Her Song, His Heart

The Unspoken Truths

The next few days in Milan felt like a blur to Mannon. Between photoshoots, fittings, and more Versace events, her mind was constantly spinning. Despite the whirlwind, she couldn’t shake the memory of that kiss. It had been intense—real, almost like something she had been subconsciously waiting for. But every time she thought about it, she felt a mix of excitement and confusion.

She spent the majority of the days trying to focus on her work, throwing herself into her modeling career. But every time Hyunjin was near, her heart raced uncontrollably. There were moments when their eyes met, fleeting but full of meaning, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was feeling the same way.

It had been a few days since the kiss on the terrace, and everything felt different now. There were still those quiet moments when she caught him looking at her a little too long, a smile playing at the corner of his lips as if he knew something she didn’t. It drove her crazy, but not in a bad way.

That night, the group had a dinner gathering at a luxurious rooftop restaurant. The evening sky was clear, the stars twinkling above them as they ate and laughed. But despite the lively atmosphere, Mannon couldn’t shake the tension in the air. She sat next to Hyunjin, trying her best to keep the conversation light and casual, but her mind kept drifting back to what had happened between them.

She couldn’t help but notice how close he was sitting to her. His hand brushed against hers more than once, and each time, her pulse quickened, her breath hitching just slightly. She was no longer able to pretend like things were normal between them.

Chan, who had been keeping a close eye on his younger sister, caught a glimpse of the quiet tension between Mannon and Hyunjin. He wasn’t blind to the way they interacted with each other. For a moment, Mannon met her brother’s eyes across the table, and her heart skipped. She quickly looked away, hoping Chan wouldn’t notice how flustered she felt.

But of course, Chan wasn’t easily fooled.

“Mannon, you okay?” He asked casually, his voice filled with that protective undertone she was so used to.

She smiled weakly, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, just tired. Long day, you know?” She took a sip of her wine, hoping the conversation would move on.

“Mm, right,” Chan said, giving her a long, searching look. His eyes narrowed as he watched Hyunjin, who had been unusually quiet next to her.

Mannon wasn’t sure what her brother suspected, but she could feel his watchful gaze, making her even more self-conscious. She caught Hyunjin’s eyes for a brief moment, and he gave her a small, knowing smile, as if he too could sense the shift in the air between them.

---

Later that night, after the dinner had ended and the group was heading back to the hotel, Mannon found herself alone on the balcony of their hotel room, gazing out at the city. The soft hum of the city was calming, but her thoughts were anything but. Her emotions were a whirlwind, and she couldn’t sort through them. What had she and Hyunjin even been doing? Why did that kiss feel so real, so important?

She leaned against the railing, letting the cool night air settle her thoughts. She needed some clarity, but it felt like the more she tried to figure things out, the more tangled everything became.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Before she could turn around, the door creaked open, and there he was—Hyunjin.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice gentle, a little uncertain, as if he wasn’t sure how to approach her after what had happened.

Mannon nodded, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak. She didn’t know what to say, and part of her was afraid that if she spoke, the words would come out wrong.

Hyunjin stepped onto the balcony, standing beside her but leaving a respectful distance. “I’ve been thinking about... what happened,” he started, his voice quiet but firm.

Mannon turned to face him, her heart racing. “I’ve been thinking about it too,” she confessed, her words barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what it means.”

He met her gaze, his eyes intense but soft. “Neither do I,” he admitted. “But... I want to find out.”

Mannon’s breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. Was this real? Were they really talking about what had happened between them? Or was it just the heat of the moment?

Before she could say anything, Hyunjin spoke again, his words heavier than before. “Mannon, I don’t want to rush you into anything you’re not ready for. But I can’t deny that... there’s something between us. I’m not sure what it is yet, but I’m willing to take it slow if you are.”

Her heart swelled in her chest, the weight of his words hitting her like a wave. He wasn’t rushing her. He wasn’t demanding anything. He was simply offering the chance to figure it out together.

Mannon felt a smile tug at her lips, though it was tinged with uncertainty. She didn’t have all the answers, but for the first time in days, she felt like maybe, just maybe, this could be something real.

“Okay,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the flurry of emotions in her chest. “Let’s take it slow.”

Hyunjin’s face broke into a smile, relief washing over him. “Thank you,” he murmured, his voice low and sincere.

They stood there for a few moments, both unsure of what to do next. But somehow, the silence between them felt comfortable, like they had crossed a small but important threshold.

---

As Mannon lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, she realized one thing: this trip, this time with Hyunjin, was changing everything. And though she didn’t have all the answers, she was beginning to realize that maybe the uncertainty wasn’t something to fear after all.