Paris was quiet by the time Ji-Hoon and Eun-Seo reached the apartment building. The stars were still sparkling above like silent witnesses to the secret they had shared — a secret that had grown too loud to ignore.
They paused at the door.
Neither wanted the night to end.
For a moment, they just stood there — their breaths soft in the cold air, Ji-Hoon's coat still wrapped around her shoulders like his warmth refusing to let her go.
Eun-Seo looked at the tiny key in her hand but didn't move to open the door. Her heart felt like a fragile balloon filled too much… ready to burst with just one more emotion.
Ji-Hoon noticed.
"Are you cold?" he asked gently.
She shook her head.
"No… I just…"
She looked away, embarrassed by feelings she couldn't hide anymore.
Ji-Hoon stepped closer — not overwhelming, just enough to feel present.
"I liked tonight," he said quietly.
"Thank you for coming with me."
Eun-Seo's lips curved slightly.
"I liked it too."
There it was again — silence.
But this time… it was full.
His eyes lingered on her, warm and unguarded. He tried to speak, but his voice refused to cooperate. So instead, he smiled — small, almost shy.
"Good night, Eun-Seo."
He turned slightly to walk away.
Her fingers tightened around his coat.
"Ji-Hoon."
He froze.
Slowly, he turned back to her.
Her eyes glimmered with something raw and trembling.
"Earlier… what you said to the stars…"
She swallowed, nerves fighting her courage.
"…was it true?"
Ji-Hoon took a slow step forward.
Then another.
He didn't blink.
"Every word."
Her heart stumbled inside her chest.
"Then say it to me… not to the sky."
For the first time, Park Ji-Hoon looked… nervous.
His voice lowered, deep enough to make her knees weak.
"I think I'm falling for you, Choi Eun-Seo."
A breath.
"No."
He stepped even closer until his heartbeat echoed in the space between them.
"I know I'm falling for you."
Her chest tightened — painfully, beautifully.
Her voice was barely a whisper:
"Then… don't stop."
Ji-Hoon inhaled sharply.
---
The Kiss
He lifted his hand, fingers trembling slightly, and traced her jawline as if memorizing it. She leaned into his touch before she realized she had moved.
Time slowed.
Her breath caught.
Ji-Hoon leaned down, but paused just a few centimeters away — giving her a chance to push him away.
She didn't.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and in the next heartbeat…
His lips touched hers.
Soft at first.
Tentative.
As though he feared one wrong move would shatter the moment.
Eun-Seo let out a tiny sigh, clutching the front of his coat — pulling him closer. That small signal erased all hesitation in him.
The kiss deepened — warm, breathless, electric — the kind of kiss that leaves stars jealous.
Ji-Hoon's hand slid to the back of her head, holding her gently like something precious. Eun-Seo's fingers curled into his sweater, anchoring herself as her heart raced wildly.
He kissed her again — slower this time — like he was telling her everything he didn't know how to say with words.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, breaths mixing in a shaky rhythm.
Eun-Seo tried to speak but only managed a whisper:
"Why… does it feel like my heart is flying?"
Ji-Hoon let out a breathy laugh.
"Good. Because mine is falling."
Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away this time.
"Say it again," she murmured.
He grinned — a soft, lovesick grin.
"I've fallen for you."
Her heart answered faster than her mind could warn against it:
"Me too."
Ji-Hoon's eyes widened slightly — as though he had been hoping for those words but still didn't expect them.
He leaned his forehead fully against hers, voice shaking with relief:
"Thank you… for feeling the same."
---
Holding Onto the Moment
Neither moved for a long time.
Eun-Seo opened her eyes slowly, looking into his — warm like melted chocolate under moonlight.
"What happens now?" she asked.
Ji-Hoon smiled gently.
"Now?"
He intertwined their fingers.
"We stop pretending we're strangers."
She punched his shoulder lightly.
"We were never strangers."
He laughed, brushing a thumb across her cheek.
"You're right. From the moment I first saw you at the airport… I think my heart was already in trouble."
Eun-Seo giggled softly — the kind of laugh that comes from happiness too full to hide.
And Ji-Hoon watched her like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
---
The Promise
They finally entered the apartment, but he didn't let go of her hand — and she didn't want him to.
Before heading to their rooms, Ji-Hoon paused again.
"Tomorrow," he said softly,
"let's make more memories."
Eun-Seo nodded.
"Together."
He smiled — gentle and full of promise.
"Always."
Her heart fluttered at the word.
She whispered it back:
"Always."
When they finally said good night, the door clicked shut…
…but both of them leaned their backs against the wood — smiling like fools in love.
Tonight, the stars didn't need to keep their secret anymore.
Their hearts had spoken themselves.