The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the city as Changbin and I strolled along the riverbank. It was one of those rare days when neither of us had work or other obligations, so we'd decided to make the most of it by spending the afternoon together, just wandering and talking about everything and nothing.
We walked in comfortable silence, the gentle sound of the water lapping at the shore blending with the distant hum of the city. I glanced at Changbin, his profile bathed in the soft light of the fading sun. There was something about this moment that felt perfect, like the world had slowed down just for us.
"You know," Changbin said suddenly, breaking the silence, "I don't think I've ever felt this... at peace before."
I smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "Yeah? What do you mean?"
He looked at me, his expression thoughtful. "I mean, with you, everything feels right. It's like I don't have to try so hard to be anything other than myself."
I felt my heart swell at his words. Being with Changbin had always felt easy, like we'd known each other for much longer than we actually had. Every moment we spent together felt like coming home.
We found a quiet bench overlooking the water and sat down, still holding hands. The air was cool, but the warmth of his touch made me feel safe and grounded.
"I feel the same way," I said, my voice soft but steady. "Like, when I'm with you, I can just... be."
Changbin turned to me, his dark eyes searching mine as if he was trying to find the right words. "You've changed my life, you know that? I didn't expect to feel this way so soon, but... you've made everything better."
My heart began to race, and I suddenly felt a nervous energy in the air. I wasn't sure where the conversation was headed, but I could sense that something important was about to happen.
"Y/N," he started, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I've been wanting to tell you something for a while now."
I held my breath, my pulse quickening. Was this it? Were we really going to have this conversation? The one I'd been both hoping for and fearing?
"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Changbin took a deep breath, his hand tightening around mine. "I love you."
The words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I could hardly process what he had just said. My heart skipped a beat, and a wave of warmth spread through my chest. He loved me. He loved me.
A slow, joyful smile spread across my face as the realization sank in. "Changbin... I love you too."
His eyes lit up with relief and happiness, and in an instant, he pulled me into his arms, holding me close. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against mine, and everything felt so right, so perfect. It was as if all the pieces had fallen into place.
We stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, the rest of the world fading away. In that moment, nothing else mattered. It was just us—two people who had found something real, something worth holding onto.
Eventually, Changbin pulled back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes. His smile was soft, tender. "I didn't know it was possible to feel this happy."
I chuckled, feeling the same overwhelming joy bubbling up inside me. "Me neither. But here we are."
He brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his touch gentle. "I'll say it again, just because I love the way it sounds. I love you, Y/N."
I grinned, feeling like my heart might burst from the sheer happiness of it all. "I love you too, Changbin. So much."
We sat there as the sky turned shades of pink and purple, holding each other close. The first "I love you" had been spoken, and it was like a new chapter had begun—one filled with promise, warmth, and a love that we knew would only grow stronger with time.
And as the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, we both knew that this was just the beginning of something beautiful.
