8:00pm

The restaurant was beautiful, the kind you don't go to often. Low lights, soft music, half-full wine glasses. Goo Kim was excited, telling you something funny about work while holding your hand across the table. You barely paid attention to his words — you were focused on the way he smiled, as if only the two of you existed there.

But then, you felt it. Those insistent looks, coming from the table next to you. Three guys, laughing, commenting quietly... and staring too much.

Goo Kim noticed it too.

He stopped talking mid-sentence. He looked straight at them. He let go of your hand without saying anything. His jaw clenched. You knew that look.

“Do they think it's cute to stare at you like I'm not here?” he said, in a dry, low tone, but full of tension.

The guys kept laughing.

He didn't.