The evening breeze carried the scent of rain as Queen sat on the balcony of her apartment, staring out at the city lights. Despite the success of the meeting, her thoughts were tangled in the unresolved mess of emotions that Jihoon had stirred up. There was something about him—his confidence, his presence, and the subtle kindness he tried to mask with sarcasm.
Mey walked out onto the balcony with two mugs of hot chocolate. "Here, you look like you need this," she said, handing one to Queen.
Queen took the mug with a grateful smile. "Thanks. I've just been thinking."
Mey smirked, sitting beside her. "Let me guess—about a certain tall, brooding editor?"
Queen groaned, covering her face. "Why does everyone keep bringing him up?"
"Because it's obvious," Mey teased. "He's different, isn't he? And I don't just mean his annoying habit of pointing out your flaws."
Queen sighed, leaning back in her chair. "He's… complicated. And I feel like there's more to him than what he lets on."
Meanwhile, at Jihoon's Apartment
Jihoon sat in his dimly lit living room, scrolling through an old photo album on his tablet. The pictures were from years ago, showing a younger version of himself with a group of friends. Among them was a woman with a bright smile, her arm draped casually over Jihoon's shoulder.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He closed the album and set the tablet aside before getting up.
When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Fika standing there.
"Fika? What's wrong?" Jihoon asked, stepping aside to let her in.
Fika hesitated before speaking. "I wanted to talk to you about Queen. She's been… distracted lately."
Jihoon frowned, crossing his arms. "Distracted how?"
"She won't admit it, but I think she's overwhelmed. The deadlines, the constant pressure… It's not easy for her," Fika explained.
Jihoon nodded slowly. "I've noticed. But she's stronger than she thinks."
"Maybe," Fika said, "but even strong people need support sometimes."
Jihoon was silent for a moment, considering her words.
"I'll keep an eye on her," he finally said. "Thanks for letting me know."
The Next Morning
Queen was in the middle of revising her latest draft when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Jihoon.
Jihoon: Be ready at 3 p.m. I'm taking you somewhere.
Queen frowned, replying quickly.
Queen: Where? I have work to do.
Jihoon: It's not optional. Be ready.
At the Old Bookstore
Jihoon parked the car outside a quaint, slightly worn bookstore on the edge of the city. Queen looked at him, puzzled.
"What are we doing here?" she asked as she got out of the car.
"You'll see," Jihoon said, leading the way inside.
The scent of aged paper and leather filled the air as Queen stepped inside. Rows of books stretched from floor to ceiling, creating a maze of literature.
Jihoon walked to a corner of the store where a small table was set up with tea and cookies. An elderly man behind the counter greeted them warmly.
"Jihoon, it's been a while," the man said, shaking Jihoon's hand.
"It has. Thanks for letting us visit on short notice," Jihoon replied.
Queen raised an eyebrow. "You know him?"
"This is Mr. Han. He's the owner. I used to come here when I needed a break from… everything," Jihoon explained.
Mr. Han chuckled. "He practically lived here at one point. Always buried in books, escaping from the world."
Jihoon shot him a look, and Mr. Han smiled knowingly.
"Why did you bring me here?" Queen asked, curious.
Jihoon gestured to the shelves. "Because sometimes, you need to step back and reset. You're always pushing yourself, but you can't keep going like that without burning out."
Queen stared at him, taken aback by his words.
"Go on," Jihoon urged. "Find something that speaks to you."
As They Browsed
Queen wandered through the shelves, running her fingers over the spines of books. She found an old collection of poems and flipped through the pages, the words resonating with her.
Jihoon, meanwhile, watched her from a distance. He couldn't explain why he cared so much about her well-being, but there was something about Queen that reminded him of his younger self—ambitious, driven, but carrying an invisible weight.
"Found something?" Jihoon asked as Queen approached him with the book.
"Yeah," she said, holding it up. "This one feels… right."
Jihoon smiled faintly. "Good choice."
Later That Night
Back at her apartment, Queen sat on her bed, flipping through the book Jihoon had insisted she buy. She felt a strange sense of calm, as though a piece of the puzzle had finally fallen into place.
For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to relax, her mind drifting to the man who had somehow managed to see through her walls.
In his apartment, Jihoon stared at his tablet again, this time stopping on a specific photo—the woman with the bright smile.
"One day," he murmured, "I'll let go of the past. But not yet."