The tour group had settled near a small campsite overlooking the mountains. Bonfires crackled, warming the crisp night air, while lanterns swayed gently in the breeze. The sound of distant waterfalls and rustling pines made the place feel magical.
Choi Eun-Seo set down her bag, rubbing her arms against the cold. She tried to focus on the serene view, but she couldn't ignore the sound of someone humming behind her.
"You know, you look like you could use some company," said Ji-Hoon, stepping closer. His usual playful smirk softened in the glow of the firelight.
Eun-Seo tensed. "I do not need company."
"Ah, right. Because arguing with strangers is always preferable to warmth and friendship," he teased, crouching slightly to adjust his shoelaces.
She groaned, spinning away. "I said I don't need you!"
"Maybe not," he said softly, almost seriously, "but the stars think otherwise."
Eun-Seo froze. His words were strange… tender, even. She glanced at the sky — a blanket of stars stretched endlessly, the Milky Way a faint shimmer above them. Her heartbeat skipped.
Ji-Hoon noticed her silence and smiled faintly, as if he had been waiting for this moment. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes…" she whispered, almost reluctantly.
For a long while, neither spoke. The crackling fire and the distant wind were enough company. Eun-Seo caught herself stealing glances at him — the way the light reflected off his hair, the subtle warmth of his smile. She quickly looked away. Focus. He's just annoying. That's all.
Finally, Ji-Hoon broke the quiet, his voice low but teasing: "You know… you don't have to pretend to be all serious around me."
Eun-Seo shot him a glare. "I'm not pretending."
He leaned back on his hands, looking at the stars. "Sure, sure. But there's something about you… the way you hold yourself. Strong. Independent. Yet… vulnerable, sometimes."
She stiffened. Vulnerable? Who was he to say that?
Ji-Hoon noticed her reaction and laughed softly. "Relax. I don't bite. Well… not unless you want me to."
She blinked. "You're impossible."
"And yet," he said, leaning closer, "you haven't run away."
Eun-Seo opened her mouth to argue, but then the wind picked up. Her scarf slipped from her shoulders, fluttering toward the edge of the hill.
Ji-Hoon's reflexes were lightning fast. He caught it mid-air again, handing it to her with a grin. "See? I save things. You're welcome."
She snatched it back, cheeks heating. "You're like… some walking disaster," she muttered.
He laughed, a deep sound that made her heart thump faster than she liked to admit. "And yet, you're smiling."
"I'm not…" she said, but her lips betrayed her.
The night deepened, and the group's chatter faded into the background. Eun-Seo sat a little apart, wrapped in her scarf, while Ji-Hoon remained nearby, gazing at the stars.
After a while, he spoke again, his tone softer now. "I like this. Being out here… no distractions. Just… quiet."
Eun-Seo nodded. "It's peaceful."
"Yeah," he said, turning to glance at her. "But it would be perfect if you weren't so stubborn."
She scoffed. "I am not stubborn."
"Sure," he said, smirking. "You're just… strong-minded, independent, and completely infuriating."
Her chest tightened. She wanted to deny the flutters in her heart, but words failed her.
A comfortable silence fell again, broken only by the gentle crackle of the fire. Ji-Hoon leaned back on his elbows, looking up at the stars. "You know… people come on these trips looking for adventure. But sometimes, the adventure isn't the mountains or lakes or cities… it's meeting someone who shakes up your world."
Eun-Seo's eyes flicked to him, heart catching in her throat. She opened her mouth to respond but closed it again. What could she say? He had a way of making simple words feel heavy with meaning.
Ji-Hoon tilted his head toward her, eyes reflecting the firelight. "You're not used to trusting people, are you?"
Her chest tightened. She didn't answer immediately. Finally, she whispered, almost to herself, "I… I'm careful."
"Careful's good," he said gently. "But sometimes, letting someone in isn't a weakness."
Her fingers gripped the scarf tighter. "And how would you know?"
Ji-Hoon smiled, leaning slightly closer, careful not to crowd her. "Because I've met someone worth it."
Eun-Seo's breath caught. She wanted to turn away, to tell herself she didn't feel anything — but her heart refused to obey.
For the first time since meeting him, she allowed herself a small smile. Not because she trusted him completely, not because she wasn't wary — but because in that moment, under the stars, she realized that maybe… just maybe… Ji-Hoon wasn't as annoying as she thought.
And maybe, just maybe, he could become something more.
The fire crackled between them, and the stars above bore silent witness to the subtle shift — two stubborn hearts beginning to recognize the pull they couldn't deny.
As the night deepened and the group's laughter faded, Ji-Hoon glanced at her one last time. "Tomorrow, we'll explore the old town," he said, voice light but eyes serious. "Try not to get into trouble… or get too annoyed with me."
Eun-Seo rolled her eyes but found herself laughing softly. "No promises."
And for the first time, Ji-Hoon's grin wasn't teasing. It was… hopeful.