Min Jun felt a lump form in his throat, knowing the weight of Hyun Soo's words. He wanted to protest, to ask Hyun Soo to stay out of harm's way, but he knew it was futile. Hyun Soo's resolve was just as strong as his love for him.
"Aunt Kim... she's like a mother to me too," Hyun Soo continued, his voice now tinged with the regret of their shared past. "I didn't trust her before, and that guilt still weighs on me, even now. In this life, I won't make the same mistake. I want to fix what was broken. I want to protect her, and you."
Min Jun's heart ached at Hyun Soo's words, the sincerity and depth of his emotions evident in every syllable. He could see the pain in Hyun Soo's eyes, the lingering guilt from their past mistakes, and the fierce determination to make things right this time around.