Chapter 4: First Conversation
The Brooklyn courtyard was quiet that evening, bathed in the soft glow of fairy lights strung haphazardly across the fences and tree branches. The air was crisp, carrying the faint smell of roasted chestnuts from a vendor a few blocks away. The city hummed in the distance, cars and distant voices creating a familiar urban lullaby that always seemed to ground Lucia.
She stood near the small wrought-iron table in the courtyard, sipping her takeout coffee, trying to pretend she wasn't nervous. She didn't exactly know why she had agreed to meet Jin here. He had asked casually, in that same gentle, shy way he always did, if she wanted to "grab a coffee or tea" after work. She should have said no—she was tired, the week had been long, and she had plans to binge-watch something meaningless on her laptop. But she couldn't resist the pull she felt toward him.
As if on cue, she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up and saw him walking through the archway, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, dark hair slightly ruffled from the evening breeze. His smile widened when he spotted her.
"Hey," he said, a little breathless from the stairs he had climbed. "You came."
"Of course," Lucia replied, smiling despite herself. "I didn't think I'd chicken out. Not this time."
He chuckled and pulled out a chair across from her. "Good. I was hoping we could… talk. Without notes this time. Face-to-face."
Lucia raised an eyebrow playfully. "Without notes? That's a bold move, considering how much I've grown to rely on them."
"I promise I won't disappoint," Jin said, sitting down. He glanced around the courtyard, then leaned forward slightly. "I wanted to tell you about something. About… well, about why I started leaving those notes in the first place."
Lucia tilted her head, curious. "Oh?"
He smiled, his eyes warm and inviting. "It's called the… Grape Theory."
"The… Grape Theory?" she echoed, blinking.
"Yes," he said, leaning back slightly. "It's kind of my way of looking at love—or connections, or relationships, or whatever you want to call it. You know how grapes grow on a vine?"
Lucia frowned, skeptical but intrigued. "I think so…"
"Well," he continued, "you don't just get one grape and suddenly have a perfect batch of fruit. You have to let them grow slowly. You water them, you care for them, you pay attention, and over time… the grapes ripen. Some grapes are sour. Some are sweet. Some taste like nothing at all. But the ones that do ripen… well, they're the ones worth waiting for."
Lucia crossed her arms, pretending to be skeptical but secretly leaning closer. "And you're telling me this has… something to do with the notes?"
He nodded, a faint blush on his cheeks. "Exactly. I guess I wanted to give you a little… encouragement. To show you that even small gestures—tiny things, like leaving a note, or noticing someone's hard day—matter. That's the theory, really. That love, connection… they grow slowly. And that's okay."
Lucia leaned back in her chair, studying him. He wasn't being pretentious or overly poetic. He was… earnest. Honest. And there was something about the way he spoke, softly but confidently, that made her heart beat a little faster.
"Hmm," she said, tapping her coffee cup. "I don't know. It sounds… nice, I guess. But also a little cheesy. Like something someone would say in a rom-com just before the big dramatic gesture."
Jin laughed, the sound soft and warm. "I guess it is a little cheesy. But I mean it. I think people forget that it's okay to take things slow. That it's okay to… notice the little things. To appreciate them."
Lucia tilted her head, watching him. He seemed nervous, but not in a way that made her uncomfortable—just in a way that made him human. She felt a strange tug in her chest, a feeling she hadn't expected: intrigue.
"So, you're telling me," she said slowly, "that these notes, this… theory, is about finding someone slowly? Not rushing things?"
He nodded. "Exactly. Life is messy, people are messy, and love… well, love doesn't always happen in grand gestures. Sometimes it's in the quiet moments, the small steps. Like this coffee right now. Just talking, getting to know each other. That's a step too."
Lucia felt a flutter in her stomach. She had expected a cheesy speech, but this… this felt genuine. And she couldn't deny that she liked the idea of slow, thoughtful connection. She liked the idea of someone noticing her—not just for how she looked, or for a fleeting moment, but for the person she was.
"Okay," she said finally, smiling. "I'll admit… I'm intrigued. But I still don't know if I fully buy it."
Jin leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes sparkling. "Skepticism is healthy. I like that. It means you think for yourself. But… give it a chance. Even one grape at a time. That's all I'm asking."
Lucia laughed, shaking her head. "One grape at a time, huh? You really know how to make a theory sound… romantic."
He grinned. "Romantic, yes. But also practical. And maybe a little ridiculous."
She felt herself smile, her heart lighter than it had been all week. "I guess… I can try it. One grape at a time."
"Good," he said, relief flashing across his face. "Because I think you're worth the effort. Every grape."
Lucia felt heat rise to her cheeks. "Stop it," she said softly, trying to keep her voice playful, though it wavered slightly. "You're going to make me blush."
"I'll take that as a compliment," he said, leaning back and smirking.
For a moment, they just sat there, sipping coffee, watching the faint glow of the city lights around them. The courtyard felt small and intimate, a little bubble separate from the chaos of Brooklyn life. She noticed the gentle way he laughed, the subtle attention he paid to her words, and the way the world seemed… calmer with him around.
"So," she said finally, "this Grape Theory of yours… does it apply to everything? Friendships? Work? Baking a perfect chocolate cake?"
He tilted his head thoughtfully. "Hmm… maybe not everything. But for things that matter. Connections, relationships… the stuff that sticks with you. That's where it works best."
Lucia raised her cup in a mock toast. "Alright then. Here's to grapes. And small steps. And… maybe… seeing where this goes."
Jin raised his cup too, a small smile lighting up his face. "To grapes."
They clinked their cups lightly, and for a moment, it felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of them. Warmth, laughter, and the subtle thrill of something new hung in the air.
As the night wore on, they talked about everything and nothing—favorite movies, childhood memories, guilty pleasures, and awkward moments at work. Lucia found herself laughing more freely than she had in weeks. She felt lighter, freer, and… curious. About him. About the notes. About what could happen next.
By the time they stood to leave, the city lights reflecting off the wet pavement, she felt a sense of anticipation she hadn't expected. The Grape Theory… maybe it wasn't so cheesy after all. Maybe slow, thoughtful gestures were exactly what she needed.
Jin offered his hand as they walked toward the apartment building. She hesitated, then took it. The contact was brief but warm, a small, quiet spark that lingered in her chest.
"See you tomorrow?" he asked, eyes hopeful.
"Yes," she said, smiling. "One grape at a time."
And as they parted ways in the hall, each returning to their own apartment, Lucia felt a subtle thrill she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe love didn't have to be grand or dramatic. Maybe it could start with small steps, tiny gestures, and thoughtful notes—one grape at a time.
And maybe, just maybe, she was ready to take the next one.