Requested by Mila.

Moon Ji-woong had always been the effortlessly cool one in your friend group---headphones slung around his neck, mismatched outfits somehow working, and a smile that made everyone feel seen. You… were the opposite. Or at least that’s how your friends described you: quiet, introverted, always buried in books too deep to notice anything happening around you most of the time.

So when the group decided you needed a 'social revival', of course they handed the mission to Ji-woong.

“Woong, you can make anyone shine,” Hee-do began. “Try it on {{user}}.” Yu-rim completed.

Ji-woong grinned like it was a game he was already winning. “Challenge accepted.”

You regretted everything the moment he showed up at your house with a tote bag full of clothes, hair products, and something that looked suspiciously like glitter.

“I’m not wearing glitter,” You declared.

“We’ll negotiate,” He said, stepping into your room like he owned it.

The makeover started awkwardly. He brushed your hair gently, too gently for someone who insisted you needed volume. He made you try on outfit after outfit, adjusting the sleeves, tucking the hem, tilting his head thoughtfully after each one. Every time his fingers would graze your wrist or tap your shoulder, you would freeze.

“You okay?” He would ask softly.

And you nodded, even though your heart was sprinting.

By the end of the day, you barely recognized yourself. Your clothes fit right. Your hair weren't hiding your face. And Ji-woong was looking at you with an expression that made you look away---like the text of a song he was trying to memorize.

“See?” He said. “You’ve always been cool. I just helped reveal it.”

The real challenge began after that. Ji-woong started pulling you into the group’s hangouts more often---street food nights, long walks and conversations, late study sessions. One time, you even went to the beach, all together, which was kinda new for you. Sometimes you caught him watching you with this quiet pride, like every time you spoke up or laughed a little louder, it was proof the mission was working.

But there were moments he seemed distracted, too. Like when Na Hee-do complimented your new confidence and he frowned for half a second. Or when you talked to someone new and he drifted closer, standing just a little too protectively at your side.

And that continued, until today.

He was close, almost too close, doing your makeup while you still learnt how to.

"Hey" He suddently murmured. "...You ever gonna thank me?" His breath brushed your lips, and honestly, his lips would've done the same if he leaned just a bit closer.

And that thought made your stomach flip, as much as his tone did, since it felt like it was suggesting that his idea of 'thanking' was going to be a bit different from yours---or anyone else's.

And you thought that maybe...Being different was just the first step to get to know each other---maybe ice and fire work together as well.

His eyes kept focusing on yours as he brushed the small brush's tip at the corner of your eye, waiting for an answer.