Although the hospital has limited their time together – they are restricted by the time needed to be devoted to the patients and the fact that they are very careful not to show any signs that they are indeed dating (Dr. Bong and the other residents have promised not to tell anyone) – Jeong-won looks forward to the end of the day, or in their case, whenever they can go home, because that is the only moment that he and Gyeo-ul can spend time together without worrying about anyone seeing them. He likes drive as he takes her home. Even if she's tired, she never fails to make him laugh as she tells him stories. It's during these little moments when he most feels the weight of the diamond ring in his pocket.

His sudden possession of has been a heavy burden on him; he constantly finds himself touching it whenever he sees her. Even by thinking of her, his fingers find the cold gold band as if his life depended on it.

Ik-jun had noticed his unusual distractedness and given that Song-hwa was far away, he took it upon himself to inquire about his friend. From the outside, he had never seen the couple happier, but being no stranger to new relationships, he wondered how the two were navigating the changes in their lives. "What's wrong, Jeong-won?"

Jun-wan had observed this as well. "You're acting very weird." He was seeing him less and less in the house that they share; it was understandable since he was busy going on dates with Gyeo-ul whenever they had the time.

He had never told anyone about the ring; he would like to forget that he had it in the first place. What was worse was that he couldn't even dare mention it to Gyeo-ul out of the fear that she would run away from him. It was not sensible to hide it away from his friends especially since it had been gnawing at his sanity for days now.

Seok-hyeong entered Jun-wan and Jeong-won's office just in time. He had picked up their food from the delivery man. Sensing the tension in the air, he quietly retreated on one of the chairs and waited.

Jeong-won took out the ring from his pocket and showed it to everyone. Their reactions varied from one over the other: Jun-wan looked terrified as if he had just revealed a cursed item, Ik-jun was surprisingly delighted, and Seok-hyeong's face maintained its typical indifferent expression.

"I didn't want to." He needed to tell them his disclaimer first. "My mom forced me to have it."

"But?" Ik-jun pressed, his eyes curiously piercing him.

"But what?" Jeong-won demanded, frowning at the inquisition.

"You could've just left it at home like a normal person." He stared at his friend seriously now. "But somehow, you can't, because you want to do it."

Jun-wan let out a large breath and, for a second, Jeong-won was sure that there was a hint of sorrow in it. "You want to do it, but it's too soon. You're afraid to force her into this. You're right."

Seok-hyeong disagrees with all the words said. "You know, Jeong-won, our opinions don't really matter. I'm pretty sure that you two have talked about marriage, right?"

His silence was an indication that they in fact had not. Ik-jun showed his disapproval by rolling his eyes. "Jeong-won, it's okay to talk about these things. All couple eventually discusses it."

With their suggestion, Jeong-won has planned his dinner with Gyeo-ul as a start for his voicing out his concerns over the subject. He is scared that she might find it too fast, but he knows that it would be better if she knows.

Gyeo-ul notices that he has been trying to avoid her eyes all throughout the evening. He has rarely said anything on the drive over and, as they eat dinner, with the exception of giving her vegetables in between her bites, he hasn't opened his mouth. "Did I do something?"

He shakes his head rapidly. He smiles at her nervously, his hand flying to his chest pocket where he has placed his mother's ring. "No." His heart beats as he tries helplessly of a topic other than glaring one running in his head.

"What is it?" Gyeo-ul is very curious now. She hangs her head and stares at him.

He closes his eyes so that he won't be distracted by her face. It's very difficult for him to think of anything else when the love of his life is right across the table, looking at him as if he's the only person in the world. Then, in the back of his mind, there's another topic that he has been trying to hide, not just to her but to everyone. "I'm Daddy-Long-Legs!"

Gyeo-ul drops her chopsticks. Her mouth opens but is unable to say anything. She has heard of the benefactor mentioned between Ik-jun and the other professors.

He studies her reaction. For a second, he is distressed with the fact that him being Daddy-Long-Legs is worse than asking her about her thoughts when it comes to marriage. "I'm sorry," is his first response for his statement. "I know that it's a big issue to spring on you. It's just something that I did once and I just couldn't stop."

She doesn't say anything until their server arrives with the bill. Jeong-won pulls his wallet, but Gyeo-ul holds his hand firmly in place and puts her credit card on the leather notebook with the receipt. She stares at him impassively. "I think that it would be better from now on if I pay for our dinner."

As he drives her home, her acceptance with his secret has surprised him. He thought that this would ignite an argument about how he was financially reckless. In his defense, one year ago, he was certain that he wouldn't need his money anymore; that was why it was easy for him to give it to anyone who needed it.

"Are you mad?" he asks softly. He grips on the steering wheel as he impatiently waits for her answer.

"No," Gyeo-ul tells him, her voice sincere. "It's just that you should've told me sooner. I thought that you being broke was an exaggeration. If I had known, we would've never gone to those fancy places; or at least, I should've paid for it instead."

He sighs in relief. So that was what she was thinking. "It's fine. It's not like I have to put all my money into funding it; I have found ways for it to be sustainable." She merely laughs gently. His worries are now gone. He remembers what Seok-hyeong has said. "Gyeo-ul, when would you like to get married?"