The curtain call began. He wanted to stand up and applaud them, but there was no palace to put down the bouquet. After the lights came over the stage and the audience seats came on, relaxing background music started flowing out.

Some of the audience members left with their bags, while those who were close to the actors on stage went on the stage.

Maru also stood up with the bouquet and gifts for the juniors.

“Thank you for coming.”

“You look totally different from when you’re at the company.”

He heard the conversations happening on stage. Maru stood at the border between the audience seats and the stage. He quietly looked at Haneul, who was talking to the juniors. He saw Sinhye notice him and point at him.

His wife came over. Standing at the edge of the stage, she bent down. Only then were they at eye level.

His wife wiped the sweat on her forehead and smiled.

“Did you enjoy it?” she asked.

Maru responded by giving her the bouquet.

“Isn’t it too big?” she said as she received the bouquet.

“I was going to go with a bigger one but held back because you would be buried under it. Thankfully, mine’s the biggest.”

“Anything bigger than this wouldn’t be called a bouquet. You’d need...