Kalla || Choi San

Chapter 24

The train rolled into London's station with a steady hum, and as it slowed to a stop, Y/N stretched, feeling the familiar buzz of the city already seeping back into her bones. After the quiet, slow pace of her parents' home, the noise and movement of London felt like a jolt -but a good one.

San, sitting across from her, glanced out the window, his expression as unreadable as ever. But she could sense something different in him, something that had shifted since they left her parents' house. Maybe it was the time spent with her family, or the way he had let his guard down, even if just a little.

That kiss they shared... It felt way more intimate than any intercourse he'd had with anyone in the Spadix or any of those places. He felt so fragile, so exposed, that he didn't know what to do with it exactly.

—We should arrive in twenty minutes —she thought out loud, pursing her lips while she stared through the window—. Do we have to attend any other meetings? —her eyes were on him as she asked that question.

—No —he answered, still looking at her with the serious expression that worked to hide the turmoil in his head—. I do have something to do with one of the suppliers after lunch, but it's just a quick visit.

—I see —she nodded, smiling while looking back at the window.

—Are you hungry? —he asked, not giving time to silence to settle back— You barely had anything for breakfast.

—To be honest, I am a bit hungry —she admitted—. We woke up early to get the train, and at that time I didn't really want to have anything.

—I know a place near the station —he calmly mentioned—. Since we won't take long to arrive, maybe we can eat something there.

Y/n didn't answer, she just smiled at him, while her eyes became smaller. And San swore he was melting a little more every time she did something like that.

As they walked down the street after arriving at the station, the weight of the city seemed to settle over them again. The fast pace, the endless people moving in every direction, the familiar buzz of traffic and life all around them. It was a different world from where they had just come from.

Y/n followed him from up close, the several people coming and going almost getting in the way, until San paused all of her system by surrounding her wrist with his fingers, making sure no one would stand in between them or cause both of them to get lost.

The pub San led them to was tucked away on a side street, the kind of place that didn't look like much from the outside but held a certain charm beneath its worn-out exterior. The sign above the door was faded, and the windows were clouded with years of condensation, but it had an unmistakable authenticity about it.

It was only at the door that he realized he was still holding her tight, despite the crowd of people kept increasing with each block they left behind. His touch still felt warm when Y/n moved her fingers subtly over her skin, unable to explain the feeling running through her body.

They walked inside, the door creaking as it opened, and she was hit with the warm, inviting smell of ale and old wood. The interior was cozy, dimly lit, with mismatched furniture and a long bar that had seen better days. A few regulars sat at the bar, nursing their drinks and chatting quietly.

—This place looks so nice —she commented, following him to a table.

—And the service is great, too —he assured her.

He knew it first hand.

While San looked around, trying to find the small differences from the period he worked there, Y/n took a look at the table, moving her gaze up his forearm to examine the trace of longing in his eyes, especially when a new smile formed on his face.