Kai's gaze locked with hers, steady and unflinching. "I'd kiss you on the cheek. You'd get flustered, smile, and then…" His voice dipped, soft enough to make her chest tighten. "…you'd kiss me back."
Her pulse thundered. What is he saying? Does he want me to—
But then Kai pouted, exaggerated and boyish, as if mocking his own seriousness. "Looks like it doesn't work on you anymore." He leaned away and stood, turning as though to leave.
Before her mind could stop her body, Hana's hand shot out, tugging him back. Her lips brushed his cheek in the faintest, quickest kiss. The world stilled around her heartbeat—loud, unsteady, wild.
Kai turned slowly, his expression softening, and a smile bloomed across his face. Not his usual smirk, not the teasing curve of lips she'd grown used to. This one was real—warm, unguarded, devastating. "I've been worried since yesterday," he murmured. "I thought the Hana I knew was gone. But she's still here—grown up, yes—but still her."
Her throat closed, words dying before they could form. Her heart was a storm, every hidden feeling rattling against the fragile walls she'd built. Don't fall for him, she begged herself. Not when he'll never love you back.
Kai's hand lifted, hesitant, then brushed her cheek with a tenderness that disarmed her completely. "We should probably choose a wedding dress now, before Mom freaks out."
The spell shattered. Hana jolted to her feet, clearing her throat as if that could mask the chaos inside her. "I… I need to use the bathroom. I'll be back."
She fled, her footsteps light but hurried, leaving behind the faint trace of her warmth.
Kai stood there for a long moment, staring after her. A puzzled smile tugged at his lips. "She's so cute."
Dropping back into his seat, he picked up the tablet and began scrolling through the endless sea of gowns. One particular dress made him pause—a backless wedding gown, elegant yet daring. His mind betrayed him instantly, sketching Hana in the gown: her hair falling like silk down her bare shoulders, her face radiant, her back revealed with quiet confidence.
Then, unbidden, his thoughts slipped further—to what he thought he glimpsed earlier. Just beneath her shoulder blade, pale skin inked with something faint and hidden.
His brows furrowed. Was that… a tattoo?