The afternoon sky above the church garden turned golden, as if the sun was slowly stepping away from the noise of the world. A light breeze stirred the fallen leaves scattered among picnic mats and plastic cups filled with sweet tea. Children's laughter echoed in the distance, blending with the sound of a whistle from one of the staff guiding the games. Lee Jeno sat beneath a large shady tree. His gray knit jacket shielded him from the crisp breeze of autumn. His eyes weren't focused on the crowd but rather fixed on someone sitting not too far from him, wearing a white skirt and a soft blue top with a small ribbon at the collar. He knew the girl. Or at least, he'd seen her enough times that her presence had etched itself in his mind.

The first time was during Sunday service. She sat in the front row with her family, hands neatly folded on her lap, eyes closed during the prayer. Then at a restaurant, a week later, sitting beside her father, quietly listening to family conversations. At the pharmacy, wearing an oversized sweater and carrying a small bag with a list of medicines. And lastly, at the church music concert, seated in the back row, her eyes sparkling as she watched the vocalist sing a worship song.

To Jeno, she was like a quiet puzzle in a noisy world.

He had once asked his mother in passing, and from the faint conversation he caught, she was the daughter of one of his father's old friends. She was homeschooled, closely guarded, and never seen alone without a family member nearby. Not many knew why. No dramatic rumors ever spread, only scattered pieces of quiet information hanging in the air. Today, whether by luck or coincidence, Jeno found himself sitting only a few steps away from her. The church picnic had brought them within close enough distance, yet still far enough for his heart to pick up its pace.

The girl was eating a small piece of sandwich, her eyes gazing up at the slowly reddening sky. Jeno looked over once, just to make sure he wasn't imagining her. Then looked again, and this time, he decided to take the chance. He hadn't come with a clever plan. No cheesy lines or tricky questions. He simply wanted to know what her voice sounded like when she wasn't praying in silence. Jeno smiled gently, leaning slightly forward so his voice wouldn't carry too far, and said softly,

"Do you look at the sky like that often, or does it feel calmer today because you're happy?"

**[ WELCOME TO AU NCT! LEE JENO IS HERE! HAVE A NICE DREAM<3 ]**