Soulmates in Disguise

Playful Yet Intense

The next morning, Ria woke up early and decided to prepare breakfast. Despite being new to his place, she quietly navigated the kitchen, determined to make something special. After a bit of searching and a few moments of uncertainty, she managed to put together a simple yet thoughtful breakfast, complete with a strawberry milkshake.

Just as she finished setting the table, Tae wandered into the kitchen, his hair a mess and his eyes barely open. He looked like he had just rolled out of bed, which made Ria stifle a giggle.

“Good morning,” Tae mumbled, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Ria replied with a warm smile, walking over to him. She reached up and gently brushed his messy hair back into place, her touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Tae’s breath hitched slightly—it was the first time she had done something like this, and it caught him off guard.

“All set?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.

“Yeah… um, thanks,” Tae responded, still a bit dazed by her closeness. He straightened up, trying to shake off his sleepiness. “You’re really something, you know that? It’s like you’ve turned my morning into… I dunno… something out of a dream.”

Ria raised an eyebrow, her smile growing. “Out of a dream?”

Tae nodded, searching for words. “Yeah, like… if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were sent here to make everything brighter. Like, you know… an angel or something.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Tae internally cringed. His expression shifted from one of dreamy admiration to one of immediate regret.

Ria burst out laughing, her laughter filling the room. “An angel? Really, Tae? That’s your best line?”

Tae groaned, rubbing the back of his neck, his cheeks turning pink. “Oh god, that was terrible, wasn’t it? I don’t know what came over me. I swear I’m not usually this cheesy.”

Ria continued laughing, wiping a tear from her eye. “It’s okay, Tae. It was kind of sweet… in a really interesting way.”

Tae looked at her, “I don’t know how you’re still smiling. I’m embarrassed. That’s not me at all—I’m more of a ‘let’s just be real’ kind of guy.”

Ria grinned, clearly enjoying his discomfort. “It’s fine, Tae. Honestly, it’s nice to see you trying so hard. Even if it’s a little… out of character.”

Tae shook his head, still unable to believe what he had said. “I swear, no more cheesy lines. I’m sticking to what I know—being myself.”

Ria leaned in closer, her voice teasing. “You don’t need to try so hard to impress me, you know. Just be yourself—that’s more than enough.”

Tae sighed, his shoulders relaxing as he smiled at her. “Yeah, you’re right. No more trying to be something I’m not. But hey, at least I made you laugh, right?”

Ria smirked, giving him a playful nudge. “Oh, you definitely did. And for that, I guess I’ll forgive you… this time.”

Tae chuckled, finally feeling at ease again. “Well, I’m glad my embarrassment could bring you some joy.”

As they sat down to eat, the tension from the cheesy moment dissolved into playful banter. Tae, still recovering from his earlier misstep, found himself teasing Ria back, their conversation filled with laughter and warmth.

At one point, he tried to salvage his earlier attempt by saying, “Maybe next time, I’ll call you my lucky star instead.”

Ria couldn’t help but laugh even harder. “Please, no more! I don’t think I can handle another one of those!”