LOVE YOU RIGHT | ONEW - LEE JINKI

13: To Be Belong

After returning from the convenience store, Jinhwan and Jinki found the atmosphere in the apartment had become even more relaxed and lively. The group had finished their meal, and the dishes were cleared away. Yonghwa and Bora were playfully arguing over who had to do the dishes, while Hwayoung laughed at their antics. Jinhwan nudged Jinki with a knowing smile before heading over to join the others, leaving Jinki alone with his thoughts for a moment.

Hwayoung caught Jinki's eye from across the room and motioned for him to join her on the balcony. The night air was cool and refreshing, a stark contrast to the warmth inside. The city lights twinkled in the distance, casting a soft glow over the terrace.

"Thanks for coming tonight," Hwayoung said softly as they both leaned against the balcony railing. "I know it was last minute."

Jinki turned to face her, his expression gentle. "I wouldn't have missed it. I'm glad I could be here to celebrate with all of you."

Hwayoung smiled, but there was a hint of something else in her eyes—perhaps a trace of the vulnerability Jinhwan had mentioned earlier. They stood in comfortable silence for a few moments, simply enjoying the quiet of the night and the peaceful ambiance.

"I noticed Yonghwa seems to like you," Hwayoung said, breaking the silence. "That's rare for him. He doesn't warm up to people easily."

Jinki chuckled. "He's a good kid. I can tell he really looks up to you."

"He does," she agreed, her voice tinged with a mixture of pride and responsibility. "He's always been my priority, ever since our father passed away. I've tried to be strong for him, to make sure he had the opportunities I didn't."

Jinki nodded, remembering what Jinhwan had told him earlier. "I can see that. You've done a lot for him, for your family. But... do you ever feel like it's too much? Like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders?"

Hwayoung's gaze faltered for a moment, and she looked out at the city. "Sometimes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's what I've always done. I don't know how to be any other way."

There was a moment of silence as they both gathered their thoughts. Finally, Jinki turned to her, his expression serious. "Hwayoung-ah, I don't want to push you, but I need to know where we stand. I care about you—a lot—and I think we've both been dancing around this for a while now."

Hwayoung's heart raced as she heard the sincerity in his voice. She had known this conversation was coming, but now that it was here, it terrified her. The idea of opening up completely, of letting someone in after being hurt before, was overwhelming.

"I don't know if I'm ready," she confessed, her voice trembling slightly. "Being with you... it scares me. Not because of who you are, but because of everything that comes with it. The attention, the scrutiny, the expectations... It's a lot."

Jinki took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I understand," he said quietly, his voice steady and comforting. "But you don't have to face it alone. I'm here with you, and I'm willing to wait. Take your time to figure things out, and when you're ready, I'll be here. Next time, I'll tell you everything—no more dancing around it."

Hwayoung looked into Jinki's eyes and saw the sincerity in them. It was different from anything she had felt before—this wasn't someone looking to use her or simply chase after her. Jinki wanted to stand beside her, through the fears and uncertainties. It was both terrifying and comforting at the same time.

"I've always held back," she admitted softly. "Because I'm scared of being hurt again. But I... I like you, Jinki-ssi. And that scares me even more."

Jinki smiled gently, reaching out to take her hand in his. "I know you do. And I like you too, more than I can put into words. But I want you to feel safe with me, to trust that I'm not going anywhere. So, let's take it slow. We don't have to rush into anything."