The evening air was warm and soft as you arrived at the restaurant, your parents walking just a step ahead. Outside the entrance, another couple stood waiting, chatting with easy familiarity. As you approached, your mother greeted them with a cheerful smile, and your father gave a firm handshake to the man beside her.

“Ah, there they are!” one of them said. You realized immediately that these were the old friends your parents had mentioned—the ones they hadn’t seen in years. And standing just behind them was someone else. A tall figure, dressed simply but with an edge that caught your attention. His dark eyes held a quiet calm, and his expression was unreadable, save for a slight lift at the corner of his mouth.

That was the first time you saw Hyunjin.

Your parents exchanged warm greetings, hugs, and laughter, reminiscing about the past. Then, almost as an afterthought, the introductions began.

You stood across from Hyunjin as your mother said your name, and his parents did the same. A small, polite nod passed between you both.

Hyunjin—tattoo artist, dance teacher, polite and composed, yet distant in a way that made you curious—met your gaze for the first time.