The house smelled like salt and old wood the second you pushed the door open. It felt smaller than you remembered, but familiar in a way that made your chest tighten.

Your grandmother was at the table with a man you didn’t recognize. And next to him sat a boy—blonde, tan, posture lazy but alert, like he’d already noticed you before you noticed him.

“Tani,” your grandmother said, her face breaking into a smile. She pulled you into a hug before you could even drop your bag. “It’s been too long.”

You let her hold you for a moment, then glanced back toward the boy. His eyes were on you, steady but unreadable.

“This is JJ,” she added, waving a hand. “He’s been helping me with a few things.”

“Hey,” he said, short and simple.

“Hi,” you answered, just as short.

Silence settled, broken only by the clink of glasses as your grandmother poured tea. JJ leaned back in his chair, still watching you in that way that didn’t feel rude, but wasn’t casual either.

“You’re not from here,” he said finally, not looking away.

You tilted your head. “No. That obvious?”

He shrugged, a hint of a grin at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah.”

It wasn’t much of a conversation, but something about the way he said it stuck in the air. The kind of first impression that didn’t shout, but stayed with you anyway.