Episode 18
[Scene: Min Sung-ki's Home – Evening]
The modest apartment was warm and quiet, with the faint aroma of freshly cooked dinner filling the air. Sung-ki’s mother, Min Hye-jin, stood near the dining table, anxiously glancing at the clock. The plates were set, and the food was ready, but Sung-ki was late again.
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Muttering to herself "I thought leaving Seoul would give us a fresh start. I thought... if I could erase the past, he could live without its weight."
Her eyes fell on the old photo she kept hidden in her drawer—the one of little Yun-soo and Yuria, laughing together under a cherry blossom tree. She swallowed hard, pushing back tears.
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Sighing "I changed your name, Yun-soo... no, Sung-ki, to protect you. To protect you from a life tied to tragedy and loss. I couldn’t let you live in the shadow of what happened that day."
She remembered the decision vividly—packing their belongings, moving to a quiet town far from Seoul, and filing the paperwork to give him a new name. She didn’t want him to be "Yun-soo" anymore, the boy who lost so much.
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Whispering "I wanted you to be someone new, someone free. But did I do the right thing?"
Her chest tightened as she thought about the present. It had been ten years, and despite her efforts, Sung-ki had grown more distant and cold. The warmth and joy he once radiated were gone.
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Resolutely "No. I did what I had to. I couldn't let you stay with the Kims, not after what happened. I had to keep you safe, even if it meant you’d never know the truth."
[Flashback: The Scholarship Opportunity]
Six months ago, an envelope arrived from Seoul High School, addressed to her son. Sung-ki had excelled academically, earning a full scholarship to one of the most prestigious schools in the city.
Hye-jin had been conflicted. The idea of returning to Seoul, the city that held so much pain, terrified her. But she knew this was a chance Sung-ki couldn’t miss.
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Thinking back "How could I say no when you worked so hard for this? You deserved it, even if it meant facing my fears
The decision to move back to Seoul had been agonizing. She had sold what little they had to make it happen. They rented a modest apartment near the school, and Sung-ki had started his first day without knowing the significance of the city they had returned to
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Murmuring "I just hope you never find out the truth. About who you were, about her, about them. If you do, everything I’ve done to protect you will be for nothing."
Her gaze turned to Sung-ki’s closed bedroom door
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Softly, almost pleading "I want you to be happy, my son. Even if it means I have to carry this burden alone."
Her heart ached with a mix of love and regret. She wished she could turn back time, but she knew there was no undoing the choices she’d made. All she could do now was hope that Sung-ki could find happiness in his new life, far away from the memories she had worked so hard to bury.
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Whispering to herself "I just want you to smile again, my son. I’m sorry for everything."
She placed the photo face-down on her nightstand, her resolve hardening.
Min Hey-jin ( Sung-ki's mom)
Determined "No matter what, I’ll protect you. Even if it means keeping you away from them."
As much as she blamed the Kims for the accident, a part of her wondered if she was also to blame for Sung-ki’s unhappiness. Yet, the fear of losing him again kept her from letting the past go.
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