49| A Fateful Encounter (Han)

Hi, Delulis! Author Gee here! 💛

Before we dive into the next chapter, I just wanted to give you a quick introduction to Season 7 of Parallel—a season I consider especially meaningful.

We're nearly reaching the midpoint of the story, so I wanted to do something a little different (and also because you guys have been asking me nonstop about this 😅). This season will focus on the origin stories of each couple—how they met and how they started dating!

That means all of these chapters will take place in the past, not in the current timeline of the story. Think of them as special flashback arcs that show you where it all began.

Now, if you've been following closely, you've probably noticed that I usually release chapters in the order of the members' ages. Honestly, I'm not even sure why I started doing that—but hey, we're too far in to change it now 😅

However! These special chapters will follow the chronological order of when each couple got together (not the chronological order of events—since a lot of their stories overlap). You'll see what I mean once we get into it.

Here's the lineup:Han, Lee Know, Chan, Changbin, Felix, Seungmin, Hyunjin, and I.N

As many of you remember, I.N and his girlfriend's origin story was already revealed in his very first chapter. So instead of repeating it, his special chapter will explore a significant event from their past that shaped their relationship.

These chapters ended up being quite lengthy, since they cover multiple months and key emotional moments—but I promise they're worth it. I hope you'll be patient with the longer reads and enjoy discovering how each love story came to be.

So without further ado...Let's begin Season 7 and find out how Han and Minji came together 💫

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Minji stretched her arms above her head, rolling her shoulders until they cracked. She winced slightly, pressing her fingers into the knot at the side of her neck, and let out a sigh that felt too heavy for how early her shift still was.

Barely an hour in—and she was already exhausted.

Her coworker had been out sick for days, and Minji had been pulling double shifts to cover for him. Sure, it was extra money—money she definitely needed—but it was also wearing her thin.

And nights like tonight? Fridays? They were the worst.

Fridays meant drunk customers. Loud laughter echoing off the glass storefront. Slurred voices demanding cigarettes and ramen and sweet, fizzy drinks. People who stumbled around the aisles, knocking things over and apologizing too loudly—or not at all.

She dreaded it.

Minji continued stacking colorful candy bags onto the shelves behind the counter, trying not to think too far ahead into the night. Her fingers moved on autopilot, the rustling of plastic wrappers mixing with the low hum of the store's fluorescent lights.

But then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone slip into one of the plastic chairs outside.

Her gaze flicked toward the glass door.

A man had practically collapsed into the chair, legs giving out beneath him as he dropped his weight into the seat. He leaned forward until his forehead touched the table, arms hanging loose, his shoulders trembling just slightly.

A hoodie was pulled low over his face, hiding him in shadows and anonymity.

Minji sighed quietly.

Great. Here we go.

She wiped her hands on her apron and stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against her flushed skin.

"Excuse me," she called softly as she approached his table.

No reaction.

He just hunched further over the table, his back rounded, a subtle tremor running through him.

"Hello?" Minji tried again, gentler this time. She reached out and tapped his shoulder.

The man flinched so violently that his chair scraped backward an inch on the concrete, making her jump startled as well. His head snapped up—and suddenly Minji found herself staring into huge, round eyes.

For a second, he just blinked at her, wide-eyed, his breath shuddering unevenly. His entire body was vibrating, like a taut wire about to snap. Panic. She recognized it instantly.

"Hey," she said quickly, her voice dropping into the calm, soothing cadence she had learned to use.

Without missing a beat, she pulled a small object from her back pocket and gently pressed it into his trembling hand.

He stared down at it, confused. Slowly, his fingers closed around the small yellow smiley-face keychain.

Minji guided his hand, squeezing his fingers until the toy squished inward and popped a little orange bubble from its side—shaped unmistakably like a tiny cartoon butt.

A faint flicker of confusion crossed his face. Then—just for a second—his shoulders relaxed by half a centimeter. His eyes darted back to hers, still wary but slightly less wild.

But then a car horn blared out on the street, a sharp burst of sound slicing through the quiet.

He jerked again, breath catching, scanning his surroundings with frantic eyes.

Minji's heart squeezed.

"Would you like to come inside?" she said gently, extending her hand. "It's quieter in there."

He hesitated, looking from her uniform to the glowing lights of the store and back again at her soothing smile. Something about her transpired peace.

So, slowly, he reached out and slipped his shaking hand into hers.

His palm was clammy, fingers cold despite the warmth of the night.

Minji led him inside, nudging open the door with her shoulder. She lifted the partition on the counter, letting him slip through behind it before offering him her chair.

He hovered uncertainly beside it, eyes darting around the bright, orderly shelves of the small store, until Minji gave him a soft, encouraging smile.

"It's okay. Sit."

He sat, his movements cautious, folding into himself like he was trying to take up less space.

"Here." Minji pulled open one of the nearby glass fridges, the cool blast of air spilling out into the room. She grabbed a bottle of water and twisted off the cap before handing it to him. "On the house."

He accepted it with tentative fingers, tugging his mask down to take a sip.

The mask slipped far enough for Minji to catch a proper look at his face.

And she blinked.

Because he was... well. Very cute.

Round cheeks, even rounder eyes. His lips were pink from biting them, and a single drop of water clung to his lower lip as he swallowed.

She found herself staring until he cleared his throat.

"T-thank you," he said, voice hushed and a little hoarse.

Minji cleared her throat, cheeks warming, even his voice was pretty.

"Do you think aliens like orange soda?" she blurted out.

He blinked. "What?"

"If aliens came down to Earth and tried orange soda, would they like it? Or would they prefer another flavor?"

"I—I don't..." He trailed off, eyes wide and brows scrunched in bafflement.

Minji grinned.

Because for the first time since she had seen him, he wasn't trembling.

"That was random, I know," she said. "But you seem calmer now."

He blinked a few more times. Then he slowly nodded, like it was just occurring to him that the panic was fading.

"Oh. I... I guess I am."

"My little sister has panic attacks sometimes," Minji said, leaning one hip against the counter. "Asking weird questions always throws her brain off track long enough to calm back down. It almost always works."

He studied her for a moment, something soft and awed flickering in his eyes.

"I see," he said, a shy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Shit, Minji thought. He's really cute.

"It's 'no,' by the way," she said suddenly.

He blinked again. "What is?"

"The answer." Minji shrugged. "I think they'd prefer grape soda."

He stared at her for a beat.

"Why?" he asked, his smile growing.

"Because it's my favorite one."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you an alien?"

"No. But I have good taste."

He laughed then—a genuine, clear sound that made something flutter in Minji's chest.

"Thank you," he said, a little more firmly now. He met her eyes, his gaze steadier. "That actually really helped."

"No problem," she said, suddenly shy under the warmth of his look. "You can stay back here as long as you need."

"My friend's coming to get me," he said, adjusting his mask again. "So I'll be out of your hair soon."

"I don't mind," she said lightly, already picking up another box of candy to shelve. "Really."

"Thank you," he murmured again.

She nodded and turned back to the shelves, pulling down a box of candy and sorting the colorful packets into neat rows.

He stayed quiet for a moment, twisting her keychain between his fingers, watching it bulge and squish into that ridiculous orange bubble butt. A soft laugh escaped him as he gave it another squeeze.

Then, more hesitantly, he spoke.

"You said... your sister has panic attacks?"

Minji glanced over her shoulder, surprised by the gentleness in his voice. "Yeah. She has social anxiety. Sometimes things just... get too big for her, you know? Crowds. Lights. People looking at her. It can be a lot."

He nodded slowly, eyes tracing the floor. "I get that," he murmured. "It's the same for me. Sometimes it's like... the room's shrinking. Or like my own heart's too loud in my ears."

"Yeah," she said softly. She gave him a small, sympathetic smile. "Seems to happen to a lot of cool people."

He let out a breathy laugh, head tipping forward shyly. "You're really nice."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," she smiled brightly.

Some of the tension between them seemed to ease as he relaxed and calmed down further, muttering a few quiet words here and there, to which she would gladly engage, still keeping a light and soothing tone. He stayed perched on her chair behind the counter, legs swinging slightly, while Minji worked around him.

Eventually, he scooted closer, reaching into the box she was emptying, their fingers brushing together for a fleeting moment.

"Can I help you?" he asked hesitantly.

"Sure, I'd appreciate that." Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. "Could you hand them to me so I don't have to keep bending down?"

He nodded and they worked like that for several minutes—him handing her candy bars, her stacking them into color-coded rainbows. Occasionally, their fingers touched, lingering a little longer each time.

Minji found herself forgetting how tired she was. Forgetting about the drunks that might stumble in later. Forgetting about everything except how warm the store felt, how natural it felt to be around him.

A comfortable silence settled between them once they were done stocking the shelves. He started playing with the keychain again, squeezing it so the little orange bubble popped in and out.

"I've never had someone help me like this during a panic attack," he said suddenly. His voice was soft, thoughtful. "Usually people just... stare. Or tell me to breathe. Or tell me to calm down, like I'm not already trying."

Minji paused, the last box of gummies halfway to the shelf.

"Yeah," she murmured. "People don't always get it. They mean well, but... sometimes they just make it worse."

He glanced at her, his gaze lingering. "You didn't make it worse."

Minji felt heat bloom under her skin. She busied herself putting away the candy. "Well. I'm glad."

No customers came in while he was there. No loud sounds came from outside. For a little while, it was just the two of them, the quiet hum of the fridges, and the rustle of plastic wrappers.

Minji caught herself staring at him again, noting the soft curve of his mouth when he smiled, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners.

She felt herself wanting to keep him there. Just a little longer.

But then—

The bell above the door rang, cutting sharply through their shared bubble.

"Excuse me—have you seen..." a frantic voice burst out. "Ji!"

"Hyung."

The boy rose from the chair and stepped out from behind the counter. His voice was steadier now, but there was still something delicate about the way he moved—like he was afraid if he moved too fast, he would snap.

"You came."

"Of course I came." His friend crossed the store in three long strides and pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

"It's okay," the boy said quietly, arms looping around him. "I'm okay."

"Let's get you home."

He began guiding him toward the exit, but just before they reached the door, the boy paused and turned back to Minji.

"Oh—wait."

She straightened up behind the counter as he approached.

"Here," he said, holding out the key she had given him. "Thank you so much."

Minji took it, but before he could pull his hand away, she unclipped the little yellow keychain. It had been squished so many times that it felt incredibly warm in her hand.

"You can keep this," she said, holding it out to him. "It seemed to help."

"Oh, you don't have—"

"I insist." She smiled gently, and closed his fingers around it.

"Thank you. Really." He bowed to her, sincere and warm, and turned to leave.

His friend was waiting at the door, hand resting lightly on his back as soon as he stepped close. But instead of stepping out, the friend gave him a soft push, murmuring something quietly and then turned back toward the counter.

Minji blinked in surprise as he leaned forward—hood still up, face mostly obscured behind a black mask—but his eyes were sharp, intense, locked directly on hers.

"What's your name?" he asked, his voice low and almost conspiratorial.

"...Park Minji?" she replied slowly, confused by the question.

"Listen, Park Minji." He dropped his voice further, dipping into a threatening tone. "I appreciate you watching him for a while, but you better not talk about this to anyone, alright?"

Her brows furrowed. "Sorry—what?"

"Don't spread this online or anything like that," he said quickly. "I know your name and where you work. It won't end well for you."

She blinked at him, stunned. "Why would I spread this online?"

The stranger froze for a beat, then exhaled sharply.

"Oh, you don't know—" he muttered, almost to himself. Then he stopped short. "Never mind. I'm sorry. Thank you."

Without waiting for her reply, he turned and ushered his friend out the door.

Minji watched through the window as they got into a cab and disappeared down the street, the taillights painting red streaks across the pavement.

She stood there a moment longer, frowning slightly.

That was weird.

But she shook it off.

The rest of her shift passed in a quiet blur. A few stragglers came and went, buying cheap beer or instant ramen, but nothing worth remembering.

She wiped down the counter. Restocked the gum. Lined the candy bars up facing the same direction just to pass the time. But in the back of her mind, she kept thinking about the boy with the round eyes, the trembling hands, and the soft laugh that had made her stomach flip.

Meanwhile, the cab was silent for a long while before Han finally spoke.

"You didn't have to threaten her," he said quietly.

"I didn't threaten her," Lee Know replied, leaning his head back against the seat. "I just asked her not to say anything."

Han looked out the window. The streetlights blurred in his peripheral vision.

"I don't think she knew who I was."

"Yeah. Didn't seem like it."

Lee Know glanced down, then pointed at something in Han's hands. "What's that?"

"A keychain," Han murmured, holding it up. He gave it a squeeze, and the little orange butt popped out again. "She let me keep it."

Lee Know let out a small laugh. "Cute."

"Yeah... it's nice. It helped."

There was a pause. Han turned the keychain over in his palm again, his fingers working it mindlessly.

"What happened?" Lee Know asked delicately.

"I don't know." Han's voice was barely audible. "It was more crowded outside than I thought. Loud. I couldn't think. Everything just... closed in."

Lee Know rested a hand on his leg, rubbing gently. "It's alright. I'm here now. I'll stay with you."

Han nodded slowly. "Thank you."

The rest of the ride passed in a quiet lull. Han kept the keychain in his lap the entire time, squeezing it in slow, rhythmic intervals. And through the haze of adrenaline and the slow drain of anxiety, one image kept rising again and again in his mind:

The girl at the convenience store.The way she smiled.The calm in her voice.The weird alien soda question.

Park Minji.

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"Thank you, have a great night," Minji said politely as she handed the customer their bag.

They didn't so much as look at her. Just grunted, snatched the bag from her hands, and walked out without a word.

Minji didn't flinch. She was used to rude customers by now—used to people too deep in their own day to realize it was another human standing behind the counter. She just sighed and went back to wiping down the laminate surface with practiced, steady movements.

Her mind drifted as her hands worked—thinking about the group project she had due soon, mentally flipping through her calendar, trying to carve out a day for a proper meeting.

"That was a little rude, wasn't it?"

She blinked, looking up in surprise.

A customer stood at the counter, casual, hands in his pockets. He wore a black mask, and a soft gray beanie pulled low on his head—but those eyes. Those huge, expressive eyes.

She would recognize them anywhere.

Her cheeks went warm.

"It's fine," she mumbled, trying to sound composed but already catching her own reflection smiling too wide in the glass behind him. "You never really know what kind of day someone's having."

"You're seriously too nice," Han said, and his eyes squinted slightly in a smile that lit up his whole face.

Minji swallowed. Shit, he's still cute.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked.

He tilted his head. "Oh? You recognize me?"

"It's not every day I give my keychain to a cute guy," she said with a soft laugh—then immediately froze.

Her mouth had moved faster than her brain.

Her eyes widened a fraction, and she quickly turned away, wiping the same spot on the counter again to mask her embarrassment.

Han stared at her for half a second, caught completely off guard.

Did she just... call me cute?

For a fleeting moment, his mind blanked, and he simply blinked at her.

But then he caught the way her cheeks were blooming pink, the way she wouldn't look at him, and a slow, surprised grin started to curl at the corners of his lips.

How... adorable.

And suddenly, he found himself really looking at her.

At the little dusting of moles sprinkled on her cheeks. The delicate curve of her lips, still parted like she was mumbling inaudible words to herself. The little crease that formed between her brows when she was flustered.

Huh.

She was prettier than he had realized the other night.

He felt a flicker of something warm and curious spark in his chest.

"I think it's clean," he said, voice a little softer as he watched her scrub the same spot on the counter for the millionth time.

"Hm?" she glanced up quickly, still flustered.

"The counter." He pointed, a small smirk tugging at his lips, hidden by his mask but audible in his voice. "Pretty sure you got it."

"Oh," she glanced down. "R-right."

She set the cloth aside, smoothed her apron, and turned around, suddenly busying herself with the already perfectly aligned cigarette rack behind her. A deep breath. A subtle shake of her head and a quiet clearing of her throat.

She turned back to him and gave her best customer service smile. It was still a little shaky.

"I'm sorry. That was rude of me. Can I help you with anything tonight?"

He leaned slightly on the counter, gaze curious, light dancing behind his eyes.

"I just came to thank you again," he said.

"There's no need."

"Your name's Minji, right?" he asked, glancing at her nametag. "Can I call you that?"

She nodded. "Sure."

"I'm..." He hesitated, like he had to think about it.

A flicker of tension crossed his eyes as he glanced away.

I shouldn't say my real name. She probably doesn't know who I am—but what if she does?

It wasn't that he thought Minji seemed like the type to freak out or post about it online. But experience had taught him how quickly things could spiral.

She raised an eyebrow. "Did you forget your name?"

He laughed, the sound low and airy. "No—I just... don't always use it."

"You don't have to tell me," she said kindly. "It's alright."

He studied her for a moment. And... well. He liked this moment. The quiet normalcy. The way she looked at him like he was just a guy leaning on her counter—not someone who stood on stages in front of thousands of screaming fans.

Better to keep it simple.

He lifted his gaze back to hers, his eyes crinkling slightly over his mask.

"You can call me Ji."

Minji blinked. "Isn't that a little... intimate?"

"Cute girls who give me their keychains can be a little intimate." His eyes narrowed playfully.

She felt her entire face flush. She immediately dropped down into a crouch to the shelf below the counter, grabbing at the nearest pack of gum and pretending to check the stock.

Han chuckled softly. He leaned a little closer to be able to look at her, elbows on the counter, watching her with that amused, curious expression that said he wasn't going anywhere just yet.

He had originally just meant to drop by, say thank you, maybe return the keychain—but now that he was here, he wanted to stay a little longer.

There was something about her—grounded, offbeat, confident but warm. She wasn't trying to impress him. She was just... being herself.

And that made her feel magnetic.

"Do you always work the night shift by yourself?" he asked, glancing around the empty store. The bright fluorescent lights cast a pale glow over the shelves packed with colorful labels.

"No, this isn't my usual shift." Minji stayed crouched, carefully adjusting candy labels to all face the same way. "I'm just covering for someone this week."

"I see..." his voice was casual, but there was a playful edge creeping in. "So if I come back here again around this time, I won't find you?"

Minji paused, her hand hovering over the candy bars. Slowly, she tilted her face upward, chin lifting, her bangs falling back from her eyes.

She was closer than he had realized—just a couple of feet away, looking up at him from below, eyes sharp and searching. There was a mischievous glint in them, as though she was trying to see straight through him.

"Do you want to find me?" she asked, voice soft but loaded with challenge.

The question hit him like an unexpected gust of wind.

For a split second, Han forgot how to breathe.

Do I?

He hadn't thought about it before stepping inside the store tonight. He had only wanted to say thank you. To reassure himself she wouldn't talk about that night to anyone.

But now, standing there, watching her blink those big eyes up at him, her lips parted in silent question—he realized the answer came far too easily.

Yes.

He did want to see her again.

And the certainty of it unnerved him more than he cared to admit.

He shifted his weight, dropping his gaze for half a second, trying to hide how his pulse had suddenly quickened.

"Well, I—" he began, but his voice cracked slightly.

Minji cocked her head, that little smirk curving her lips.

"I'm just joking," she said breezily, leaning back on her heels and ducking her head into the candy shelf again. "You get flustered pretty easily."

Han blinked at her, still recovering.

"Says the blushing machine," he fired back, though it came out a bit too fast, betraying how rattled he still was.

"Not fair," she countered, quickly glancing up at him just for a second. "You've got your face covered. I can't even tell if you blush."

He fell silent for a moment, glancing around the quiet store. Outside, the street was mostly still—occasional headlights gliding past, neon signs flickering gently against the glass.

It was just the two of them, the soft hum of the fridge the only background noise.

She already saw my face once... and she didn't react. Maybe it's safe.

He hesitated another beat, then slowly tugged his mask down, revealing his full face and a small, shy smile.

"Now you can."

Minji's brows shot up.

"Are you a criminal or like... a gangster?" she blurted.

Han blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"

"You seem like you're hiding from someone. You wouldn't even tell me your name."

A flicker of amusement passed over his features. He leaned his chin into his palm and tilted his head, studying her with those big, round eyes.

"So you really don't know who I am?" he asked carefully.

Minji frowned at him. "Should I know who you are? Are you famous?"

He paused... then forced a nonchalant smile. "No."

"Then why should I know?" she pressed.

"You shouldn't," he said, chuckling lightly. "I was just joking."

But Minji kept staring, her eyes narrowing slightly, sharp and observant. She wasn't convinced.

"I'm sorry," she said, scanning his face more carefully. "I'm really bad with faces. Have we met before?"

Before he could answer, Minji exclaimed suddenly: "Oh!" Her eyes widened as she pointed at him.

Han stiffened, heartbeat thumping a little faster. Shit.

"Do we perhaps go to the same university?"

Han let out a short, startled laugh. "No."

Minji cocked her head. "Do you go to the study café near the main intersection?"

"Also no."

She dropped her hand and huffed. "Then I really don't know you." She turned her attention back to the candy shelf, shaking her head.

"I told you," he said, relief trickling through his chest. "I was just joking. We've never met before."

"You just seem oddly comfortable with me for someone I've supposedly never met," Minji mumbled.

Han blinked at her.

She's right.

He hadn't thought about it until now. But there was something about her that felt easy. Safe. Like she had pulled him into a warm orbit without him realizing.

She was cute, sure—his type, even. Sweet and a little quirky. But there was also something... grounding about her. He couldn't quite define it. But he kind of wanted to find out.

Before he could stop himself, he blurted: "What time does your shift end?"

Minji looked up sharply. "Pardon?"

"What time does your shift end? When can you leave?"

"Why?"

"I'd like to thank you properly. For helping me the other night. Maybe we could grab a drink."

Minji blinked, then gave him a polite but cautious smile. "That's not necessary." She stood and dusted off her pants. "And I leave very late."

"How late?"

"Very late," she said, lifting the counter partition and wandering into one of the aisles to check expiry dates.

Han followed her movements, curiosity growing. "As in...?"

"As in my shift just started."

He glanced at the clock—it was nearly midnight. His brows shot up. "So you'll be here all night?"

"Yep." She straightened some items on the shelf, pretending to be absorbed in her task.

"Isn't that... a little dangerous?"

"This part of town's pretty chill." She shrugged.

"But you're all alone."

"It's fine." She offered him a small, reassuring smile, though her cheeks were still a bit pink.

Han tilted his head, considering her. For some reason, the thought of leaving right now didn't feel right.

"Can I stay with you, then? Keep you company?"

Minji paused, one hand weakly holding onto a pack of instant noodles. She glanced sideways at him, her voice carefully light. "You don't have anything better to do?"

"Not really."

She pursed her lips, hesitating for a second longer than she meant to. "Well... I can't force you to leave."

"Cool. I'll stay, then." He grinned, leaning casually against the counter.

"Alright. Suit yourself," she mumbled, returning her focus to the labels.

Inside, her heart was fluttering like a trapped bird.

Why does he want to stay?

He was cute—no doubt about it. Very much her type. And the way he was insisting on keeping her company, the way he kept teasing her... it was doing things to her composure she didn't want to admit.

Han watched her fingers fuss over the same two cans of chips for the third time in a row.

She's flustered. It's kind of... adorable.

"What time is your usual shift?" he asked suddenly.

"I'd rather not say," she shot back, aiming for casual, but her voice caught slightly.

"Why?"

"It's a bit personal to give out to a complete stranger. Especially a potential criminal."

"I'm not a criminal."

"That's exactly what a criminal would say," she said primly, turning her nose up at him.

Han burst out laughing. "Okay, so what am I supposed to say instead?"

"I don't know. I'd still suspect you either way." She smirked.

He stepped closer, dropping his voice a fraction lower. "Don't you think... if I were a criminal, I would've done something to you already? It's only the two of us in here."

"If you're a smart criminal," Minji said, fixing him with a flat look, "you'd know there are cameras in here. And that everything in chain stores like these is insured. A simple clerk like me doesn't carry anything valuable. The cash register gets emptied before the night shift starts, so there's nothing in there except some loose change. If you want to go to prison for a handful of coins... be my guest."

Han leaned forward slightly, eyes dancing. "The whole point is that I'm not a criminal."

"Okay, I'll consider you part of the Mafia, then."

"That would still make me a criminal," he retorted, half laughing.

"True." She paused, tapping a finger to her chin. "But it just sounds cooler."

"I'm not in the mafia," he insisted, trying—and failing—to keep his grin in check.

"Okay, so you're famous."

"I'm not," he said too quickly.

Minji tried to contain her smile, feeling it tug at the corners of her lips. His denial was far too sharp, too practiced. So he is famous.

She didn't recognize him from anywhere. But then again, she didn't keep up with celebrities. She had bigger things to worry about—like studying for her exams, or finding enough hours in the day for sleep.

And honestly... she didn't care if he was famous or not.

So instead of pressing the issue, she tilted her head and gave him an exaggerated look of suspicion.

"Hm... then you're hiding from your ex-girlfriend."

He blinked. "How does that make any sense?"

"I don't know," she said breezily. "Maybe you cheated on her, and now she's out for revenge. So you're scared to show your face in public and reveal your identity."

Han let out a short laugh, eyes scrunching up adorably. "You watch way too many dramas, don't you?"

"Not really. But my grandma does." She flashed him a cheeky grin. "Did my story resonate with you at all?"

"No. I'd never cheat on my girlfriend. And my ex couldn't care less about me."

"Ouch. What did you do to her?"

"Nothing," he said with a shrug, fingers drumming lightly on the edge of the shelf. "We just... decided to stop seeing each other."

"Out of nowhere?"

"I guess we were never that into it anyway." He picked up a can of snacks and spun it absently, the metallic rattle echoing softly between them.

Minji reached over and gently turned the can so its label faced forward again. "I see."

Han watched her straighten the can with laser focus. His lips curved upward. "Do you have that thing where you obsess over keeping everything perfectly organized?"

"I do not have OCD, if that's what you mean," she said sharply, still adjusting the shelf. "And besides, OCD isn't just about neatness."

He lifted his palms in surrender. "Okay, okay."

"I just... like things to look neat," she muttered, eyeing the shelf as if daring it to misbehave.

"Why?"

She blinked at him. Why? What kind of question was that? Why wouldn't anyone prefer things to be neat?

Han saw the confused crease between her brows and couldn't help grinning. He knew it was a silly question—but he loved the way it flustered her. She looked cute like that.

"Doesn't it look better this way?" she said, gesturing to the perfectly aligned row. "You can clearly see the labels and flavors. You know exactly what you're grabbing."

"I'd still know what I'm grabbing if one can was a little crooked," he teased, tilting his head.

"But—" She blinked at the shelf again, utterly scandalized.

Han reached over and spun the can sideways, hiding the label entirely.

Minji's jaw clenched.

He met her stare with mischievous defiance, and slowly—so slowly—turned another can just slightly off-angle.

Minji's breath caught, her fingers twitching at her sides.

"Whatever. I don't mind," she said, attempting to sound breezy as she dragged her eyes away from the shelf.

"Oh, really?" Han said, voice low and smooth. He reached out, spinning another can. This time, closer.

Minji swallowed hard, refusing to look at him—or the offending can. She kept her eyes fixed firmly on the shelf in front of her.

But Han leaned in, closing the gap between them, and reached his hand toward the can right in front of her face. His breath fanned over the side of her neck, warm and insistent.

Enough was enough.

She slapped her hand over his, stopping him mid-spin.

Han burst out laughing, the sound echoing in the quiet aisle.

Minji scowled at him, cheeks pink, but she couldn't keep the reluctant smile from tugging at her lips at the sound of his laugh.

"I'm sorry. You're just... fun to tease," he said, still laughing softly. He leaned forward and carefully fixed all the cans he had spun out of place, aligning them one by one. "Your pissed-off face is cute."

Minji's eyes widened a fraction. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze to the floor.

"And your flustered face..." He leaned in closer, voice lowering. "...is even cuter."

She let out a small, exasperated sound and cleared her throat, pivoting abruptly to leave the aisle. Han chuckled, watching her retreat with a mixture of amusement and... something else he didn't quite dare to name yet.

Her face burned as she hurried down the next aisle, feeling as red as a tomato.

Is he actually flirting with me... or just teasing me for fun?

She was used to customers trying to hit on her. Men giving her their numbers scribbled on receipts. Awkward attempts at flattery over the counter. But none of them had ever been her type. None of them had made her heart skip like this.

But it doesn't matter.

Even if he was flirting, it wasn't like she could act on it. He was... apparently famous? Or at least hiding something about himself. And she didn't have time for dating anyway—not with school, her job, her family always needing her.

Friends were hard enough to keep up with. A boyfriend? Impossible.

She clenched her fists for a moment, then shook her head as if trying to clear water from her ears. Focus, Minji. Don't let him get to you.

"You said you like grape soda, right?" Han called from behind her.

She stopped, glancing over her shoulder. "...Yeah?"

"Would you like one?"

She turned fully to find him holding a cold can of grape soda from one of the fridges nearby, condensation beading down the aluminum. He held it out toward her with a hopeful expression.

"I'm not supposed to eat while on the job," she said, trying to keep her voice firm.

"You're not allowed to drink a soda? Even if I buy it for you?" His brows rose, lips curving into a playful pout.

"Nope. Sorry."

"There's no one here, though."

"Cameras," she reminded him, gesturing to one tucked into the ceiling corner.

Han glanced up at it, his nose scrunching. "Does anyone actually watch that footage?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure," she admitted. "But I'd rather not risk my job for a can of soda."

His mouth curled downward into an exaggerated pout. His lower lip jutted out, soft and tempting.

Minji's eyes accidentally darted to his mouth—and lingered half a second too long.

He has cute lips. Soft-looking. Perfect for...

She swallowed hard and yanked her gaze away, mentally smacking herself.

Han saw it. Oh, he definitely saw it. A smirk tugged at one side of his mouth as he tilted his head and continued watching her.

Since she was looking away, he let himself really look at her. Taking in every detail.

She was pretty in a way that felt... real.

No makeup, or at least very minimal. Skin clear and smooth. A sprinkle of small moles across her cheeks. Her long hair slightly tousled, pulled back in a simple clip.

Her uniform wasn't exactly flattering—boxy and loose, with a cheap logo embroidered on the chest—but even that felt oddly endearing.

He was surrounded all the time by people who were styled and perfected for cameras, every flaw concealed under layers of makeup and stage lights.

But Minji... was just Minji.

And somehow, that made her ten times more captivating.

Meanwhile, Minji could feel him staring. She tried to keep her eyes on the shelf in front of her, pretending to read expiration dates she had already checked twice.

Her uniform suddenly felt so plain. Her hair felt messy. Her skin felt shiny under the harsh fluorescent lights.

Why do I care what he thinks? she scolded herself.

But no matter how many times she told herself it didn't matter... she still wanted a cute guy to think she was cute, too.

Eventually, Minji cleared her throat and darted away once more. Finding no expired food to fuss over, she made her way back behind the counter, trying to put physical distance between them.

Han followed her, carrying the unopened can of grape soda like a little peace offering.

He set it down gently on the counter and then stood there, scanning the candy racks in front of him with great intensity.

He pursed his lips, squinting as if making a monumental decision.

"...Which candy do you like?" he asked.

"I don't really like candy," Minji said lightly, grabbing her cloth and wiping down a spot that didn't need wiping.

Han's head snapped up so fast his beanie nearly slipped off. "You don't like candy? What's wrong with you?"

"I just don't," Minji said, shrugging lightly. "I'm a chocolate person."

"Chocolate is still candy."

"No, it's not. Chocolate is chocolate."

Han raised his eyebrows. "What's the difference?"

"This is candy," she declared, leaning over the counter and pointing to the left section, where brightly colored gum, lollipops, and chewy sweets filled the shelves. "And this is chocolate." She shifted her finger to the right, toward the fun-sized chocolate bars neatly arranged in rows.

He squinted at the shelves, then pointed at the chocolate section. "So what are these called?"

"Chocolate," she repeated firmly. "I just told you."

"No, I mean the actual product. It has a name. What is it?" He tilted his head, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

"A... chocolate bar?" she said, looking utterly confused.

"No, that is a chocolate bar," he corrected, nodding toward the full-sized bars behind him on the shelf. "These have a different name."

"A... small chocolate bar?"

He snorted, grabbed a pack off the shelf, and slid it across the counter toward her. "Read the packaging."

She blinked down at it. Candy bar.

Her face twisted in disbelief. That couldn't possibly be right. Chocolate wasn't candy.

Han caught her expression and bit back a grin. She was so damn cute when she got stubborn.

Minji shook her head vehemently. "This is wrong. They don't know what they're talking about."

"Oh, sure," he said, voice dripping sarcasm. "Because you know better than the candy company."

"I do," she shot back without hesitation. "Chocolate isn't candy."

He leaned his elbows on the counter, drawing closer. "Alright, Miss Know-it-all. Which chocolate do you like, then?"

"Pretty much all of them."

"What's your favorite?"

"Peanut M&Ms."

"That's not even a bar!" he cried, throwing his hands in the air.

"You never said it had to be a bar." She crossed her arms and tilted her head, clearly amused at his frustration.

"M&Ms are definitely candy."

"No, they're not. They're chocolate."

Han's jaw dropped. "What are they shaped like?"

"They might be shaped like candy, but that doesn't make them candy."

"Yes, it does!"

"This candy is shaped like fruit," she said, pointing at a nearby bag of fruit-shaped gummies. "But you wouldn't say it's an orange."

Han threw his head back and let out an exasperated sigh, scrubbing a hand over his face.

Minji couldn't help laughing softly at his reaction. She liked how easy it was to tease him—and how he never seemed genuinely angry, just flustered and indignant.

Han, meanwhile, found himself staring at her smile. It was warm and bright, the kind of smile that felt like sunshine after a week of rain.

And it did something unsettling to his chest. A tiny flutter, like wings beating against his ribs.

He tore his gaze away, pretending to study the snack shelf.

This was supposed to be harmless, a quick chat and a thank you. Why does she keep pulling me in?

It was normal for Han to flirt with the people around him, he did it in a playful way, it never meant anything. He never wanted to actually do something about it. But as he saw that sparkle in Minji's eyes...

"So are you getting anything?" she asked, trying to steer them back to neutral ground.

"I'll get this marshmallow bar," he said, plucking one off the shelf and dropping it on the counter.

"Interesting choice," she said, tilting her head as she began ringing it up.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's the one chocolate I wouldn't pick." She gave a little shudder.

"You don't like marshmallow?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

She made a face. "I don't know. I just don't."

"Is it the taste? The texture? What is it about marshmallows that offends you so deeply?"

"I guess both. It's just generally... bad."

"You're insane," Han said, leaning forward so close she could smell the faint scent of soap on his skin. "Marshmallow is great."

"Tastes are individual, you know?" she shot back. "I'm allowed to like and dislike things even if other people disagree."

"I know that."

"Then don't call me crazy for not liking marshmallows."

"You said you have superior taste," he said, narrowing his eyes teasingly as he leaned a little closer, his arms folded on the counter.

"I never said that," she protested, blinking rapidly.

"Oh really?" His grin widened. "You said aliens shouldn't like orange soda because grape soda is better. Simply because it's your favorite."

"Grape soda is better than orange soda. That's just a fact."

Han's jaw dropped. "What if I prefer orange?"

"Then why are you getting grape?" She lifted the grape soda can she had just scanned and held it up in front of him.

He stared at it for a second, then let out a soft chuckle. "It was already in my hand."

"Then you must not care that much if you wouldn't reach a few inches away to grab your favorite."

He lowered his voice a fraction, his eyes glinting as he gave her a sideways look. "I guess I don't."

"This is your total," Minji said, pointing at the register screen.

"Here." Han handed her cash, their fingers brushing briefly as she took it. She rang him up swiftly and handed back his change.

"That was fast," he said, raising his brows in faint surprise.

"I'm good at my job." She shrugged lightly, folding the bills into the register.

"I can see that."

He popped open the grape soda, the hiss and crack of the can echoing in the quiet store. He took a sip and then leaned forward on the counter.

"So... what now?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

"You fixed the shelves and rang up the only customer here. What do you do now?"

"I wait."

"For what?"

"A new customer."

"That's it?"

"Yeah." She sank down into the chair behind the counter.

"You just... sit there and wait?"

"Yeah." She let out a soft chuckle.

Han blinked at her. "It doesn't look like you get a lot of customers." He turned to peer out the window, where the street was deserted and bathed in pools of neon.

"Not at this time, on a day like this, no."

"Don't you get extremely bored?"

"I do." She nodded without hesitation.

"So... what do you do?"

"I endure," she said with a helpless shrug.

He burst out laughing. "You don't do anything to entertain yourself?"

"Sometimes I study."

"Study?"

"Yeah. I bring my textbooks and read."

Han tilted his head. "What do you study?"

"I'm in med school."

His eyes widened slightly. "Wow." He gave a slow nod. "That's cool."

She grinned faintly, a little shy under his sudden focus. "I don't suppose you'll answer me if I ask what you do?" She lifted an eyebrow.

"It's... nothing much."

"Huh. I'm starting to lean back toward mafia again," she teased, tilting her head and smirking at him.

He barked out a laugh, raising his can in salute. "Isn't the first rule of the mafia 'don't say you're in the mafia'?"

"I wouldn't know," she said airily. "I'm not in the mafia."

"That's exactly what someone in the mafia would say."

She broke into a laugh, unable to help it. He had twisted her own words back at her so perfectly.

Han found himself staring at her, feeling a subtle warmth unfurling low in his chest. He was having fun—real fun—and that wasn't always a given. Especially lately.

They continued talking and teasing each other, time slipping by unnoticed as neon lights outside shifted and flickered.

Both of them flirted a little, almost unconsciously. Just to see how the other would react.

Eventually, Minji glanced at the clock high on the wall. "It's getting quite late. Shouldn't you be going home?"

"Nah, it's fine."

Han idly spun a display of dangling keychains near the counter, the little charms clinking softly as they rotated.

"Won't your family be worried about you?" she asked.

"I don't live with my family. I live with my friends. And they won't mind if I'm out late."

"Aren't you getting tired?"

"I'm usually up at this time. It's no big deal to me." He shrugged, leaning both elbows on the counter and watching her with a curious, open expression.

"Do you not work or study?"

"I do."

"So how come you stay up so late?"

"My schedule's... somewhat flexible."

"Hm." She narrowed her eyes at him in mock suspicion.

Han grinned, pressing a hand dramatically to his chest. "Why? Do you want me to leave?"

"I didn't say that," she said quickly. Then she cleared her throat. "It's just that... it's quite late, and we're not doing anything too interesting. Plus, you've been standing there for ages. Don't your legs hurt?"

"Do you have another chair?"

"No."

"Then it's fine. I don't mind standing."

"Well... I mind."

He tilted his head, his eyes softening a little. "Are you worried about me?"

"Yeah," she said without missing a beat, her voice gentle and certain.

Han's breath hitched. He felt heat crawl up the back of his neck as he quickly looked away, trying to hide the way his lips twitched upward.

She's... worried about me?

He definitely did not just feel his heart skip a beat. Absolutely not.

The bell over the door chimed suddenly, startling them both.

Minji shot up from her chair with practiced efficiency. Han instinctively stepped back, putting space between them, tugging his mask back over his mouth and nose.

"Good evening, welcome," Minji said brightly, slipping into polite professionalism.

The customer—a young man in a hoodie—nodded vaguely and made a beeline for the fridges across the store, grabbing a couple of drinks.

As he returned to the counter, his eyes flicked curiously between Minji and Han, noting the faint color lingering in both their cheeks.

"Sorry," the customer said, lips quirking. "Did I... interrupt something?"

"N-no, don't worry about it," Minji stammered, her blush deepening as she scanned the drinks.

Han stared fixedly at the keychains on the counter, trying to will away his own rising color.

"Will that be all?" Minji asked, her voice a shade too high.

"Yeah." The customer darted another glance between them, barely containing a smirk.

Minji quickly rang up the items and pointed at the screen. "This is your total, will that be cash or credit?"

"Credit," the customer said.

"Here you go." Minji rotated the card machine toward him, bagging the drinks in quick, practiced motions.

"Thanks."

He tapped the card, grabbed the bag, and headed for the door. "I'll get out of your way now, lovebirds."

The bell chimed softly behind him as the door closed again.

Minji's face was still burning. Was it really that obvious? Had the customer picked up on the flirting, on the blushes, on the way she kept gravitating toward Han's eyes like a magnet?

Beside her, Han chuckled under his breath. When she turned to look at him, he was already smirking, clearly enjoying her embarrassment.

He liked seeing her blushing. He wanted to see it again.

"Can I go behind the counter with you?" he asked suddenly.

"Hm?" she blinked at him, thrown off by the question.

"I'll just sit on the floor next to you. I don't mind."

"Won't it be uncomfortable?" She eyed the hard tile floor doubtfully.

"I'll sit on my hoodie," he said, already pulling it over his head.

She caught a flash of skin as his shirt lifted with the movement—a brief, accidental reveal of toned abs. Her heart did an involuntary somersault and she quickly looked away, the tips of her ears going hot.

He didn't seem to notice—or maybe he did, and just didn't say anything.

Minji silently lifted the counter partition, and Han stepped through. He laid his hoodie neatly on the floor beside her chair and settled down, leaning his back against the counter.

Once seated, he pulled down his mask and looked up at her with a boyish grin.

Minji rested her elbow on the counter, cheek nestled into her palm as she tilted her head to look at him.

Why is he here? she thought.

Why was he going out of his way to sit on a cold convenience store floor with someone he had only just met?

"You're weird," she said softly, almost to herself.

Han glanced up at her and smiled. "Weird? Why?" He reached for her shoelaces and began absentmindedly tugging at one.

"Why would you want to be in an empty store in the middle of the night?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "You're interesting."

"You don't even know me."

"I'd like to." He looked up again, and for a moment, he wasn't smiling. His expression was open—unguarded.

Minji looked away. Her face felt warm again to his delight.

"There's nothing interesting about me," she murmured. "I work at a convenience store and go to med school. That's about it."

He didn't reply right away. Just kept playing gently with the frayed edge of her shoelace, like it grounded him somehow.

"What do you like to do in your free time?" he asked.

"Sleeping."

Han chuckled. "Sleeping is the best, isn't it? Anything else?"

"...Watching movies."

"What kind of movies?"

"Action."

"Really?"

"I like the explosions," she said with a smile. "And how blatantly they ignore the laws of physics."

"Ah, so you like critiquing movies."

"I wouldn't say that. If it's entertaining enough, I'll enjoy it." She shrugged. "There are very few things I don't like."

"What about people?"

"What do you mean?"

"You seem kind of extroverted. Do you like being around people?"

"I don't mind it. But I don't do it a lot."

"Do you have a lot of friends?"

She tilted her head. "Define a lot."

"Like... more than ten."

She laughed. "Whoa, that's a lot a lot. I have, like... four?"

Han's brows raised. "That's hard to believe."

Minji narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're so nice. It's hard to imagine someone talking to you and not wanting to be your friend."

She raised an eyebrow. "Not everyone's as interested in me as you seem to be."

Han's cheeks turned pink. He looked down quickly and refocused on her shoelaces. "Hm."

Minji's smile softened as she watched him avoid her eyes, his sudden shyness making her heart squeeze a little. She found his flustered reaction incredibly endearing, a stark contrast to how confidently he flirted just moments before.

"You're cute when you get shy," she said gently, her voice lowering as if confessing a secret.

Han's blush deepened, his fingers fumbling with the laces.

"I'm just teasing you, Ji," she said, laughing softly, unable to hide the fondness in her eyes.

The way she said his nickname—Ji—made something flutter behind his ribs. No one said it quite like that.

He swallowed, then asked under his breath, "D-do you have a boyfriend?"

Minji looked at him. There was something sweet in the way he asked—not possessive, just... curious. Nervous.

"I wouldn't have let you flirt with me this much if I did." She smiled gently.

Han's fingers slowed on her laces. He kept his gaze down, but she could see the tips of his ears turning bright red.

"If I ask you any questions... will you answer them?" she asked.

"That depends on the question," he murmured, still fiddling.

"Well, you just answered one," she teased.

He looked up, squinting at her in mock annoyance.

Minji giggled—and the sound made his stomach tighten.

It was soft. Unfiltered. Real.

And for reasons he didn't fully understand yet, he already wanted to hear it again.

"What's your favorite food?" Minji asked suddenly, tilting her head.

"Cheesecake," Han replied without hesitation.

"That's dessert."

"Still food."

"I guess," she said, rolling her eyes. "How old are you?"

"I was born in 2000."

"Hm. So was I," she said, her lips curling into a small smile. "Are you a dog person or a cat person?"

"Dog, I guess. My family has a dog."

"Wow—unexpected details. Are you finally opening up to me?" She nudged him lightly with her foot under the counter.

"I can tell you that much." He grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

"What's your ideal type?"

The grin shifted into a smirk as Han's eyes drifted slowly up and down her body. His teeth caught his lower lip, hesitating just slightly. He dropped his gaze, shaking his head as if scolding himself.

Minji studied his reaction carefully, feeling her pulse quicken. She didn't think he found her unattractive—not with how he kept looking at her. And that felt... nice. Especially since she knew she wasn't looking her best tonight. She wasn't wearing makeup, her hair was thrown back messily, and her uniform was plain as ever.

But he... he's really handsome. She could eat him up with her eyes alone. And now that his hoodie was off, she noticed the broad line of his shoulders and the lean muscle under his T-shirt.

Han let out a quiet breath. "I think you know."

"How would I know? I don't know you at all," she teased.

"I like... nice people." He paused, then added softly, "With pretty smiles."

"That's pretty vague."

Han's lips quirked. "Okay, what's your ideal type?"

"I like sweet people," she said, leaning closer. "With nice eyes."

"Right. Super specific," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Fair's fair. You already know way more about me than I do about you." She shrugged.

"I guess."

He flicked the loose hem of her pants lightly, eyes dropping again. It felt like he was looking for something to fidget with to keep himself grounded.

"Do you live nearby?" she asked, suddenly curious.

"Not exactly."

"Is there a convenience store near your house?"

"Right next to it," he chuckled.

"Then why are you here?"

"I told you—I came to thank you for that night." He glanced up at her, a faint earnestness slipping through his playful tone.

"Why were you here that night?"

"I was just looking for a place to sit down. This was the only store with chairs outside."

"Huh. So it was random, then."

"Maybe it was fate," he said, a small, crooked smirk forming on his lips.

She scoffed. "Do you actually believe in fate?"

"I'm... kind of starting to," he admitted quietly.

Before she could reply, the bell above the door jingled brightly.

Minji snapped her head up as a familiar voice called out, "Hey, Minji!"

"Oh—Jaehyun, hello!" she said, her face brightening with a genuine smile.

Han blinked, falling silent as he watched the interaction from his spot on the floor, staying hidden from sight.

"Fancy seeing you here at this hour. Where's Yeonseo?" Jaehyun asked, stepping closer to the counter.

"Sick."

"Again?"

"Yeah. I've told him to go to the doctor and check his immunity."

"He does get sick concerningly often," Jaehyun agreed. He gave Minji a quick once-over and smiled. "So, how've you been? Haven't seen you in a while."

"It's only been, like, a week," she chuckled.

"A week without seeing you feels like an eternity." He winked at her, and Minji laughed, shaking her head.

Han frowned slightly, feeling a small but inexplicable twinge in his chest.

"Got any of those weird chips I like?" Jaehyun asked.

"The nasty chips only you like?" Minji teased. "Second shelf."

"If I'm the only one who likes them, how come you still sell them?"

"Touché," she said, laughing again.

Jaehyun grabbed a bag of chips and a can of energy drink and brought them to the counter.

"How's school?" he asked as she started scanning the items.

"Good. How's work?"

"Awful, as you can see." He gestured down at his suit.

"You just came from the office?" She widened her eyes, glancing at the wall clock. It was past 3 a.m.

"I'm just taking a snack break and then going right back."

"Man. And I thought I was overworked," she said, shaking her head. "How do you do it?"

"Caffeine, my friend. A lot of it." He wiggled the can in his hand.

"I'm familiar with the term," she said, grinning. "Don't push yourself too hard, though."

"Just become a super successful doctor and take care of me," Jaehyun shot back, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Ha! You wish." She rolled her eyes.

"I do—that's why I said it." He gave her a playful grin.

"This is your total," she said, tapping the register screen.

"Keep the change." Jaehyun tried to hand her the cash.

"You know I can't do that." She handed the change back without hesitation.

"I'm always blown away by how fast you do that every time." He blinked. "We could really use someone like you at my company."

"I'd rather keep my soul, thank you," she replied dryly.

"Meh. It won't do you much good." Jaehyun grabbed the bag and gave her a little salute. "See you around, Min."

"See ya, Jae." She waved.

Minji sank back into her chair as Jaehyun exited the store. She glanced down to where Han was still sitting on the floor beside her, looking up at her with a slight pout.

"What?" she asked, blinking at his adorably sulky lips.

"Who was that?"

"A regular," she said, resting her chin on her hand.

"You seemed awfully close," he muttered.

"Jealous?" she teased, leaning forward a little, enjoying the dramatic spark in his eyes.

"Maybe a little bit." His pout deepened, lower lip jutting out irresistibly.

"And what reason do you have to be jealous?"

Han shifted his eyes away for a moment, then met hers again with a soft smirk. "I think you're nice... and you have a pretty smile."

It took Minji a second to process his words. When she did, her face turned scarlet all the way to her ears.

"You shouldn't do that," she mumbled, turning her head away.

"Do what?" he asked, leaning closer, voice soft.

"Flirt so openly. I might get the wrong idea."

He tilted his head, brushing his fingers gently over the skin of her ankle where her pants rode up a fraction. His touch was light but electric. "What kind of ideas are you getting?"

"I... don't want to be getting any ideas about someone who won't even tell me their name. That's the whole point."

"If I tell you my name... it becomes too real." His voice dropped to almost a whisper.

"I see." She nodded, lips pressing together.

So his intention really was just to tease me... A pang of disappointment twisted in her chest before she could stop it. She knew it was silly. She had known from the start that nothing would happen between them. Still, it stung more than she wanted to admit.

She drew a quiet breath. "I think you should go," she said gently. "It's quite late."

"Is your shift much longer?"

"A few more hours." She glanced at the clock, blinking at the neon numbers.

"I can wait for you," he offered. "We could maybe do something after you're done."

"I have class after this."

Han blinked. "You're going to class after working all night?"

"It's not like I can skip. It's an important class."

"Won't you be too tired?" His brows furrowed in concern.

"I'll have a coffee right before." She gave a small, weary shrug.

"Can I join you for coffee, then? I'll pay."

"I'm sorry... but no."

"Why?"

Minji lowered her gaze to her hands. "If I see you outside the store... I'll want to know more about you." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Han stilled, his breath catching in his throat. A part of him ached to say yes—to tell her everything, to take her out for coffee, to walk her to class, to meet again afterwards and talk until the sun went down and back up again the next day.

But he couldn't. It was too risky. He had already risked too much.

He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "Alright."

Slowly, he rose from the floor, brushing off his hoodie.

Minji watched him stand, her chest feeling oddly hollow.

"Be careful out there, Mafia man." She tried to muster a smile.

He chuckled softly but didn't quite meet her eyes.

Han went home that night and lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling as shadows shifted across the room.

He already missed her.

He thought about her smile, the way her cheeks flushed pink, and the quiet intelligence shining in her eyes.

He ran a hand over his face in frustration.

Why did she have to be so cute?

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

For the next few weeks, Han tried to forget about Minji. He knew he shouldn't get more involved. A scandal was the last thing he needed at the moment—it could ruin everything he had worked for.

But her smile kept flashing through his mind. No matter how hard he tried to push it away, he found himself wishing he could see it one more time. Just one more time.

One night, he found himself wandering back to the convenience store. But she wasn't there—a different worker stood behind the counter.

He remembered her saying those late shifts weren't her usual. But he didn't know which ones were.

Maybe that's for the best, he tried telling himself. Easier to avoid temptation altogether.

So why did he keep coming back?

He found himself stopping by on different days, different times. Always with a tiny flicker of hope that he would see Minji there, straightening cans on a shelf.

And then one day... he did.

He spotted her from outside the glass door, her back turned as she arranged a display. But he recognized her long, dark hair instantly.

His pulse quickened, drumming a little too loudly in his ears.

He pushed the door open. The bell chimed above him.

"Welcome," Minji said automatically, turning around and bowing politely.

When she lifted her eyes and recognized him, a slow smile spread across her lips.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice breathy.

"Didn't think I'd be seeing you again," she teased, the corners of her mouth quirking upward.

"Me neither, to be honest." He blinked a few times, still stunned.

She looked completely different during the day.

Sunlight poured through the wide storefront windows, falling over her like a spotlight. It glinted in her hair, catching on strands dyed just slightly lighter at the tips—a soft, subtle gradient he had never noticed before. The gentle waves framed her face, accentuating the delicate curve of her cheekbones and the soft line of her jaw.

She wore a hint of makeup today—nothing heavy, just enough to define the shape of her eyes and add a subtle pink flush to her lips. Her skin looked impossibly smooth, like the light itself was drawn to it.

But it wasn't just how pretty she was. There was an energy in her now that hadn't been there that first night.

She seemed brighter somehow. More alive.

Her posture was straighter; her movements quicker, more decisive. There was a quiet confidence in the way she arranged the shelves, how she moved through the small space like she belonged in every inch of it.

Han found himself utterly frozen.

God, she's beautiful.

And somehow, seeing her like this—radiant, in her element—made it even harder to remember all the reasons why he should stay away.

He knew it was reckless. Dangerous, even. But in that moment, he couldn't imagine not seeing her again.

"How are things? Still in hiding?" she teased, turning back to the shelves.

"Yeah." He blinked, pulling himself out of his trance.

"Must be tough," she said lightly.

"How are you?"

"I'm alright," she replied, glancing over her shoulder to smile at him again.

He cursed silently. She was somehow even prettier than he remembered. Way too pretty. The smile she gave him seemed to shine even brighter in the sun, leaving him a little breathless.

"Did you come to get anything?" she asked.

"Hm..." He hesitated. "Soda."

"Right over there," she said, pointing toward the fridge.

"Are you alone again?" he asked as he made his way over.

"Yeah. Not a lot of people around at this time either. Most are at work." She resumed organizing a few items on the shelf.

"Is this your usual shift?"

"Yes."

He raised his eyebrows, amused. "I didn't expect you to actually answer that. You're giving the mafia man a lot of details."

"Finally admitting it, then?" she teased, wiggling her eyebrows at him.

"If it makes you think I'm cool... sure."

"Good. It makes me feel better."

"About what?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Not getting involved with you. I wouldn't want to date a criminal—my grandma would kill me."

Han nearly dropped the soda.

Did she just say... date?

Heat rose sharply in his chest, spreading to his cheeks. His heart thudded so hard he thought it might echo in the quiet store. His palms went a little sweaty, and he opened his mouth to speak—but nothing came out.

Seeing his expression, Minji burst out laughing. "I was just joking. No need to look so shocked."

"Which part was the joke?" he asked softly.

"Well... my grandma would probably kill me if I ever dated a criminal," she said, giggling. "The rest was a joke though."

"I see." He rubbed the back of his neck, still trying to calm his racing heart.

"Will that be all?" she asked, pointing at the can in his hand.

"Um... yeah."

"Let me ring you up, then." She moved toward the counter, slipping behind it with practiced ease.

He stood quietly in front of her as she scanned the soda can and told him the total. He handed her the cash, and in record speed, she counted out his change and slid it into his hand.

Han picked up the can, ready to leave—but paused, his eyes lifting to hers.

Minji blinked at him a couple of times, tilting her head slightly. He looked a little tired today. There was a soft shadow under his eyes, and a heaviness in his posture that hadn't been there before.

"Are you alright?" she asked gently.

"Can I stay a little bit?" he asked instead, his voice soft.

"Of course," she said, and her warm smile made his heart stumble in his chest.

He leaned his elbows on the counter and pulled his mask down a few inches. Slowly, he cracked open the soda can and took a small sip, the fizz bubbling quietly in the silence between them.

He offered the can to her, but she simply shook her head with a smile.

Minji watched him as his eyes wandered over the display of candy and small trinkets on the counter. He seemed distant, lost in thought.

"Did something happen?" she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

"Yeah..." He finally looked up at her and let out a sigh.

He wanted to keep seeing her—that was the problem.

He had come here planning to see her one last time and put an end to the pull she had on him. But standing here, looking at her—he realized there was no way he could leave it alone.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I can't." He gave her a small, tired smile.

"It must be lonely being in the mafia," she teased lightly, trying to lift the mood.

"I guess it does get a bit lonely..." His eyes drifted over her face, lingering as though memorizing every detail. "I hadn't noticed before."

"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning slightly.

"Never mind." He gave a small shake of his head. "How was class after that day?"

"It was fine."

"You weren't too tired?"

"I'm used to being tired." She lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug.

"Which class did you have?"

"Statistics."

"Oof. Math first thing in the morning after staying up all night working?" He winced.

"Yeah, it's not the best combination," she admitted with a chuckle.

"I couldn't do it." He rubbed his eyes with the back of his fingers, looking utterly exhausted. "I'm already terrible at math."

"I like math."

"I thought you said you had good taste," he said, wrinkling his nose playfully.

"I also said there's not a lot I don't like," she countered, grinning.

"Do you... like me?" he blurted out, before he could stop himself.

Minji froze for half a second, then smirked. "As much as I can like someone I don't really know."

Han fell quiet, turning her answer over in his head.

Minji studied him. Today, he was dressed casually again—hoodie, baggy jeans, a beanie pulled low. It wasn't usually her preferred style, but on him, it worked. Instead of looking sloppy, he somehow managed to look cool, like the outfit had been curated to look effortless.

And even when he was clearly tired, there was something compelling about him.

"What?" he asked suddenly, noticing her staring. "Do I have something on my face?"

"There's a little thing right here..." She pointed at her own cheek to mirror the spot on his.

"Here?" He touched the small black dot she had indicated.

"Yeah."

"It's a mole," he said with a small laugh.

"Hm. Is it?" she murmured, leaning closer to inspect it. She reached up and gently rubbed her thumb across his cheek. "Oh... it is."

His breath caught at the delicate pressure of her touch. Up close, he could smell her perfume—a mix of something sweet and crisp, like citrus and summer flowers. He found himself glancing at her lips, which glistened faintly with soft pink gloss.

They looked impossibly soft. So inviting.

He swallowed hard, his gaze lifting to meet hers again. Her eyes sparkled, warm and gentle, like dark honey.

Minji was studying him just as intently.

She paused there with her face inches from his, eyes searching his features in minute detail.

She noticed how thick his eyelashes were, dark and slightly curled. How his large, round eyes were just slightly downturned on the outer corners. The way his irises, deep brown at first glance, actually held flecks of lighter amber when the light caught them just right.

He seemed so guarded and mysterious most of the time, but his eyes were something else entirely—warm and expressive, full of thoughts he never quite said out loud.

He swallowed hard, feeling her gaze linger on his eyes, and finally dared to look directly into hers again.

"You have nice eyes," she said quietly. "And you seem sweet."

A flush rose up his neck, burning his cheeks. That's... her ideal type...

She chuckled at the deep red creeping up his face and bit back the urge to tease him more. Instead, she pulled away and began to tidy the display beside them, fingers moving quickly over the shelves.

He caught the little smile tugging at her lips and squinted. "I thought we weren't meant to flirt so openly," he said. "I also might get the wrong idea."

"What kind of ideas are you getting?"

"Coming back here to see you... when I know I shouldn't." His voice grew quieter with each word.

She stilled, glancing over at him out of the corner of her eye. Then she sighed and rattled off, "Tuesdays and Thursdays from one to five p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from six to ten p.m." She paused. "I'm also covering another full night shift this Friday. So I'll be here from six p.m. to seven a.m. again."

Han blinked, stunned.

Was she... inviting him?

He knew he shouldn't. It was reckless.

But she was practically handing him a map to where she would be, when she would be alone. And his heart felt too light, too eager, to listen to reason.

"You should leave now," Minji said with a quiet smile. "We're about to hit rush hour. There'll be quite a few customers, and I wouldn't want you to get in trouble."

He nodded, fixing his mask over his face.

But as he turned to go, he gave her one last look—a look that lingered like a secret.

That night, Han lay in bed staring at the ceiling, exhausted yet utterly awake. No matter how much he tried to shut off his mind, it kept circling back to Minji—her laugh, the spark in her eyes, the soft scent of her perfume when she leaned in close.

He knew he shouldn't let himself get more involved. He couldn't afford the risk of scandal, not right now.

But now that he knew exactly where—and when—to find her... there was no way he would stay away.

So on Thursday, he went back.

He spotted her before he even stepped inside. Through the glass, he saw her leaning over the counter, her brow furrowed in focus as she pored over a textbook. She was tapping a pen lightly against her lips, her hair pulled up into a ponytail, loose strands falling around her face.

She looked... different like this. More serious. Concentrated. The faint pout of her lips as she read nearly drove him crazy.

Han squeezed his eyes shut and let out a low sigh, pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead. I should leave. Right now. Just turn around and go.

But instead, he opened the door and stepped inside.

"Welco—" Minji's greeting broke off mid-syllable when she glanced up. A slow grin spread across her face. "Ah. It's you."

"Hi." He couldn't help smiling back.

"So you let the wrong ideas win, huh?" she teased, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"How could I not? You practically begged me to return." He sauntered closer to the counter, tugging his mask down.

"I did no such thing!" she gasped in exaggerated offense.

"You told me all your shift times. What was I supposed to think?" he said, leaning forward, chin in hand.

"I was just trying to help you out," she shot back, folding her arms. "You're a mafia man on the run. And I seem to be the only person you trust. How else are you going to buy soda if I'm not here?"

He burst out laughing, loud and genuine, and Minji's chest gave a tiny flutter. His laughter was such a delight to hear—warm and bright and a little bit mischievous. She wanted to keep drawing it out of him.

Han headed toward the fridge and grabbed a soda. As he scanned the fresh-food stand, he picked up a couple of triangle kimbaps and a chocolate bar studded with nuts. He carried his haul to the counter, plunking it down in front of her.

Minji let out a soft giggle as she began scanning the items.

"What?" he asked, glancing up at her, confused by the sudden sparkle in her eyes.

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head, lips twitching. "It's just... that's exactly what I had for lunch today."

"Really?"

"Yeah—down to the chocolate bar and everything." She chuckled as she bagged up his items.

"That's pretty funny." He grinned. "I guess we match well."

"I don't think you'd keep coming back here if we didn't." She winked at him, and the playful boldness caught him off guard.

He felt a rush of heat hit him so suddenly it was almost dizzying. His pulse thudded in his throat, and for a split second, he forgot how to breathe. A wink. She just winked at me.

He tried to cover it up with a cocky smile, but the corners of his mouth twitched, refusing to cooperate. His ears turned pink, and he dropped his gaze, pretending to study the countertop like it held the secrets of the universe.

"Someone's getting way bolder with the flirting, huh?" His voice came out softer than intended, the slight quiver betraying him.

"It's fun." She shrugged, cheeks flushed. "Your reactions are cute."

"Do you only flirt with me because it's fun?" he asked as he inserted his card into the reader, trying not to glance at her fingers as they brushed his when she took the payment.

"Is that not why you do it?" she shot back, eyebrow raised.

"Yeah... I just wanted to make sure you weren't actually falling for me." He tried for a nonchalant smirk, though his chest squeezed tightly around the thought.

"Oh, I know that I can't," she said lightly, laughing as she handed him his bag. "Don't worry about it."

Her words stung more than he had expected. He knew that was how it had to be. It was safer for both of them if they stayed strangers.

But the truth was... he wanted her to like him. He wanted her to look at him the way she had when she leaned in close and touched his face.

He wanted her to like him... because he liked her. Somehow, these random encounters at the convenience store had been enough to leave him completely, hopelessly smitten.

"Do you mind if I stay and eat here?" he asked, unable to help himself.

"Not at all." She gestured to the counter. "As you can see, I don't have a lot going on."

"What were you reading?" he asked, pulling out the kimbap as he set his soda down.

"Textbook from school. Nothing too interesting." She waved it off.

"You looked pretty focused." He unwrapped the kimbap and took a bite.

"You're supposed to focus when you're studying." She reached forward and picked a small grain of rice from the corner of his mouth.

He froze mid-chew. His entire body stiffened, and the food in his hand nearly slipped from his fingers.

Her touch was featherlight, yet it burned into his skin like fire. His heart stumbled into a chaotic rhythm, thudding so loudly in his chest he half-wondered if she could hear it.

A tremor went through his shoulders, and he blinked rapidly, eyes wide as she casually brushed the rice away.

Han sucked in a breath, desperately trying to gather his shattered composure. But he couldn't help it—his face flushed scarlet, the heat crawling all the way to his ears.

Minji let out a quiet laugh, eyes sparkling. He looked impossibly adorable right now, cheeks puffed slightly as he chewed, his eyes going wide and flustered. Why did he have to be so cute?

It made it dangerously hard for her to remind herself why this was a bad idea. She knew she should push him away. She had no time or space in her life for romance—and certainly not for someone who might be famous, as she suspected.

She should have stopped this before it got any further.

But... God, he was cute.

"I look cute when I eat, don't I?" Han smirked, eyes glinting as he popped another bite into his mouth.

"So you're aware?"

"I hear that a lot," he shrugged, mouth half-full.

"Do you do it on purpose?"

"No, I'm just eating." He spoke through the kimbap, cheeks puffed out adorably. "I'm effortlessly cute."

Minji chuckled, then couldn't help letting her gaze drop to his lips. They were shining with a bit of creamy kimbap sauce. The fleeting thought of leaning in and licking it away shot through her brain like lightning, leaving her face hot.

She quickly looked away, shaking her head as if to clear it.

"So... how come you're eating so late? It's the middle of the afternoon."

"I didn't have time to eat lunch today."

"Why not?"

"I was working."

"With what?"

He gave her a look, eyes narrowing suspiciously. Minji tilted her head, putting on a deceptively innocent smile, hoping maybe he would slip up if he was distracted. No luck. He just glared at her, lifting his soda can. She noticed he had picked grape again.

"You seem to quite like grape soda, huh?" she teased.

"It's growing on me."

"A man of taste." She flashed him a smile.

"Yeah, I do have good taste." He let his eyes roam deliberately from her face down to her body and back up again, slow and teasing.

Minji's heart thumped wildly. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She spun her face away, trying desperately not to show how flustered she was.

"Your hair looks cute like that, by the way," he murmured.

"Thank you," she mumbled, tucking a stray piece behind her ear, feeling absurdly shy.

"Have I told you you're very pretty?" he said, almost casually, and took a sip of his soda.

"Stop that," she snapped, glaring at him as she backed away a step.

"What? I can't flirt back?" He lifted an eyebrow.

"That's too much. I didn't go that hard." She fled from behind the counters and ducked behind a shelf, pretending to read labels.

"But I like making you blush. It's cute." His laughter rumbled out, low and warm.

"Stop," she warned, a bit breathless.

"Don't make it so fun if you want me to stop," he winked, voice dipping lower.

"If you don't stop, I'll have to do the same with you." She shot him a dangerous glare.

"You'll flirt harder? Is that supposed to be my punishment?" He leaned forward, grinning wickedly.

Minji took a step closer, her gaze locked on his.

Slowly, deliberately, she closed the distance between them until only a breath remained. Her perfume, bright and citrusy, washed over him, flooding his senses. Han felt his pulse roar in his ears.

She tilted her head and let her eyes wander down from his eyes to his parted lips. Her breath ghosted over his skin, warm and delicate.

Han's chest constricted so tight he couldn't draw air. His mouth went dry. He felt his hands trembling around the soda can.

She inched closer still, until her lips hovered just an inch from his, so close he could feel the faintest brush of warmth radiating from them. He was so sure she was going to kiss him. His entire body tensed, his breath caught in his throat. His eyelids fluttered shut, lashes trembling, his heart thundering like a war drum.

But instead of pressing her lips to his...

She slid one hand between them and gently pried the can from his grip.

Han's eyes snapped open in confusion just in time to see her raise it to her mouth.

With her eyes half-lidded, she looked right into his and whispered:

"Let's not cross the line, Ji."

She tilted the can back and took a long, slow sip, her lips wrapping around the rim exactly where his had been moments before. Her eyes never left his as she swallowed, a hint of wicked amusement glimmering in their depths.

When she lowered the can, she passed it back into his still-shaking hands. She held onto his fingers just a fraction too long, pressing her palms to his before letting go.

Then, with a coy little smile, she turned and glided back behind the counter, hips swaying slightly.

Han stood frozen, blinking in stunned silence. His brain seemed to short-circuit.

He stared down at the soda can, breathless. A perfect imprint of Minji's pink lipstick marked the silver rim.

Heat surged through him in a violent wave, leaving him trembling. His cheeks and ears burned crimson. He cleared his throat once... twice... but no sound came out.

Finally, in a strangled voice, he managed: "You... that's... you can't just—"

He stopped, utterly flustered, clutching the soda can like it might keep him upright. He pressed the cool can against his burning cheek. I'm so screwed.

Minji, pretending to tidy the counter, smirked to herself. She could practically feel the heat radiating off his skin from meters away.

Han slowly turned around, clutching his soda, cheeks burning so red they could light up the entire store. He cleared his throat again, trying to swallow the lump of chaos lodged in his chest.

Minji, meanwhile, was smirking at him from behind the counter, eyes sparkling with mischief. She grabbed something from beside the register and held it out to him—his chocolate bar.

"Here." She smiled innocently, pretending nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

He blinked at her, as though it took him a full second to remember how to accept objects from people. Finally, he reached out and took the chocolate from her fingers. The brief brush of her skin against his sent another bolt of electricity through his veins.

He hesitated, then tore open the wrapper and held it out toward her lips.

"Here." His voice was a little rough, breath catching. "You said you had this earlier today, so I know you like it. And you just drank from my soda, so your 'not eating at work' rule is already out the window."

Minji tilted her head at him, eyes dancing.

"That was actually a lie." Her smile was sly as she leaned in just enough for her voice to drop. And before he could fully react, she delicately took a small bite from the bar, lips brushing close enough to his fingers that he could feel the warmth of her breath.

Han just stared, frozen, chocolate bar still half-raised in his hand.

"Why would you lie about that?" he managed to choke out, his voice cracking slightly.

"I didn't want you to buy me a soda." She shrugged, licking a tiny smear of chocolate off her lip.

He stared at the motion like a man dying of thirst watching a drop of water. He took a slightly shaky bite from the bar himself, trying to act nonchalant despite the way his ears were still bright pink.

"Why not?" he asked, around his mouthful of chocolate.

"I don't like when people buy me things."

"Why?"

"It just makes me a little uncomfortable." She shrugged lightly.

"How's your boyfriend supposed to spoil you then?" Han teased, trying to recover his swagger. He leaned in, flashing her a smirk even as his pulse galloped.

Minji raised her brows, lips curling into a small, teasing smile. "Well, I don't have a boyfriend, so it's not an issue."

"You don't have one right now... but maybe you'll have one in the future." He took a sip from his drink, eyes glimmering as he watched her over the rim of the can.

"I don't think so." She reached over and snagged a napkin, offering it to him. "You got some of my lipstick on your lips."

Han felt heat blaze through his entire body. He might as well have combusted on the spot. "I don't mind." He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping, then slowly licked his lips clean. "And why don't you think so?"

"I'm not interested in dating." She took the can from his hand and began carefully wiping her lipstick off the rim, eyes softening a touch.

"At all? Isn't there anyone you like?" he asked quietly, a flicker of hope hidden behind the casual tone.

"Funny enough, not a single name comes to mind." She smiled, a sarcastic jab sparkling in her gaze.

Right. She doesn't even know my name yet.

Han stared at her, struggling with the swirl of emotions tightening his chest. Part of him wanted to blurt it out—to just tell her who he was, let her see all of him. Another part quaked with fear at the thought. What if she changed? What if she looked at him differently?

He forced himself to shift gears.

"Do you... like music?" he asked suddenly, clearing his throat.

"I guess," she said, tilting her head curiously at the sudden change of topic.

"What kind of music do you listen to?"

"Mostly Lofi, to be honest."

"Lofi?" He blinked. "Like the chill beats stuff?"

"Yeah, I like listening to it while I study. Helps me focus."

"But what about regular music? Do you listen to any bands or... maybe K-pop groups?"

Minji folded her arms across her chest. "Hm. Well... there's this one Japanese artist I really like. My friend got me into them."

"What about dramas? Do you like watching those?" He tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, but his fingers were drumming on the counter in a faintly anxious rhythm.

"I haven't seen many, but I do like hearing my grandma tell me the plots. She's so dramatic with it." Minji chuckled.

"So you're not interested in idols or actors or anything like that? Celebrities in general?"

There it was—the tiny tension in his voice that gave him away. Minji noticed it instantly. Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying him.

"Why do you ask?" she asked slyly, leaning in a bit, eyes glittering.

"No reason. Just curious." He was a terrible liar—and they both knew it.

"Is this a test?" she asked, arching a brow. "Are you secretly a musician or an actor?"

Han let out a nervous half-laugh, trying to play it off. "Nooo..." He stretched the word out, obviously lying.

"Well, I'm not interested in any celebrities." She shrugged. "I don't really have time to keep up with those things."

"Hm... I see."

She tilted her head. "What about you?"

Han opened his mouth to answer, but his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced down, saw Chan's name flashing on the screen, and grimaced.

He lifted a finger in silent apology and stepped a few feet away to answer. His voice was low and slightly frustrated as he spoke in quick, hushed bursts. When he hung up, he exhaled a sharp sigh and made his way back to the counter, looking disappointed.

"Sorry... looks like I have to go."

"Did the mafia boss call for you?" she teased gently.

"Something like that," he chuckled.

"Alright. Good luck on... whatever it is you have to do. Try not to get into too much trouble."

"You said you'll be working overnight tomorrow, right?"

"That's right." She nodded.

"I'll maybe try to swing by." He winked at her as he tugged his mask back into place, then slipped out the door.

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The next day, Minji clocked in for her 6 p.m. shift as usual, rolling her shoulders and letting out a long breath as she slipped into her apron. Tonight would be another long haul. She would be covering the overnight shift once more, and she reminded herself to pace her duties better this time so she wouldn't end up bored and restless in the dead of night.

But pacing herself proved harder than usual.

She kept glancing toward the door, heart skipping a beat every time the bell chimed and another customer stepped in. Somehow, knowing Han might come tonight made it worse than when he simply appeared at random. Each ring of the bell was an electric jolt of both hope and nerves, leaving her chest tight and her palms damp.

Her first shift came and went with no sign of him.

When the clock struck ten, she ducked into the back room for her break. She ate dinner absentmindedly, chewing slowly while scrolling on her phone, hardly absorbing anything she read. She downed an energy drink in careful sips, the taste overly sweet but necessary.

At one point, her manager poked his head in to say he was leaving and reminded her to clock in again for the overnight shift.

She tipped her can back and finished the last few gulps before tossing it into the recycling bin. Then she stretched her arms high overhead, groaning softly as her spine cracked and her shoulders loosened up.

Before stepping back out, she paused in front of the mirror inside her locker door. Usually, she kept things simple for overnight shifts—no makeup, hair in a quick ponytail—but tonight was different.

Just in case.

She fixed a few stray hairs, dabbed on a touch of concealer beneath her eyes to cover her moles, and smoothed a hint of gloss over her lips. It felt silly, but... she wanted to look nice if he came.

When she returned to the front, she busied herself with the more involved tasks: checking inventory sheets, wiping down the coffee machines, reorganizing a few shelves. Hours crawled by.

A few customers wandered in and out—shift workers grabbing snacks, a student with bleary eyes buying instant coffee—but the store was mostly silent except for the low hum of the refrigerators and the occasional rustle of plastic packaging.

By 1 a.m., she exhaled a long sigh, slumping into her chair behind the counter.

He isn't coming, is he?

She gave the door one last lingering look. Then, shaking her head, she pulled out her textbook and flipped it open on the counter, bracing herself for a long, uneventful night.

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Meanwhile, across the city, Han was nearly bouncing out of his chair.

In the studio, he tapped his foot so fast that Changbin finally shot him a glare. Han's eyes kept darting toward the glowing clock in the corner of the computer screen, as though he could will time to move faster.

His other hand was clenched around the tiny rubber keychain Minji had given him, squeezing it rhythmically until the little yellow smile turned orange.

"Do you have to be somewhere?" Changbin finally asked, voice suspicious.

"Hm?" Han blinked at him, as though only now realizing Changbin was there.

"Why are you so twitchy?"

"There's... something I want to do." Han's voice dropped lower.

"At this hour?"

"Yeah."

Changbin raised a brow. "Is this the same thing you were doing when you came home at 4 a.m. a couple months ago?"

Han's head jerked up, eyes wide. "How do you—"

"I was awake. I heard you come in."

Han grimaced. "...Yeah. It's the same thing."

Changbin squinted at him, lips pursed. Han avoided his eyes, turning back to stare blankly at the mixing software on the screen.

After a moment, Changbin gave a sigh and shoved his chair back. "Go."

"What?" Han blinked.

"Go do... whatever this is. I'll finish here." Changbin crossed his arms. "Just... don't get yourself in trouble, okay?"

Han's face split into a grin so bright it could've powered the studio lights. "Hyung, I love you." He lunged forward, giving Changbin a quick, fierce hug.

"Yeah, yeah." Changbin chuckled, shaking his head as he watched Han bolt for the door. "Get out of here, you annoying puppy."

Han practically flew down the hallway, snatched his jacket off a hook, and ran for the elevator.

He grabbed a cab and spent the entire ride bouncing his knee up and down, checking the time every thirty seconds. When he finally arrived near Minji's convenience store, he all but threw cash at the driver and sprinted the few blocks.

Halfway there, he forced himself to stop and lean against a brick wall, gasping for breath. His shirt was clinging to his back with sweat despite the chill.

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm his racing pulse.

Okay. Be cool.

Once his breathing evened out, he straightened his clothes, tugged his mask into place, and walked the last half-block.

Through the glass window, he could already see her. Minji was leaning over the counter again, reading her textbook, one hand absentmindedly tapping a pen against her cheek. Her hair was loose today, falling in a shiny cascade over her shoulder, and her eyes were narrowed in concentration, lips pursed into that little thoughtful pout that made his chest twist.

He stepped forward.

The bell above the door jingled, cutting through the quiet store and making Minji glance up.

"You came," she gasped, breaking into a wide smile the moment she recognized him.

"I said I would," he replied, tugging his mask down and revealing his grin.

"I was nearly losing hope already." She glanced at the clock behind her, trying not to look too pleased.

"So you were hoping I'd come?" He smirked, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the counter.

"Well, it is quite boring here without anyone to talk to," she teased, tilting her head. "I'm starting to get used to your presence."

"Without me here, you'd just be reading..." He plucked the book off the counter and inspected the cover. "Advanced Principles of Biochemistry. Yikes."

"It's not as bad as it sounds." She chuckled, cheeks faintly pink. "I actually quite like this subject."

"But you like me more, don't you?" he said, gently setting the book aside, inching closer.

"That's a pretty tough call," she pretended to ponder, tapping her chin dramatically.

He pouted, lower lip jutting out, and she burst into soft laughter.

She hadn't realized just how much she had wanted to see him again until now, with him standing right here, eyes sparkling in the fluorescent lights.

"You look cute today," he murmured, his fingers brushing the ends of her hair.

"So do you." Her eyes flicked down and back up, taking him in from head to toe. Tonight he had ditched his usual hoodie for a neater outfit—a crisp black jacket and a simple T-shirt that clung faintly to his muscles. His was hair hidden under a cap, casual yet annoyingly attractive.

"Have you eaten?" he asked suddenly.

"Hm?" The question snapped her gaze back to his face.

"I haven't had dinner yet. I'm starving." He spun on his heel, eyes roaming the aisles.

"I ate before my second shift started."

"Second shift?" He glanced back at her, incredulous.

"Yeah. I worked my regular shift from 6 to 10 p.m. and then started this one from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m."

"How can you handle that?"

"I had an energy drink." She shrugged, trying to downplay the exhaustion lurking beneath her eyes.

"I'm no stranger to working overnight," he admitted, "but damn."

"It's fine." She chuckled softly. "This should be my last overnight shift for a while."

"I see..." He eyed the shelves thoughtfully. "So what did you have for dinner?"

"Instant ramen."

"Ooh, that sounds good. Do you have hot water here?"

"Yeah, I can get you some if you'd like."

"Yes, please." He walked toward the ramen aisle, fingers tracing lightly over the neat rows of colorful packaging. "You know, I'm getting really used to how perfect your shelves are. I went to the convenience store near my house the other day, and everything was crooked. It really bothered me."

"Really?" She burst out laughing, covering her mouth.

"Yeah, it was chaos. This is so much nicer." He tapped his chin as he scanned the ramen flavors, looking overly serious.

"I'm glad my efforts are appreciated." She shook her head, still chuckling, and headed into the back room.

She filled the electric kettle and flicked it on, staring at the wall behind it for a moment. Her pulse hammered in her chest, and she couldn't stop replaying the way he had brushed her hair, how gently he had touched it as if it were something delicate.

She took a few deep breaths, then forced herself to walk back out, cheeks faintly pink.

Han was already unloading his haul onto the counter—one cup ramen, a can of grape soda, and two chocolate bars.

"I set the water to boil. It shouldn't take long," she said, grabbing the scanner.

"Thanks." He gave her a warm smile that made her stomach flutter.

He paid with his card, and out of habit, her eyes flicked to the name printed there. She saw the surname Han before she snapped her gaze away, heat rushing to her cheeks.

"This one's for you." He nudged one of the chocolate bars across the counter toward her.

"No, thank you." She pushed it back gently, shaking her head.

"Please. I got it for you." His pout returned, impossibly boyish and hard to resist.

"I told you I don't like it when people buy me things."

"But I wanted to get you a treat."

"Am I a dog or something?" She arched an eyebrow.

"Come on. You know what I mean." He rolled his eyes but softened instantly. "Please... let me spoil you this time."

"You're not my boyfriend to be spoiling me."

"If I were, would you let me?" His eyes glinted as he leaned closer, voice lower.

"We both know that's never going to happen," she said lightly, though her voice trembled just a little at the edges. She spun away toward the back room again.

Left alone at the counter, Han's chest tightened painfully. The words stung far more than he wanted to admit. He knew she was right—this could never happen—but he wished, selfishly, that it could.

Meanwhile, Minji took a moment behind the partition, gripping the countertop to steady herself. Her face was burning, the idea of him being her boyfriend making her pulse trip over itself.

When she was sure her color had returned to normal, she emerged with the kettle and a pair of chopsticks in hand.

"Here you go." She handed him the kettle and the chopsticks, careful not to meet his eyes for too long.

"Do you mind if I eat here?" he asked, already glancing around the store as if checking for witnesses.

"No." She shook her head.

"What if someone comes in?"

"Hm." She glanced toward the glass door and then back at him. "Do you want to come behind the counter again? I cleaned the floors not too long ago," she said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I think I could even find you something to sit on."

"It's alright. I'll just sit on my jacket." He was already shrugging it off his shoulders.

"Are you sure? It looks like a nice jacket."

"It's fine. You said the floor's clean." He gave a small grin and a shrug.

She lifted the partition for him to step through. He placed his folded jacket carefully on the floor beside her chair. Then he poured hot water into the ramen cup and set it beside his soda and chocolate bars before lowering himself onto his makeshift seat.

Minji carried the kettle back into the back room, lingering a moment behind the shelf partition to exhale shakily. When she returned, she perched in her chair and gazed down at him.

He had removed his mask completely and tugged off the cap he had been wearing, ruffling his hair until it stood up in tousled waves.

She realized—somewhat breathlessly—that this was the first time she had truly seen his hair. Before, it was always hidden under a beanie, hood, or hat. Now it fell softly over his forehead, slightly fluffy and glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights. He looked impossibly good like this—youthful and boyish, but also unfairly handsome.

She fought the sudden, intense urge to slide her fingers into his hair and see if it was as soft as it looked.

"I won't get you in trouble for coming back here, right?" he asked, peeking up at her with round, earnest eyes.

"It should be fine," she replied, voice a touch shaky as she glanced around the empty store. "There's no one here."

"What about the cameras?" He tilted his chin toward the dark plastic dome of a camera mounted in the corner.

"The cameras here don't actually work." She let out a quiet laugh.

"What?" His eyes widened.

"Yeah. The company thought it was too expensive to keep them running. They figured people wouldn't steal if they thought they were being filmed."

"So... there's no one watching us?"

"There never was." She gave him a teasing smile.

He sighed, eyes lowering to the steam wafting up from his ramen cup. "I wish you hadn't told me that."

"Why?" She tilted her head, genuinely confused.

"It makes it much harder to hold back," he said softly, his voice dropping a note lower.

Her pulse skittered wildly and a heavy tension settled over them. She tried to cover the heat in her cheeks by shooting back, "Having a hard time leaving your criminal tendencies behind, mafia man?"

"Yeah," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Something like that."

"Well, I'd behave if I were you. Or you'll get beat up by my grandma. She can really swing a rolling pin."

"A rolling pin you say? Now, that's a deadly weapon." He grinned, eyes crinkling as he leaned forward slightly. "I wouldn't dare mess with that."

He then dug into his ramen, slurping up noodles while she watched, chin propped in her palm. Every time he paused to blow on a mouthful, she found herself smiling.

After a few bites, he tilted the cup toward her. "Want some?"

"I'm good," she protested, shaking her head.

"Come on," he wheedled. "Just one bite. It tastes better when you share it."

She crossed her arms, trying to look unimpressed. "I'm not falling for that line."

He nudged the cup closer anyway, eyes shining with mischief. "Please?"

Her resolve wavered. With a small sigh, she leaned forward and let him feed her a bite. His eyes were glued to her lips as he brought the chopsticks to them, and he looked so delighted that she couldn't help the small laugh that bubbled out of her.

He beamed at her, grinning like he had won a prize.

The ramen wasn't even a flavor she liked, but it somehow tasted better tonight.

When he finished, she handed him some tissues, trying desperately not to watch the way he licked a stray drop of broth off his lip.

They kept chatting while he sipped his soda and unwrapped his chocolate bar. Again, he kept bringing it to her lips to feed her some. At first, she refused, but he insisted, begging pitifully until she caved.

By the end of it, she had eaten nearly a whole bar, and he looked absolutely thrilled.

"So you won't let me buy you food, but I can feed you mine—that's good to know," Han teased, licking chocolate off his thumb.

"How could I refuse when it makes you smile this brightly?" Minji chuckled, stealing another sip from his soda before handing the can back.

He took it without breaking eye contact, his fingers brushing hers, holding onto the moment just a beat longer than necessary. "I like sharing food with you. It makes us seem... closer."

She offered a half-smile, tilting her head. "Sure."

He didn't look away. "Is it alright if I want us to be a little closer?"

His voice was softer now, almost tentative, and his fingers automatically reached for the hem of her pants, fiddling with her shoelaces like a nervous tick.

Minji watched him quietly for a moment before speaking. "I mean, I'm not sure we can get much closer than this already," she said gently. "Considering you won't even tell me your name."

He exhaled, gaze dipping. "Yeah... I guess you're right."

"But this is enough for me," she added, and her voice was sure when she said it. "I like just hanging out with you like this."

His eyes found hers again, hopeful. "You do?"

She nodded, smiling. "Yeah. You're pretty good company."

"Better than your biochemistry book?" he smirked, the light returning to his face.

"No comparison." She giggled and gently nudged his knee with her foot.

They kept chatting, their voices weaving in and out of teasing banter and small laughs, like old friends catching up in the middle of the night. The world beyond the store felt distant. With each passing minute, the fluorescent lights grew dimmer, the silence deeper—but neither of them seemed to mind.

If anything, Minji wished time would slow down even more, just so she could stay like this with him a little longer.

But eventually, she noticed Han's posture changing—his shoulders slumping, his eyes drooping, words coming out slower. He was still trying to keep up the conversation, still smiling, but his energy was fading by the second.

"You look very sleepy," she said softly, the affection in her tone unmistakable.

"Hm... I am getting a bit sleepy," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

"You should go home, it's really late," she said gently, already expecting resistance.

"I don't wanna leave yet..." he whined and let his head drop back against the edge of the counter. His eyes fluttered closed like a child refusing bedtime.

"You can barely keep your eyes open," she chuckled.

"How come you're not sleepy?" he asked, peeking up at her through heavy lids.

"I had an energy drink earlier," she shrugged. "Caffeine hits me pretty hard."

"I kinda get wired from caffeine too," he mumbled. "But I didn't have any today... Maybe I should do it now."

"No, it's way too late for that. You'll mess up your circadian rhythm," she scolded, amused. "Just go home and sleep."

"But I don't want to," he pouted. Without another word, he shifted and leaned against her leg, resting his head on her thigh like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Her breath caught.

"You're really stubborn," she whispered, torn between laughter and disbelief.

But she didn't stop him. Instead, slowly, carefully, she reached down and let her fingers glide through his hair.

He hummed, content, his eyes fully closed now. "Mmm..."

She kept stroking his hair, gently sweeping it back from his forehead. His body relaxed completely under her touch, and she realized with a rush of warmth how much trust that simple act held.

A few minutes passed, then a few more. His breathing evened out into soft, steady rhythms. Soon, he was fast asleep.

Minji just watched him. His face was slack and peaceful, lips slightly parted, cheeks rounder somehow. He looked like he was made of soft light and cotton. She wanted to squish his cheeks and kiss the tip of his nose. Instead, she simply ran her fingers through his hair and smiled down at him, heart blooming quietly in her chest.

Eventually, she pulled her textbook closer, flipping pages with one hand while absentmindedly twirling a lock of his hair around her finger with the other.

And then—ding—the bell above the store door chimed.

Her whole body froze.

She glanced quickly down at Han—he didn't move. Completely out cold.

She lifted her gaze and sighed in quiet relief when she saw who it was.

"Hey," Jaehyun greeted casually, strolling in with a small smile.

"Hey," she replied in a hushed voice.

He tilted his head. "Why are you whispering?"

"It's just... so quiet in here," she lied smoothly. "Feels weird to speak loudly."

"Hmm. I guess." He shrugged and started browsing the shelves.

She subtly reached down and adjusted Han's position, making sure he was comfortable and still mostly hidden behind the counter. Then she wiped the corner of her mouth and prepared herself for small talk.

She hadn't been ready for the world to intrude just yet.

She leaned forward carefully to scan Jaehyun's items, doing her best not to shift too much. Her movements were noticeably stiff, but she kept her expression neutral. Jaehyun watched her, tilting his head slightly—something was... off.

Then he caught it. A flash of movement at the corner of his eye. A foot on the floor beside her, clad in distinctly masculine sneakers.

His eyes narrowed slightly and he discreetly leaned closer to peer beyond the counter, frowning when he saw a familiar face.

"Hey, Minji," he said quietly.

She looked up from the register, her voice light but a little too careful. "Hm?"

"Why is there a K-pop idol asleep on your leg?"

Minji froze. Her eyes went wide, then immediately darted downward to Han—still slumped peacefully against her thigh. She panicked, cupping her hand over his face like that would do anything.

"W-What are you talking about?" she said too quickly. "He's just a friend."

Jaehyun didn't buy it. He pulled out his phone and started typing. A moment later, he turned the screen to her, showing a group photo of eight guys standing in coordinated outfits. He zoomed in on one face—familiar cheeks, soft eyes, and a lopsided grin.

Minji stared. There was no denying it now.

She looked down at the boy sleeping on her leg. There was no mistaking it—it was him. Han. The name printed above his head in the picture matched what she had glimpsed on his credit card.

She swallowed hard and looked away from the screen, not wanting to see or know more. Her heart pounded, tangled in confusion and dread.

Jaehyun watched her reaction, surprised. "Wait... did you seriously not know? He's kind of a big deal. My niece would lose her mind."

"Please," she said quietly, her eyes meeting his with sudden urgency. "Keep this between us."

He softened immediately. "Yeah, of course. Don't worry. No one would believe me anyway."

"But how... why didn't you know?" he asked, still baffled. "You two seem close."

"It's a long story," she said, brushing her hands down her uniform to hide how shaken she felt.

"Alright," Jaehyun lifted his hands in surrender. "Keep your secrets. I won't ask. But—if I recognized him that easily, a fan definitely would too. You might want to be more careful."

She nodded slowly. He was right. Deep down, she had already suspected he was famous, but knowing he was an idol, made things far more complicated.

Idols weren't just celebrities; they were under constant surveillance. One rumor, one photo, one moment taken out of context could spiral into something destructive. For him. For her.

Her stomach knotted.

She watched Jaehyun exit the store and waved after him, her fingers a little numb.

Then she looked down.

Han was still there. Still asleep. Still utterly unaware.

His face was calm, sweet—his lips parted ever so slightly, one cheek squished against her leg. Her heart ached. Why did it have to be like this?

She gently brushed a few strands of hair away from his face, her thumb lingering on his forehead. She tried to memorize it—the shape of him, the quiet trust in the way he slept beside her, completely vulnerable.

Because she knew this was the last time she would see it.

She exhaled slowly. Then leaned down a little and called softly, "Ji."

He didn't move.

"Ji," she tried again, a bit louder.

Still nothing.

Her heart clenched. She stroked his cheek gently, then gave it a playful squeeze. "Hey..."

He stirred this time, eyelids fluttering before they finally blinked open. His gaze was hazy, soft with sleep, and when he saw her, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He leaned into her touch instinctively, like he had forgotten where he was—but remembered her.

She swallowed thickly and caressed his face for just a second longer before pulling her hand back.

He rubbed his eyes and stretched slowly, back cracking as he yawned. "Did I fall asleep?" he mumbled, voice low and groggy.

"Yeah."

"For how long?"

"Almost an hour."

"I'm sorry." He tried for a crooked smirk, though his voice was still scratchy from sleep. "Were you too bored without me?"

"Ji," she said softly, "you should leave."

He blinked, his brow furrowing as the leftover sleepiness faded. "Hm? Why... why do you look so serious?"

"You should leave," she said again, her voice steady but gentle. "And you shouldn't come back."

He stared at her, confusion flickering into panic. "What? Why? Did I... did I do something wrong, or—"

"Ji," she interrupted, swallowing hard, "I know who you are."

He went utterly still. "W-what?" His voice came out small.

"I still don't really know who you are," she continued quietly, "but I know what you do. I know... that you're an idol."

He recoiled slightly, as though she struck him. "H-how? Since when?"

"I always knew you were some kind of celebrity," she admitted with a small, sad chuckle. "You're not that great at hiding it, you know."

He gave a tiny, helpless huff of air.

"But I only just found out you're an idol."

"How?" he breathed, voice paper-thin.

"Jaehyun came by." She tried to keep her voice calm, like she was explaining something delicate. "He recognized you. I made him promise not to tell anyone. He's a good guy—you don't have to worry. But... you should leave before someone else comes in and recognizes you too."

"B-but I—" His fingers flexed restlessly at his sides.

"I still don't know your name, or your group's name. I don't know anything personal about you, so you don't have to worry." Her eyes shone, though she forced a brave smile. "I won't ever tell anyone about this. I promise."

Han's shoulders slumped. His breath left him in a shaky exhale, and he lowered his head until his forehead rested lightly against her thigh again. His eyes squeezed shut.

Minji hesitated, looking down at him, her hand hovering over his hair.

He whispered into the fabric of her uniform, his voice muffled and trembling: "I'm sorry, Minji. I wish I didn't have to do this."

"I know," she murmured. "It's okay."

Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at her again. She tried to give him an encouraging smile, though her lips trembled.

He hated this. Hated that he was about to leave. Hated that he wanted to stay more than he had ever wanted anything.

But he couldn't.

With a deep breath, he rose from the floor and stood beside her. For a moment, he just gazed down, committing every detail of her to memory. Then, after a shaky sigh, he extended his hand to her.

"It was nice meeting you," he said, voice soft and raw.

"It was nice meeting you too." Her fingers closed around his.

He clasped her hand, feeling how perfectly it fit in his own. He rubbed his thumb slowly over the back of her hand, the warmth of her skin searing itself into his senses. She gave his hand a tiny squeeze, and when he met her eyes, he saw the same ache reflected there that was burning inside him.

His gaze dropped to her lips. He lingered there a beat too long, yearning flickering in his eyes.

"No," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She saw right through him.

"Hm?" His eyes flicked back up to hers.

"I won't be able to let you go if you do that." Her thumb drew soft, soothing circles into his palm, though there was a faint tremor in her touch. "So you better just leave now."

He parted his lips to argue—but then stopped. He knew she was right. He wouldn't be able to stop at just one kiss.

He pressed his lips together and gave a small, miserable nod.

Slowly, he let go of her hand, fingers slipping away like the last thread tying him to something he couldn't have. He turned, put his mask and cap back on with mechanical motions, and picked up his jacket.

He hesitated for a fraction of a second—just enough to glance back at her—but then forced himself out the door, the bell above ringing a final farewell.

He walked several blocks with his head down, the streets around him a blur. When he finally hailed a cab and slumped into the back seat, he stared blankly out the window, his fingers gripping the edge of his jacket so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Once home, he trudged into his room, shut the door behind him, and fell face down onto his bed.

"Fuck," he muttered into his pillow, voice cracking.

Meanwhile, Minji stood frozen, eyes locked on the empty spot where he had been just moments before.

She didn't move, even as the seconds ticked by and the door swung shut behind him.

She didn't want him to leave.

She liked having him there, with his bright laughter, his soft voice, his shameless flirting and gentle presence. She liked the way he looked at her, like she was the only thing in the room that mattered. She liked him—this boy whose name she still didn't even know.

And now she could never see him again.

A heavy sigh escaped her. She dropped her gaze to the floor, pressing her lips into a tight line as she fought back tears.

Slowly, she lowered her head to the counter, the cool surface pressing into her cheek as she tried to calm her pounding heart. And she stood just like that as the hours crawled by in torturous silence until the end of her shift.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

For a couple of months, they both tried to move on—if there was even anything real to move on from. After all, they had only spent time together in the quiet lull of a convenience store. No dates, no confessions, no promises. Just glances and banter and moments that had no right to mean as much as they did.

But both Han and Minji missed it—missed each other—with an ache that grew harder to ignore.

Minji's shifts stretched endlessly now. The hours blurred together without the spark of his surprise visits, without the sudden jingle of the door followed by his familiar voice greeting her with a crooked grin. She caught herself watching the entrance too often, hoping—despite everything—that he might appear again. The shop felt colder without him, the fluorescent lights too harsh, the silence too loud. Sometimes, she would catch herself laughing at a joke only he would've made. Then she would feel foolish... and just a little lonelier.

Han wasn't faring much better. Afternoons dragged by like molasses without the anticipation of seeing her. He missed the quick back-and-forth they shared, the glint of mischief in her eyes when she teased him, the way she would always notice the smallest things—like when his shoelaces were untied or when his shoulders were tense. His world, once buzzing with noise and movement, felt oddly dim without her in it. He drove past her convenience store more times than he could count, eyes lingering, heart pounding, but never stopping to go inside.

They both told themselves it had been nothing. A fleeting connection. Something to let go of.

But every time they tried to forget, their hearts tugged in the same direction.

And somewhere, quietly, stubbornly, they both kept hoping: Maybe we'll meet again.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

"Wanna grab a drink?" Lee Know called from across the room where he was sitting on Han's desk chair.

"No," Han mumbled into his pillow.

"Why not?"

"Don't feel like going out."

"I could go to the convenience store and bring some drinks back here," Lee Know offered.

Han groaned at the words convenience store, as if it physically pained him. Images of Minji sprang instantly to mind, sharper and more persistent than ever. He rubbed both hands down his face, letting out a huge sigh.

"What's with you lately?" Lee Know said, frowning. "You've been moping around like a kicked puppy."

"Why don't you go drink with Yuna or something?" Han shot back irritably.

"We don't have that kind of relationship."

"You've gone drinking with her before."

"Yeah, with you around. We only hang out alone for sex. Otherwise, you're always there."

Han made a face. "I... don't know how I feel about that, to be honest."

"Whatever. I really wanna drink tonight, so come with me. We'll go to the store you like."

"No." Han's voice was quicker and sharper this time.

Lee Know crossed his arms. "What? Did that convenience store chick finally tell you to fuck off? Is that why you're so down?"

Han sighed, cheeks puffing out. "She knows."

Lee Know blinked. "Knows what?"

"That I'm an idol."

"...And?"

Han glared at him. "What do you mean 'and?' That's bad. It's dangerous."

"Why? Didn't you say she was cool?"

"She is cool!" Han insisted, voice rising.

"So what's the problem?"

Han spluttered, searching for words. "What if... what if there are rumors?"

Lee Know gave him a look. "Do you think she's the type to go blabbing?"

"...No."

"Then, as long as you don't get caught, it's fine. Like me and Yuna. We meet privately. Nobody knows. No rumors. No problem." Lee Know shrugged. "It's not like you've never done this before."

Han hesitated. "Yeah, but... that was with other people in the industry."

"Doesn't matter. You still gotta hide it either way. If she's not a shitty person, who cares what she does for work?"

Han fell silent, chewing on his lower lip as he thought. Lee Know was right. If no one ever found out... then there would be no harm. And he knew—he was sure—Minji would never tell a soul. She just wasn't that kind of person.

If he was careful...

He abruptly sat up and pulled out his phone.

"Let me call Chan hyung."

"What? Why?" Lee Know frowned.

Han ignored him and dialed Chan's number. After a couple rings, Chan picked up with a loud sigh, sounding exhausted.

"Yeah?" he groaned.

"Hyung, I need to ask you something." Han's heart was nearly leaping out of his mouth.

"What is it?"

"Is it okay if I... get a girlfriend?" Han blurted.

"What?"

"There's someone I really like, and I want her to be my girlfriend. Is that okay?"

"H-Hannie, I don't know... I mean—"

"Please, hyung. I promise I'll be super careful. Minji's really nice. I can introduce you to her!"

"But it's still kinda dange—"

"Lee Know hyung's been dating for months and nothing happened!"

"DUDE!" Lee Know yelled from the desk.

"WHAT?" Chan yelled at the same time.

"Oh... did you not know?" Han's eyes widened as he glanced guiltily at Lee Know, who was glaring daggers at him. "I thought you told everyone about Yuna."

"Yuna? HAN YUNA?!" Chan practically screeched.

"Dude, shut up!" Lee Know got up to smack Han's arm.

"Ah—ow! Sorry! I thought he knew!" Han winced, trying to fend off more hits.

"Why the fuck would he know, you asshole?" Lee Know kept swatting him.

"Give him the phone," Chan said in a low, deadly voice.

Han gingerly put Chan on speaker. "H-Here, Chan hyung wants to talk to you."

"Yeah?" Lee Know muttered into the phone, his voice sounding defeated already.

"Lee Know," Chan snapped. "What the hell do you mean you're dating Han Yuna?!"

"We're not dating. We're just sleeping together."

"THAT'S FUCKING WORSE! When did this start?!"

"That night at the restaurant," Lee Know sighed, rubbing his temple. "We hooked up after you left."

"At the restaurant?!" Chan shrieked. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"

"It's fine. No one saw us. That was months ago. We're good at keeping it quiet. You don't have to worry."

"I— I swear to God..." Chan sounded on the brink of hyperventilating.

"Hyung, come on. You understand, right?" Han tried to defuse the situation. "Aren't you and Jiwon nunna practically dating?"

"W-what? N-no, why would you think that?!"

"Because you like her. And she likes you back."

"S-she does?!" Chan squeaked.

"Yeah. You're both super obvious. I don't know why you're not dating already."

"True," Lee Know said, nodding gravely.

"B-but I— w-we—" Chan sputtered.

"You should ask her out. You'd be a great couple," Han said matter-of-factly. "Anyway—Minji's shift ends soon, and I can't see her until next Tuesday if I miss this chance. So... hyung. Please. Can I date her?"

There was a long silence on the other end. Then Chan sighed, sounding utterly defeated.

"...Okay, fine. But please, please, PLEASE be careful."

"Thank you, hyung! You're the best, I love you!" Han practically shouted, bouncing up from the bed. "Good luck with Jiwon nunna!"

He hung up the call without waiting another second, fingers trembling as he switched apps to summon a cab. Quickly grabbing a jacket that was draped over the desk, he ran out the room, slamming the door on his way out.

Lee Know just sighed, slumping back on the bed. He stared at Han's empty spot for a moment, then pulled out his own phone.

"Hey. You wanna get a drink?"

Yuna's voice came through the line, faintly distracted. "Can't. Busy tonight."

Lee Know groaned. "Fine. I guess I'll just die alone."

And he went home, defeated, deciding to call it an early night for once.

Meanwhile, Han's cab barreled through the streets. He stared out the window, the city lights blurring into neon streaks. His fingers were tight around the little keychain in his pocket, squeezing it so hard his knuckles ached. His chest pounded so wildly he thought it might crack open.

He couldn't believe he was doing this. But he knew one thing for certain—he had to see her.

The cab dropped him off a block away from the convenience store. He walked the last stretch on foot, breath visible in the crisp night air. When he reached the glass storefront, he stopped outside, heart hammering so loudly it drowned out every other sound.

Inside, Minji was smiling politely at a customer, ringing up their purchases. She looked exhausted. And beautiful.

Han took a deep breath and waited, his hand still wrapped around the keychain like a talisman.

Finally, the customer left. The door chime jingled. Han stepped inside, making the bell ring again.

"Welcome," she called automatically, her eyes still lowered as she organized some bills in the register. Her voice sounded distant, tired.

He took a step closer gingerly. "Minji."

Her head snapped up so quickly it was as if someone pulled a string. Her eyes widened, soft lips parting. For a second, she looked like she had forgotten how to breathe.

"Ji?" Her voice was so small, it barely carried.

"Jisung." He pulled down his mask, his breath hitching as he spoke. "My name is Han Jisung."

"W-why are you telling me that?" she stammered, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped the counter edge.

"Because I don't want to hide from you anymore." His voice wavered, then grew stronger. He took another step forward, his eyes fixed on hers. "I like you, Minji. I've liked you for months."

Before she could respond, before she could even fully process what he had just said, he surged forward and closed the remaining distance. He reached over the counter, his hand sliding to the back of her neck, and pulled her in—sudden, instinctive, desperate—and his lips crashed against hers.

Minji froze, stunned. The world tilted. Her heart lurched violently, like it had been yanked from her chest. His lips were warm and trembling, tasting faintly of something sweet, and her breath caught in her throat like she had just been plunged into icy water. It was jarring. Shocking. Electrifying.

And then her body reacted before her mind could catch up.

She kissed him back.

The fear was still there—simmering beneath her skin like a warning siren—but it was drowned out by the flood of sensation rushing through her. It was dizzying.

His kiss wasn't perfect—it was messy, almost frantic—but it fit. Like puzzle pieces snapping together after being apart for too long. Like something that was always meant to happen, whether or not they were ready.

She clutched his wrist tightly, grounding herself as his other hand came up to cup her cheek, thumb brushing her cheekbone. The kiss deepened, gentle at first, then growing more desperate. Her entire body responded to his touch—heat flaring in her chest, her stomach flipping so hard it nearly knocked the air out of her.

He tasted like sweetness and something uniquely him, and the soft, needy sounds he made against her lips went straight to her chest.

He leaned further across the counter, nearly toppling a display of chewing gum in his eagerness. She arched closer, forgetting everything—the store, the risk, the world outside. Her fingers slid up into his hair, tugging him closer as her breath hitched against his mouth. The moment was reckless. Stupid. Dangerous. And yet—so, so right.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless and trembling, she felt unsteady on her feet. His lips hovered close, still brushing hers. She could feel his breath against her tingling mouth, quick and uneven.

"But... aren't you an idol?" she whispered, voice breaking with emotion.

"I am," he said, his forehead resting lightly against hers. "And I could get into a lot of trouble for this. But I can't stop thinking about you. I don't want to stop thinking about you. I want to be with you."

He leaned back to look at her, eyes soft and blazing all at once. His thumb brushed delicately on her cheek, his touch almost reverent. "I want you to be my girlfriend."

Her breath hitched. A swirl of fear and longing clashed in her chest.

"Isn't it dangerous? What if we get caught?"

"We'll be careful."

She let out a shaky laugh. "We just kissed in a convenience store on a Saturday night."

He blinked as reality crashed back in, eyes darting around the empty store. A bright blush flooded his cheeks. He quickly pulled back, fumbling for his mask and tugging it over his face again.

"I—I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. But I'll be more careful from now on. I promise."

Minji glanced anxiously at the clock. "My shift is about to end. The guy who replaces me is coming any second. You should leave."

"But—"

"There's a park a couple blocks away. It's quiet at this hour. We can talk there, okay?"

He exhaled shakily, eyes locked on hers. "Okay."

"I'll be there in twenty minutes. Please wait for me." Her voice quivered with hope and fear.

"Yeah... of course. I'll wait."

He gave her one last searching look, eyes shining with everything he was feeling. Then he turned and strode out of the store.

Left alone behind the counter, Minji stood trembling. The bell jingled as the door swung closed behind him, echoing in the silence.

She touched her lips with trembling fingertips. A shaky, disbelieving smile curved her mouth.

He kissed me... He wants me to be his girlfriend.

Her stomach flipped with butterflies, her chest tightened with happiness... and fear. Because if they got caught, it could mean disaster. For him, and for her.

But as she lowered her hand from her lips, there was a spark of determination in her eyes.

If we're careful... maybe this could work.

The bell rang again, snapping her out of her thoughts as her coworker arrived to start the next shift.

"Hey, Min," he called out casually, unzipping a jacket. "How's it going tonight?"

"Is there any way you could start a bit earlier tonight?" Minji blurted immediately, her words tumbling over each other. "There's... something I really need to do."

The coworker blinked in surprise. "Uh... sure, let me just change and clock in real quick."

"Thank you so much," she breathed, her shoulders slumping with relief.

They disappeared into the back to swap shifts. As soon as Minji was free, she hurried into the tiny staff bathroom. Her heart hammered in her chest.

Her outfit was pretty basic tonight—simple jeans, a soft sweater—but compared to her plain convenience store uniform, it was practically runway fashion. She ran her fingers through her hair, fluffing it up a little and fixing her bangs, then leaned closer to the mirror, dabbing concealer under her eyes and brushing on a bit of mascara.

She reached into her bag, pulled out her strawberry-flavored chapstick, and carefully smoothed it across her lips. She paused, looking at her reflection.

This is the first time he'll see me outside of the store.

Her stomach flipped nervously, but she couldn't help the shy smile that tugged at her lips.

She spritzed on a touch of perfume and gave herself a final once-over before grabbing her coat and heading out. She thanked her coworker once again as she pushed through the door, the bell chiming behind her.

The night air was cool and crisp as she walked toward the park. Her fingers fidgeted with the strap of her bag the whole way, nerves bubbling beneath her skin.

She scanned the quiet pathways as she entered the park, instinctively drifting toward the more secluded side lined with tall trees. A few lampposts cast golden pools of light, but most of the park was empty, the hush of the late hour blanketing everything.

Then she spotted him.

Han was crouched low under a huge tree, his phone's flashlight illuminating the grass in a pale white glow. His expression was intensely focused, like he was investigating a crime scene.

"What are you looking at?" she called softly, curiosity lacing her voice.

He jerked upright so fast he nearly lost his balance, spinning toward her. His eyes widened, a burst of relief and joy brightening his entire face.

"Minji! You came faster than I thought you would," he said, breathless.

"I asked to leave a little early," she admitted, eyes drifting down to where his light was pointed. "What are you doing?"

"I was... um..." He scratched the back of his neck, sheepish. "I was checking out this snail."

He turned the phone's flashlight back onto the ground, revealing a small, glistening snail inching along a leaf.

Minji's face softened into a smile as she dropped to a crouch. "It's kind of cute."

"It is, isn't it?" He crouched again beside her, lowering his mask.

She watched it carefully, lowering her voice as if afraid to disturb the snail. "I once read a story as a kid about a boy who stepped on a snail on a rainy night. He felt so bad, he tried to make it a new shell out of chewing gum and leaves. It was really sweet. Ever since, I've been extra careful not to step on snails."

"You're cute," he murmured, his eyes soft and shining as he gazed at her.

She blushed and quickly stood up again. He rose too, slipping his phone into his pocket and switching off the light.

They stood under the branches, the rustle of leaves overhead and the glow of a distant streetlamp throwing shadows across his face. There was no one else around. The world felt quiet and suspended in time.

Han cleared his throat, shifting his weight anxiously from foot to foot.

"Did you... did you think about what I said?" His voice trembled slightly, raw and vulnerable.

Minji took a deep breath, her pulse thudding. "Are you sure about this, Ji?"

"Yeah." He met her eyes with unwavering determination. "I even talked to my group leader. He said it's okay, as long as I'm careful. And I will be careful. No one will find out. I promise, I'll protect you from anything that could get you in trouble."

He stepped forward, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating off his body, and gently took her hands in his. His thumbs brushed over her knuckles, sending tingles up her arms.

"I really like you, Minji," he whispered, his eyes searching hers. "Please... will you be my girlfriend?"

Her heart squeezed so hard she almost couldn't breathe. A flood of warmth spilled through her chest, spilling into every corner of her body. A shy, irrepressible smile bloomed on her lips.

She nodded, unable to trust her voice.

His eyes lit up, dazzling, and he broke into the widest grin she had ever seen. He took a step closer, raising his hand to cradle her cheek, leaning in—

Only for Minji to gasp sharply and shove at his chest.

"Wait—the snail!" she cried, eyes darting downward in panic.

"Oh shit!" Han yelped, twisting around and fumbling for his phone again. He turned the flashlight back on, scanning the grass desperately.

They both crouched down again, shoulders bumping as they peered at the ground.

"There it is!" Minji pointed, breathless with joy. The snail was safe, still gliding calmly along the leaf.

Han sagged in relief, pressing a hand to his chest. "Oh my God. I almost killed our little friend."

Minji giggled despite herself. "Good thing I'm here to save you from your criminal tendencies."

He shot her a playful glare, still crouched low. "You're ruining my romantic moment, you know that?"

She laughed, brushing his hair away from his eyes. "We'll have plenty more moments, Ji. Let's not start this relationship as snail murderers."

Still chuckling, he gently took her hand and guided her to stand a few steps away, putting safe distance between them and their little mollusk friend. Then he turned to face her, eyes soft but blazing with something deeper, more intense.

His fingers brushed lightly over her arms, skimming up to cradle her shoulders, and his lips parted as though he wanted to say something—but instead, he just smiled faintly and leaned in.

Minji's breath caught in her throat as his lips touched hers once more.

The first brush was feather-light—a careful, trembling kiss that carried all the uncertainty, the hope, and the quiet yearning that had been building between them for months. His lips molded gently to hers, warm and impossibly soft, as if he was savoring the taste of her.

A soft sigh slipped from her lips as she responded, leaning closer, pressing into him as if pulled by gravity. That was all it took for something to ignite between them.

His hands slid down, gliding over the curve of her arms and settling firmly at her waist, fingers splaying wide, holding her close but not trapping her. She lifted her arms, looping them around his neck, her fingers threading into his hair at the nape.

The kiss deepened slowly, a shared breath between them. Minji hesitated, then boldly flicked her tongue across his bottom lip—a silent question.

Han shuddered slightly and answered her without hesitation, parting his lips and tilting his head just so. Their tongues met, tentative at first, tasting and exploring. Then his tongue swept against hers, coaxing it into a slow, sensual dance.

It felt like fireworks exploding behind Minji's closed eyelids. Heat burst in her chest and spread outward, coiling low in her belly and racing through her veins like liquid electricity. Her fingertips tingled where they were tangled in his hair, his silky strands sliding between her fingers as she pulled him closer.

Han releases a quiet groan, low and husky, vibrating against her mouth. He drew her flush against his chest, his arms tightening around her waist. She felt the rapid thud of his heartbeat echoing her own, impossibly fast and powerful.

He tasted faintly sweet—like chocolate and grape soda—and she felt herself sinking into the kiss, her mind blissfully blank except for the way he was kissing her, the way his breath mingled with hers, the way he fit so perfectly against her.

He guided the kiss expertly, letting it ebb and flow between gentle, lingering passes of their lips and deeper, more insistent strokes of tongue and teeth. He never rushed her, never demanded, but he also didn't shy away from devouring her mouth like he was starving for her.

A soft whimper escaped her throat as he sucked lightly on her bottom lip, sending sparks skittering down her spine. She tightened her grip on his hair, drawing a shiver from him.

Their mouths parted only for seconds at a time, gasping soft breaths before colliding again, each kiss more urgent than the last. Time blurred around them until they didn't know if minutes or hours had passed.

By the time they finally pulled away, they were both panting, cheeks flushed, foreheads pressed together. His breath fanned across her lips, warm and uneven. Her lips felt tender, swollen, and his were slightly pink and glistening.

Minji blinked her eyes open and met his gaze, dazed and shining. Han's eyes were half-lidded, pupils dark and blown wide, his lips curled into the faintest, trembling smile.

"Wow," he whispered, his voice rough and full of wonder. "That... was worth all the wait. More than worth."

Her heart stuttered, crashing against her ribs as she tried to catch her breath, her own lips curving into a radiant smile.

She let out a soft, shaky laugh, her hands still resting lightly on his shoulders. "I agree."

They stood there in the hush that followed, the world shrinking down to just the two of them and the low rustle of leaves overhead. The glow from the nearby lamp post cast a golden outline around Minji's hair, and Han found himself marveling at how impossibly pretty she looked—like something out of a dream he had almost convinced himself to forget.

"This is the first time I've seen you out of your uniform," he murmured, unable to keep the awe from his voice as his eyes swept gently over her. His fingertips barely brushed her waist, a featherlight touch that made her shiver. "You look really cute."

"Thank you," she said, smiling shyly. Warmth bloomed in her chest like sunlight. "You look nice tonight too."

"Thank you," he echoed, cheeks tinged pink as he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered just a little longer than they needed to, grazing her skin lightly enough to leave goosebumps in their wake. Then he tilted his head, eyes narrowing in soft confusion. "But... where are your moles?"

"Hm?" she blinked, caught off guard.

"The ones on your cheeks," he said, brushing his thumb over the spot where he remembered them being. "Or are they freckles? Did you cover them with makeup?"

"Yeah."

"Why?" he asked gently.

She hesitated, her gaze dropping for a moment. "I— I have a lot of moles," she murmured. "They're kind of everywhere and I usually cover them. They're... flaws."

Han's brow furrowed, lips parting in gentle protest. "You know what's another name for moles?" he asked, voice soft as he let his thumb drift down to another faint mark near her neck. "Beauty marks. Because they just make you look even more beautiful."

Minji's breath hitched, her eyes flicking up to meet his. There was no teasing in his expression. Only quiet sincerity.

Her throat tightened, a lump forming behind the emotion swelling there. "You really mean that?"

"I really do." He smiled again, slow and tender. "I think they're part of what makes you... you."

The silence that followed was full of warmth. She stared at him, her fingers curling gently on the back of his neck, grounding herself. The way he looked at her—it made her feel seen in a way she hadn't expected, hadn't even known she was missing.

And then he shifted slightly, pecking her lips delicately as the moment settled between them, still fragile but full of possibility.

"Would you like to do something together?" he asked, voice quieter now, but no less hopeful.

"Oh, uh..." She glanced down and pulled her phone from her pocket, checking the time. "What time is it?" Her eyes widened slightly. "Nearly 11 pm. I guess I already missed curfew, so I might as well stay out and do something."

"Curfew?" he repeated, blinking in surprise.

"I live at the university dorms. They close the gates at 11 pm and no one else can get in."

"Oh..." He nodded slowly, processing that. "So what will you do now?"

"I'll have to hang out somewhere until about 6:30 am," she chuckled, trying to sound lighthearted, but the idea of wandering around all night clearly worried her.

"I'm sorry," he said, pouting a little as guilt flickers across his face. Then his eyes brightened. "Do you... maybe want to come to my place?"

"Your place?" Minji's eyes widened even further, lips parting in surprise.

"Yeah," he said, after a brief moment of thought, cheeks pinking slightly. "I was planning on introducing you to my members anyway."

"It's a little early for that, don't you think?" she protested, eyes narrowing playfully. "We quite literally just started dating."

But he only smiled at her words, looking impossibly pleased. The word dating on her lips sent a little thrill through him.

"My friends won't mind," he insisted.

"That's not exactly the reason I'm worried," she muttered, her eyes darting downward—to his lips.

"I'm a gentleman," he said, leaning in with a mischievous smirk. "I'll behave."

"I'm not sure I will," she whispered, her voice barely audible, lips curving into a faintly wicked smile.

He let out a shaky laugh, his breath tickling her lips as he leaned closer and kissed her again, soft and lingering.

"Please come with me," he murmured between small, tender pecks. "I don't want to say goodbye yet."

She tried to keep a straight face, but his closeness, his warmth, and the way he was looking at her—all soft eyes and hopeful smile—made her resolve crumble like paper.

"Okay," she breathed at last, feeling her heart flutter wildly.

He grinned like the sun breaking through clouds and quickly grabbed her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. Together, they left the park, Han tugging his mask back over his face as they went.

The cab ride was quiet but electric with anticipation. He didn't let go of her hand the entire time, his thumb brushing gently over her skin. When they arrived, he led her to a large, modern building and punched a code into one of the doors. He glanced at her as if seeking silent reassurance, then stepped aside to let her go in first.

Minji hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping inside. She took off her shoes carefully and set them neatly by the door. The entryway was cluttered with shoes—some neatly lined up, others scattered haphazardly across the floor. She immediately spotted which pairs likely belonged to Han, given how he kicked his sneakers off without looking where they landed.

He grabbed her hand again and gently pulled her deeper into the apartment.

In the living room, three guys were sprawled together on a couch, half-watching the TV and half-dozing. At the sound of footsteps, they glanced up lazily—but when they saw Minji, all three pairs of eyes popped open, wide with shock.

"Guys," Han announced, beaming with pride, "this is my girlfriend, Park Minji."

"What?" they all yelled in perfect unison, voices echoing off the walls.

"H-hi..." Minji stammered, bowing shyly.

Han grinned, positively glowing as he made introductions. "Minji, these are some of the members of my group: Hwang Hyunjin, Seo Changbin, and Bang Chan." He pointed at each one as he spoke.

"Did you say girlfriend?" Hyunjin spluttered, eyes practically bulging out of his head.

"Uh, nice to meet you," Chan managed, bowing slightly with polite awkwardness.

"Is—Is this allowed?" Changbin demanded, turning to Chan with a frantic look.

"He did ask me about dating first," Chan said, rubbing his temples. "And I said it was okay, but I didn't know he was bringing her to the dorm." He shot Han a sharp glare.

"Sorry..." Han winced, glancing apologetically at Minji. "Minji missed her curfew at university and has nowhere to go until morning. Can she stay the night here?"

Chan exhaled the world's longest sigh. "Sure," he said, shaking his head. "I guess we'll... figure it out."

"Wait, so we're allowed to date?" Changbin asked, eyes wide.

"If you can be discreet about it," Chan nodded firmly. "Lee Know is apparently also dating someone."

"Who?" Hyunjin gasped, practically bouncing on the couch.

"Han Yuna," Han said, rolling his eyes. "Though he insists they're not actually dating, just... sleeping together."

"So I can ask Cho Soori out?" Changbin asked, suddenly beaming with excitement.

"Cho Soori? From Crush Crush?" Hyunjin arched an eyebrow, incredulous.

"Yeah. I have a 'crush crush' on her," Changbin said, winking with a goofy grin.

"I mean... I'm not sure if she is allowed to date," Chan said cautiously. "But I guess you could try asking her out. Just... be careful."

"Cool!" Changbin practically radiated joy, his grin stretching ear to ear.

"So does that mean you'll finally ask out Moon Jiwon?" Hyunjin shot at Chan with a mischievous glint.

"How did you—?" Chan stared at him, utterly flabbergasted, eyes popping wide open.

"Told you it was obvious," Han laughed, shaking his head. "Anyway, we're going inside."

He grabbed Minji's hand gently and started pulling her away.

"It was nice meeting you," she called back shyly, bowing once more toward the guys.

"Nice meeting you, too!" Changbin called after her, still grinning.

Han led Minji down the hallway and stopped at a door, pushing it open and flicking on the light. She stepped inside and looked around curiously.

The room looked exactly like the domain of a young man living alone for the first time: clothes draped haphazardly over chairs and piled on the floor, an unmade bed with rumpled blankets, a desk buried under stray papers, snack wrappers, and a few empty water bottles.

"Hm, I'm... sorry about the mess," he mumbled, cheeks flushing pink as he started grabbing random things off the floor and stuffing them behind his back. "I didn't really... expect company."

"It's alright," she chuckled softly, finding his embarrassment rather endearing.

"This must be like... a nightmare for you, right?" he stammered, glancing at her as he gathered more clothes. "Since you, um... like things neat and organized and all."

"Ji, it's okay." She smiled and reached out, brushing her fingers gently over his back. "I don't mind."

He paused, looking at her with those big, earnest eyes, searching her face for any hint of judgment—but all he found was warmth. Relief eased the tension in his shoulders. He still couldn't believe she was standing there, in his room, looking at him like that, her presence feeling both surreal and incredibly right.

"I can help you clean up if you'd like," she offered, glancing down and picking up a hoodie from the floor.

"You don't have to," he blurted out quickly. "I'll do it."

"I'd like to help," she insisted gently, already folding the hoodie with practiced, precise movements.

He blinked at the perfectly folded square in her hands. "Are you like... good at everything?" he muttered, amazed.

"I've worked at a clothing store before," she laughed. "They give you lots of training on folding clothes."

"I see," he murmured, nodding as if he had just learned a life-altering secret.

She placed the neatly folded hoodie on a clear spot on his desk and picked up another shirt. Han quickly joined her efforts, gathering empty wrappers and cups and tossing them into a trash bag. Together, they managed to transform the room into something passably tidy. She smoothed the blankets over his bed while he tucked away the clothes into his closet.

She caught a glimpse of the chaos inside it—a jumble of shirts, jeans, and random accessories—but quickly looked away, determined to pretend she didn't see. It bothered her a little, but she tried to swallow it down.

"Thanks for helping me... and I'm sorry again," he mumbled, rubbing his fingers together nervously. "I never imagined you'd be coming into my room."

"Yeah, tonight's been pretty unexpected," she said, laughing softly as she sat on the edge of his bed, leaning back slightly and propping herself up on her arms.

He stared at her, momentarily frozen. Seeing her perched casually on his bed, looking impossibly pretty in her normal clothes, her hair soft around her face—it was almost too much for him.

She tilted her head, catching the intense look in his eyes. "Oh—I'm sorry, do you not like it when people sit on your bed?" she blurted out suddenly, springing to her feet.

"What? No. I don't mind," he blinked, startled.

"I still have my outside clothes on... I didn't realize. I'm sorry." She took a step away, glancing down at her jeans as if they had committed some grave offense.

"Minji, it's okay." He reached out quickly, catching her hand and tugging her closer. "You're my girlfriend. I don't mind."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he seemed to realize what he said—and so did she.

Her breath caught, and her eyes widened as they flicked up to his face. A bright, bashful smile slowly bloomed across her lips.

Girlfriend.

The word hung between them, impossibly sweet and a little surreal.

"You're my girlfriend." He repeated it softly, like he was testing how it sounded out loud, and then he started laughing shyly. "Wow. I can't believe I get to say that."

She laughed, too, pressing her free hand over her warm cheeks. "It sounds... really nice. I still can't believe it either."

Their gazes met and lingered. It was like they were both on the edge of bursting with excitement, trying to process that this was real—that they were no longer just teasing each other across a store counter.

Han grinned so wide his eyes nearly disappeared. "I keep thinking I'm gonna wake up back in my bed and realize this was all a dream."

Minji squeezed his hand. "Same. But I hope it's not."

"Me too." He lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles lightly, making her blush even harder.

The last time he held her hand was when he had said goodbye, believing it would be the last time he would ever see her. Yet here they were again, fingers intertwined as if no time at all had passed.

Just then, a knock interrupted the moment.

"Excuse me," Chan said as he cracked open the door, knocking even as he was already halfway inside. "We're about to order pizza for dinner. Do you guys wanna eat with us?"

Han turned to Minji. "Would you like pizza?"

"Yeah." She nodded with a bright smile.

"Which flavor do you like?" Chan asked, eyes on his phone, ready to type.

"I'm good with anything. You guys can choose," Minji said quickly, waving her hands as if deflecting the spotlight.

"They're individual pizzas, so you can pick whatever you want," Chan said, glancing up.

"Oh... hm... pepperoni, then?" she said uncertainly, as if she was confessing a dark secret.

"Are you sure?" Han tilted his head, noticing her hesitation. "You can really get whatever you want."

"I always have trouble deciding between cheese and pepperoni," she admitted with a soft laugh. "But... I guess I'll go with pepperoni tonight."

"I'll get cheese and we can share. How about that?" he offered with a grin.

"Oh no, you don't have to—" she started, flustered.

"One pepperoni and one cheese, hyung," Han called over her protest, ignoring her attempt to stop him.

"Alright. I'll call you when it arrives," Chan muttered as he tapped on his phone.

"Can you check if they have grape soda too?" Han added.

"Grape soda?" Chan arched a brow, mildly bewildered.

"Yeah. Get two cans if they do."

"Okay..." Chan said, still looking confused as he closed the door behind him.

"You didn't have to do that," Minji said, shaking her head as she turned back to Han.

"It's fine. I also like both of those. I'd probably have ordered them anyway," Han reassured her.

"Really?" she said, eyes searching his.

"Yeah. So now we both get to have both flavors."

"Okay," she said softly, her smile blooming.

"I really like your smile," he murmured, raising his hand and brushing his thumb tenderly across her cheek.

"I like yours too," she whispered, cheeks warming even more.

"I hope I get to see it all the time now." He leaned forward, pressing his lips gently against hers.

She kissed him back shyly, the contact sending little tremors down her spine. She was aware they were in his bedroom now, that his bandmates were just outside, but it was impossible to resist how sweet he tasted, how warm his lips felt on hers.

But just as the kiss began to deepen, footsteps approached the door. Han broke away quickly, clearing his throat as he pulled back.

"Hey... um... they don't have grape soda," Chan announced, barging in mid-sentence while still absorbed in his phone.

"Uh... any other is fine," Minji stammered, her face blazing red.

"We were thinking about getting some beer and soju since we've got a day off tomorrow. Are you guys up for drinking?" Chan added, finally looking up.

"Sure," both Han and Minji said at once, exchanging an awkward but amused look.

"Cool. The pizza should be here really soon, and Hyunjin already went to the store for drinks. Do you guys wanna hang out with us in the living room? You don't have to stay locked up in here."

"You sound like such a dad right now," Han grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"Sorry, I don't exactly know how to act right now. We've never had a girl in the dorm before," Chan admitted, scratching the back of his neck.

"Yes, we have! Jieun!" Han protested.

"Jieun doesn't count. She's like one of the guys."

"So you're saying I.N basically has a crush on one of the guys?" Han shot back, eyebrow raised.

"Ew, dude. Don't make it weird," Chan groaned.

"You're the one making it weird!"

"Just... come hang out," Chan snapped. "We wanna get to know your girlfriend."

"I'm sorry about that," Han sighed after Chan walked away. "He's the leader of our group and the oldest out of all of us, so he kinda acts like a dad sometimes."

"It's alright," she chuckled. "It's kind of endearing. He seems to care a lot about you guys."

"Yeah, we're all very close," he said, a fond smile touching his lips.

"How many people are in your group?"

"Eight, counting me."

"Oh wow—that's a lot," she said, eyes widening in surprise.

"It is," he laughed.

"Do they all live here?"

"No, we're split into two different apartments. But we all hang out together pretty often. I'm sure you'll meet the other guys soon."

"Okay," she said, sounding a little nervous.

"Don't worry," Han reassured her, squeezing her hand gently. "I'm sure they'll all love you."

She smiled shyly, touched by how easily he included her in his world.

"Oh, actually..." Han trailed off, as if remembering something. He glanced toward the living room and brightened. "I should probably call Lee Know."

"Lee Know?" Minji blinked at the sudden shift.

"Yeah." Han grinned as he tugged her gently toward the door. "If we're going to drink tonight, I should invite him. He was dying to go out earlier."

He lead her out into the living room, where the other guys looked up curiously as they reappeared.

"Hey, if we're drinking, I'm gonna call Lee Know," Han announced. "He was sulking about not having anyone to go out with earlier."

"Sure," Chan said, shrugging.

Han pulled his phone out of his pocket, scrolling through his contacts as Minji hovered beside him, feeling a little unsure of where to go or what to do. She glanced around the living room, taking in the minimalistic but cozy décor. Despite the white walls and modern furnishings, there was a comfortable clutter of blankets, pillows, and game controllers that made the place feel like home.

"Would you like to take a seat?" Changbin offered kindly, patting the couch next to him.

"Oh—thank you." She smiled and sat down, feeling relieved to have a place to perch.

Meanwhile, Han stepped away into the hall and hit the call button.

"What?" Lee Know answered after Han called him three times, sounding distinctly annoyed.

"Hey hyung, do you still wanna have a drink tonight?" Han said, ignoring the harsh greeting.

"Did you get rejected and now gracefully remember you have friends?" Lee Know retorted, rolling his eyes even though Han couldn't see it.

"I did not get rejected." Han grinned. "In fact, Minji is here with me."

"Here where?"

"At the dorm."

"You brought her to the fucking dorm?" Lee Know sputtered.

"Yeah. She's sleeping over."

"What? Are you insane? Does Chan know?"

"Yeah. We're all having drinks together. You should come."

"You brought the girl you're fucking over to the dorm to spend the night on the very first day? And Chan is okay with that?"

"Dating," Han corrected firmly, his brows pulling together. "Don't be gross. And yeah, Minji got locked out of her dorm because of me, so the least I could do was let her stay over."

"As if you're not gonna fuck her," Lee Know scoffed. "Who are you calling gross?"

"Are you fucking coming or not?" Han snapped, exasperated.

"I guess I have to see this mess for myself. I'll be there in five."

Han ended the call with a huff and slipped his phone into his pocket, letting out a small sigh as he turned to head back toward the living room. He froze for a second when he noticed Minji, who was now leaning slightly toward Changbin, easily engaged with him in quiet conversation. Her voice was soft and a little tentative, but there was a bright curiosity in her expression that made Han's chest warm.

He watched for a moment, struck by how natural she looked here—even just sitting beside his friend like that. It made something flutter in his chest. She was not just the girl from the convenience store anymore. She was his girl.

He made his way over and sat down beside her, close enough that their legs touched. She glanced sideways and gave him a small, shy smile, which he returned instantly. He leaned in slightly to join the conversation, and just like that, it flowed effortlessly between the three of them—Minji's light laughter joining theirs, her nerves gradually dissolving as she became more at ease.

Time slipped by easily in that comfortable rhythm. The quiet buzz of conversation, the soft flicker of the television, the easy comfort of bodies relaxing into couches—it all felt like something out of a dream.

Then the intercom buzzed, startling them slightly.

"Pizza's here!" Chan announced a few minutes later, returning from the door with a stack of boxes in his arms.

"So are the drinks!" Hyunjin followed right behind, carrying a bag loaded with bottles.

"And so am I," Lee Know said as he stepped inside with his usual sharp presence, eyes sweeping across the room.

Han stood up quickly, gently nudging Minji to do the same. "Hyung, this is Minji," he said, smiling proudly as he slipped an arm lightly around her waist. "Minji, this is another member of my group and my best friend—Lee Know."

Minji bowed politely out of reflex, offering a soft, "It's nice to meet you."

She began to lift her gaze, prepared to smile, but then it caught his eyes. Wide, intense, unwavering. There was something razor-sharp about the way he was looking at her, scanning her from head to toe in a way that felt more evaluative than welcoming. It was not hostile—but it was cautious, and decidedly blunt.

That stare tugged at a buried memory.

Her breath hitched as she squinted ever so slightly. Those eyes. They were too familiar. That same presence—quiet but cutting—looming behind the counter that night.

Her eyes widened slightly as realization dawned.

"Oh," she blurted, the words escaping before she could stop them. "You're the one who threatened me that day."

"What?" Chan's head jerked up so fast he nearly dropped the pizza boxes.

Changbin choked on his drink, sputtering as Hyunjin's eyes grew comically wide as he stared at them.

Lee Know blinked once, scoffed, and folded his arms across his chest. "I didn't threaten you," he said with exaggerated calm.

"You said you knew my name and where I worked and if I said anything to anyone it wouldn't end well for me," she raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like a threat to me."

"When was this?" Chan asked, utterly dumbfounded.

"Was it the night we first met?" Han interjected.

"Yeah." Minji chuckled, recalling it with a shake of her head. "I was very confused by the whole thing. I thought you were crazy."

"Dude, you can't go around threatening people," Chan scolded Lee Know, glaring.

"She saw him having a panic attack and he had no mask on," Lee Know shot back, pointing at Han. "I didn't know if she could be trusted. I was just covering for him."

"She didn't even know who I was!" Han exclaimed.

"I didn't know that—and when I figured it out, I backed away and apologized, did I not?" Lee Know insisted.

"You did," Minji admitted with a nod.

"See." Lee Know leaned back with a smug shrug.

"Still, that's no way to go about things! You should've just asked politely." Chan shook his head. "Park Minji-ssi, I apologize on his behalf."

"It's alright. I understand," she said. "And I wasn't offended by it."

"See, it's all good. Now, where are the drinks?" Lee Know plopped himself down at the table.

"Come." Han tugged Minji to sit beside him.

"Park Minji-ssi, would you like a drink?" Hyunjin offered, holding up a bottle of soju.

"Sure, and please—speak comfortably," she said with a polite bow. "All of you."

"Then you don't have to keep bowing to us," Hyunjin laughed, beginning to shake the bottle gently.

"Oh, hm—" Minji reached out. "May I?"

Hyunjin blinked in surprise but handed the bottle over. "Sure."

Minji took the bottle from his hands, standing up to give herself some space. She tucked her phone under one arm and lightly shook her wrists as if preparing for a performance. Then she flipped the bottle sideways and then upside-down, her movements rapid and precise, making a tight tornado of liquid spiral inside.

As the swirl churned, she used her phone to tap the bottle precisely on the top, then gave it a sharp knock near the base. A crisp pop! rang out, the cap launching into the air before bouncing harmlessly onto the table.

The guys stared at her, slack-jawed.

"Woah!" Han's eyes were as wide as saucers. "That was so cool."

"Thank you," Minji laughed, brushing her hair from her face. "May I pour you all a drink?"

"Please," Hyunjin said dramatically, clutching his chest. "I am not worthy of doing it myself."

She giggled and started pouring, steady-handed, moving from one glass to the next with perfect precision. She began with Chan's glass, carefully filling each to an even level. When she finished, she set the bottle on the table and sat down, leaving her own glass empty.

Han quickly snatched up the bottle and poured a measure into her glass, then slid it over to her.

She smiled, accepting it. "Thank you."

"Cheers!" Han lifted his glass.

"Cheers!" everyone echoed, and they all clinked glasses before tossing back their drinks, bursting into laughter and satisfied exclamations once they were done.

"So, Minji, you're in university?" Hyunjin asked as he wiped his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm in med school. Second year."

"Oh wow, that's really cool," he said, genuinely impressed.

"Han had said something about your shift earlier. Do you also have a job?" Chan asked, leaning forward with interest.

"Yes. I work part-time at a convenience store, four days a week," she explained with a nod.

"That's how we met," Han interjected, smiling brightly and leaning closer to her.

"You must be really busy, then," Chan commented.

"Yeah..." She cleared her throat a little nervously. "I am."

"I'm busy too—it's okay," Han said, draping an arm across her shoulders and pulling her into his side. "I'm sure we'll make it work."

She glanced at him and smiled faintly, though the concern still lingered at the edge of her thoughts. Their schedules are both intense. Would they even find time for each other? But as Han's laughter mingled with his friends', his warmth wrapping around her shoulders, she felt optimism blooming inside her.

As the evening wore on and the drinks flowed, Minji began to fully relax. She chatted easily with Hyunjin and Changbin, shared jokes with Chan, and even traded playful banter with Lee Know, who—despite his initial coldness—began to show the edges of a teasing grin. The room was alive with laughter and conversation, the air thick with the scent of pizza and soju.

When the plates were empty and bottles half-drained, they all remained gathered around the table, talking and laughing like old friends. Minji found herself thinking that even if things got complicated, moments like this might just be worth the risk.

"Can you do that thing with the bottle again?" Han asked eagerly, practically bouncing in his seat as he reached for another drink.

"I can show you a different one," Minji replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes, taking the bottle from his hands.

She stood up, stepped back from the table, and deftly tossed the bottle into the air, making it spin rapidly. In one fluid motion, she caught it and slammed it against her knee, sending the cap flying off with a sharp pop. The drink fizzed wildly inside the bottle as everyone stared, wide-eyed.

"Woah, that was even cooler than the first one!" Han exclaimed, clapping like an overexcited seal.

"You're so freaking cool," Hyunjin echoed, joining in the applause.

"How are you so good at this?" Changbin demanded, eyes big as saucers.

"I used to work at a bar," Minji laughed, starting to pour the drinks. "I learned all sorts of tricks. Good for tips."

"It's very impressive," Chan nodded, raising his glass appreciatively.

"Thanks," she chuckled, sitting back down. "Doing those tricks was my favorite part of bartending... besides the cute uniform."

"You had to wear a cute uniform?" Han's eyes lit up, his arm snaking back around her shoulders.

"It was a Kitsune-themed bar," she explained, unable to keep from grinning at his expression. "I wore a dress, fox ears, and a tail."

Han's jaw went slack. "I would have loved to see that." He was not even trying to be subtle as his gaze dipped to her body.

Minji felt heat creeping into her cheeks.

"Yeah, I bet you would have." Lee Know snickered, his smirk dirty and knowing.

"I think you've had enough to drink," Chan cut in, sliding Han's glass away like a protective parent.

"Hyung!" Han protested, pouting dramatically.

"You know you can't handle alcohol. You really want to be drunk when your girlfriend's staying over for the first time?"

"You do have a point..." Han sighed, glancing sheepishly at Minji. "I'll just drink water."

"You're a lightweight?" Minji teased, leaning closer with a playful grin.

"Maybe a little," Han admitted, blushing.

"Please," Lee Know scoffed. "If you have one more sip, you'll be on this table screaming Thunderous at the top of your lungs."

"Hyung!" Han whipped around, glaring. "Be cool!"

Lee Know crossed his arms. "You outed me tonight, I'm outing you too. Besides, she's gonna find out eventually."

Minji giggled, leaning more against Han's side. "I'd pay good money to see that performance."

"Oh my god," Han groaned, hiding his face in her hair.

Hyunjin suddenly narrowed his eyes at Lee Know. "Wait, that's right! You got outed tonight. About Yuna. What's that all about?"

Changbin leaned forward eagerly. "Yeah, are you guys actually dating? Spill."

Lee Know's eyes darted wildly as he groaned. "I told you, we're just... hooking up. It's not serious."

Han scoffed. "Not serious? You text her every five minutes."

"That's because we're... coordinating!" Lee Know sputtered.

"Coordinating what?" Changbin wiggled his eyebrows playfully. "Your lips and hers?"

Even Chan burst out laughing, clapping a hand over his mouth.

"Shut up!" Lee Know snapped, going red. "Mind your own business!"

Han leaned forward, eyes sparkling mischievously. "Hyung, I swear, you get so soft whenever she calls. Your voice changes!" He mocked Lee Know's voice in a sickly sweet tone. "Yuna-yaaa~"

Lee Know lunged for him. "I will kill you, Han Jisung."

Minji was laughing so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes. "You guys are adorable."

"Don't encourage him," Lee Know growled, pointing a finger at her.

"Maybe we should go inside," Han said, still grinning. "Or do you want to keep drinking?"

"No, we can go inside if you want," Minji said, wiping her eyes. "I'm done, too."

"Okay. We'll be in my room." Han stood and tugged her up by the hand.

"Behave yourselves!" Hyunjin shouted after them, his words slightly slurred. "My room is next to yours and I don't want to be traumatized."

"Shut up!" Han fired back, pulling Minji toward the hallway.

"It was really nice meeting you all. Thanks for dinner," Minji called out as Han dragged her away.

"I'm sorry about my friends," Han sighed as he closed the bedroom door behind them.

"It's okay," Minji laughed, still breathless. "They're actually all really fun."

"Are you tired?" Han asked, leaning closer.

"Not really. Are you?"

"You know I usually stay up pretty late," he chuckled. "Would you like to do something?"

"Like what?"

"Watch a movie, maybe?"

"Sure, that sounds good," she said with a soft smile.

"Cool. You can make yourself comfortable." He gestured to the bed.

"Are you sure?" She hesitated, glancing at her clothes.

"Yeah. I don't really mind things like that."

"Okay." She sat cautiously on the edge of the bed, feeling a little shy.

"If you want to be more comfortable, I could lend you some of my clothes..." He scratched the back of his head, blushing. "It won't be very comfy to sleep in jeans."

"True." She looked down at her outfit, conceding. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all." He rummaged in his closet and pulled out a soft-looking cream-colored sweatsuit. "Maybe try these?"

"Alright," Minji said, standing up from the bed and brushing her hands against her sides. "Can you show me where the bathroom is?"

"Yes, of course." Han nodded, his tone soft but eager, and guided her down the hallway.

Minji stepped inside and closed the door gently behind her. She changed into the set of soft cream-colored clothes he gave her, his scent, which she was beginning to familiarize herself with, faintly clung to the fabric. It was warm and clean, just like him—a subtle mix of laundry soap, something woody, and something uniquely him. It made her cheeks warm up and sent a flutter through her stomach.

She stood in front of the mirror for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. Her reflection looked a little surreal—her in his hoodie, in his bathroom. Her boyfriend's bathroom. She washed her hands and rinsed her mouth with water, checking her teeth and smoothing her hair even though she knew there was nothing wrong. She just needed something to do. Something to stop her from smiling like an idiot.

As she stepped out, she nearly bumped into someone in the hallway.

"Oh—sorry," Chan said, giving her a polite smile as he stepped aside.

Minji nearly combusted. She bowed quickly, her face burning, and hurried back to the room. The moment she slipped inside, she felt like she could finally breathe again.

Han was sitting on the edge of the bed, now in a matching hoodie and sweatpants, his head tilted down in intense focus as he scrolled through his phone. His brows were furrowed and his lips were slightly pursed—he looked adorably concentrated.

He looked up when he heard the door and his expression instantly softened. A slow smile spread across his face, and his eyes traveled from the top of her head to her sock-covered feet, lingering just a little too long before meeting her gaze again.

"You look really good," he said, voice quiet but honest.

She blushed, looking down as she walked over and placed her folded clothes neatly on the desk. "Thanks."

He patted the bed beside him, inviting her to sit. "Come here," he said with a smile before glancing back down at his phone. "What movie do you feel like watching?"

"Hm... I'm good with anything," she said, taking the seat next to him but keeping a polite amount of space.

He tilted the phone toward her. "How about this one? Action-packed, over-the-top explosions... reminds me of someone."

She chuckled. "Sounds perfect."

He queued it up on the TV and stood to switch off the lights. The room darkened, shadows softening the edges of everything. Minji gulped. It suddenly felt more intimate—private. The soft glow from the TV cast flickering light over the room, but otherwise, they were wrapped in quiet darkness.

Han climbed back into bed, adjusting the pillows behind him and stretching out comfortably. He patted the spot beside him again, and she scooted up, mirroring his position. Her heart was pounding again, but she tried to ignore it, eyes fixed on the screen. The silence between them was companionable, but the tension of proximity made her limbs a little stiff.

Then he laughed.

It was loud and genuine and cut through the tension like sunshine through clouds. She glanced at him—his eyes were crinkled, his grin wide, and he looked more at ease than she had ever seen him. The sound of his laughter made her relax instantly. She smiled and let herself settle deeper into the bed.

They both started commenting on the film, exchanging playful jabs and laughing at the predictable clichés. Every time something blew up on screen, Han nudged her, whispering, "This is your favorite part, right?"

"You know me so well," she teased, rolling her eyes with a smile.

Soon, they were not really watching the movie at all. They had turned toward each other, bodies angled closer, the screen now a forgotten backdrop to their quiet conversation.

Han opened up slowly at first, but then all at once. He told her about his group, his music, the parts of his job he loved and the parts that wore him down. He talked about debuting young, the exhaustion, the pressure, the dreams. He told her about his family, his childhood, the way writing songs helped him stay sane.

Minji listened closely, asking questions, laughing at his stories, sometimes just silently holding his gaze as he spoke. She shared pieces of her life too—not everything, not yet. But enough. Enough for him to know her better, to see more of her than what he had only glimpsed across a counter.

And with every word, they drew closer.

Han's voice softened as he finished telling her another story. The movie's credits rolled soundlessly in the background, casting flashes of light and shadow over the two of them.

They were now lying under the covers, face to face, so close that their arms occasionally brushed. Their voices had faded from excited chatter into a soft, slow cadence, words becoming fewer as they gazed into each other's eyes.

He fell quiet, just looking at her. His gaze roamed over her face as if he was memorizing her all over again—the slope of her nose, the way her lips parted slightly as she talked, the gentle curve of her lashes.

Minji felt a shiver run through her at the intensity in his eyes. She could practically feel the electricity between them, the quiet pull drawing them closer and closer.

"So... today is our first day," Han murmured, his voice low and warm as he tucked a stray piece of her hair gently behind her ear.

"Yeah." Minji's answering smile was soft and radiant. "It is."

"I'm glad we get to spend it like this," he said, fingertips tracing a delicate path over her cheekbone. "I don't mean to sound too forward, but... I love that you're here. On my bed. So close."

"That's alright," she whispered, her voice featherlight as her fingers began to toy with the edge of his shirt collar. "You can be a little bit forward."

"Can I?" A playful glint flickered in his eyes, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk.

"Yeah." Her gaze held his, wide and inviting, lashes fluttering slightly.

"So... is it alright if I kiss you right now?"

"You don't even have to ask," she breathed, leaning in the tiniest bit closer.

He didn't waste another second.

He closed the distance slowly, savoring every fraction of a second until his lips finally brushed hers—a soft, almost hesitant touch that sent a shiver through both of them. The moment their mouths met, it was as if the whole room shifted around them.

The gentle kiss deepened as he angled his head, the hand at her cheek sliding to the back of her neck, drawing her closer. His thumb caressed her jaw with delicate, languid sweeps.

Minji responded by gripping the front of his shirt and pulling him flush against her, her other hand threading into his hair, fingers combing through the soft strands at the base of his neck. A low hum escaped him at the feeling of her touch.

Their lips moved together slowly at first, tasting, exploring, savoring the sweetness. But heat soon began to build, the kisses growing longer, wetter, more intense.

He shifted closer, one arm slipping around her waist, drawing her body tightly against his. His chest rose and fell in quick, shallow breaths as he felt her soft curves mold into him. The slide of her lips against his sent sparks bursting behind his closed eyelids.

Minji tilted her head slightly, shyly flicking her tongue over his bottom lip, tasting him. His sharp intake of breath made her pulse race.

He opened to her, granting her entry, and the moment their tongues met, it was like a jolt of electricity passed between them. Suddenly, they were kissing like they had waited a lifetime for this.

A soft moan vibrated in his chest as he tangled his tongue with hers, stroking, circling, teasing in a slow, intimate dance. She melted into him, her entire body leaning into the kiss, her hands exploring the planes of his shoulders and back.

Time seemed suspended, the world reduced to nothing but the warmth of his mouth on hers and the soft rustle of fabric as they moved closer still.

It felt magical—like fireworks bursting silently around them, like waves crashing and receding, leaving only a dizzying, breathless high.

It felt... inevitable. As if every step in their lives had led them precisely to this moment.

The kiss was languid and deep, unhurried yet hungry, as if they had all the time in the world but couldn't stand to be apart for even a second.

He kissed her like she was precious. Like he wanted to memorize the shape of her mouth with his own. His lips traveled across hers in slow, sensual strokes, pulling tiny whimpers from her throat. She melted into him, a soft sound of contentment humming low in her chest.

When they finally pulled away, it was only because they were both breathless, gasping softly, their foreheads pressed together. Han's chest rose and fell rapidly, and Minji could feel his heart hammering under her palms.

"I... I really like kissing you," he whispered, voice husky as he nipped lightly at her lower lip, then sucked it into his mouth briefly, sending a tremor through her body.

"I like kissing you too," she said, breathless, lips swollen and parted.

"I might never be able to stop," he admitted, pressing another tender kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"You don't have to," she murmured, tightening her grip on his shirt.

"Hm... I actually do." He pulled back half an inch, face pink and gaze dropping in sudden shyness.

"Why?" she asked, blinking innocently up at him.

He hesitated, swallowing hard, then let out a nervous laugh. "I really don't want to stop but... I'm... I'm getting a bit..."

"Oh." Minji glanced down, though the room was too dim to see anything clearly. A sly smile tugged at her lips. "So?"

"So...?" His eyes widened as he searched her face, flustered. "W-what do you mean, so?"

"Are you the innocent type?" she teased gently, her voice dropping low and playful.

"Inno—" He stared at her, dumbfounded. "Fuck... I won the lottery with you, didn't I?"

"Not sure I'd go that far," she said, laughing softly, "but I'm just... not very shy once I'm comfortable with someone."

"And are you comfortable with me?" he asked, his voice softer now, more vulnerable.

"Yes." Her answer was immediate, eyes warm and full of quiet certainty. "Very."

"That makes me really happy," he said, voice thick with emotion, before leaning in to capture her lips again.

"Are you comfortable with me?" she murmured against his mouth, in between kisses.

"Yeah." He smiled into the kiss, pulling her even closer until their bodies were flush, his hands roaming over her back in gentle, possessive strokes.

"Good," she whispered, and then she shifted her weight and climbed onto his lap, straddling him.

His eyes went wide for a moment, pulse visibly pounding in his throat. And then he grinned—a bright, boyish, utterly smitten grin—as he slid his hands along her thighs and up to her hips.

Minji bent forward and kissed him again, this time slower, deeper, pouring all her tenderness and desire into the way her lips moved over his. His breath caught, and he responded in kind, his mouth urgent, reverent, as if he was trying to memorize every taste and texture.

Neither of them pulled away. Neither of them wanted to.

And as their kisses turned hotter, slower, and more consuming, the room seemed to fade around them. Their breath mingled in the dim glow of the television, soft gasps filling the silence.

When Han finally broke away, he opened his eyes, gaze burning into hers. His fingers lightly traced the side of her neck, slipping down to her collarbone, brushing over the delicate skin.

"Minji..." His voice is low, barely a breath. "I... I want you," he whispered shakily, "so bad."

A flush bloomed across her cheeks, her lips parting as her breath hitched. She could feel the weight of his words, the tension coiling tight between them.

She swallowed, her pulse a wild drum in her chest. "Then have me." Her voice trembled, not from fear but from the sheer magnitude of what was sparking between them.

He stared at her, as if making sure he had heard her correctly. When she nodded, he surged forward to kiss her again—hungry, deep, and full of promise.

As the kiss deepened, Han carefully shifted, pushing her hoodie up and sliding his hands beneath it. Her body was warm under his palms, her skin soft and delicate beneath his touch. He caressed her waist slowly, reverently, fingers trembling just slightly as they mapped the shape of her.

Minji's hand drifted up to his jaw, tracing the line of his cheekbone, and then into his hair, tugging him closer as she pressed her hips against his. He groaned softly into her mouth, the sound sending another wave of heat surging through her.

The kiss seemed endless, stretching out and out as if time itself had slowed to let them live in this moment a little longer.

When he pulled back just a fraction, his lips hovered a breath away from hers. His eyes were dark, full of longing and something tenderer still.

"Are you sure?" he whispered, his voice raw, his thumb brushing her naked hip. "I don't want to rush you. I'd wait forever if I had to."

She searched his eyes, seeing nothing but sincerity, warmth, and desire. And in that moment, there was no hesitation left inside her.

"I'm sure," she murmured, leaning down for another searing kiss.

He responded instantly, his hands pulling her in as their lips met again—hot, deep, and hungry with want. But beneath the heat, there was patience, a gentleness in the way he touched her, like every movement was a question and every sigh from her a yes.

Slowly, reverently, pausing as though to give her a moment to change her mind, he began to pull on her hoodie. She didn't protest. Soon, he removed it completely, exposing the smooth skin of her upper body to the cool air—and to him.

Han froze for a beat, his breath caught somewhere between awe and disbelief.

His eyes raked over her, not with hunger, but with wonder. Her body wasn't sculpted or posed—there were soft curves, delicate dips, a faint shimmer of nervous goosebumps—but to him, it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The cool tones of her skin glowed softly under the faint light, and scattered across her chest and stomach, he saw little marks.

Moles.

His heart twisted at the sight of them. Like tiny stars on a night sky, they dotted her body in a constellation only he had the privilege to read.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, reaching out slowly. His fingers hovered first, and then touched down lightly near one just above her ribs.

Minji bit her lip and looked away, her arms twitching like she might cover herself. Her voice came out small. "I know they're not exactly sexy."

Han frowned gently, guiding her face back toward him with a hand under her chin. "Don't say that. They're my favorite part."

And then he leaned in.

He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to one of the moles on her collarbone, then another just above her breast. His lips moved with a tenderness that made her heart ache, as if each mark deserved worship.

"They look like chocolate chips," he whispered between kisses, his smile playful, his voice thick. "And I want to taste every single one."

Minji let out a breathless sound—part laughter, part moan—as her hands threaded into his hair. The way he touched her, kissed her, made her feel something she hadn't expected: adored. Seen. Safe.

It was overwhelming, like a wave of warmth crashing into her chest and spreading through her limbs. Her cheeks burned, not from shame, but from how much she wanted him—how much she wanted to be wanted by him, exactly as she was.

And as he made sure to kiss every mark in sight—slow, soft, and impossibly sweet—Minji realized it felt like falling into something that had been waiting for them all along.

Their laughter, their gentle teasing, the secret moments shared under fluorescent lights—it all led to this. Their bodies came together like a promise made in fire and starlight—tangled limbs, quiet gasps, whispered names.

That night, they didn't rush. They didn't need to.

Every moment was unwrapped like a gift, every inch of skin a story written in touch. They learned each other by feel, by breath, by sound, and when they finally gave in fully to everything they had been holding back, it wasn't just passion—it was something deeper.

Something sacred.

Outside, the world remained unchanged.

But inside Han's room, two souls finally collided in the quiet, electric gravity of everything they had been holding back—until now.

⊹˚₊‧─────≽ ^ • ⩊ • ^ ≼─────‧₊˚⊹

This was so long omg 🫠

Hope ya'll survived until the end, see you next time with Lee Know and Yuna!