Later That Evening – Home
The front door opened, and the aroma of fresh burgers filled the house. Y/N stepped in holding a bag in each hand.
"Burgers!" she announced, her voice light.
Her siblings came running, cheering as if it was a festival. Laughter filled the lounge again — the kind of laughter that had been missing for days.
Y/N's dad came in behind her, handing over two wrapped burgers — hers and Kim Bum's.
"These two are yours," he said, giving her a pointed look.
"Go."
She sighed softly but smiled, knowing exactly what he meant.
Her steps were quiet as she made her way to the guest room door. It was half-open. She peeked in and saw him sitting on the bed, scrolling absently on his phone, looking a little lost — like someone waiting for a train they weren't sure would ever come.
She took a breath.
"Mr. Kim."
His head snapped up, startled.
His eyes widened the moment he saw her standing there, holding out a wrapped burger.
"Here… it's for you." Her voice was quiet, neutral. Not angry. Not too warm either. But she had spoken.
He blinked, still processing.
"For… me?" he asked softly.
She gave a tiny nod. Then, to his surprise, walked in and sat beside him.
"Don't unwrap it like that," she said, watching him struggle with the paper. "You'll mess it up."
He smiled slightly at the teasing tone that had returned, even if just a little.
She leaned closer, unwrapped the top half neatly and folded the paper down.
"See? Now hold it like this."
He obeyed like a student in class.
"Now bite. Not a tiny nibble like before. You'll only get the bread."
He bit.
She waited.
He blinked again — this time in pleasant surprise.
"This… is actually good."
She smirked.
"Of course it is. I bought it."
They sat in silence after that, taking small bites. The air was still a little heavy, but not uncomfortable.
When they both reached the last bite, Y/N stood up and brushed her hands.
"I'll go cook dinner now," she said casually, picking up the wrappers.
He looked at her with soft eyes, holding back a million things he wanted to say.
But for now, he just whispered, "Thank you."
She paused at the door for a second, then nodded without turning around.
"Eat dinner properly later too."
Then she left.
And for the first time in days, he didn't feel lonely in that room.
Later That Night – Dinner Time
Plates clinked softly. The house was full of the gentle sounds of forks, spoons, and quiet conversation. Everyone was seated, enjoying the meal Y/N had helped cook.
For the first time in days, it felt… peaceful.
Then, out of nowhere, her mom looked up from her plate, eyes narrowing slightly at Kim Bum.
"You're an actor, right?"
He wiped his mouth and nodded politely.
"Yeah."
A thoughtful look crossed her mom's face.
"Then… let's see one of your dramas."
Clank.
Y/N and Eman both choked simultaneously on their food.
Y/N coughed violently, grabbing her water and downing half of it before whispering sharply, "Eomma—!"
Eman was patting her chest, still wheezing.
Kim Bum sat frozen, chopsticks mid-air.
"Why, Eomma?" Y/N asked once she'd recovered, eyes wide and suspicious.
Her mom raised an eyebrow calmly.
"What? I've never watched Korean dramas before. Might as well start with someone I've fed, hmm?"
Kim Bum's eyes lit up.
"Yes! Yes, please do. And rate my performance too!"
Y/N gave him a sharp side-eye that could've melted the moon.
He didn't notice.
Her dad chuckled quietly at the head of the table.
"Y/N, you haven't been to the mart all week. Go today. Take him too. He hasn't seen it yet."
Y/N blinked.
"…Right now?"
He nodded. "Now is good."
Y/N sighed, pushing her chair back. "Okay."
She got up and headed to her room to freshen up. A few minutes later, she came out wearing her oversized black tee, wide-leg cargo pants, and sneakers — the same effortlessly cool look from earlier that day. A cross-body bag slung across her shoulder, black nails tapping the stair rail.
Kim Bum had just thrown on a hoodie and was waiting awkwardly by the door.
As they stepped outside into the night, Y/N turned suddenly and glared at him.
"Mr. Kim." Her voice was sharp now. Dangerous.
He blinked.
"Y-Yeah?"
She shoved a face mask and a cap into his hands.
"Do you even realize what you were about to do inside?"
He froze. "H-Huh? What did I—"
Then he smiled nervously.
"…Wait. Are you talking to me again?"
Y/N gave him a flat look.
"Unfortunately."
His grin widened behind the mask.
She didn't say it, but it was clear:
She had missed talking to him too.
Even if she was still mad.
As Y/N stepped out the door, she muttered just loud enough for her parents to hear,
"Eomma… Appa… they didn't even let me watch hand-holding scenes in Pakistani dramas. Every time anything remotely romantic came on, they'd skip it. And now you're encouraging them to watch K-dramas? Seriously?"
Kim Bum stifled a laugh and whispered under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear,
"Thank goodness they skipped those scenes then... I might've had a heart attack watching your reaction."
Y/N glared at him without turning around. "You should've had one."
But he smiled behind the mask, heart feeling lighter.
She was talking to him again.
He followed her out into the street, hoodie up, cap low, mask on. She was walking ahead briskly under the dim streetlights — confident, comfortable, cool.
He, however, was walking backward. Looking at her. Grinning quietly to himself like a boy seeing his crush after a school fight.
Then—
A girl standing on the next corner suddenly started waving wildly at Y/N.
Y/N's eyes narrowed.
Oh no. Not her.
The girl — one of those extra clingy, overly dramatic, annoying types — was practically bouncing in place.
Y/N spun around fast, unintentionally bumping into Kim Bum, who had come way too close while walking backward.
He stumbled slightly, hands flying up in defense.
For a second, they were so close — breath mixing, eyes wide. Even through the mask and cap, she recognized the sudden tension.
Her breath hitched.
He blinked, froze, then cleared his throat and looked away like he definitely hadn't been admiring her face a second ago.
The girl reached them finally, out of breath. "Y/N!! Oh my God, how are you?!"
Y/N plastered on the fakest smile in her arsenal. "I'm fine."
The girl's eyes shifted to Kim Bum. "And who's this?"
Y/N's tone went flat. "A boy. Can't you see?"
The girl giggled unnecessarily. "Haha, obviously! I meant like, can I have his number?"
"No," Y/N deadpanned before Kim Bum could even blink.
He couldn't help it. He chuckled under the mask.
The girl pouted, "Where are you two going?"
Y/N: "To the mart."
The girl beamed. "Omg, I'm going too! Shall we go together?"
Y/N forced a nod. "Okay…"
Then she sighed. Audibly. The kind of sigh that said 'I regret every decision I've ever made that led to this moment.'
Kim Bum, now trapped between two girls, was trying to stay calm. But inside?
Inside he was screaming.
The clingy girl was walking way too close, trying to start conversations. But his brain had already tuned her out.
He had one mission.
Just one.
Hold Little Fox's hand.
Just once.
Somehow.
That's all he wanted.
But for now, he was just stuck in the middle, a hostage between annoyance and longing — pretending to listen while plotting how to steal a moment with her again.
And maybe, just maybe... win her soft heart back — one tiny step at a time.
They were walking down the quiet street now.
Y/N was focused on her phone, scrolling casually as if the clingy third wheel walking beside them wasn't testing every ounce of her patience.
Meanwhile, Kim Bum was fully occupied with his own private mission:
Operation: Hold Little Fox's Hand.
He kept sneaking little glances at her fingers — relaxed at her side, slightly swinging with each step.
So close.
So perfect.
So tempting.
He moved his hand a little closer…
A liiittle closer…
Almost—
His pinky brushed hers—
And suddenly—
Y/N flicked her hand away, pretending to fix her long, open hair.
DENIED.
He sighed dramatically under the mask, but just then—
Ping!
He received a message.
> 🦊 Y/N:
Didn't you say, "Mr. Kim, don't come close" or "don't talk"?
His brows shot up.
Seriously?
Even now?
He replied immediately:
> 🐾 Kim Bum:
That was before I realized not holding your hand is worse than death.
Y/N read it and chuckled — silently, of course, since the clingy girl was still right there beside them.
She typed back quickly.
> 🦊 Y/N:
No.
He pouted.
Actually pouted.
Inside the mask.
Another message popped in.
> 🦊 Y/N:
Don't pout.
His eyes widened.
How—?!
He looked sideways. She wasn't even glancing at him.
Then—
She nudged his arm lightly.
He looked down.
Her hand was there. Quiet. Waiting.
Offered.
Like a secret truce.
He swallowed, suddenly nervous. Then slowly — carefully — he slipped his fingers between hers.
And just like that…
Their hands were intertwined.
Soft.
Warm.
Perfect.
His heart exploded a little.
The clingy girl — still oblivious — turned around.
"What's your name, though? At least tell me that!"
Y/N didn't even blink.
She sighed and stepped to the side, switching places with Kim Bum so that now she was in the middle.
Her hand stayed linked with his the whole time.
The girl blinked. "Wait… are you jealous?"
Y/N said flatly, "Yes. I am."
Kim Bum's phone vibrated.
> 🐾 Kim Bum:
Jealous? 👀
> 🦊 Y/N:
No.
He let out a soft laugh. Even under the mask, the smile was obvious in his eyes.
Then he leaned slightly toward her and whispered, just for her:
"You said yes to her, but no to me?"
Y/N gave him a sharp side-eye.
Ping!
> 🦊 Y/N:
I said yes to make her shut up.
You? I like seeing you pout. It's funny.
He laughed again — helpless, giddy. He wanted to lift their intertwined hands and twirl around in victory.
But they had reached the mart.
He and Y/N stood to the side, still holding hands behind her long sleeve.
The clingy girl walked ahead, scanning the shelves.
"It's not here!" she huffed.
Y/N barely looked up. "I think it's in the other mart," she said casually. "I went there yesterday, saw it."
The girl brightened. "Omg! Really?! I'll go there now then!"
As she left, she turned back and pointed: "I'll be back!"
Y/N nodded politely, but the moment she was out of sight, she whispered to Kim Bum:
"She'll definitely come back…"
Their fingers were still entwined, hidden from the world.
And for once, Kim Bum didn't care about being spotted.
He had her hand in his.
The world could end.
He'd still be smiling.