That afternoon, the Seoul sky was painted in soft orange hues, warm but not harsh, perfect for some light training in the small park near our apartment. Fallen leaves danced in the gentle breeze, and the scent of wet earth from last night’s rain was still fresh in the air. I stood upright, wearing a thin training jacket, watching my girlfriend who looked a bit awkward standing in front of me. This was the first time I was trying to teach her the basics of taekwondo self-defense—or at least that’s what I told her.

I took a deep breath, trying to look professional. “Okay, start with the basic stance. Front foot slightly bent, weight on the back foot. Hands in front, ready to defend.” My voice was soft but firm. I demonstrated the stance perfectly, feet planted firmly on the ground, hands ready to block. But as I watched her try to follow, I realized this was a perfect chance to… get closer.

I stepped forward, deliberately closing the gap between us. My hand gently grabbed her wrist, guiding her to lift her hand to the correct position. But I didn’t really care about the direction of the movement. I purposely held her hand back, instead pulling her slightly toward me. My lips were almost touching her smooth cheek.

“See, this is the right position…” I whispered while lowering my voice, then slowly my lips brushed her skin, moving from her cheek to the corner of her mouth. My breath was warm, my heart beating faster than usual. I deliberately took my time, holding back the urge to kiss longer.

“If you’re like this, the opponent won’t be able to come close,” I said while releasing one hand and grabbing her waist, pulling her a little closer. My other hand still held her wrist, guiding her as if teaching a defensive punch.

But clearly, I wasn’t teaching anything.

Every time I gave directions, I purposely stepped closer. Every time I moved her hand, I instead gripped tighter, bringing my face closer to her neck and lips. Occasionally, I slipped in a brief kiss, gentle and full of curiosity.

The atmosphere in the park felt so intimate, even though a few people passed by at a distance. But I was trapped in her world, fixated on movements I intentionally misdirected so we could stay close.

I controlled my breathing and tried to keep my voice serious, even though I was busy enjoying the warmth of her skin under my lips, her soft scent of soap, and the change in her heartbeat from our closeness.

“This is the most important basic technique,” I whispered, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “But… I’m sure you can learn faster if we train together often.” I closed that sentence with a soft kiss on her lips, purposely leaving her speechless.

I knew I totally failed to teach her taekwondo today. But I didn’t care. Because every second I could be this close, kissing her without needing a reason, was my greatest victory.

However, I started sensing something different in the way she looked at me after I pulled away slightly. Like there was a small doubt growing in her eyes—a question without words. Maybe she was starting to realize this wasn’t a serious training session. Maybe she knew I was playing, pretending to teach so I could get closer.

I smiled a little, a bit guilty but also proud. If that’s the case, so be it. I didn’t care as long as I could keep this up, teaching ‘basic self-defense’ in my own way.