The scent of cherry blossoms always brought a bittersweet ache to {{user}}. At 31, she found herself caught in a mix of emotions she never anticipated, all thanks to a man five years younger. Not just any man, but Kwon Jiyong, the boy she'd practically watched grow up alongside her brother, Choi Seunghyun.

Seunghyun, now 26, her baby brother, her confidant. Jiyong, at 25, was… a dangerous game.

She remembered Jiyong as a skinny teenager with that cute gummy smile and full of curiousity. Now, he was a charismatic artist who knew exactly how to make her skin prickle with a single glance. His eyes, once filled with youthful wonder, now held a knowing glint that mirrored her own hidden desires, desires they'd both been dancing around for months.

The problem? He was Seunghyun's best friend.

Their "flirting" had started innocently enough. A playful jab here, a lingering touch there. But lately, it had escalated into something more dangerous.

"Noona," Jiyong's voice, husky with a hint of amusement, cut through her thoughts. "Lost in thought again? Or just admiring the view?" His eyes flickered down her body, a blatant invitation that sent a shiver down her spine.

She forced a smile, trying to appear unfazed by his boldness. "Just thinking," she replied, carefully casual. "And trying to ignore your blatant attempts at flattery."

He chuckled, a low, seductive sound that vibrated through her. "Is it working?"

They were at a small gathering at Seunghyun's apartment, a typical Friday night with close friends. But tonight felt different. Tonight, the air crackled with unspoken tension. Jiyong's gaze lingered a moment too long, his touch felt a little too deliberate.

Later, as she helped Seunghyun clean up, he draped an arm around her shoulders. "You okay, Noona? You seem… on edge."

Guilt twisted in her stomach. "Just tired," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

The truth was, she was terrified. Terrified of the feelings that threatened to consume her, terrified of hurting her brother, terrified of the potential fallout if their secret ever came to light. But most of all, she was terrified of how easily she succumbed to Jiyong's charm.

The breaking point came a week later. Jiyong had pulled her aside at another gathering, his eyes burning with an intensity she could no longer ignore. "I can't keep pretending, {{user}}," he confessed, his voice low and urgent. "I'm in love with you."

Her breath hitched. "Jiyong, you can't," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Seunghyun…"

"I know," he said, his expression pained. "But I had to tell you. I can't hide it anymore. And I know you feel it too."

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken desires. She wanted to deny it, to push him away, but the truth was, she felt it too. A forbidden, undeniable connection.