Match Making

Part 10: Unspoken connection

                      ---- Sangwon ----

As Yoona rested her head on my shoulder, her soft breaths and the gentle rise and fall of her chest brought a calmness that I found comforting. My hand gently stroked hers, and for a moment, it felt like we were in our little world.

But soon enough, the sound of approaching footsteps brought us back to reality. Jin, Yeji, and Ji-won returned from the supermarket quicker than I had expected. Jin opened the car door and immediately spotted us. A mischievous grin spread across his face.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” Jin exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Looks like someone found a comfy pillow. You two look cozy.”

Yeji joined in, laughing.

Ji-won wasn’t far behind, adding, “I didn’t know this trip to the supermarket was going to turn into a mini-date. Should we leave you two alone?”

Yoona, quickly sat up, trying to regain her composure. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the teasing. “Come on, guys. She was just resting,” I said, trying to downplay the situation.

“Resting? Is that what they call it these days?” Jin quipped, winking at me. “I’m just saying, Sangwon, you’re quite the gentleman. Letting a lady sleep on your shoulder and all.”

Yeji chimed in again, “You two make a cute couple. Maybe we should leave you in the car more often.”

Yoona finally found her voice, still a bit flustered. “Oh, stop it, you guys.” she said, trying to laugh it off, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.

“Alright, alright,” Jin said, still grinning.

As we piled back into the car, Jin continued his teasing. With a playful grin, he looked at Yoona and said, “So, Yoona, should I start calling you sister-in-law or Sangwon brother-in-law?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Jin’s question. Yoona, quick-witted as always, replied, “At least you got a brother-in-law. It seems like I won’t be getting a sister-in-law anytime soon.”

Jin, momentarily at a loss for words, opened and closed his mouth a few times before giving up and laughing along. Yoona’s comeback had left him speechless.

As the laughter settled and the car started moving, Yoona once again placed her head on my shoulder, her earlier embarrassment replaced by a calm comfort. I smiled down at her, feeling a warmth spread through me.

The rest of the car ride was filled with the easy chatter and occasional teasing from Jin and the others. Yoona’s presence beside me, her head resting on my shoulder, made everything feel right. The teasing didn’t bother me—in fact, it only made me more certain of my feelings for her.

As we drove back to the house, I couldn’t help but think about how quickly things had changed, how Yoona had gone from being just a participant on this show to someone who felt incredibly important to me. Her comfort with me,  and the way she naturally fit into my life—it all felt like it was meant to be.

After the ride, we reached the house, where the others had just returned from their dates. The atmosphere was lively with excited chatter as everyone started asking questions to those who had gone out. Laughter and  voices filled the room as stories were shared and experiences recounted.

I leaned in close to Yoona and whispered into her ear, "This reminds me of when we went on our date."

She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with the memory. "It was the best date I could ever ask for," she replied softly, her words sending a warm rush through me.