Her Song, His Heart

Crossing Boundaries

The next morning, Mannon woke up to the soft rays of Milan’s morning sun streaming through the curtains. She stretched, feeling the excitement of the day ahead—another photoshoot, another opportunity to show the world her talent. But something else lingered in the back of her mind, a subtle awareness that her dynamic with Hyunjin was shifting.

Their moments together had been harmless enough—fun banter, sharing glances, the occasional joke. But there was something in the way he looked at her now, something unspoken that made her pulse quicken when their eyes met.

It had been a long, exhausting day at the shoot, and they were all gathered in the hotel’s private lounge later that night. The Versace team had arranged for a dinner celebration, complete with champagne and a stunning view of the city skyline. Mannon sat with Hyunjin, Felix, and a few others, laughing along with the conversation, but her thoughts kept drifting back to him.

The way Hyunjin’s gaze lingered on her, the quiet moments when their hands brushed—these small, innocent touches felt different now. Each time their fingers met, there was a jolt of electricity that made her second guess the way she’d been interpreting things.

Mannon caught Hyunjin looking at her again, his gaze dark and intense, but this time, there was no mistaking the pull between them. She felt the weight of his stare, the invisible line between them that was inching closer to being crossed.

The evening wore on, and the rest of the group seemed to fade into the background. Mannon and Hyunjin found themselves alone at the terrace. The lights of Milan shimmered in the distance, but all she could focus on was the tension between them, thick and heavy.

“Do you ever feel like we’re just... pretending?” Mannon asked, her voice quieter than usual. She wasn’t sure what she meant by it, but it felt right to say it. Something about this whole experience felt surreal.

Hyunjin took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. “Pretending? About what?”

“About... everything.” She motioned between them. “Like, we’re both here, doing this amazing work, but there’s this... distance. Like we’re not really being ourselves.”

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, Hyunjin didn’t respond. He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming in the best way. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Mannon,” he said softly, his voice like silk. “You can be whoever you want to be.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Was this just the exhaustion from the trip, or was there something more to his words? She couldn’t tell, but in that moment, the distance between them didn’t feel so wide. His proximity was intoxicating, his scent wrapping around her, drawing her in.

Without thinking, she took a step forward, closing the space between them. Their faces were inches apart, and she could feel the heat radiating from his body. The world seemed to slow down, and all the noise of the city faded into the background. There was only Hyunjin, his gaze intense as he watched her every move.

“Hyunjin,” she whispered, and the sound of her voice made him finally snap.

Before she could react, he reached out, his hand gently cupping her cheek, tilting her face toward his. His thumb brushed lightly across her skin, sending shivers down her spine. “Mannon,” he murmured, his breath hot against her lips.

She wanted to pull back, to fight the pull between them, but something inside her urged her forward, closer. She closed her eyes as his lips hovered just millimeters away from hers, the anticipation hanging thick in the air.

The moment lasted forever before Hyunjin finally closed the gap, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was soft at first, testing, but then deepened as he pulled her closer. She could feel the heat of his body against hers, the urgency building as their kiss grew more desperate.

Mannon’s breath hitched as she found herself leaning into him, her hands finding his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. It was wild, unexpected, but it felt right. The connection they had, the chemistry, was undeniable, and now it was all spilling out.

He broke the kiss, his forehead resting against hers. “Mannon... I—” He cut himself off, unsure of what to say. His eyes searched hers for answers.

She took a shaky breath, still trying to process what had just happened. “Hyunjin, I—” But before she could finish, a loud voice called from inside the hotel.

“Mannon! Hyunjin! Where are you?”

It was Felix’s voice, breaking the tension between them like a splash of cold water.

They both jumped apart, the sudden distance between them feeling strange and uncomfortable. Hyunjin ran a hand through his hair, looking flustered. Mannon tried to steady her breathing, her heart still racing from the kiss.

“We should go,” he said, his voice rough, as he turned to walk back inside.

Mannon followed him, her mind reeling. What had just happened? She didn’t know, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this trip was going to change everything.

As they rejoined the group, Mannon couldn’t help but glance at Hyunjin. His gaze flickered to hers for a brief moment before he quickly looked away, his usual calm demeanor masking the chaos she could feel beneath the surface.

But even as they moved on, even as the night continued, Mannon knew one thing for certain: things between her and Hyunjin would never be the same again.