A Billionaire For Hanni

Chapter 51

The store was enveloped in a warm light that filtered through the windows, making the colorful textures of the hanging clothes shine and the soft fabrics that caressed the air. Hanni still felt the adrenaline running through her veins, but her heart was lighter, as if she was finally regaining her balance. Minji had given her the feeling of being able to breathe again, of being herself, without constraints, without fears.

They were sitting together on a brand new couch in a secluded corner of the store, away from the shops and casual customers who came in. The tones were low, the words slipped between them with the delicacy of a melody, yet, inside Hanni, something was changing. The decision she had made about Soobin no longer seemed to weigh so much, now that Minji was by her side. The sweetness of that moment, of that suspended moment, made her feel as if the rest of the world were nothing more than a distant shadow.

"Minji..." Hanni began, her voice more tender than usual. "I... would really like to see you again, tomorrow. My heart wants to be with you, and I think I won't be able to stop thinking about it."

Minji smiled, a smile that seemed more like a promise than a simple gesture. Her eyes became sweeter, but behind that sweetness there was a determination that Hanni knew well. "Tomorrow, huh?" Minji replied, her voice soft but confident. "I can organize something majestic. You just have to ask, Hanni. And when I say majestic, I mean something that will leave you breathless."

Hanni was silent for a moment, struck by Minji's security, yet also fascinated by her spontaneity. Minji never bothered to impress; she *was* already the impression. "Maestious?" She repeated, almost incredulous, but with a smile that betrayed sincere happiness. "Then I'll wait for her."

Minji squeezed her hand, but with a gesture so natural that it looked more like a wordless hug. Then, with a slight movement of her face, she approached her, brushing her cheek with a kiss that left her stunned. It wasn't a passionate kiss, but a caress on the face that transmitted a warmth that Hanni didn't know how to interpret. Hanni's skin warmed at the contact, and for an instant, the entire store seemed to fade around her.

"I have to go to work," Minji said, slowly breaking away, with a smile that hid a subtle melancholy, as if she didn't want to leave her. "But I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Hanni nodded, trying to collect his thoughts that still seemed scattered, confused, in the moment. "Ok..." she repeated, almost without realizing it. And before she left, Minji put her lips on Hanni's cheek. The feeling of that kiss remained on her, and the resulting warmth expanded in her thoughts like a slow but sure flame.

Just as Minji was heading towards the door, Hanni turned to the back of the store, where she had noticed Danielle and Haerin watching the scene. The two were not trying to hide, and Hanni immediately understood that they had seen everything. Danielle, who had a bright and amused look, burst into a light laugh.

"Look, look who's blushing!" she said, with a sly smile that she couldn't hold back. "You're a river in flood, Hanni. Was it really... a kiss on the cheek?"

Hanni, who felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment, turned to them, trying to hide her confusion with an uncertain smile. "It was nothing," she replied, but her voice betrayed her truth. "Just a kind gesture."

Danielle, who had eyes sparkling with complicity, approached her and lowered her voice slightly, as if to whisper a confidence: "You know, Hanni, Haerin and I got engaged recently. And you're the first to know."

Hanni was surprised for a moment, then the smile naturally bloomed on her lips. "Really?" She said, with a soft but happy tone. "I'm so happy for you two."

Haerin, who until that moment had maintained a more detached position, smiled with an indifferent smile, but her eyes betrayed a sweetness that could be felt in the air. She approached Danielle, hugged her gently and kissed her head, as if she wanted to protect that moment from the outside world.