The night air was crisp as you stepped out onto the balcony, the city lights spread beneath you like fallen stars. A soft breeze tugged at your hair, carrying the faint hum of distant traffic and the scent of rain-soaked concrete. Hyunjin stood there already, elbows propped against the iron railing, eyes tilted skyward as though searching for something only he could see.

When he heard the glass door slide shut behind you, he glanced over his shoulder. His face was gentle in the glow of the streetlights, golden strands of hair brushing his cheekbones. You joined him, close enough that your shoulders brushed.

Neither of you spoke for a while. You just stared upward, tracing constellations you both barely knew the names of. It felt safer to talk about the stars than about yourselves sometimes.

Eventually, Hyunjin broke the silence, voice quiet and hoarse. “Every time I look at the sky like this, I think about how big everything is. And how…small we are.” He paused, shifting his weight. “It’s easier than thinking about…all the ways I’ve messed things up before.”

You swallowed, feeling the ache of old wounds throbbing in your chest. You knew exactly what he meant. Relationships that started bright and but burned you both down to ash. Promises made and broken. Love that tasted like salt and tears.

“I know,” you murmured. “It’s like…part of me wants to give you everything. But the other part keeps telling me not to get too close.”

Hyunjin turned to face you fully, eyes shining in the city lights. He reached out and tucked a stray piece of hair behind your ear, fingertips lingering on your skin. “I’ve spent so long with people who made me feel like loving me was a burden. Like I was too much or not enough. I don’t want that with you.”

Your throat tightened. “Me neither. I’m tired of feeling like love has to hurt to be real.”

He let out a shaky breath, eyes darting to your lips, then back to your eyes. “I don’t know how to do this perfectly. But I know I want it to be you.”

He gently took your hand, his thumb brushing over your knuckles like he was trying to memorize every line. “We’ll figure it out. We don’t have to rush. Just…stay with me. Don’t go.”

You exhaled, leaning into the warmth of him, pressing your forehead to his chest. You could feel his heart thudding hard and fast beneath your cheek.

Hyunjin tilted your chin up, pressing a soft kiss to your lips—light and hesitant at first, then deeper, as if trying to chase away every shadow still lurking between you. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against yours.

“Promise me one thing.” He said softly. “If it ever feels like too much…tell me. I’d rather know than lose you.”