After their intense conversation, a new, fragile truce formed between Isla and Jin Woo. They didn't speak about it openly, but the tension that had once defined their every interaction now seemed to melt into something else—something that neither of them could name just yet. Their rivalry was no longer a wall between them, but a bridge they had quietly started to build.
The week flew by in a blur of meetings, design revisions, and project updates. They worked together more fluidly than ever before, exchanging ideas and feedback with a newfound respect for each other's expertise. But beneath the surface, Isla couldn't ignore the growing awareness of Jin Woo whenever they were alone.
One evening, after another long day at the office, Isla stayed behind to put the final touches on their client presentation. The office was quiet, with most of the staff gone for the night. The only sound was the occasional hum of the air conditioning and the faint tap of her fingers on the keyboard.
She didn't notice Jin Woo until he was standing right next to her, looking down at her screen. Startled, she glanced up, her heart skipping a beat at how close he was.
"You're still here?" he asked softly, a small smile playing at his lips.
Isla nodded, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in her stomach. "Just finishing up. I want everything to be perfect for tomorrow."
"You always go above and beyond," Jin Woo said, leaning slightly against the desk. His voice held a note of admiration. "You don't have to carry all the weight, you know."
Isla raised an eyebrow. "Says the man who practically lives here."
Jin Woo chuckled, a sound that was surprisingly warm. "Touché."
For a moment, the air between them felt lighter, more comfortable. Isla realized with a jolt that they were actually enjoying each other's company. It was so different from the guarded, tense exchanges they'd had before.
"You've done a great job with this," Jin Woo said, his gaze lingering on her work. "The client's going to love it."
Isla felt a flush of pride, but also an odd sense of vulnerability. She wasn't used to receiving praise from Jin Woo—not like this.
"Thanks," she replied, her voice soft.
They fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of the day's work pressing down on both of them. Isla leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms over her head. Her mind was still racing with the details of the project, but there was also something else—something that had been lingering since their conversation the week before.
Jin Woo seemed to sense it too. He glanced down at her, his expression more serious now.
"About what we talked about last week..." he began, his voice trailing off slightly as if unsure how to continue.
Isla stiffened, her mind immediately flashing back to that vulnerable moment in the hallway. She had been the one to suggest they give this—whatever it was—a chance. But she still wasn't sure how to proceed. Every time they were alone, there was a tension that wasn't about work or competition anymore. It was something deeper, something that scared her as much as it intrigued her.
"You don't have to explain," she said quickly, not wanting to revisit that conversation right now. She wasn't ready to dive back into those murky emotional waters, not when things were finally going smoothly between them.
But Jin Woo shook his head, his gaze intent. "I do, though. I don't want to leave things unsaid."
Isla swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. "What do you mean?"
He hesitated for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "I just want you to know that I meant what I said. I don't want this rivalry to define us anymore. And... I think there's more here, between us, than just work."
Isla's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the weight of his words, the sincerity in his voice. This was uncharted territory for both of them, and it terrified her.
"I don't know what to do with that," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jin Woo smiled gently, a softness in his expression that Isla had never seen before. "You don't have to know. We can take it one step at a time."
For a moment, Isla didn't say anything. She didn't know how to respond to the openness in Jin Woo's eyes, to the way he was looking at her—as if she was more than just his rival, more than just a colleague. It was as if he saw her in a way no one else had before.
"One step at a time," she repeated, her voice steadier now. Maybe that was exactly what she needed to hear.
Jin Woo nodded, his gaze lingering on hers for a moment longer before he straightened up. "I should let you finish your work. But if you ever need help, you know where to find me."
Isla watched him walk away, her mind spinning. This wasn't what she had expected when they started working together on the project. But now, she couldn't deny that something had shifted between them—and she wasn't sure how to feel about it.
As she turned back to her laptop, her thoughts were no longer on the client presentation or the upcoming deadline. Instead, they were filled with the quiet moments she'd shared with Jin Woo, and the realization that maybe, just maybe, their relationship was changing in ways neither of them could predict.
And as much as that scared her, it also made her heart race with something she hadn't felt in a long time—hope.