The park was calm, the kind of peaceful that made you want to sit back and let the world drift by. Bansot and I had claimed our favorite bench, strategically placed to give us the perfect view of the sunset. The sky was already starting to turn shades of orange and pink, the kind of colors that made everything feel warm and soft.
Sunsets were our thing. We’d always find time, no matter how busy our schedules got, to watch the sun dip below the horizon together. There was something soothing about it, a way to wind down and reconnect after a long day.
I glanced over at her, a small smile playing on my lips as I watched her. She was scrolling through her phone, her thumb moving quickly as she read something with a focused expression. I could tell by the way her eyes narrowed and then softened that she was deep into whatever drama she was following. Bansot loved her stories, whether it was K-dramas, anime, or BL webtoons. And me? Well, I loved her, so I supported all of it.
“Lovey,” she started, not looking up from her screen, “you won’t believe what just happened in Jinx.”
I chuckled, leaning back on the bench. “Try me, Love. I’m all ears.”
She finally looked up, her dark eyes gleaming with excitement. “Okay, so you know how Jaekyung is always messing with Kim Dan, right? Being all rough and dominant?”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t as into the story as she was. But I knew the basics—enough to keep up with her. “Yeah, that’s pretty much his whole thing, right?”
She grinned, clearly thrilled to be diving into her latest chika. “Right! But get this—Kim Dan just stood up to him in the most unexpected way. I mean, it was so out of character, but it was also like, ‘Finally!’ He didn’t just roll over this time.”
I raised an eyebrow, feigning deep interest. “So he grew a spine, huh? About time. Jaekyung’s been walking all over him since chapter one.”
“Exactly!” she exclaimed, slapping my arm lightly. “And you know how much I love it when the underdog fights back. It’s just like in those K-dramas where the quiet, shy girl suddenly becomes this badass. Ugh, it’s so satisfying.”
I smirked, shaking my head. “I swear, Bansot, you get more worked up over these fictional characters than you do about real life.”
She laughed, not the least bit offended. “Well, if real life had more guys like Jungkook and Gojo, maybe I’d be more invested.”
Ah, yes, her not-so-secret crushes. Jungkook from BTS, with his soulful eyes and voice, and Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, with his ridiculously good looks and charming arrogance. She never missed an opportunity to bring them up, and I never missed an opportunity to tease her about it.
“Jungkook, huh? You mean the guy who could do no wrong, even if he accidentally walked into the wrong room on a live broadcast?” I teased, nudging her playfully.
“Hey, don’t diss Jungkook!” she shot back, her tone mock serious. “He’s perfect, and you know it.”
I laughed, leaning closer to her. “Perfectly overrated, you mean.”
She rolled her eyes, though I could see the smile tugging at her lips. “Says the guy who thinks Gojo is just ‘okay.’”
“Gojo’s a dude in a blindfold who doesn’t know how to follow the rules. What’s not to like?” I quipped, knowing it would rile her up just enough.
“Okay, first of all,” she began, holding up a finger as if she were about to deliver a well-rehearsed speech, “Gojo is not just any dude. He’s the dude. And second, that’s exactly why he’s amazing. He doesn’t care about the rules; he just does his own thing and looks damn good doing it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm. “Yeah, yeah. Meanwhile, I’m stuck competing with fictional men who have no flaws. What does that say about me, huh?”
She grinned, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “It says you’re perfect in your own flawed way, Lovey.”
I smirked, pretending to mull over her words. “So I’m like a budget Jungkook with a Gojo twist?”
“More like the real-life version of both, but better,” she replied, her tone teasing but affectionate.
We sat there for a moment, the banter dying down as we watched the sun inch closer to the horizon. The sky was painted in the most beautiful shades of orange, pink, and purple, a stunning backdrop to our conversation.
I turned to her, my voice softening. “You know, for all the teasing, I love that you get so into these stories. It’s fun seeing you so passionate about something.”
She smiled, her dark eyes glimmering in the fading light. “Thanks, Lovey. I’m glad you don’t mind listening to me ramble about them.”
“Mind?” I repeated, feigning shock. “Are you kidding? Your chikas are the highlight of my day. Plus, it gives me plenty of ammo to tease you with.”
She laughed, nudging me playfully. “You’re terrible, you know that?”
“Only because you let me be,” I shot back, grinning.
“True,” she admitted, leaning her head on my shoulder as we continued to watch the sunset. The sky was almost fully dark now, the sun just a sliver on the horizon.
“You know,” she said after a moment, her voice softer, “I’m really glad we have these moments. Just you and me, talking about silly things and watching the sunset.”
“Me too, Bansot,” I replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “It’s the little things, right?”
She nodded, her hand slipping into mine, fingers intertwining. “Yeah. The little things.”
We sat in comfortable silence, the chikas forgotten for the moment as we enjoyed the last few rays of sunlight. This was our time, just the two of us, in our little world. And no matter how many fictional crushes or drama plot twists came into our lives, nothing could replace the real thing—our thing.
As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, I turned to her, a playful grin on my face. “So, what’s next on the chika agenda? More Jinx drama? Or maybe a deep dive into Jungkook’s latest workout routine?”
She laughed, the sound warm and comforting. “I think I’ll spare you... for now.”
“Lucky me,” I teased, wrapping my arm around her shoulders as we stood up to head home. “But you know, I’ll be here whenever you need to gush about your favorite K-pop idol or anime character.”
She smiled up at me, her eyes sparkling with affection. “You really are the best, Lovey.”
“Damn right I am,” I replied, pulling her close as we walked. “And don’t you forget it.”
She laughed, leaning into me as we made our way home, the night settling in around us, and I knew that no matter what, we’d always have these moments. Just us, our chikas, and the perfect sunset to end the day.
