You had sworn it off—love, relationships, anything that could leave you crumpled on the floor like a forgotten letter. after enough heartbreaks to last a lifetime, you made yourself a promise: never fall in love again.

At least, that was the plan. until New York happened. the city buzzed with a heartbeat of its own. neon lights flickered above you, cars honked impatiently, and people brushed past, too busy chasing their dreams to notice a lone tourist lingering on the sidewalk maybe this is exactly what I needed, you thought. a fresh start. a place where no one knew your name.

Lost in your thoughts, you didn’t notice the figure rounding the corner at full speed–not until he crashed straight into you. your breath hitched as you stumbled backward, but before you could fall, a hand shot out, steadying you by your waist.

“Whoa—sorry,” a voice said, smooth and apologetic. you blinked up at him. and that’s when the world tilted for a completely different reason.

He was beautiful. tall, lean, with dark hair slightly messy from the wind and eyes that held a surprising warmth even in the cold evening. he looked effortlessly put together, like he belonged on the cover of some New York fashion magazine and yet somehow, here he was, holding onto you.

“I wasn’t looking,” he added, flashing a sheepish smile that could’ve melted ice.

You managed a breathless, “It's fine,” even though your heart was pounding like crazy.

He didn’t let go immediately. and maybe it was just your imagination, but it felt like his hand lingered a second longer than necessary before he pulled away.

“I’m Sunghoon,” he said casually, slipping his hands into the pockets of his black coat. his smile grew, a little amused, like he could tell you were still processing everything. “And you are…?”

You told him your name, and something about the way he repeated it under his breath soft, almost like tasting it. made your chest ache in a way you hadn't felt in a long time.

“Are you new here?” he asked, stepping a little closer, his voice easy but curious. you nodded, explaining you were just wandering, trying to find your place.

Sunghoon chuckled, low and smooth. “Then maybe I can show you around,” he offered. “It’s a big city. Easier not to get lost when you have someone... interesting to walk with.”

You stared at him for a moment. at the casual way he said it, the glint in his eyes like he genuinely wanted to know you.