ACTSV EPILOGUE

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Jinwoo, as always, was hard at work today, listening to Secretary Yang’s usual grumbles.

Before he could fully process his own emotions, he was swamped with work at the office, pulling late nights almost every day.

When he finally returned home, Jingyeom was there waiting for him with a kind smile, handing him supplements and telling him he’d done well.

In the past, Jinwoo used to worry about Jingyeom eating dinner alone, feeling guilty about it.

But now, Jingyeom had Soohyuk by his side.

Jinwoo knew that whenever he worked late, Jingyeom and Soohyuk would spend time together.

Even so, on days when Jinwoo managed to leave work on time, Jingyeom always made sure to have dinner with him at home.

Jinwoo once thought that his world would collapse if Jingyeom ever found someone else.

But strangely, it didn’t.

Was it because he had finally allowed himself to express his true feelings?

His love for Jingyeom hadn’t changed, but the anxious dread that used to consume him was gone.

Now, he no longer feared that Jingyeom would abandon him.

Just as Jingyeom had said, they were simply living their own lives.

“Even so, I don’t want to let him off so easily.”

Once, Soohyuk had seemed like a rival—a threat as a man.

Now, Jinwoo saw him as a shameless bastard trying to steal away someone precious to him.

Not that Jinwoo’s feelings toward Soohyuk had changed; only the dynamics had shifted slightly.

There was no way Jinwoo could suddenly transform his feelings for Jingyeom into mere sibling affection.

Both he and Jingyeom knew that.

“But still…”

There were things only siblings could share.

There were bonds only family could create.

And so, Jinwoo decided to stay in this place, even if it wasn’t by choice.

For now, he was finding a semblance of stability.

That is, if you didn’t count the pesky nuisance lounging on his porch.

“Stop buying things. The storage is already full.”

“You should just move. I told you I could buy this entire house if you like it so much, but you’re the one who said no.”

“Isn’t just accepting that even weirder? Aren’t you busy today? Didn’t you have a golf appointment? I recall it was with the President Tak.”

Jinwoo’s sharp tone didn’t seem to bother Soohyuk at all.

“So what? What’s fun about playing golf with old men anyway?”

Soohyuk had come by with the intention of taking Jingyeom out for a trip before the weather got even hotter.

He was early, though, and Jingyeom was still in the shower.

“Do you want to come with us, Secretary Baek?”

“No thanks. Stop pretending to offer.”

“I figured you’d say that. I’m just asking, so if Jingyeom asks you later, give him the same answer.”

Jinwoo’s brow furrowed even deeper.

Soohyuk was infuriating.

How could Jingyeom like someone like this?

Was it because Jinwoo had clung to him too tightly?

He wished Jingyeom would find someone better.

Though, realistically, no one would ever measure up in Jinwoo’s eyes.

Least of all Soohyuk.

The more Jinwoo saw of him, the more certain he was.

“Have you thought about my offer from last time?”

“My answer hasn’t changed.”

“Don’t be like that. Think it over some more. You know opportunities like this don’t come often, right? It might be the first and last chance in your life, Secretary Baek.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me? Because it’s not going to work.”

The “offer” Soohyuk referred to was something he had proposed to Jinwoo not long ago.

He had handed Jinwoo an envelope and suggested studying abroad—not just as a way to separate him from Jingyeom but after genuinely deliberating on it.

Jinwoo was technically not an official employee of the company but rather a personal secretary hired by Wonbeom.

While he received treatment on par with full-time staff, there were still whispers about his background.

“It’s not about getting rid of you. I’m saying you should live your life. I’m only covering the plane ticket and rent. You’ll have to earn the rest yourself.”

Even with those terms, it was an incredible opportunity.

“You’ve come a long way from barely reading English to where you are now. I’ve watched you as much as you’ve watched me. I know you’re hardworking, smart, and capable.”

Soohyuk’s tone was serious.

“Jingyeom wants you to be happy. That’s all he wants. Sure, you could find happiness here. But you must have had dreams of your own. You’re 25. You can do anything at that age, especially with support to help you spread your wings.”

“…”

“I know I’m being pushy, but I want you to think about it seriously.”

Jinwoo’s expression dimmed.

“My happiness…”

Jingyeom had said the same thing: to live a life doing what he wanted.

But Jinwoo didn’t know what that was.

He had lived a life where such luxuries were unimaginable.

Maybe it was time to really consider it—however long it took.

“Studying abroad…”

He had thought it was a word that would never apply to him.

“…I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I’m asking for.”

As the two spoke, Jingyeom emerged from the house, his hair still damp.

Spotting them, he hurried over and nudged Soohyuk away, whispering under his breath.

“I told you not to come here!”

Even if Jinwoo knew about their relationship, Jingyeom didn’t want to flaunt it.

But Soohyuk paid no mind to such concerns, shameless as ever.

“Dry your hair properly. It’s still cold out.”

“Are you even listening to me?”

“You’ll catch a cold. Dry it properly.”

Jinwoo watched the scene unfold from the porch.

Once, he would’ve been the one nagging Jingyeom about his wet hair.

But that wasn’t his role anymore.

And it stung, just a little.

“Dry your hair thoroughly. I can wait.”

“No, let’s go!”

Not wanting to linger in front of Jinwoo any longer, Jingyeom tried to leave, but Soohyuk gently pushed him back.

“Dry your hair properly. I’ll wait.”

Even Jinwoo chimed in, and Jingyeom finally relented.

Only after drying his hair completely did he step out of the house.

On the day Jinwoo decided to remain a brother, Jingyeom had confessed everything.

That he was dating Soohyuk.

Jinwoo admitted he had known for a while but pretended not to, saying only, “Be happy.”

And he had smiled—a warm, genuine smile Jingyeom had never seen before.

From that day, Jingyeom stopped hiding his relationship.

He still tread carefully, but it was more for his own comfort than Jinwoo’s.

In time, perhaps they could all sit together comfortably.

Before leaving, Jingyeom stepped past Soohyuk and approached Jinwoo.

“I’ll be back before dinner.”

“No need. I have plans too.”

“Plans? With who?”

“Some friends from my old job. It’s been a while since we caught up.”

Jingyeom’s face lit up.

“Have fun! Eat something good and enjoy yourself!”

It was the first time Jinwoo had mentioned meeting someone else.

Whenever he saw Jinwoo trying to change, even just a little, Jingyeom couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter.

“Come back late, okay?” Jingyeom had pleaded as he held Jinwoo’s hand tightly before being dragged away by Soohyuk, who grumbled that they’d hit traffic if they stayed any longer.

After seeing the two off, Jinwoo walked over to the railing where Jingyeom always stood.

Although the rooftop was open on all sides, Jingyeom had said he particularly liked the view from this spot.

“…It’s nice.”

The sky was blue, the sunlight warm.

Even the chilly breeze carried hints of summer.

Summer had arrived in full bloom.

---

A memory surfaced from their recent hospital visit for Jingyeom’s routine check-up.

Jinwoo had overheard something about wish papers then.

Later that day, Hoonil had sent him a photo.

The image was clear: a yellow piece of paper with a large, hand-drawn three-leaf clover in the center, accompanied by a simple, heartfelt message.

“Jinwoo, I hope you’re happy!!”

There was no need to wonder who had written it.

The round, carefully practiced handwriting belonged to Jingyeom.

During his hospital stay, Jingyeom had spent hours perfecting his penmanship, dissatisfied with his usual writing style.

In the end, Jingyeom had wished for Jinwoo’s happiness.

The conversation they’d had in the hospital lobby replayed in Jinwoo’s mind.

“Doctor, you know those wish papers we talked about? Did you make the tree with them?”

“Oh, that? Of course I did. Your wish is on it too. I’m sure it’ll come true.”

“I really hope it does.”

Jingyeom had said that with a radiant smile, looking right at Jinwoo.

“So, in the end, your wish was for my happiness.”

As Jinwoo quietly took in the view, a thought came to him.

He went inside and searched for an old keychain he used to have.

It was a worn-out keychain with a four-leaf clover encased inside.

Time had left its mark on it, with countless scratches marring its surface.

“…”

Jingyeom had given it to him long ago.

Back when they were kids, before Jingyeom got sick, he had handed it to Jinwoo along with a clump of dirt-stained three-leaf clovers.

“If you carry a four-leaf clover, it brings good luck. I really wanted to give you a real four-leaf one, but I couldn’t find any… So I brought three-leaf ones instead. They’re supposed to bring happiness. Happy birthday, Jinwoo.”

“For Jingyeom’s sake, I really have to find true happiness now.”

Even if it wasn’t entirely for himself, the result would be the same: Jinwoo would be happy.

Jinwoo, who had once drifted alone across a vast sea in a fragile, sinking boat, had finally found solid ground.

After countless hardships, he could now firmly plant his feet on stable land.

Many challenges lay ahead, but he no longer felt afraid.

Because now, he truly had family by his side.

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