[Incheon Airport – 5:05 PM, Seoul]
He was already there.
Had been, for over half an hour.
Schedule cleared. Phone on silent. Hood up, cap low, mask on.
No security—he didn't want a scene. He just wanted her.
His eyes scanned every arriving passenger, heart racing.
And then… he saw her.
Hair braided softly down one side. Simple outfit—olive green checkered dress over a black sweater, a light carry-on slung over one shoulder.
But somehow… she still looked like magic.
Time froze for a moment.
God, she's adorable.
She spotted him, paused for a second, and then gave him that look—one raised eyebrow, a smirk dancing on her lips like:
> "Are you just gonna stand there, Mr. Actor?"
He let out a breathy chuckle.
Then didn't wait another second.
He ran to her—didn't care who saw—and hugged her tightly, wrapping both arms around her like he wasn't ever letting go.
She laughed softly against his shoulder, her voice muffled by his jacket.
> "Seems like someone missed their little fox too much."
He pulled back slightly just to see her face, then smiled behind his mask and whispered,
> "You have no idea. I thought I'd forgotten how to breathe until now."
She blushed, her innocent smile blooming like a sunflower in the soft chaos of the arrivals hall.
And in that exact moment, he thought:
> "She's it. My peace. My person. I don't care if I never say it out loud in a movie-style confession… she has to know. One day. Soon."
She looked up at him with a gleam in her eyes and tilted her head like an excited kid.
> "Shall we gooo?"
He chuckled again, shaking off the weight of a thousand missed minutes.
> "Yeahhhh, come on, little fox. Let me show you Seoul… and your second home."
They walked side by side—her hand brushing close to his but not quite touching. Not yet.
But it was enough.
For now.
[Inside the Car – 5:27 PM, Somewhere on the road to Seoul]
She leaned back against the soft leather seat, eyes wide as she peeked out the tinted window, soaking in the Seoul skyline that began to blur into view. The city moved fast—cars, lights, signs in Hangul, people in a hurry. Everything was new… but it somehow already felt like a memory she was going to hold close forever.
From the driver's seat, he quietly reached behind the passenger seat and pulled out a chilled mango juice box with a straw already poked in.
He handed it to her wordlessly.
Her eyes sparkled.
> "Mango?!"
He nodded once, eyes still on the road but a small smile tugged at his lips.
She beamed, accepting it like it was a gift from heaven.
> "Thank you~!" she said softly, the way only she could say it—like a whisper dipped in honey.
As she sipped, he finally let himself glance sideways at her.
Still here. Still real.
Her soft hum of approval at the flavor made his heart do this dumb fluttering thing again.
She turned toward him a few moments later, lips still on the straw, and said with playful curiosity:
> "Mr. Actor?"
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
> "Yes, little fox?"
> "Weren't you busy? How did you even get time to pick me up?"
He smiled, finally slowing down at a red light. He turned slightly to face her.
> "I cleared my schedule for this day… weeks ago."
She blinked. Her heart did something warm and annoying and fluttery.
> "Weeks ago?"
He nodded.
> "I wasn't going to miss this. Not for anything."
She chuckled, shaking her head as she took another sip, then looked out the window again—trying not to let her face reveal just how much that meant to her.
A beat of silence passed.
Then she turned back to him with a teasing glint in her eyes and said—
> "Mr. Actor, you're lucky, you know?"
He arched a brow, amused.
> "Why?"
> "You have dimples. Otherwise, I might not forgive you for spoiling me like this."
He burst out laughing—soft and full. That laugh that always made her chest feel like warm bread fresh from the oven.
> "So the dimples are my pass now?"
> "Obviously," she teased, sipping again. "Use them wisely."
> "I will," he grinned, glancing at her. "I have one more surprise today."
She whipped her head toward him.
> "Surprise?!"
> "Mhm. But I'm not telling until we get home."
> "Nooo, that's unfair—"
> "You'll like it. Promise."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously but smiled.
Outside, the city flew by. But inside that car, everything slowed down.
It was just him.
Just her.
And Seoul.
Her second home.
[6:12 PM — Kim Bum's Apartment, Seoul]
The door clicked open.
He stepped aside quietly, letting her walk in first.
She stepped inside slowly, eyes wide, head turning in every direction like she had just entered a new universe.
Her gaze fell immediately on the cute white slippers waiting for her by the entrance—soft, fluffy, and the exact size she'd once casually told him. Her face lit up.
She slipped her feet into them and giggled, spinning around slightly.
> "They fit perfectly!"
She wiggled her toes.
"And they're so soft. Like—your house is soft… and adorable."
He didn't respond immediately.
He was watching her.
Really watching her.
Like she was something out of a dream he'd visited too often this past month.
She wandered forward, eyes scanning every corner, lightly brushing her fingers along the edge of his couch, pausing at the shelf where she found a little fox plushie tucked in the corner. She gasped.
> "You kept this one?" she whispered, picking it up.
"I thought you would hide it somewhere random!"
He answered without moving.
> "It belongs here."
His voice was soft, but something about it made her glance over her shoulder at him.
He was still watching her.
Like he didn't believe she was really here.
She turned toward him fully, still holding the plush.
He moved.
He walked toward her slowly, eyes locked on hers, then gently took her hand in his. His thumb brushed the back of her hand softly, as if to confirm—yes, she was really here.
She blinked. Her breath hitched just a little.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't have to.
Her wide eyes said it all.
He stepped closer, now standing just a breath away.
And then—
RING RING RING — 📞
The phone blared loudly in his back pocket.
He closed his eyes slowly, jaw tightening for the briefest moment.
Still holding her hand, he sighed through his nose and pulled the phone out.
> She chuckled softly, mischief dancing in her voice.
"Pick up, Mr. Actor."
He gave her a flat, amused look before answering.
> "Yes, hyung?" he said, voice calmer than he felt.
She wandered off again, this time toward the open kitchen, peeking inside with curiosity as he continued the call.
> "She arrived. Yeah… just now."
A pause.
"Tomorrow? What time?" he asked, glancing toward her.
She was still peeking at his kitchen drawers, poking at the edges like a curious little fox. She opened one cupboard, gasped quietly at how neatly organized it was, and closed it again, hiding a smile.
He was still watching her while talking.
> "Just a short meeting, right?" he said, turning his eyes back to nowhere in particular.
"Got it. I'll be there."
He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket with a sigh.
That's when she came back from the kitchen.
She stood in front of him, quiet and soft, swaying one leg slightly like a child waiting to be noticed. Her hands were behind her back. Her eyes were curious, shining.
He looked down at her.
And smiled.
> "You were spying again?" he teased.
> "I was exploring," she corrected sweetly.
> "You look like you're five right now."
> "Thank you," she said proudly.
He laughed softly, stepping closer again.
No interruptions this time.
Just her, standing in his home, wearing the slippers he bought, holding the fox plush she sent him, swaying slightly like she belonged here all along.
He took a deep breath, held her gaze, and finally said what he'd been holding back all day.
> "You're really here."
Her smile softened.
And she nodded once.
> "I'm really here."