{Close… Without Knowing}
Tyla was walking with Han Seuul down the road,
the soft breeze surrounding them in silence. Suddenly,
she stopped in the middle of the path without warning.
Han looked at her in confusion and asked, "Why did you stop?"
Tyla took a deep breath and replied,
"Wait a moment… let's go back. I want to say something to ian."
They quickly turned back and returned, but ian had already gone inside his house.
The doorbell rang, and after a few moments, he opened the door and looked at them with curiosity.
"Tyla? What's wrong? Why did you come back?" he asked.
Tyla smiled shyly and said, "ian… come with us. We're going to watch a movie. I want to invite you… as an apology for yesterday."
There was a brief silence, and then he looked at her calmly and said,
"Okay, you both go, and I'll follow you."
Tyla's face lit up with happiness, as if her heart had finally found relief.
After that, they all went out together.
Tyla and Han walked ahead, laughing softly,
while Ian quickly put on his helmet, started the engine, and followed them on his bike—a black Yamaha R6.
Tyla and Han Seoul walked along the streets.
Soft lights reflected on the glass windows of the shops, and a gentle breeze carried quiet laughter.
Tyla walked beside little Han Seoul,
holding her hand, smiling softly as they talked.
Then they stopped at the cinema, but ian was not there yet.
"I want a big popcorn!" Han Seoul said excitedly.
Tyla laughed lightly.
"Fine… but you're not eating it all by yourself."
Tyla looked around the place;
Ian was not there yet.
She whispered to herself with sad eyes, "Of course he will not come… he is a cold and weird."
Meanwhile, Ian was stuck at a traffic light.
In front of the cinema…
Tyla stood in line, still holding Han Seoul's hand, talking casually.
She didn't notice him.
Ian parked, stepped down quietly, took off his helmet,
and stood right behind them.
A small smile formed on his lips.
He leaned slightly forward and whispered near her ear: "…Which movie are we going to watch?"
—
"Ah!"
Tyla gasped, startled, turning around quickly.
Her eyes widened— "…ian, you came."
He looked at her and smiled. A real smile. Warm.
It was the first time she had ever seen him like this.
"Sorry, I got stuck in traffic. That's why I'm late."
She smiled naturally. "I thought you would not come."
—
"I said I would come… that means I will. I don't lie, Tyla. When I decide something, I will do it he said."
(She knows him as the cold, weird, non-talking person, but he used to be a happy, funny, lovely person with a big smile. After his parents died when he was 16 years old, he changed a lot, and he changed even more with his job. But with her, he comes back as his old self )
She smiled at him.
He glanced at the movie posters, then pointed at one. "Let's watch this."
Tyla looked up—and immediately frowned.
The poster showed a man and a woman very close, in a bold scene, kissing. An 18+ movie.
"…How can we watch this? There's an eight-year-old with us."
Ian looked at Han Seoul, then back at her. "…Right. I forgot."
Suddenly, Han Seoul looked at both of them curiously: "Are you two a couple?"
—
Tyla's face turned red instantly. "Of course not!"
—
But Ian crouched down to the girl's level, smiling slightly: "Maybe… we are."
—
"ian !" Tyla hit his shoulder lightly, embarrassed. "Stop joking, she'll believe you!"
He chuckled softly—low, calm… but playful.
—
"I want that one!" Han Seoul pointed at another movie.
A soft, romantic comedy Korean film.
Tyla looked at ian…
He nodded. "Alright."
—
They went inside…
Popcorn in their hands.
They sat together.
Tyla in the middle… Han and ian on each side.
—
The movie started.
Light scenes. Soft laughter.
Tyla laughed sometimes… completely relaxed.
For a moment, she forgot everything.
—
Then—
A kiss scene appeared.
Han Seoul quickly covered her eyes. "I don't want to see!"
Tyla laughed quietly… but she kept watching. A little shy.
—
Ian, however…
wasn't watching the screen.
He was watching her.
—
That moment…
brought everything back to him.
The kiss. Her closeness. Her breath.
—
His heart beat slower… heavier.
He looked at her lips… soft… pink. Then her eyes… her lashes… her hair falling gently over her shoulder.
He was studying her.
He whispered to himself, "You make my heart live again, Tyla."
Like she was something unreal.
—
Suddenly—
she noticed.
She turned toward him.
"…ian? Why are you looking at me?"
—
He snapped out of it.
But he didn't look away. Didn't deny it.
"…Nothing."
A pause.
Then softly— "I'm just… looking at the angel sitting next to me."
—
She froze.
Her heart raced.
Her cheeks turned red.
"What's wrong with him…?" she thought. "Why is he talking like this…?"
—
She said nothing.
Just turned back to the screen.
But she wasn't really watching anymore.
—
Neither was he.
—
After the movie ended…
they walked out slowly.
People around them. Lights. Voices.
—
Han Seoul walked ahead happily. "That was so nice!"
"It really was," Tyla smiled.
—
Ian walked beside her. Quiet.
—
Han Seoul sighed softly, her voice tired. "Tyla… I'm exhausted. I want to go back."
Tyla glanced at her and gave a small smile. "Okay… let's go."
She was about to call a taxi, raising her hand slightly— but a voice stopped her.
"I'll take you."
She turned, surprised. "How? Your motorcycle won't fit all of us."
Ian smiled lightly, completely calm. "It's fine. Han Seuul is small—she can sit in front of me, and you sit behind."
Tyla frowned immediately. "No, that won't work… she'll get scared."
But Han Seoul's eyes lit up with excitement. "I want to! I want to ride! It looks fun!"
Tyla couldn't help but laugh, her resistance fading. "Alright… fine."
—
A few moments later—
Han was seated in front of ian, her small hands gripping carefully, while Tyla climbed on behind him.
He handed her a helmet. She put it on quickly, then hesitated…
But the moment the motorcycle started moving— her hands wrapped tightly around his waist without thinking.
They were too close.
Her heart began to race, each beat loud and uncontrollable.
And ian… he felt it too.
Her presence, her touch, the way she held onto him so tightly.
The cool air brushed against them, refreshing… alive… filled with something unspoken.
—
Then suddenly— a flash.
A memory hit Tyla.
Her, laughing wildly, riding behind him on the bike, her hands around his waist—too close— and shouting: "YEAH!"
She froze for a second, her cheeks turning slightly pink.
"Oh my God… what was I even doing back then when I was drunk…"
—
Not long after, they arrived.
Han Seoul jumped off immediately, running toward the house with laughter.
Tyla stepped down more slowly…
She was about to walk inside—
but then…
a warm hand caught hers.
—
"Wait… don't go," Ian said softly.
She turned to him, confused. "What?"
He hesitated for a second before speaking. "Can we go out… just the two of us?"
Her eyes widened in shock. "Why?"
He looked at her, serious now. "I just want to tell you something."
She bit her lip nervously. "Say it here. Is something bad happening?"
He shook his head. "No, I can't… come with me. At 9 PM."
There was a pause.
Her heart started racing again… she got a little confused.
"…Okay," she said quietly, a hint of shyness in her voice.
She gently pulled her hand away and hurried inside.
Ian stayed there for a moment, a faint smile forming on his lips…
After finally understanding his feelings…
He didn't want to stay away from her anymore.
Then he turned and walked into his house.
He took out his phone and made a call.
"I want to reserve a table… no, not just a table."
A brief silence—then his tone turned firm.
"I want the whole place. Tonight."
He ended the call.
And on his face—
a smile appeared… one that promised nothing but trouble.