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"I can't believe you're alive," Gi-hun said, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and overwhelming relief. Tears welled up in his eyes as he struggled to comprehend the reality of the moment. His heart pounded with a whirlwind of emotions—from pure joy to deep sorrow for the time they had lost. The thought of never seeing this face again had haunted him, and now, standing before him, was a miracle he had never dared to dream of.

Tears brimmed in my eyes as his words sunk in, a mixture of gratitude and heartache washing over me. I had longed for this reunion, and yet the realization of the pain we'd both endured made my heart ache. I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"Please come inside," I said, gently guiding him into my home. As the door closed behind us, the weight of the past year settled heavily on our shoulders. The memories of our lost friends, the countless nights spent wondering if the other was still alive, and the battles we faced alone flooded back to us. I quickly grabbed two mugs and poured some tea into each, placing them in front of us. We sat down, both struggling to find the right words, but the silence between us spoke volumes. It was a silence filled with shared grief for what happened to us.

I am struck by the way Gi-hun looks now. He looked older, with lines etched into his face that hinted at the hardships he had endured. His hair, once dark and full, was now cut and speckled with gray, and his eyes carried a depth of hatred and sadness that hadn't been there before. Despite these changes, there was an undeniable warmth in his gaze, a spark of resilience that reminded me of the friend I had known so well.

"I thought about you every single day," Gi-hun admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I never stopped hoping that somehow, somewhere, you were okay." His gaze searched mine, seeking reassurance that this wasn't just a fleeting dream.

"How did you find me?" I asked, my voice trembling as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. I reached for the mug of tea, taking a small sip, hoping it would calm my nerves.

"Cheol... I should have come sooner," he murmured, guilt lacing his words. The thought of Sae-byeok's brother being stuck in foster care while he was consumed by his own grief weighed heavily on him. He came here after reaching out to foster care, and told him Cheol got adopted. As part of Sae-byeok's last and only request, he came here fully prepared to pay any won amount to take Cheol. Yet, now knowing that Yeona had kept her promise and adopted Cheol brought him a sense of relief, knowing that Sae-byeok's last wish had been fulfilled by someone she trusted.

"I can't believe you've been taking care of him all this time," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Sae-byeok would be so grateful to know her brother is safe with you."

I smiled softly, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It was the least I could do for her," I replied, my voice unsteady due to the emotions swirling inside of me. "She was like a sister to me, and I promised her I'd look after Cheol no matter what." I took a deep breath and wiped away the tears that had begun to form in my eyes. "I know it's not enough, but it's all I can do." I closed my eyes and cleared my throat, taking another sip of the tea.

"How's your daughter?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

Gi-hun's eyes softened at the mention of his daughter, the shift in topic offering a brief respite from the heaviness in the room. "She's doing well," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "I get updates from her often, and she's adjusting to life in the States better than I expected." I nodded, my heart warming at the thought of the girl's safety, a small comfort amidst my lingering guilt over Sae-byeok's loss.

Gi-hun paused before speaking again. "I'm glad. I'm glad she's safe." He turned away and wiped away the tears that had formed in the corner of his eyes.