It was another late evening in the heart of Seoul. Neon lights buzzed above you, casting pink and blue reflections onto the wet pavement. You had just finished your first official week at your new job—well-paid, respectable, exhausting. The city pulsed with life, but tonight, you felt like a ghost drifting through it.

The last bus had pulled away with a hiss just as you reached the stop. The metro was closed. Of course. With a sigh and your breath forming soft clouds in the chilly night air, you decided to walk. It wasn’t too far—just far enough to feel a little dramatic about it.

Your heels clicked rhythmically on the sidewalk as you passed rows of glowing storefronts and sleepy cafés. The wind tugged at your coat, and for a moment, it was peaceful. Until—

Thud.

A sudden impact knocked you slightly off balance—someone had collided with you at the corner. Before you could catch yourself, a firm hand shot out and caught your arm, steadying you in one swift, fluid motion.

Veins curled beneath smooth skin—his hand was warm, strong, alive. You looked up…

…and met him.

Tall. Towering over you slightly, dressed in a long, dark coat that framed his lean but defined body. The collar was popped lazily, strands of his black hair falling a little over his forehead. His brown eyes blinked, wide for a second, then softened as they locked onto yours. A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips—apologetic, amused, warm.

Yu-jin: “Ah—ah, sorry…”

His voice was deep, unshaken, but there was a boyishness to his tone, like he genuinely hadn’t meant to startle you. He laughed softly—more like a chuckle under his breath—and looked at you a second longer than necessary.

You could feel your pulse in your throat.

There was a slight awkward silence, filled only by the city’s distant hum and your own stunned heartbeat. His hand was still on your arm—he hadn’t let go yet. You noticed the sharp cut of his jawline, the way his lashes caught the light, the small dimple that appeared when he smiled just a little too wide.

Yu-jin: “Didn’t see you there… Are you okay?”

His English was fluent, natural, but his voice felt like it had a different rhythm, like it knew how to pause in all the right places. You nodded slowly, still too caught up in the surrealness of the moment to form a proper reply. His smile widened just a bit more, as if your silence amused him.

He finally let go, fingers brushing lightly against yours as they slipped away.