trope: boy tries romancing his girlfriend and fails pathetically.
lee jihoon — hearts ablaze
the evening air was crisp and cool, a perfect backdrop for jihoon’s grand romantic gesture. for weeks, he’d been planning this night, hoping to sweep you off your feet with an elaborate surprise.
he had envisioned a perfect dinner, a movie night, and perhaps even a serenade—everything to show just how much he cared.
you arrived home from work to find the apartment bathed in a soft, warm glow from the fairy lights jihoon had strung up around the living room. the aroma of something that might have been a meal wafted through the air.
a table was set with candles, a vase of flowers, and a fancy tablecloth. it was clear he’d put in a lot of effort. but as you walked in, you noticed a faint, smoky smell that made your eyebrows furrow.
“hey, jihoon,” you called out, stepping further into the apartment. “it smells like...burnt toast?”
jihoon, who was in the middle of the kitchen, turned around, a sheepish grin on his face. his cheeks were flushed, and there was a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. “oh, uh, hi um welcome home.”
you glanced around and saw the kitchen in disarray. the stove was still on, and a pan was blackened beyond recognition. “what happened?”
“i...i tried to make a fancy dinner,” he said, scratching the back of his neck nervously. “but i might have...overcooked it a little.”
you couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. “a little? i think you might have turned it into charcoal.”
jihoon sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumping. “i guess i should have just stuck to something simpler.”
“come here,” you said, walking over to him and pulling him into a hug. “i appreciate the effort, really. it’s the thought that counts.”
he wrapped his arms around you, his smile returning. “thanks. i’ve got another plan. let’s just skip dinner and move on to the next part.”
you followed him to the living room, where the candles were now lit and a movie was queued up on the tv. jihoon had arranged a selection of your favorite snacks on the coffee table. however, as he reached for the remote to start the movie, a sudden sound interrupted—an annoying beeping noise.
“what’s that?” you asked, looking around in confusion.
jihoon’s face went pale. “oh no. the fire alarm.”
you both rushed to the kitchen, where the smoke detector was blaring loudly. the candles had burned too close to the curtains, which were now smoking. jihoon tried to fan the smoke away, but it only made things worse. the situation was quickly getting out of hand.
“jihoon!” you shouted over the noise. “it’s okay! just turn off the stove and open the windows.”
he scrambled to do as you said, trying to get the smoke out of the apartment. after a few frantic minutes, the noise stopped, and the air began to clear.
“well, that was...something,” you said, trying to suppress your laughter.
jihoon’s face was red, his embarrassment evident. “i really wanted tonight to be perfect.”
you took his hand and squeezed it gently. “i know you did, and it means a lot to me. but you don’t have to do anything extravagant to show you care.”
he looked at you with a mixture of relief and regret. “i just wanted to make you happy.”
you leaned in, kissing him softly. “and you do make me happy, even if things don’t go as planned.”
with a sigh of relief, jihoon smiled and pulled you into a more relaxed embrace. “how about we just hang out and watch the movie, snack on whatever’s left, and forget about the rest?”
you nodded, your heart warmed by his sincerity. “sounds perfect to me.”
you both settled onto the couch, the movie starting up in the background. the snacks were a bit of a mess—some were burnt, some were still edible—but you didn’t mind. the evening had turned into something unexpected but genuinely enjoyable. jihoon had put his heart into the gesture, even if the execution was far from perfect.
as the movie played, jihoon snuggled closer to you, his arm around your shoulders. he occasionally glanced at you, a mix of pride and embarrassment on his face. you could tell he was still slightly disheartened by how the night had gone, but his efforts had not gone unnoticed.
“you know,” you said softly, leaning your head on his shoulder. “this is actually one of the best nights i’ve had in a while.”
jihoon looked at you, his eyes wide with surprise. “really?”
“yeah,” you confirmed with a smile. “it’s not about the fancy dinner or perfect setup. it’s about spending time with you and feeling loved.”
he seemed to relax a bit more, his smile widening. “i guess you’re right. i just wanted to make it special.”
you kissed him again, this time more deeply, letting him know how much you appreciated his efforts. the movie continued to play, but you were both more focused on each other than on the screen.
when the movie ended, jihoon stood up and stretched. “well, i guess i should clean up the kitchen and see what’s left of dinner.”
you grabbed his hand, pulling him back towards the couch. “don’t worry about it. let’s just sit here and talk for a while.”
he nodded, settling back beside you. you spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing, the earlier mishaps now just funny stories to recount. jihoon’s romantic efforts might not have gone as planned, but they had brought you even closer together.
as the night drew to a close, you both lay down on the couch, the fairy lights casting a soft glow over the room. jihoon’s arm was around you, and you felt content and happy.
“jihoon,” you murmured, your eyes closing as you snuggled closer to him. “tonight was perfect, just the way it was.”
jihoon chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “i’m glad you think so. next time, i promise to keep the fire alarms off.”
you laughed quietly, feeling grateful for the love and effort he had put into the evening. “i wouldn’t have it any other way.”
as you drifted off to sleep, you knew that despite the romantic failures of the night, jihoon’s love and dedication had made it unforgettable in the best possible way.
