THE SECOND CHANCE

THE ROOFTOP LEAK OF THE SECOND CHANCE

THE SECOND CHANCE LECTURE

Chapter 9: "The Rooftop Leak"

11:00pm. Kang Apartment. Thunder.

BOOM

Lightning lit up the whole apartment.

Soo-jin jolted awake.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Water. On her face.

She sat up. The ceiling above their bed had a crack. Water was pouring through.

"Ethan!" she yelled.

Ethan was already up. Holding Seo-woo. "The roof," he said. "It’s leaking."

Seo-woo was crying. Scared of the thunder.

Soo-jin grabbed blankets. "We have to leave!"

Ethan nodded. "Pack a bag. We’re going to Mother’s."

10 minutes later they were in the car. Rain pounding.

At the Kang Mansion.

Madam Kang opened the door in a robe. "Come in. Now."

---

12:00am. Guest Room. Kang Mansion.

They set up a crib. Dried Seo-woo off. Fed him.

Soo-jin was shaking. "I’m sorry. Our home—"

"Stop," Madam Kang said. "This is your home too. As long as you need."

Ethan looked at his mother. "Thank you."

Madam Kang nodded. Then looked at Soo-jin. "You look tired. Go sleep. I’ll watch him."

Soo-jin hesitated.

"Go," Madam Kang said softly. "I’ve raised one Kang man. I can handle another."

Soo-jin cried and hugged her. "Thank you, Mother."

---

3:00am. Hallway.

Soo-jin couldn’t sleep. She went to the kitchen for water.

And heard voices.

Madam Kang and Ethan.

"...she’s a good girl," Madam Kang was saying. "I was wrong about her."

"Mother," Ethan said. "Thank you for saying that."

"I’m not blind, Ji-hoon. I saw how you looked at her at the hospital. Like she was the only person in the world."

Ethan was quiet. "She is."

Soo-jin covered her mouth to stop crying.

---

Next Morning. Storm Still Raging.

The news: SEOUL FLOOD WARNING. APARTMENTS DAMAGED.

Soo-jin and Ethan’s apartment was on the list.

Ethan was on the phone with insurance. "Yes. The whole ceiling collapsed."

Soo-jin was making breakfast when her phone rang.

Father.

She stared at it. They hadn’t talked in 1 year. Since the scandal.

She answered. "Hello?"

"Soo-jin-ah," her father’s voice was weak. "It’s dad."

"Dad? Are you okay?"

"I’m in the hospital," he said. "Pneumonia. From the flood. In our old house."

Soo-jin’s heart dropped. "Which hospital?"

"Seoul St. Mary’s."

She hung up. Looked at Ethan. "My dad’s sick."

Ethan was already grabbing his keys. "Let’s go."

---

10:00am. Hospital Room.

Mr. Han looked old. Tired. Oxygen mask.

Soo-jin ran to him. "Dad!"

He opened his eyes. "My daughter."

She cried. "I’m sorry. I should’ve called."

"No," he said weakly. "I was proud. But stubborn. Like you."

Ethan stood behind her. Didn’t say anything.

Mr. Han looked at him. "You’re the professor."

Ethan bowed 90 degrees. "Yes, sir. I’m Ethan Kang. Soo-jin’s husband."

Mr. Han nodded. "Take care of her. She’s all I have."

"I will," Ethan said. "With my life."

Mr. Han closed his eyes. "Good."

---

1 Week Later. Apartment is Fixed.

New ceiling. New paint. New baby-proofing.

They moved back in.

That night, Seo-woo slept in his own crib for the first time.

Ethan and Soo-jin sat on the floor. Watching him.

"He’s growing so fast," Soo-jin whispered.

Ethan took her hand. "Like us."

Soo-jin leaned on him. "My dad’s getting discharged tomorrow. Can he... can he stay with us? For a bit?"

Ethan kissed her head. "Of course. This is his home too."

---

1 Month Later. Dinner Table. 4 People.

Mr. Han. Madam Kang. Ethan. Soo-jin. Baby Seo-woo.

Awkward at first.

Then Mr. Han told a story about baby Soo-jin.

Madam Kang laughed.

Ethan served everyone.

Soo-jin looked around the table.

Her past. Her present. Her future. All in one room.

No more secrets. No more running.

Just family.

---

11:00pm. Rooftop. Their Apartment.

The storm was gone. Stars were out.

Ethan and Soo-jin were on the rooftop. Blanket. Hot tea.

"Remember," Soo-jin said. "The first time we were here?"

"When you confessed in class," Ethan said. "I wanted to jump off this roof."

Soo-jin hit him. "Don’t say that!"

He pulled her close. "I’m glad I didn’t. Because I got this instead."

He gestured to the city. To their home. To their life.

Soo-jin rested her head on his chest. "Ethan. Thank you for choosing me. Every time."

"I will," he said. "In every life. In every storm."

He kissed her.

Below them, Seo-woo cried.

And they ran down together. As a team.

---

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Writed by Omahcbeauty

Chapter 9 DONE: