Falling for Mr. Yoo

Chapter 10 : The First Glimmer of Love

Winter had always prided herself on being logical, practical. She believed in controlling her emotions, never letting anyone see too much of what she felt. But as she sat in the café across from Jimin the next day, something unfamiliar stirred inside her—a warmth that spread through her chest, reaching places she hadn’t even realized were frozen.

She didn’t understand it, not at first. She had spent so long building walls, convincing herself that she didn’t need anyone. But with Jimin, those walls had started to crumble bit by bit, and before she knew it, she was letting him in.

Jimin was telling her about his weekend plans—something about going to the art supply store to pick up new sketchbooks. His voice was animated, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and Winter found herself smiling, not because of what he was saying, but because of how happy he looked. It was strange, but seeing him like this made her feel lighter.

As Jimin continued talking, Winter’s gaze drifted to his hands, the way they moved as he spoke, the same hands that had gently placed the plant on her windowsill, that had drawn that beautiful sketch of her in the library. Without realizing it, her heart skipped a beat.

“Earth to Winter,” Jimin said, waving a hand in front of her face with a teasing grin. “You still with me?”

Winter blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Yeah, sorry. I was just… thinking.”

“About what?” Jimin asked, leaning forward, his smile softening.

Winter hesitated, unsure how to explain the sudden shift in her emotions. She glanced down at her coffee, her fingers tracing the rim of the cup as she searched for the right words. “Just… you.”

Jimin’s eyes widened slightly, his grin faltering for a moment before he recovered. “Me? What about me?”

Winter felt her heart race, and for the first time in a long time, she didn’t try to push the feeling away. She looked up, meeting his gaze, and for a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away—the noise of the café, the people around them, the world outside. It was just the two of them.

“I don’t know,” Winter said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’re just… different.”

Jimin’s expression softened, his teasing smile replaced by something gentler, something more real. “Different how?”

Winter bit her lip, feeling vulnerable in a way she wasn’t used to. But Jimin had never made her feel judged, had never made her regret opening up. So, she decided to take the leap.

“You make me feel… safe,” she admitted, her gaze never leaving his. “I don’t know why, but when I’m with you, everything feels… easier.”

Jimin’s smile faded, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. For a moment, he just stared at her, as if he couldn’t quite believe what she was saying. Then, slowly, a warmth spread across his face, his eyes softening in a way that made Winter’s heart ache.

“I’m glad,” Jimin said quietly, his voice full of emotion. “Because I feel the same way.”

Winter’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected him to say that, hadn’t expected the words to affect her so deeply. But they did. They settled in her chest, warm and comforting, like a light in the dark.

For the rest of the afternoon, Winter found herself stealing glances at Jimin, her heart racing every time their eyes met. She wasn’t sure when it had happened, when she had crossed that invisible line between friendship and something more, but there was no denying it now.

She was falling for him.

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Later That Evening

Winter lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of Jimin. She had never let herself feel this way about anyone before. Love, relationships—it had always seemed like too much, too messy. But with Jimin, it felt different.

She remembered the way his eyes softened when he looked at her, the way his smile made her chest tighten, the way his presence alone made everything seem a little brighter. She had tried to deny it, tried to keep her distance, but now she couldn’t ignore what was happening.

Winter was falling in love.

It was terrifying, in a way. She had spent so long keeping people at arm’s length, convinced that letting someone in would only lead to pain. But Jimin had slipped past her defenses without even trying, and now, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

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The Next Day

Winter wasn’t sure how to act around Jimin the next day. Part of her wanted to pretend nothing had changed, to keep things the way they were. But another part of her—the part that had spent the night thinking about him—wanted to see where this could go.

She met him outside of school as usual, but something about the air between them felt different. Jimin was the same as always, his easygoing smile and lighthearted jokes filling the space between them. But Winter couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew—that somehow, he could sense the shift in her feelings.

“Hey,” Jimin said, nudging her with his elbow as they walked down the street. “You’ve been quiet today. Everything okay?”

Winter glanced at him, her heart racing. For a moment, she considered brushing it off, pretending that everything was normal. But then she remembered the way Jimin had looked at her the day before, the way he had said he felt the same way.

Maybe it was time to take another leap.

“Jimin,” she said, stopping in her tracks.

Jimin turned to face her, his expression shifting to one of concern. “Yeah? What’s up?”

Winter took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it—the moment she had been both dreading and anticipating. She looked up at him, meeting his gaze, and for the first time, she let herself be completely vulnerable.

“I think I’m falling for you,” she said, her voice steady despite the nerves buzzing beneath her skin.

Jimin blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, neither of them moved, the weight of her words hanging in the air between them. Then, slowly, a smile spread across Jimin’s face—soft, genuine, and filled with warmth.

“You think?” he teased, his voice gentle.

Winter rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. “Okay, fine. I know I’m falling for you.”

Jimin’s smile grew, and before Winter could react, he closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her in a warm, comforting hug. Winter froze for a second, caught off guard by the sudden contact, but then she relaxed, melting into him.

“You have no idea how happy that makes me,” Jimin whispered, his voice filled with emotion.

Winter buried her face in his chest, her heart pounding in her ears. For the first time in a long time, she felt safe—truly, completely safe.

And maybe, just maybe, she was ready to let herself fall.

TBC.