me out of the blue.

What kind of memory?

The memory of the first time we slept together.

Seol Jihu did as he was advised but doubted it would work. This was too random, even by his standards. He gulped nervously. And then, just as he finished counting till three in his head.

Ha! Why did you suddenly think of that? Youre such a weirdo.

It worked. Phi Sora snickered but didnt seem to think what he said was absurd.

Maybe it was because Sohu made it.

Seol Jihu continued, studying Phi Soras face.

Then, I remembered all the things I did wrong by you.

Kik. Sohu really must have improved a lot for you to be saying stuff like this.

Phi Sora smirked.

Youre right. You did hurt me back then. Just thinking about it now makes me.

She sighed and leered at Seol Jihu.

What were you most hurt about?

He asked carefully.

Do you really have to ask?

A sharp reply came back at him.

I mean, how could you be so cold? You just walked away.

But you asked me to leave.

You couldve looked back at least once! And you pretended to be asleep while I was dealing with that crazy neighbor. Then you saw me getting sick and didnt even ask if I was okay! I even made breakfast for you that day!

Phi Sora said all this very quickly, like a machine gun firing.

Theres more. I was lying in bed, sick, the neighbor kept bothering me constantly, and even after having the morning-after pill, the test still came back positive. And when I tried to talk to you about it, you were too busy looking for Miss Seo Yuhui! Then you suddenly go and have a mental breakdown and break up with her.

So thats what happened. Wait. What?

Why did you think I went over to your place every day? I was trying to talk to you about the test, but you didnt even look at me.

Phi Sora snapped, her face full of emotions she had been holding in for a long time.

Seriously, if it werent for Sohu.

It was then that shock swept through Seol Jihu. He struggled to keep his jaw from dropping. He felt as if he had been hit on the back of his head with a hammer.

Wait a minute, so this means!

Suddenly, he remembered what Black Seol Jihu had said.

You get drunk and make a mistake, you get swept away by the mood, and that leads to another

So Black Seol Jihu knew everything.

Oh my god!

Seol Jihu covered his face with both hands. A myriad of emotions overwhelmed him, but mainly he felt terrified of the inevitability of fate.

The truth was that Seol Jihu wasnt serious about going back in time. He was afraid there could be repercussions, and also Black Seol Jihu was against it. But after hearing what hed just heard, his thoughts completely changed. Now he wanted to change the past no matter what, despite knowing it was impossible.

Miss Phi Sora.

Seol Jihu began in a dejected voice.

If that incident never happened.

Happened?

Youd be so much happier now.

Why are you calling me that again? Wait.

When Phi Sora saw Seol Jihu with his head down, she began to blink rapidly.

H-Hold on!

She quickly turned to him.

Im not saying its all your fault. Frankly, I made a lot of mistakes, too. Its just that I didnt feel like I was your top priority, and that hurt a lot.

Oh, come on!

Phi Soras voice shot up a notch.

You have a brain, so use it! Youre always so dense.

Seol Jihu raised his head slightly.

I have standards, too. You know what Im like. If I werent interested in you, I would have just gone my separate way. I said this already, but why do you think I went over to your place every day?

Seol Jihus eyes widened.

Its just I dont think even I understood my feelings back then. But I kept finding myself looking at you, wishing youd look back at me. Damn it. Are you really gonna make me say this?

Phi Sora snapped at him.

Anyway, youve changed a lot since then you put up with my constant nagging, and I know you tried hard.

She glanced at Seol Jihu.

And.

She looked down at the bench they were sitting on.

After we had our second child together, you told me right here, on this very bench.

?

Lets live together like this forever, Sora.

Phi Soras lips curled into a soft smile.

Jeez, youre making me say all sorts of things today.

She closed her eyes as if to recall the moment and rested her head on Seol Jihus chest as she did that day.

It was then. Looking at Phi Sora with a dazed look on his face, Seol Jihu suddenly felt his eyes tighten. A white light stealthily began to block his view. Phi Sora didnt seem to suspect anything was wrong, and this phenomenon seemed to be affecting only Seol Jihu.

Ah.

He realized that his time was almost up.

Um!

Seol Jihu asked urgently before his vision turned completely white.

Tell me just one more thing. Are you happy right now, Miss Phi Sora?

Phi Soras eyes widened slightly. Her eyebrows lifted as she looked up at Seol Jihu.

What kind of question is that?

Phi Sora gave him a sidelong glance. And then.

Look at me.

She smiled the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

How do I look?

When the light faded, Seol Jihu was sitting in front of Gulas statue.

Welcome back.

Gulas voice echoed in his head. Seol Jihu turned his gaze to his hand. He felt as if he had just awoken from a vivid dream.

This isnt the time to be resting.

Seol Jihu got to his feet.

Black Seol Jihu was right. Nothing dramatic happened in the future. The trip didnt offer him a magical solution. But he did gain something from the experience. He knew what he had to do right now and how to do it.

Seol Jihu dashed across the temple, toward the warp gate portal.