She was not as it seems.

She wiped her sweats off her forehead as she felt it ran down her face. After hours of climbing, walking, hiding and even running to get to the cave, they finally found what they had been looking for.

Her team of 4 people was more than happy to see that it was untouched.

"If you look closely, the drawings tell us a story." Her colleague said brushing off the dirt on the cave wall to get a better view. Leira hummed, making sure to take multiple pictures of it for proof and souvenir at home.

"You see, the villagers down there said that during this time, there was a couple that lived here secretly. The woman was the daughter of the head of village and the man was a free spirited being. She had loved him deeply but she knew that one day he will leave her. Its a very sad story and there's no good ending. He did ended up leaving her after years of being together. I was also told that she was the one who carved this drawings on the wall. They said she had lived here until she died of a broken heart."

"Does this means that this cave is...."

"Leira, you're ruining the mood." One of her team said making the latter laughed.

"I didn't say anything yet." Leira cheekily nudged the guy, smiling. The others joined in the laugh.

"He's always a bit weak to that topic, be nice to him, Leira."

Laughing, they continued exploring in hopes of finding more artifacts that they could save. Looking back at the carvings, Leira's smiles slowly fades. She bit her inner cheek and sighed subtly.

"What a good timing. I guess we're the same."

__

"Where is this coming from?" Mr Kim slammed down the tablet on the table.

Articles going around saying Leira is a daughter out of the wedlock and the mother is currently fighting for her rights in the company as her mother.

"I have contacted the journalist. He said a woman clarified to be Leira's mother gave a full statement. The description fits Miss Runa, sir."

"Leira. Has she seen this?"

"I'm not sure..sir." His assistant said hesitantly.

"Runa, why do you have to always bring problems this way?" Mr Kim said frustratedly.

"Should I inform young miss Leira to come home sir?"

"No, don't bother her. Block the articles from coming out. I don't want this to affect the company and my daughter. I will contact Runa my own."

"Yes sir."

Mr Kim sighed as his assistant excused himself out of the study.

"Runa. You really did not change. Not one bit and now you want to use your own daughter? I cant believe you would stoop so low."

__

"Did you keep up with the chaebols news? Something big happened yesterday. Every gossip channel were blowing up spilling tea!"

"Oh! About Kim Leira the daughter of the Kim Chemicals right? I was so shocked yesterday."

Seunwo paused as he heard the name. He's sure that it is her since it is her full name and company. He was reviewing some of his patients files for surgery when the two nurses at the reception talked about her.

The first thing he thought was maybe she did found another man after him so his curiosity was shut down in instant. He continued walking back to his department, passing by the reception and the next thing he heard from them made him halted yet again.

"Who would have thought she would be an illegitimate daughter? Looks like the perfect chaebol was not that perfect after all." One nurse said. The other one laughed.

"I know right, imagine the audacity to live like she's everything but being a child out of wedlock. Some people said that she didn't want to accept that the woman was her mother and her being rude to her. Isn't that too much?"

Frowning, he walked off while taking his phone out but stopped from pressing her name when he realized it.

He broke up with her.

What was he suppose to say when she answered his call?

__

"I can't reach her. Did she say anything to you?"

"Probably because there aren't any line there. She's out in the forest, hyung." Hwiyun said through his earbuds, unlocking his car. He had just finished his class and heading to Dohyon's house.

"Is that so? That's better, I guess. I don't want her to come back at this time. It's too hectic." Wushin said sighing.

"I think it's better if she came back. Her being alone there and people bad mouthing her here is concerning. She will need somebody."

"I know but there's no point for her to be here. I'm finishing things up at Gangnam branch and we will be back to the states soon. I expect her to join us by that time too since nothing is holding her back here. " The older brother said meaningfully. Hwiyun can't help but to agree.

"What are you going to do about this though?"

"Nothing can be done to be honest. She is....anyways, if you did reached her, tell her not to worry that much. Just ask her to focus on what she's doing. I'm hanging up, see you whenever, Hwiyun."

Hwiyun sighed briefly when the call ended and tapped his steering wheel as he drove. Knowing Leira, he knew she would not hide herself and face on her problem straight on.

But things are even more different now.

"Will she be alright?"

__

"So how was it?"

"Mind blowing. The discovery was gold." Leira said as they arrived back to their quarters. Feeling sweaty and sore, all she want to do is take a long bath and sleep for the night before her next flight to Massachusetts.

"Since you're done here, you're going back to Havard?" Her colleague asked handing their personal items. Leira hummed.

"Yeah. I have to submit this report. Time sure fly fast huh?"

"It does! It felt like you just came in yesterday with your charms and wit. Come and visit us sometimes, Lara Croft."

"Will do." Leira said chuckling at the nickname. It made her miss her friends back in Seoul.

Getting back into the hotel, Leira turned on her phone and left it on her bed before going into the bathroom. As the water starts running, poured in her notifications and missed call from her family and acquaintances.

Deep in the missed call notifications, sits his name that had called her for a brief second.

__

"Where were you guys? Lei said you didn't reply to her texts."

"I had to deal with my dad."

"I have work."

"Oh so you two were not together. I thought you were." Hwiyun said making Chae cocked up her eyebrow at him.

"Huh? Why would I be with him?"

"Why would you not be with me?" Dohyon said. The girl made a questioning face before facing back to Hwiyun.

They were at their usual cafe, hanging out as they finally got the time for each other. Chae had asked them out so that they could listen to her problem since she couldn't deal with it anymore.

"Anyways, I tried calling her earlier and it went to voicemail. Is she still in the woods of glory?"

"I don't know. She didn't exactly said when would they head back. My Leira sense is tingling and I feel like she would do something reckless."

Dohyon sighed. He too had been worrying about their lady friend ever since the news came out. Leira always had been edgy went it comes to her mother. As they were talking, Chae's phone rang.

"Lei!"

"Hey."

"Where are you?" Hwiyun asked taking the phone from her.

"Airport. Pick me up tomorrow?"

"Eh? How about Havard?"

"I'm done running. That woman wants war, a war is what I give. I'll text you when. See you guys tomorrow."

With that Leira ended the call leaving her friends taken back. Hwiyun leaned back to his seat, putting his palm on his mouth while Dohyon just eat the bits of cake slowly, thinking all the possibilities of what would happen when she's here.

"I don't know what would she do but I got her back." Chae said lacing her hands together as if she's praying to the lord. Hwiyun hummed.

"If the old Leira came back, I don't think things will go well."

__

"Are you okay?"

"Hm? I'm alright. Why so?"

"You seems out of it. I'm concerned that you would overworked again." The head of surgeon said meaningfully. Seunwo chuckled embarrassed.

They were at the rooftop of the old hospital building, taking a breather after their two hour surgery. Seunwo was enjoying a cup of hot coffee when the head of surgeon came joining him.

"You heard about it?"

"To be honest..I have always been watching over you, ever since you started your practice."

Seunwo looked away from the view, facing the elderly. The head of surgeon had a look of regret on his face not even hiding it. Noticing how Seunwo didn't give a response, he finally told him the truth.

"Seeing you doing well, it makes me regret leaving. I could have been there watching you grow up but I let that all slip away chasing for the future by not living at the moment. Your mother was pregnant with you at the time. That's why she and your sister didn't want you to learn about me."

"I'm not sure what to say.." Seunwo said scratching his nape. He knew that the topic will brought up.

"I don't expect you to say anything.. let alone find me so I was really happy when you transferred here. I already in my late 50s and still living in regret so I have one advice for you, Dr Han."

Seunwo nodded for him to continue.

"Don't be like me. After I left my family, I start to realize that they were the reason I'm at where I am. Your mother had been with me through thick and thin from the start of our internship to being a doctor. Then by the time I realized it, it was already too late. When you find a person that accepts you for who you are, cherish her, son. They are the filler in whatever holes you have in life." The head of surgeon said, giving him a sad smile. Seunwo nodded slowly, finishing his hot coffee.

"Ah I probably made you uncomfortable with this talk. I'm sorry, Seunwo."

"Not at all. I'm sure you had been keeping this for a long time. We are both adults now so I don't hold any grudges on you..sir."

"I'm actually quite surprise when you hid yourself well in SNU. Is your mother okay with it?" The elder asked leaning to the rooftop fence. Seunwo plastered a small smile.

"I didn't want the attention on me. Besides, if the people knew, it would be such a hassle and my hard work wouldn't be recognize."

"Ah, I see. That could happen too. She was questioned a lot back in the days too so I understand."

::

Seunwo stepped inside the house with his thought filled with what the head of surgeon said. It had lingered in his mind as he walked blankly passed his living room not noticing the other doctor in the household.

"Wow, you look even worser. You are slowly losing it aren't you?"

"Huh?" Seunwo stopped to his track and turned to the male, bewilderedly. The male chuckled.

"I still want to punch your face whenever I look at you. I swear."

"When did you came back?"

Kai sighed, putting away his book and stood up from the sofa. He stared at Seunwo flatly and walked passed him up the stairs.

"She's healthy. If you're going to move on from her, please do it quickly so I that I can court her properly. I can't do that when you're still in denial."

"I'm not-"

"Save the bluff."

Seunwo watched his friend walked into his bedroom and shut it close. Leaning back to the wall, he accidentally hit one of the picture hanged to the wall and it landed hard on the floor. He picked it up and luckily the glass didn't crack when he hanged it back. Upon doing so, his eyes landed on the woman in the photo.

That day she looked so sad but he was too determined on his decision, he didn't even bother to ask what's wrong. He then proceeds calling it quits with her.

Now that the rumors are around with her name, he knew he messed up.

"I left her when she needed me the most."