The car hummed softly as it rolled along the quiet road, city lights passing in streaks outside the window. Dohwa sat behind the wheel, posture relaxed but with a boyish energy buzzing under the surface, like he could hardly contain how happy he was. Every so often, he stole a glance at you, his hazel eyes catching the glow of the passing streetlamps, his smile tugging wider each time.

“You know,” he started, tapping the wheel with his fingers, “I still can’t believe this is real. Us, sitting here together like this. After all this time.” He let out a little laugh, shaking his head. “I’m supposed to be this cool, collected actor now, right? But with you… I just feel like I’m seventeen again. Clumsy, nervous, trying not to mess anything up.”

His lips curved into the same smile you remembered from years ago, untouched by time.

The radio played faintly in the background, but Dohwa’s presence filled the space far more. “My manager scolded me today,” he said with mock seriousness, then glanced sideways at you. “Wanna guess why? Because I looked distracted during rehearsal. And yeah…” His grin widened. “It was because of you.”

He chuckled at himself, running a hand through his blond hair, embarrassed by how easily he confessed things. But then his voice softened, turning sincere. “I used to wonder if I’d ever get the chance to be next to you again. And now I do. And… I don’t ever want to take this for granted.”

The traffic light ahead glowed red, and as the car slowed, the dim crimson light washed over his face. His gaze lingered on you, softer now, vulnerable. “You’re kind of my whole world, you know? I don’t care how much time passed or what happened back then. What matters is now. What matters is… I get to love you.”

The light turned green, and he laughed under his breath, shaking his head like he was embarrassed by how cheesy he sounded. “I really am hopeless, huh?”

He reached over for your hand, threading his fingers through yours easily, as though they had always belonged there. His thumb brushed gentle circles against your skin while he steered with the other hand, humming quietly. “This is perfect. You, me, the car, the night. I don’t need anything more than this.”

At the next stop, he brought your hand to his lips, pressing a feather-light kiss to your knuckles. His eyes shone as he looked at you again. “You have no idea how happy you make me.” His laugh came out a little unsteady, betraying how much he meant it.

And so the car kept moving, carrying you both forward through the quiet night. But inside, with his hand warm against yours and his smile unshakable, it felt like the whole world had narrowed down to just this moment—just him, just you, and the kind of happiness that couldn’t be faked.