âSung Hyunjae-ssi."
A true caregiver. Or, just a caregiver.
"I love you.â
[...]
Sung Hyunjae drew a short breath.
"âŚHan Yoojin-gun. Yoojin-ah.â
âNo matter how you change, it's okay. No matter which path you take, it doesnât matter. Just as long as itâs what you want. If you want to live, then live."
And I, too, wished for that.
An invisible power moved, gently surrounding both me and Sung Hyunjae.
[...]
âI love you, is it?â
Sung Hyunjae's hair moved very slightly. For a moment, it seemed to glint like silver.
âYou noticed, right? The keyword.â
âTo some extent.â
Of course, he knew.
âIn the beginning, you used to say it sometimes, to me as well.â
âYes, I tried.â
âBut after a certain point, you stopped. [...] You didnât even joke about it.â
âWell, itâs not something you say easily.â
Going around saying âI love youâ here and there isnât quite right.
âIsnât it the opposite?â
âPardon?â
âA keyword for saying it easily. As a caregiver, itâs a sentiment you should express more than anyone.â
ââŚAh.â
âBut it ironically makes you reluctant to say it.â
Saying âI love youâ isnât bad. In fact, itâs a phrase thatâs good to say a lot. It wouldnât hurt to say it habitually every morning and evening. If itâs sincere, itâs a pleasant thing to hear repeatedly.
âYouâre right. Actually, itâs not a word to feel embarrassed about. Wait, wait!â
âI love you, Yoojin-ah.â
I screamed instinctively. Goosebumps ran all over my body.
âNo, I still canât handle it! I need an adjustment period, ten years at least!â
Sung Hyunjae chuckled as he watched me jump up. [...]
âI assume there was a restriction about revealing the keyword as well.â
âAs sharp as ever. But now, Iâm free from the systemâs influence. The systemâs restrictions are more like conditions for guiding, arenât they?â
[...] Now, I no longer had the system or skill window. [...]
âThe âI love youâ I said earlier was more a way to convey my feelings clearly than a keyword.â
That youâre precious to me, and that I want to help you achieve what you desire.