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For most, it was just another day, woven quietly into the fabric of time—ordinary, unremarkable, like countless days before it. But for Na-ra, the world seemed to hold its breath. This was the day she would finally lay bare the feelings she had guarded so long, hidden deep beneath the calm surface of her heart.
Fear fluttered within her like a restless bird, yet beneath that trembling was a spark of something brighter—hope, daring, a thrilling pulse of excitement that outshone her doubts. The air around her seemed softer, as if the fading light of the afternoon sun had wrapped the world in a gentle embrace, urging her forward.
Every step she took felt like a brushstroke on a delicate canvas—fragile, yet full of meaning. The rustling leaves whispered secrets in the breeze, and the sky, painted with hues of amber and rose, stretched wide as if holding space for the moment she had long awaited.
Like many days before, Seo-yul and Na-ra walked side by side along the forest path leading to Dahnyeok, where Cho-yeong awaited. The sunlight filtered softly through the canopy, dappling the ground with shifting patterns of gold and green, while the quiet hum of the woods surrounded them.
Suddenly, her steps faltered, and she came to a hesitant halt. Seo-yul glanced back, confusion knitting his brow as he watched her.
" Na-ra, what is it?" he asked, the concern gentle in his voice.
She stood still, fingers clutching the hem of her dress so tightly it creased between her palms. For a long moment, her eyes squeezed shut, as if gathering courage from within. Then, slowly, she exhaled a deep breath and opened her eyes—meeting his gaze directly, where the puzzled concern waited silently between them.
" Yul-ah, I have something to tell you." She drew in a shaky breath, the nervous weight pressing heavy on her chest. She swallowed hard, her throat tightening with the words she struggled to find. Yet Seo-yul's face remained clouded with confusion, his eyes searching hers for answers.
"Tell me," he urged gently, a trace of tension threading through his voice as he sensed the unfamiliar unease in her."Is something wrong?"
She nodded sharply, the motion almost trembling—a silent plea that she had something important to say.
" It's just that—you know—it's..."Her voice faltered, trailing off into the thick silence between them.
"Na-ra," he said softly, stepping closer, "tell me. Don't worry."
" It's just that—I—" She stammered, her carefully rehearsed confession slipping away like water through her fingers. All night she had planned these words, yet now, faced with him drawing nearer with tentative steps, her mind went blank.
