Scene 1 – Convenience Store
The convenience store was almost empty.
Only a few customers sat quietly near the windows.
Jiho and Kiara entered.
Still carrying the weight of tonight's emotions.
Jiho immediately grabbed two cups of instant noodles.
Kiara followed behind.
Kiara:
"You always choose the same flavor."
Jiho:
"Because it's the best."
Kiara:
"It's not."
Jiho:
"It is."
Kiara:
"It's literally the cheapest one."
Jiho:
"Exactly."
Kiara laughed.
For the first time since dinner.
A real laugh.
Jiho smiled.
Mission accomplished.
A few minutes later—
They sat by the window.
Steam rising from their noodles.
The city lights glowing outside.
For a while—
Neither spoke.
Then Kiara quietly asked:
"Do you think I was too harsh?"
Jiho looked at her.
"No."
Kiara stared down at her noodles.
"I made my mother cry."
Jiho:
"She cried because she finally heard you."
Kiara:
"..."
Jiho:
"Sometimes people need to hear the truth."
Kiara:
"It still hurts."
Jiho nodded.
"I know."
He gently placed his hand over hers.
"But you didn't say anything wrong."
Kiara's eyes softened.
"How are you always saying the right thing?"
Jiho grinned.
"I'm an actor."
Kiara rolled her eyes.
"There it is."
Scene 2 – Late Night Walk
After eating—
They decided to walk.
The streets were quiet.
The cool night air felt refreshing.
Jiho walked beside her.
Their hands naturally found each other.
No hesitation.
No awkwardness.
Just comfort.
Kiara looked up at the sky.
"You know..."
Jiho:
"Hmm?"
Kiara:
"When I was younger..."
"I used to imagine having a normal family."
Jiho listened quietly.
Kiara:
"Movie nights."
"Family dinners."
"Parents picking me up from school."
"Simple things."
Her voice became softer.
"But after a while..."
"I stopped expecting them."
Jiho's heart tightened.
He squeezed her hand.
"You deserved better."
Kiara smiled sadly.
"Maybe."
Then she looked at him.
"But I think that's why meeting you was so important."
Jiho blinked.
"Me?"
She nodded.
"You made me feel less alone."
The words hit him harder than any confession.
Because he felt exactly the same.
Flashback
Young Jiho sitting alone at school.
Watching students leave with their families.
Then—
A girl appeared.
Holding two ice creams.
Kiara:
"You're sitting here again."
Jiho:
"So are you."
Kiara handed him one.
Kiara:
"Then let's be lonely together."
Young Jiho smiled.
For the first time that day.
Back to Present.
Jiho laughed softly.
"We were weird kids."
Kiara:
"We still are."
Scene 3 – A New Message
As they reached the car, Kiara's phone vibrated.
She checked the screen.
Secretary Ryu.
Kiara sighed.
Jiho immediately noticed.
Jiho:
"Work?"
Kiara:
"When is it not?"
She opened the message.
Ryu:
"The promotional event date has been finalized. Mr. Aura approved everything. We need confirmation from you and Jiho before announcing it publicly."
Jiho leaned closer.
"What date?"
Kiara showed him the screen.
Jiho:
"Three weeks from now?"
Kiara:
"That's sooner than I expected."
Jiho:
"Which means Mr. Aura is definitely planning something."
Kiara:
"That man always is."
Another message arrived.
Ryu:
"There will be interviews, media appearances, and a live stage event."
Jiho groaned dramatically.
"No."
Kiara laughed.
"Yes."
Jiho:
"I regret becoming famous."
Kiara:
"You say that every month."
Jiho:
"And every month I mean it."
Kiara smiled.
Then typed a reply.
"Approved."
Ryu instantly replied:
"Good. Also, please answer your phone tomorrow."
Kiara blinked.
Jiho laughed loudly.
Kiara:
"She's becoming scarier."
Jiho:
"She's learning from you."
Scene 4 – Jiho's Home
An hour later.
Kiara found herself standing in front of Jiho's apartment.
She looked up.
Then at him.
Kiara:
"First time."
Jiho suddenly looked nervous.
Kiara immediately noticed.
"You're nervous."
Jiho:
"No."
Kiara:
"You are."
Jiho:
"I'm not."
Kiara:
"You're lying."
Jiho:
"...maybe a little."
Kiara laughed.
Jiho unlocked the door.
"Welcome."
The apartment was warm.
Comfortable.
Surprisingly simple.
Family photos.
Movie posters.
Awards placed casually on shelves.
A guitar in the corner.
Kiara slowly looked around.
"It feels like you."
Jiho smiled.
"That's either a compliment or an insult."
"It's a compliment."
Scene 5 – Movie Night
A while later—
They sat together on the couch.
Watching an old movie.
Halfway through—
Jiho disappeared into another room.
Kiara:
"Where are you going?"
Jiho:
"One minute."
He returned carrying an old laptop.
A very old laptop.
Kiara immediately became suspicious.
"What is that?"
Jiho:
"Nothing."
"Jiho."
"Nothing."
"Lee Jiho."
"...Fine."
He opened a folder.
Kiara's eyes widened.
School videos.
Old recordings.
Class trips.
School festivals.
Sports days.
Kiara watched silently.
Then noticed something.
Every video somehow focused on her.
Not the event.
Not the class.
Her.
Kiara slowly turned.
Jiho avoided eye contact.
Kiara:
"...Jiho."
Jiho:
"What?"
Kiara:
"Why am I in every video?"
Jiho:
"Coincidence."
Kiara:
"That's a lie."
Jiho:
"Okay, maybe not coincidence."
Kiara burst into laughter.
Jiho covered his face.
"This is embarrassing."
Kiara:
"You were obsessed."
Jiho:
"I was not."
She pointed at the screen.
The camera zoomed directly onto younger Kiara eating snacks.
Jiho:
"...I can explain."
Kiara laughed even harder.
"No, you really can't."
Flashback
A younger Jiho holding a camera.
His friend whispered:
"Why are you recording Kiara again?"
Young Jiho:
"I'm recording the festival."
Friend:
"Then why is Kiara the only thing in frame?"
Young Jiho immediately lowered the camera.
Back to Present
Kiara was still laughing.
Jiho looked at her.
And suddenly...
Stopped feeling embarrassed.
Because seeing her smile like this—
Was worth everything.
The laughter slowly faded.
The room became quieter.
Comfortable.
Warm.
Jiho gently reached for her hand.
Kiara looked at him.
Neither spoke.
They simply sat together.
Watching old memories.
Remembering who they were.
And appreciating who they had become.
Eventually—
Kiara rested her head on his shoulder.
Jiho smiled.
Neither noticed when the movie ended.
Or when sleep finally found them.
For the first time in a long time—
Both felt at peace.
Scene 6 – The Next Morning
Early morning.
The apartment door suddenly opened.
Manager Hyun walked inside.
Holding coffee.
Half asleep.
Then—
He froze.
Jiho asleep on the couch.
Kiara asleep beside him.
Blanket covering both of them.
Manager Hyun slowly backed toward the door.
Hyun:
"Nope."
Too late.
Jiho opened one eye.
"...Hyung?"
Hyun pointed dramatically.
Jiho:
"It's not what it looks like."
Hyun:
"You are literally sleeping next to your girlfriend."
Jiho:
"...fair."
Kiara slowly woke up.
Confused.
Then saw Hyun.
Then remembered where she was.
Then immediately hid her face behind a cushion.
Hyun laughed.
"Good morning, lovebirds."
To Be Continued...