They’d been dating long enough that walking home together felt natural—Su-ho pushing his bike beside him, JiJi talking with her hands, laughing at things that weren’t even jokes. Still, tonight her steps were a little too fast, her smile a little too tight.
She told herself, I’ll do it today. Definitely today.
The streetlights flickered on one by one. When they reached her gate, she stopped so suddenly Su-ho took another step before realizing.
“Su-ho,” she said.
He turned, one eyebrow lifting automatically. “Hm?”
Her heart slammed into her ribs. Don’t say it. Say it. Why did you stop him. Oh my god he’s looking at you.
Her mouth opened before her brain could stop it.
“…I love you.”
Silence.
Su-ho just stared at her, eyes unreadable. No teasing smile. No easy grin. Just… looking.
Why is he looking at me like that? Why isn’t he saying anything? Yaya I told him I told him HELP me help me help me—
“I—” she took a step back, already panicking—
“I love you too, JiJi.”
Her brain shut off completely.
She let out a strangled noise and turned on her heel, bolting down the sidewalk like her life depended on it.
“Hey—!” Su-ho laughed, hopping on his bike and catching her in three strides. He grabbed her wrist gently, spinning her back toward him. “Why do you always do this?”
Her face was on fire, eyes wide, hands clutching his jacket like she needed proof he was real.
“Because you looked at me like that!” she blurted. “I thought you were about to break up with me or pass out or—”
Su-ho shook his head, smiling now, warm and soft. He leaned down just enough to rest his forehead against hers.
“I was just thinking,” he said, voice quiet, “how I should’ve said it first.”