He was so emotional during this performance, as if he had allowed his hands to express for him what words could not.

As a professional pianist, playing with emotion and charisma wasn't uncommon for her son.

But as someone who has watched him play countless times, Yoon Hee knew there was something different about his latest concerto performance.

Following the end of the triumphant fortissimo ending, she clapped appreciatively.

"That was a spectacular performance, Jeong Hyeok. It must have taken a lot of practice."

A small, humble smile grew on his lips. "Thank you, Mother."

As always, they slipped into silence.

Yoon Hee cast a sideward glance at her son, who was staring ahead at the coffee table. Sometimes she wondered if he had things on his mind, or if he was simply spacing out.

"Jeong Hyeok ah," She started tentatively, for they were not too accustomed to conversations like this. "...did something special happen to you while in Switzerland?"

That question caught him by surprise, and the look in his eyes soon prompted his mother to say more.

"I mean, I just thought there was something very different about your piano playing in that video..."

Jeong Hyeok drew a deep breath.

How should he go about this?
                          
It was always like that, speaking about his feelings in front of anyone else apart from Se-ri was terribly difficult.

What would Se-ri do if she was in his shoes?

"So, don't make the women in your life worry for you. If you can open up and allow yourself to be taken care of every now and then, I'll be very grateful."

That was what she had told him back at Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant. He could still see the majestic snow-capped mountains, the emerald lakes, her smiles and feel her touch on his hand.

He might regret this, but it felt wrong to hide.

It felt wrong to hide Se-ri.
                          
There was no reason to hide someone as amazing, as lovely and as precious as Yoon Se-ri.

"She was there with me."

He literally saw his mother stiffen.

"She..."

Jeong Hyeok didn't say anything more, but instead, settled for maintaining eye contact with his mother.

A part of her was reluctant to open the Pandora's box; they had evaded this topic for the last three years, for no good reason actually.
                          
Yet another part of her was almost jumping for joy – Jeong Hyeok had initiated conversation that went beyond his usual monosyllabic answers.

"Comrade Yoon Se-ri...?" She softly probed, not quite knowing what to expect, as the name of the South Korean girl left her lips.

Jeong Hyeok nodded solemnly.

"How...?"

"I asked her to meet me in Switzerland." Oddly enough, it became increasingly easy to speak once the hardest words were said. "I left her with hints, and she has been flying there year after year in hopes of meeting again."

Yoon Hee knew Jeong Hyeok was very much fond of the South Korean heiress, but she had not expected their relationship to run so deep.

"How is she doing? Is she well?"

"She is very well indeed." Jeong Hyeok replied, reaching into his bag for the photo album which he had shown earlier to his friends back at the military village. "We took pictures, a lot of them."

Taking the album from her son's hand, Yoon Hee slowly flipped it open, only to see a Jeong Hyeok which she might not even have recognized at first glance.

Yoon Se-ri's face, even prettier than she had remembered, was in the foreground of the photo, wearing a radiant smile, whereas Jeong Hyeok was smiling broadly from behind her, his cheek resting on the side of her head. Both were holding up ice cream cones, and it was a very nice picture of joy at its simplest.

In a move that surprised even himself, Jeong Hyeok gently said, "This was taken at Interlaken. It's a town that's situated between two very beautiful lakes."

"Oh..." Pleasant surprise lit up his mother's wizened features, and she smiled a heartfelt smile. It was almost surreal; Jeong Hyeok allowed himself to open up. "It must have been a magnificent view."

"There are pictures of the lakes in the photos after this one."

"She is looking very well indeed. That's really great to know." Yoon Hee whispered in a soft, grateful tone. "Sometimes, she crosses my mind."

Jeong Hyeok's eyes held a tender touch as they gazed upon the girl in the photo. "She asked about you and Father as well, and sends her regards."