"Almost there," Hansol muttered, the first words he'd spoken since they'd left the quiet hallways backstage and ascended a secluded staircase. The door loomed ahead of them. His hand tightened around hers, not wanting to let go. The nervousness in his chest was a familiar weight, but today, for some reason, it felt heavier. Why had it taken Jiyeon practically forcing him to admit it for him to accept what he was feeling? The fear of rejection gnawed at him, the same fear that had always held him back, that nagging voice telling him that things wouldn't work out, that they never could. A year ago, the timing was wrong. Now, though... Maybe things had changed. Maybe. But what if her feelings hadn't? What if she'd moved on in the last few months, found someone else? The thought kept him up at night. And yet, little did he know, Nabi had been wondering the exact same thing about him.
He needed her to know that his fear was irrational, but deep down, he wasn't sure he could even admit to himself how much it really mattered. Jiyeon's talk had helped him, but the doubt remained. All he wanted was for it to be different this time.
When the door creaked open, the view before them almost took Nabi's breath away. The sunset spread across the sky in vibrant streaks of purple, pink, and orange, painting the outside of the stadium in soft hues. It was peaceful, calming in a way that felt almost too perfect. The terrace was sparse with only a few pieces of minimalist furniture, and the city sprawled out beneath them, an ocean of lights and buildings that seemed endless.
"Having private talks in nice places really is becoming our thing," Nabi said, her tone light and teasing as she gazed out at the horizon, laughter bubbling up between them.
Hansol turned to look at her, his heart skipping a beat as the fading sunlight made her smile shine even brighter. Her laughter made something inside of him stir, something deep, almost painful. He swallowed hard. "That means you like it?" His voice faltered slightly, the words tasting more vulnerable than he wanted them to.
Nabi giggled softly. "Of course I do. Thank you for thinking of sharing this with me." She took a few slow steps, her movements almost dainty on the narrow grass terrace that wrapped around the top row of the stadium seats. It wasn't meant for heavy foot traffic, but it was safe—at least, Hansol was sure it was. If it weren't, he never would've brought her here.
As they walked, the silence between them grew comfortable, almost intimate. "There's no one else I'd want to share this with but you," Hansol said, his voice low and serious, like he meant every word.
Nabi stopped in her tracks, her heart racing. She turned to him slowly, her eyes searching his face. "Do you mean that?" Her voice cracked slightly, a rush of emotions making it hard for her to speak. Did he really feel that way about her, still? After everything that had happened, after the time that had passed?
Hansol looked momentarily taken aback, the soft wind lifting his messy hair as he searched for the right words. "I—I do. Wholeheartedly." His words were quiet but sincere, as if he were telling her a secret he'd been carrying for too long.
Nabi's breath caught in her throat. She could hardly comprehend what was happening, what he was saying. "Gosh... What is this, the fourth time I've felt deja vu when I'm with you?" she asked, unable to stop the rush of emotion that surged through her. Her hands instinctively went to her hair, twisting it as she tried to make sense of the whirlwind of feelings.
It hit her then. Ever since they'd reconnected, it was as if everything was starting over, like they had been given a second chance to rewrite the parts of their story they never got right. It was like... fate? Or maybe just a crazy coincidence. She couldn't decide, but it didn't matter. The thought made her head spin.
