C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N :
"Did I impress you yet?"
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The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of autumn as Yi-Seo and Sang-Woo walked side by side through the quiet streets of Seoul. The city was alive but not overwhelming, its heartbeat a gentle rhythm of distant car horns, hushed conversations, and the occasional laughter of young couples strolling along the sidewalks. The streetlights cast a golden glow on the pavement, illuminating their path as they wandered aimlessly, neither in a rush to reach their destination.

"This feels surreal," Yi-Seo murmured, glancing at Sang-Woo as they crossed a small bridge overlooking the Han River. The water reflected the towering skyline, its surface rippling under the occasional autumn breeze.

"What does?" Sang-Woo asked, shoving his hands into his coat pockets as he matched her pace.

She exhaled, her breath visible in the cool night air. "Being here like this. With you. It doesn't feel like real life."

He tilted his head, watching her closely. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

She hesitated, then smiled softly. "A good thing. It feels like we've been doing this forever."

Sang-Woo grinned, nudging her lightly. "Well, I did promise to make this date memorable, didn't I?"

"You implied it," she corrected with a teasing smirk. "So far, I'm still waiting to be impressed."

He gasped in mock offense. "Alright, that's it. We need to settle this properly."

Before she could protest, he grabbed her wrist and led her down a side street, where a glowing storefront caught her eye. It was a small arcade, its entrance adorned with colorful posters and flashing lights. Through the glass windows, couples and groups of friends crowded around claw machines, air hockey tables, and old-school arcade games.

"An arcade?" Yi-Seo raised an eyebrow.

Sang-Woo smirked. "You talk big, but let's see how you handle a real challenge."

They stepped inside, the warmth of the arcade wrapping around them like a nostalgic embrace. The sound of beeping machines, clinking tokens, and excited cheers filled the air. Yi-Seo watched as Sang-Woo exchanged a few bills for a handful of tokens, then turned to her with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"We'll start easy." He led her to a claw machine filled with plush toys. "Pick one. If I win it, I get a favor from you. If I don't, you get a favor from me."

Yi-Seo crossed her arms, feigning deep contemplation before pointing at a small white rabbit plush near the center. "That one."

Sang-Woo cracked his knuckles dramatically. "Prepare to be amazed."

She watched as he maneuvered the joystick with exaggerated confidence, biting her lip to keep from laughing. The claw descended, barely gripping the rabbit before dropping it back into the pile.

Sang-Woo groaned. "This thing is rigged."

Yi-Seo grinned. "Looks like you owe me a favor."

"Not so fast," he said, inserting another token. "Best two out of three."

—-

    An hour later, they had played nearly every game in the arcade. Yi-Seo had won at racing games, but Sang-Woo had beaten her at air hockey, claiming he would "never let his honor be destroyed so easily." Eventually, they found themselves in front of a photo booth, the kind that printed out small sticker pictures.

"This is mandatory," Sang-Woo declared, dragging her inside before she could protest.

The booth's camera flashed as they made silly faces, then another flash as Sang-Woo leaned in close, pretending to whisper a secret in her ear while she tried not to laugh. The last flash came unexpectedly—Sang-Woo resting his chin on her shoulder, a soft, genuine smile on his face. Yi-Seo barely had time to react before the pictures printed.

As she peeled the strip from the machine, she stared at the final photo. Something in the way he looked at her made her stomach flip, a warmth settling in her chest.

Sang-Woo glanced over her shoulder. "That last one turned out nice, don't you think?"

She swallowed, tucking the photo into her pocket. "Yeah... it did."

—

    Outside, the night had grown quieter, the streets less crowded as they wandered aimlessly. Sang-Woo held out a small paper bag filled with chestnuts he had bought from a street vendor, offering her one.

"So," he said, watching her closely. "Did I impress you yet?"

Yi-Seo popped a chestnut into her mouth, pretending to consider it. "...I suppose you tried."

Sang-Woo groaned dramatically. "Unbelievable."

She laughed, nudging his arm. "Fine. I had fun."

His expression softened. "Good. I wanted tonight to be special."

It was.

But Yi-Seo wasn't ready to say that out loud just yet. Instead, she linked her arm through his, her fingers resting lightly against his sleeve. "Let's keep walking a little longer."

And so they did, wandering beneath the autumn sky, as Seoul glowed around them like a city made just for the two of them.

"You know," he said after a moment, "I don't think I've ever seen you this relaxed before."

Yi-Seo gave him a sideways glance, arching an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"I mean it," he continued, chewing thoughtfully. "You're always so serious. Always thinking about the future, about your goals. It's nice to see you just... here. In the moment."

She exhaled, watching the small cloud of breath dissipate into the night. "That's because the moment doesn't usually allow me to relax."

Sang-Woo hummed in understanding. "Law school is that tough, huh?"

She nodded. "There's always something to do, something to plan for."

A comfortable silence stretched between them before Sang-Woo spoke again, his voice softer this time. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Yi-Seo blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

He glanced at her with a small, knowing smile. "You carry so much on your shoulders, but you don't let it show. You just keep pushing forward. That's... pretty incredible."

Her steps faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. Compliments weren't something she was used to, not like this. Not from someone who meant them so sincerely.

"Well," she said, trying to keep her voice light, "I do like to think I'm impressive."

Sang-Woo chuckled, shaking his head. "There's the Yi-Seo I know."

They continued walking until they reached a small park nestled between the high-rises. It was nearly empty, save for an elderly couple sitting on a bench, their hands clasped together as they watched the distant city lights. A wooden gazebo stood at the center, its lights glowing softly, casting long shadows across the cobblestone path.

Sang-Woo suddenly grabbed her wrist, tugging her toward it.

"What are you doing?" she asked, laughing.

"Come on," he said, leading her under the gazebo's wooden beams. "We need to check something off the list."

She crossed her arms, amused. "And what list is that?"

"Our date checklist." He gestured around dramatically. "We've done games, food, and embarrassing photo booth pictures. Now, it's time for the classic moment—dancing under the city lights."

Yi-Seo snorted. "You're kidding."

"I'm completely serious." He stepped back, extending a hand to her. "Come on, trust me."

She eyed him suspiciously before sighing. "You better not make me regret this."

Slowly, hesitantly, she placed her hand in his.

There was no music, no grand orchestra, just the distant hum of the city and the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. But somehow, it was enough. Sang-Woo rested his free hand lightly on her waist, guiding her in slow, easy steps.

Yi-Seo huffed a small laugh. "You're terrible at this."

"I prefer the term 'charmingly inexperienced,'" he corrected. "Besides, I don't hear you complaining."

She shook her head but didn't pull away. If anything, she relaxed into him just a little more.

As they swayed in the dim light, Yi-Seo let her eyes wander over his face—the sharp lines of his jaw, the warmth in his gaze, the way he looked at her as if there was no place he'd rather be. It made her heart ache in a way that was both terrifying and wonderful.

"I had a really good time tonight," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sang-Woo's grip on her tightened just slightly. "Me too."

For a moment, neither of them moved. The world around them felt suspended, as if the city itself had decided to give them this one perfect night.

Then, gently, Sang-Woo reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was warm, lingering for just a second longer than necessary.

Yi-Seo swallowed, her heart pounding.

"Sang-Woo—"

Before she could say anything else, a gust of wind blew through the gazebo, causing a flurry of golden leaves to swirl around them. She gasped as her hair was tousled, her hands instinctively reaching up to fix it.

Sang-Woo chuckled. "Looks like even the wind doesn't want to let go of this moment."

She rolled her eyes, but the fondness in her gaze was undeniable. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet," he teased, "you're still here with me."

She didn't argue.

Instead, she took a deep breath, committing everything to memory—the warmth of his hands, the city's distant glow, the way the night air carried the scent of autumn and something new, something wonderful.

Maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to always be so focused on the future. Maybe, just this once, she could allow herself to be here. In this moment.

With him.

words from the author:
Finally delivering their first date. Decided to write a wholesome chapter before things go downhill :))

TikTok getting banned the day before my bday was a horrible start 💔 but happy bday to me :)