our crossed paths | jww.

twenty five.

As Wonwoo tucked Ahrin in, he glanced at the living room where Jiwoo was wandering, quietly observing the house.

He gave her a gentle nod, gesturing toward the kitchen. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll handle Ahrin."

Jiwoo smiled and nodded, stepping into the kitchen, curious yet careful not to overstep. As she approached the fridge, she noticed a note on the door—a detailed list of food inside, complete with a special section for Ahrin's meals.

Her lips curled into an amused smile as she opened the fridge to grab a water bottle. Everything was organized to perfection. Bottles and containers lined up in perfect rows, with neatly labeled boxes.

Jiwoo couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. Even my place isn't this organized, she thought, imagining the clutter of coffee mugs, random papers, and work files scattered across her apartment.

After drinking her water, Jiwoo wandered back into the living room, cautiously so as not to intrude too much.

Although she and Wonwoo were now together, the sense of unfamiliarity lingered, like she was a guest trespassing on a space filled with personal memories. It felt... strange.

Her gaze fell on a tall cabinet in the corner, filled with cameras. There were so many—different models, some film, some digital. She didn't know Wonwoo was into photography.

How many things do I not know about him? she wondered.

It hit her in waves—just hours ago, she had learned he didn't like seafood. Even such small details had escaped her.

Her eyes then landed on a photo album resting on the coffee table. A part of her wanted to ask if it was okay to look through it, but Wonwoo did tell her to make herself comfortable.

So, she sat down on the couch, carefully pulling the album into her lap, hesitating for a moment before flipping open the first page.

A gasp escaped her as she turned through the pages—stunning photos of landscapes, sunsets, cityscapes, all captured beautifully on film. There was a certain warmth in these photos, as if each shot had a story behind it.

He's really good at this, she mused, impressed by his hidden talent.

As she flipped further, the photos became more personal—Wonwoo at various beaches, on casual outings.

And then her fingers paused on a page. It was a picture of Wonwoo and Seolhee, smiling brightly on a beach outing. His face was so different—lighter, younger. They looked incredibly happy.

Jiwoo's heart tightened as she stared at the photo.

She glanced down at her hands, gripping the album a little tighter. The thought of his past—of Seolhee—cast a heavy shadow over her heart.

Could she ever be enough when he had shared such a deep part of his life with someone else?

She shook the thought away, determined not to let it consume her. It wasn't fair to Wonwoo to hold on to these insecurities, not when he was trying to move forward.

You're overthinking, she told herself. This is about him and Ahrin now, not the past.

Her train of thought was interrupted when Wonwoo's phone, resting on the coffee table, buzzed. Jiwoo glanced at it and saw a notification pop up—Eunseo—but the message itself was hidden.

She frowned, feeling an odd twinge in her chest.

Must be work, she reminded herself, shaking it off.