The engine's rumble blended with my erratic heartbeat as the bike sped through streets gilded by the winter afternoon sun. My fingers clutched the hem of Hoàng's jacket - not too tight, just enough to keep balance - yet that thin fabric felt like my only anchor in a suddenly tilted world.
"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice softer than the wind.
He turned slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Somewhere the wind won't steal your words."
And so we ended up eating grilled spring rolls in the park. The winter wind whispered through the trees, but the warmth from the fragrant spring rolls in my hands made me forget the cold. Hoàng sat across from me, eyes crinkling every time I struggled to wrap a roll without spilling the filling.
"Here, let me do it," he said, his hands already deftly rolling a perfect one onto my plate.
"I didn't ask for help!" I pretended to pout, but accepted it anyway, taking a bite. The sweetness of pork, the peppery kick, and the crisp rice paper blended perfectly in my mouth. "So good!"
Then silence settled between us. Not the awkward kind, but the quiet of two people learning to read each other's pauses.
"So," he finally spoke, "am I what you imagined?"
The question caught me off guard. In texts, he was bold - full of emojis and exaggerated claims about his cooking skills. But here under the dimming light, he seemed... quieter. More real.
"You're taller than I thought," I admitted. "And your voice is deeper."
"Disappointed?"
"No." Too quick. My face burned. "Just... different."
He leaned on his elbows, moving closer. "Different good or different bad?"
I shyly replied: "Not bad at all."
"Your turn," I said. "Am I what you expected?"
He looked at me - not the quick glances from before, but a slow gaze that made my neck warm. "You're shyer," he observed. "In texts you seem so confident... but in person you're... cute."
I mumbled: "Is that bad?"
The question hung heavier than intended between us. I quickly changed the subject. "Ha's probably screenshotting our texts right now."
He grinned, letting me retreat. "Tell her I'm funnier in person."
"You tell her. Next time she'll interrogate you."
"Next time," he repeated, as if tasting the words.
We strolled through the park, giggles erupting whenever I shared stories of Ha's antics. As the sky darkened, golden streetlights cast our merged shadows on the ground.
Then suddenly, he stopped.
"Cold?" Hoang asked, his voice light as the breeze.
"A little," I confessed, hugging my arms.
Before I could process what was happening, he pulled me into an embrace. His warmth dispelled the winter chill. My heart pounded wildly, but I didn't push away. Instead, my fingers found their way to his hair, gliding through the silken strands.
"Your hair is so soft," I whispered.
He chuckled softly, his breath warm against my hair. "That's because you're touching it."
We stood there wrapped in each other, listening to our heartbeats sync with the whispering wind.
To end our date, we stopped at a nearby bingsu shop. Hoang ordered oreo flavor while I chose matcha. He laughed when I grimaced at the initial bitterness.
"Give it to me if you don't like it," he offered, but I shook my head, scooping another spoonful.
"I do like it!"
On our way back, he bought an extra bingsu for Ha. "The third wheel deserves treats too," he said, eyes twinkling.
Back home, Ha was waiting, her eyes lighting up at the bingsu bag in my hands.
"Ooh, Hoang knows what's up!" she squealed, snatching the bag.
But immediately after, she dragged me to our room and shut the door with exaggerated seriousness.
"Tell me everything! Every tiny detail!"
Blushing, I recounted each moment - the warm embrace, the softness of his hair, my heart threatening to burst from my chest.
When I finished, Ha smiled and pinched my cheek. "You two are perfect. This time, be happy, okay?"
I lowered my head, but in my heart, I was already nodding.