Six in the morning. The sky was still dark, but Cheesy was already awake.Her body still ached, but she slowly rose from bed. Her feet shuffled quietly toward the kitchen. With trembling hands, she began preparing breakfast. She still remembered—back when they were dating—Daryl loved Cheesy’s homemade ginger chicken soup.So that morning, even though her chest still felt tight and her body hadn’t fully recovered, she carefully chopped the ingredients. The broth simmered slowly, the ginger sautéed, and a fragrant aroma began to fill the room.Cheesy held onto a small hope—maybe today would be a little better.Not long after, Daryl’s deep voice echoed from the bedroom.“Cheesy!”Cheesy quickly turned off the stove, wiped her hands, and walked to the bedroom.“Yes, Mr. Daryl?”Daryl stood in front of the mirror, wearing only slacks. A neatly folded white shirt lay on the bed.“Get my work clothes ready.”Without a word, Cheesy took the shirt, unfolded it carefully, and began helping Dary
**When they arrived at the apartment, Daryl didn’t say a word. He slammed the car door open and grabbed Cheesy by the wrist. His eyes were cold, sharp.Without giving her a chance to speak, Daryl scooped her into his arms.“Daryl, I can walk on my own…” Cheesy whispered softly.“Be quiet,” Daryl replied flatly.Cheesy clung to his shoulders, trying to steady her trembling body. Her chest felt tight. Her breathing shallow. But she said nothing more.Once they reached the bedroom, Daryl kicked the door shut and laid her down on the bed. His eyes lingered on her body, studying her like a predator sizing up its prey.Cheesy lowered her gaze, unable to meet his.Without warning, Daryl leaned down and kissed her neck. The kiss was heated, urgent. His breath was heavy. One of his hands moved around her waist, pulling her closer.Then, suddenly—**“Cough… cough!”**Cheesy broke into a harsh fit of coughing. She covered her mouth with her hand. When she looked down at her palm, her eyes widen
“Cheesy!”The voice rang clearly in the cold night air. Cheesy turned her head slowly. Her eyes widened when she saw the man standing just a few meters away from her.“Maxim…?” she whispered in disbelief.Maxim jogged toward her, his brows furrowed sharply as he took in Cheesy’s striking appearance. The nearly see-through black lingerie made every passerby turn their heads. But that wasn’t what shocked Maxim—it was the look on Cheesy’s face.“What are you doing…? Why are you dressed like this?” Maxim asked quickly, his voice sharp with concern. His eyes scanned Cheesy from head to toe before he immediately took off his coat.Cheesy only shook her head gently. “I’m fine,” she murmured.“No, you’re not. Don’t lie to me, Cheesy,” Maxim said as he draped his coat over her shivering body.From inside the car, Daryl’s sharp eyes locked onto them. His jaw clenched tightly. He recognized that man.Maxim, from Cheesy’s past. The man she once introduced as her “fiancé” back in college. Why was
Cheesy stood frozen in the middle of Daryl’s spacious and cold apartment. She had just finished her shower. Her hair was still slightly damp.Daryl emerged from the bedroom with calm, measured steps. In his hand was a black box. He tossed it toward Cheesy.“Wear this tonight,” he said curtly.Cheesy stared at the box, then slowly opened it. Inside was a sheer black lingerie set—almost see-through.She looked up at Daryl, her brows furrowed. “Are you serious, Mr. Daryl? You really want me to wear this?”“Do I look like I’m joking?” Daryl replied sharply.Cheesy bit her lip. She knew how cruel Daryl could be when he was angry. But tonight, somehow, the shame cut deeper than fear.Without saying a word, she began to unwrap the towel covering her body. Daryl watched without blinking.“Hurry,” he said coldly.Cheesy changed right in front of him. Her hands trembled as she put on the lingerie, but her face remained expressionless. She was doing everything she could to hide the overwhelming
The Next Day"You're in much better condition now, Miss Cheesy," said the young doctor as he reviewed the latest test results. "But you need to start chemotherapy as soon as possible. And we have to begin the search for a bone marrow donor."Cheesy stayed silent. Her gaze was blank, fixed on the hospital window. She clutched a small box containing painkillers tightly."I don't want chemo, Doc," Cheesy murmured softly.The doctor sighed. "But—""Just give me the painkillers. That's all.""...Alright, Miss Cheesy."---It had been three days since Daryl started scouring every corner of the city. He had called over a dozen unfamiliar numbers. He even ignored Clara’s calls.His phone kept buzzing, but Daryl didn’t care. His eyes were locked on the road, scanning every face that passed by."Cheesy... where are you?" he muttered, pounding the steering wheel in frustration.As his car slowed at a small intersection, Daryl’s eyes caught sight of a familiar figure.A woman stood in front of a
Daryl’s apartment was silent now, with only the ticking of the clock filling the room. After throwing his phone against the wall, he slumped onto the floor. His head leaned back against the wall, his breath heavy. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. His heart felt like it was being torn apart.“Why did you leave me again, Cheesy…” he whispered under his breath.Then Daryl’s thoughts began to drift—back to six years ago. The day his life fell apart. The day everything changed.Six Years AgoThe campus was lively that day. Daryl and Cheesy’s classmates had gathered at the garden behind the faculty building—their usual spot for birthday celebrations or casual hangouts.Daryl clutched a small box containing a simple ring. His palms were slightly sweaty, but his smile was wide. Today marked exactly two years of their relationship. He planned to propose to Cheesy—symbolically—as a sign of his commitment.“Daryl, are you sure you want to propose to Cheesy in front of everyone like this?”