A Day of Firsts

The next day, Lily skipped her usual study routine to take Jin shopping for new clothes. They headed to a small, cozy mall — nothing too fancy, but it had everything they needed. The mall’s bright interior immediately captured Jin’s attention. He looked around with wide-eyed wonder, taking in every detail like a child seeing the world for the first time. His curiosity extended to the people around them, and the way he kept glancing at strangers made Lily chuckle.

After an hour of wandering and browsing, they finally finished shopping. Jin changed into his new clothes — a much-needed change after wearing the same outfit since yesterday — and the transformation suited him perfectly. He looked… good. Too good. Lily found herself looking away more than once just to stop her face from heating up.

With their errands done, they grabbed lunch together, sharing easy conversation and laughter. Later, they headed to the park to enjoy some fresh air. The afternoon sun hung high, but the park had a soft, cool breeze drifting through the trees. They found a quiet bench and sat down, letting the calmness of the place settle around them.

Jin’s face lit up as he took in the surroundings. “Wow. This garden is so beautiful! Do you come here every day?”

“Ah… yeah. Most of the time,” Lily replied, watching his excitement with a fond smile.

“I’d like to visit here every time,” he said, his voice filled with wonder.

She laughed softly. “You like it that much? Okay then — we’ll come here every day.”

They sat there for a while, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. But soon, it was time for Lily to head to work. She dropped Jin off at her apartment, giving him a quick goodbye before rushing out.

Even at work, her thoughts kept drifting back to him. His face, his smile — the way his presence made her feel. There was no denying it anymore. He had an effect on her. A big one. And no matter how hard she tried to focus, he lingered in her mind, making her blush more than once.

When evening finally rolled around, she hurried home — and the sight that greeted her made her heart flutter. Jin stood there, waiting for her, and for the first time in a long while, her apartment felt like home. Because someone was waiting for her.

They shared dinner together, falling into an easy rhythm she hadn’t realized she’d missed. Later, as they prepared for bed, Jin slipped comfortably under a warm blanket and drifted off almost immediately.

But Lily lay awake, her mind buzzing. Tomorrow loomed over her like a question she couldn’t quite answer. Jin was a stranger in her world — alone and unfamiliar with everything around him. And with her busy schedule, she couldn’t help but worry. How was she supposed to balance everything while keeping him close, keeping him safe?

The questions circled in her mind until exhaustion finally pulled her under.