Ji-Hyun didn't know how long the kiss lasted. Seconds, maybe more. Or maybe her heart had been waiting for that exact moment for so long that time itself stopped moving.
But eventually, she pulled away. Just barely. Their lips separated, but their breaths were still tangled, warm in the cold rooftop air.
Seon-woo didn't move. His forehead rested lightly against hers, breathing uneven, eyes dark and unreadable.
Ji-Hyun whispered, "S-Seon-woo… we should stop."
He didn't back away. "So stop me."
Her heartbeat stuttered. "I… I didn't say I wanted to stop."
His fingers, still on her jaw, tightened slightly. "Then tell me what you want."
She froze. No one had asked her that in a long time. Not her ex. Not anyone.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Seon-woo let out a shaky breath. His thumb brushed her cheek gently. "You're shaking."
"I'm not," she whispered.
"You are." He shifted even closer — close enough that her breath caught again. "Are you scared of me?"
Her answer came instantly. "No."
"Then what are you scared of?"
Her throat tightened. "Of… messing this up."
Something flickered in his eyes — surprise, maybe, or something deeper.
Before she could pull away, he lifted her chin with two fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Ji-Hyun."
Her name sounded different when he said it. Softer. Like a promise.
"You're not going to mess anything up," he said quietly. "Not with me."
Her chest squeezed painfully, dangerously.
Without thinking, she leaned in again — not fully, just enough for her lips to brush his. A small, hesitant touch, almost like a question.
Seon-woo answered it.
His hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her into a second kiss — deeper than the first, more certain, almost desperate. She gasped, and he took that moment to wrap his other arm around her waist, holding her against him like he was afraid she'd disappear.
The kiss turned slow, warm, consuming. Ji-Hyun felt her knees weaken; Seon-woo felt it too because he held her tighter, supporting her effortlessly.
"Seon-woo…" she whispered against his mouth.
"You sure you want me to stop now?" he murmured, lips still brushing hers.
She didn't answer.
Because she didn't want to stop.
Their lips met again.
And that was the exact moment—
"JI-HYUN?!"
They froze.
Ji-Hyun's eyes flew open.
Seon-woo pulled back just enough to look past her shoulder.
Standing at the rooftop entrance, eyes wide, stunned into absolute silence—
Mina.
Her best friend. Her loudest friend. And the last person she wanted to see right now.
Mina's jaw dropped. "Oh. My. GOD."
Ji-Hyun felt her soul leave her body. "M-Mina— I— this is not— WAIT—"
Seon-woo, completely unbothered, said flatly, "We were kissing."
Ji-Hyun slapped his arm. "SEON-WOO—"Mina's eyes sparkled like she'd just witnessed the plot twist of the century. "NO, THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?! KI— YOU TWO JUST— OH MY GOD, JI-HYUN, YOU DIDN'T TELL ME—"
Ji-Hyun covered her face with both hands. "Please. Stop. Talking."
Mina did not stop talking.
"Y'all were kissing so hard I thought someone was getting murdered up here!"
Ji-Hyun wanted to jump off the building.
Seon-woo stood there, ears pink, hands still half-raised like he wanted to pull Ji-Hyun close again but didn't know if he should.
Mina finally dragged Ji-Hyun away from him, whisper-shouting, "YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU BAGGED THIS BROODING, BROKEN, TALL, FINE MAN ON A ROOFTOP?! GIRL, TEACH ME."
Ji-Hyun groaned loudly. "Mina, PLEASE—"
But as Mina chattered, Ji-Hyun risked one glance back at Seon-woo.
He was watching her.
Still breathing hard.
Still looking like that kiss shook him as much as it shook her.
And in that moment, Ji-Hyun realized—
She wasn't scared anymore.Not of kissing him.
Not of wanting him.
Not of where this might go.
Because for the first time in a long time…
Her heart didn't feel broken.
It felt alive.