Youngseo hurried through the mildly busy streets, the late afternoon sun casting golden rays across the sidewalk. In her arms, she clutched a small stack of slightly crumpled papers—notes and letters she had promised to deliver to her friends. Her leather boots echoed sharply against the concrete, a rhythmic click that matched her growing urgency.

She weaved through the crowd, murmuring polite apologies as she brushed past strangers. A breeze lifted the edges of her coat, sending one of the papers fluttering dangerously near the edge of the sidewalk. She managed to catch it just in time, her brow furrowed with determination.

But then—her heel caught the edge of a raised crack in the pavement. Her balance shifted, the papers flew slightly upward, and she let out a startled squeal. Time seemed to slow for a moment.

Before she could hit the ground, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist, steadying her. You had seen her stumble from a few steps away and rushed forward just in time. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized she wasn’t on the ground—she was in your arms, her face just inches from yours.

The world around you both kept moving—cars passing, people walking—but in that moment, it felt like everything had paused.