criminal love; jungwon

20

The New Year festival was in full swing, the air buzzing with excitement and warmth despite the chill. Strings of lanterns hung overhead, casting a golden glow over the bustling crowd. Children ran from booth to booth, laughter echoing through the night, while the scent of roasted chestnuts and sweet rice cakes lingered in the air.

Nanhee walked hand in hand with her little brother, Seojun, as their mother followed closely behind. He tugged on her arm, pointing excitedly at a ring toss game. “Noona! Let’s play that one!”

She chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Alright, but only if you let me win.”

As they approached the booth, she caught sight of a familiar figure just a few feet away. Jungwon stood with his parents and his older sister, smiling at something his mother said. Their eyes met, and he waved, his expression softening.

Their families gradually drew closer, exchanging polite greetings. It was the first time Nanhee had met Jungwon’s parents, and she felt a flicker of nervousness. But his mother’s warm smile and his sister’s friendly nod quickly put her at ease.

Jungwon, meanwhile, crouched to Seojun’s level, offering him a high-five. “Hey, buddy. Having fun?”

Seojun grinned and nodded vigorously. “Noona’s letting me win!”

“Lucky you,” Jungwon laughed, standing back up.

After a few more minutes of casual conversation, they parted ways with their families. Nanhee and Jungwon wandered through the festival together, weaving through the crowd as they explored different booths. They shared a bag of warm chestnuts, laughing as they tried—and failed—to win a plush toy at a claw machine.

As the night deepened, the crowd gathered near the main stage, where the results of the painting competition were about to be announced. Nanhee squeezed Jungwon’s hand nervously as they waited.

“And the winner of this year’s New Year painting competition is…” The host’s voice echoed through the speakers, drawing out the suspense. “Cha Nanhee!”

The crowd erupted in applause, and Jungwon turned to Nanhee, a wide grin on his face. “You did it!”

Nanhee’s eyes sparkled with disbelief and joy. She made her way to the stage, accepting the award with a shy but grateful smile. As she stood there, bathed in the glow of the stage lights, a soft gasp rippled through the crowd.

Snow had begun to fall.

Jungwon looked up, watching the flakes drift lazily from the sky, then back at Nanhee. But she was no longer on stage. His heart skipped a beat as he scanned the crowd, searching for her.

Finally, he spotted her outside the festival grounds, standing alone beneath a streetlamp. The soft light illuminated her figure, and the snowflakes clung to her hair like tiny stars. She looked so peaceful, lost in her own world.

Jungwon approached quietly, stopping a few steps away. “Hey.”

Nanhee turned, her eyes soft and distant. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

He nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. But why did you leave? Everyone was cheering for you.”

She shrugged, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I just needed a moment. It feels... surreal.”

Jungwon stepped closer, brushing a snowflake from her cheek. “You deserve it, you know. All of it.”

Her gaze met his, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away. It was just the two of them, standing in the quiet snowfall, surrounded by the soft hum of the distant festival.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her breath visible in the cold air.

“For what?”

“For always being here. For believing in me.”

Jungwon smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Always.”

They stood there for a while, letting the snow fall around them. The new year had begun, and with it, a sense of hope and possibility.

And in that moment, everything felt right.