criminal love; jungwon

21

The first week of the new year brought with it a sense of renewal. The air was crisp, the sky a soft winter blue, and everything felt fresh. Nanhee believed things would be better now. Even Chahyeon, who had once been a thorn in their side, seemed to be changing.

He would occasionally stop by their desks, casually chatting or sharing snacks. At lunch, he’d pull up a chair, sitting with them as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It was awkward at first, but Nanhee and Jungwon could see he was trying.

“Do you think he’s serious about this?” Nanhee asked one day as they walked home.

Jungwon shrugged. “Maybe. People can change.”

She nodded thoughtfully, a hopeful smile tugging at her lips.

A few days later, Jungwon brought up an idea.

“Let’s go on a trip,” he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Nanhee blinked. “A trip?”

“Yeah. Just a day trip. Busan’s not too far.”

She hesitated for a moment but then nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

The morning of their trip, they met at the train station, bundled up against the cold. Nanhee wore a thick scarf that almost covered half her face, while Jungwon had on a beanie that made his hair stick out in every direction.

“You look ridiculous,” Nanhee teased, tugging on the edge of his hat.

“You’re one to talk,” he shot back, adjusting her scarf.

They boarded the train, finding seats by the window. As the train sped through the countryside, they watched the landscape blur past, fields dusted with snow and rivers shimmering in the pale winter sunlight.

In Busan, the air was filled with the scent of the sea. The first place they visited was Haeundae Beach. Though it was too cold to swim, the sight of the waves crashing against the shore was mesmerizing.

“Let’s take a picture,” Nanhee suggested, pulling out her phone.

Jungwon groaned. “Do we have to?”

“Yes.”

They stood by the water, grinning as the wind whipped their hair around. After a few attempts, they finally managed a decent shot.

“See? Not so bad,” Nanhee said, showing him the photo.

He smiled, looking at the image. “Yeah, it’s nice.”

They spent the rest of the day exploring. They visited Gamcheon Culture Village, wandering through the colorful alleys and snapping photos of the murals. At Jagalchi Market, they tried fresh seafood, laughing at Jungwon’s reaction to a particularly spicy dish.

By late afternoon, they found themselves at a quiet lookout point, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The sky turned shades of orange and pink, casting a warm glow over the city.

“It’s beautiful,” Nanhee whispered.

Jungwon glanced at her, his gaze soft. “Yeah. It is.”

She turned to him, catching the look in his eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The world seemed to hold its breath.

“Thank you for today,” she said softly.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he replied. “I’m glad we came.”

As the last light faded from the sky, they made their way back to the station, the memory of the day etched in their minds.

On the train ride home, Nanhee leaned her head against Jungwon’s shoulder, her eyes drifting shut. He rested his head against hers, feeling a sense of peace he hadn’t known in a long time.

Everything felt right.

And for the first time in a long while, they both believed that maybe, just maybe, things really would be fine.