Jeno's POV
The soft glow of the night lamp cast long shadows across the room, creating an intimate atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the vibrant chaos of the arcade. As I stepped into the dimly lit space, the first thing I noticed was the way the light danced on her face, highlighting the curve of her cheekbones and the soft arch of her brows. She was seated at the small table near the window, her fingers absently tracing patterns on the tablecloth, lost in thought.
"You came earlier than I expected," she said, her voice gentle but carrying a hint of surprise.
I shrugged, moving towards her and taking a seat across from her. "I figured it was better to get here early. Wanted to make sure everything was set up."
She smiled, but there was something in her eyes—an emotion I couldn't quite place. Was it relief? Or maybe something deeper, something more complicated? I didn't push it. Instead, I reached into my bag and pulled out the small box I had been carrying with me all day. I placed it on the table between us, sliding it over to her.
"What's this?" she asked, eyeing the box curiously.
"Just something I thought you might like," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual, even though my heart was racing. I watched as she opened the box, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a small, intricately designed pendant.
She stared at it for a moment, her fingers brushing over the cool metal. "It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I saw it and thought of you," I said, leaning back in my chair, trying to gauge her reaction.
She looked up at me, her eyes shining with a mix of emotions. "You didn't have to do this, Jeno."
"I know," I replied, my voice soft. "But I wanted to."
She smiled again, a real smile this time, one that reached her eyes. "Thank you. Really."
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. For a moment, we just sat there in comfortable silence, the night lamp casting a warm glow around us. It was one of those moments that felt almost perfect, like everything had aligned just right.
But then, the silence was broken by a sudden, sharp knock on the door. We both turned towards the sound, the spell of the moment shattered.
"Are you expecting someone?" I asked, my brow furrowing.
She shook her head, standing up from the table. "No... Let me see who it is."
I watched as she walked over to the door, her movements graceful and fluid. When she opened it, I saw her freeze for a split second before she quickly stepped aside, allowing the person outside to enter.
It was Renjun, his expression serious, almost grim. He nodded at me as he stepped into the room, but his focus was entirely on her.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," he began, his tone formal. "But there's something important we need to discuss."
I felt a knot form in my stomach. Renjun wasn't the type to interrupt unless it was something serious, and the look on his face told me that whatever this was, it wasn't good.
"What's going on?" I asked, standing up from the table, suddenly feeling the weight of the situation.
Renjun glanced at me, then back at her. "We've got a situation. It's... complicated. I didn't want to bring it up tonight, but there's no avoiding it."
I saw the way her expression changed, the way her eyes darkened slightly, the light in them dimming. She nodded slowly, her posture stiffening. "Alright. Let's talk."
I felt a surge of protectiveness rise within me. Whatever this was, it was clearly affecting her, and I didn't like it. "I'm staying," I said, more of a statement than a question.
Renjun didn't argue. He simply nodded, acknowledging that I had a right to be there.
The three of us moved to the living room, where we could talk more comfortably. Renjun waited until we were all seated before he began.
"There's been some... movement," he said carefully, his eyes flicking between us. "Someone's been asking questions. About you."
She stiffened at his words, her eyes narrowing. "Who?"
"We're not sure yet," Renjun admitted. "But whoever it is, they're digging deep. They're trying to find out everything they can about you, about your past."
I saw the way her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white. I reached out, placing a hand over hers, trying to offer some comfort. She glanced at me, her eyes softening slightly at the gesture.
"Why now?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration. "Why are they doing this now?"
"We don't know," Renjun said, his voice gentle but firm. "But we're going to find out. And we're going to stop them."
There was a moment of silence as we all processed the situation. I could see the wheels turning in her head, the way she was trying to piece everything together, trying to figure out what this meant for her.
"Whatever happens," I said, breaking the silence, "I'm here. You're not facing this alone."
She looked at me, her expression softening, and for a brief moment, I saw the vulnerability she was trying so hard to hide. "Thank you, Jeno," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Renjun nodded, his expression serious. "We'll get through this. But we need to be careful. Whoever this is, they're not going to stop until they get what they want."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, but I felt a renewed sense of determination. Whatever this was, whoever was behind it, we would face it together. I wasn't going to let anything happen to her. Not on my watch.
"We'll figure this out," I said, my voice firm. "And we'll deal with it."
She nodded, a flicker of hope returning to her eyes. "Yeah. We will."
As the night went on, we talked more about the situation, trying to come up with a plan, trying to prepare for whatever was coming. But even as we discussed strategies and possibilities, I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was on the horizon—something that could change everything.
But no matter what, I was ready. For her, I was willing to do whatever it took. Even if it meant becoming something I never thought I could be.
