Mina thought she'd found a kind of peace. As a college student living in a quiet province of Korea, her life was predictable, even comforting. Her older sister Alicia's relationship with Kim Taehyung was a bright spot, and when the couple moved in t...
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"I must say Mina, I genuinely love the bread you made," Taehyung remarked as he assisted her in relocating the pots from one spot to another.
"And we're done!" she exclaimed, a sense of satisfaction washing over her as she placed the plants in their new spot, where they would catch the most sunlight. The leaves appeared to brighten, as if appreciating their new location.
"What did you say, Taehyung?" she asked, turning her gaze in his direction. "Sorry, I didn't catch that," she added, offering an awkward smile as she felt a slight flush of embarrassment.
"I said I would gladly pay you just to have that for breakfast every day," he replied, his enthusiasm evident as he encouraged her with a bright smile.
"Oh no, you can have the rest before you and Alicia leave later," she offered with a grin. "Besides, if I keep all this bread to myself, I might just turn into a loaf!" she joked, her laughter filling the air.
He knew full well that her joke wasn't the funniest, but it wasn't the humor that made him smile. It was her bubbly personality and the way her beauty lit up the room that truly captivated him.
They found themselves beneath the breathtaking canopy of a blooming Japanese maple, their laughter intertwining like the gentle breeze. The vibrant crimson leaves of the tree created a stunning backdrop for their shared joy. In that moment, he couldn't help but feel that love was indeed in the air, wrapping around them like a warm, tender embrace.
"Don't you think this tree is simply breathtaking?" she asked, her eyes shimmering with admiration as she gazed up at the sprawling branches adorned with vibrant hues. Just at that moment, as if the tree itself was responding to her awe, the leaves began to cascade down around them, twirling gracefully like nature's confetti. Her laughter filled the air, a melody of pure joy, and he found himself captivated not just by the beauty of the tree, but by the magic of the moment they were sharing together.
As he stood there, the vibrant red and orange leaves of the Japanese maple danced gently in the autumn breeze, their brilliance captivating his senses. "I've never seen such a beautiful Japanese maple like this," he muttered, lost in the moment. Yet, his gaze wasn't truly on the tree, it was on her.
"I'm quite impressed that you know which is which," she exclaimed, her bubbly smile lighting up the space between them. There was a spark in her eyes, a genuine curiosity that made him feel both proud and a little shy. He couldn't help but return her smile, feeling a warm rush of connection.
Pride swelled within him as he realized he'd managed to impress her, exactly as he intended.
In that instant, the maple's beauty paled in comparison to hers. The delicate way she brushed a strand of hair from her face, the laughter that bubbled up as she admired the foliage, everything about her drew him in deeper. He felt as if time had paused, the world around them fading away, leaving just the two of them amidst the fiery colors of the season. With each heartbeat, he realized that this moment, this connection, was the true essence of beauty. The maple stood tall and proud, but she was the one who truly took his breath away.
