The next few days at the office passed in a blur. Isla kept herself busy, but no matter how much work she buried herself in, she couldn't shake the thoughts of her last conversation with Jin Woo. His words echoed in her mind, an unspoken promise that things had changed between them, though neither was ready to define it.
Her routine was familiar, almost mechanical, but something felt different. There was an underlying tension between her and Jin Woo that hadn't existed before. It wasn't hostile; if anything, it was the opposite—quiet, electric, and undeniable.
It was early on a Friday morning when everything shifted again.
Isla arrived at the office, her mind already occupied with the tasks for the day, when she spotted something unusual. A neatly folded note sat on her desk, the edges crisp, as though it had been placed there only moments ago. Her heart skipped a beat.
She glanced around the office, but it was still early, and only a few colleagues had arrived. There was no sign of Jin Woo, though her instincts told her he was behind the mysterious note.
With hesitant fingers, she opened the small envelope. The note inside was handwritten in neat, elegant script:
Meet me on the rooftop after the meeting. There's something you need to see.
—J.
A flood of emotions hit her all at once. Isla wasn't sure if she should be intrigued or worried. What was Jin Woo planning? And why the secrecy?
The day dragged on, each moment ticking by painfully slow as she wondered about the note. By the time their afternoon meeting rolled around, Isla could hardly concentrate. Jin Woo was sitting across from her in the boardroom, calm and focused as ever, as if he hadn't left her that cryptic message. His poker face was perfect, betraying no sign of the encounter to come.
Finally, the meeting ended, and Isla lingered behind, gathering her things slowly, hoping to avoid drawing attention. Jin Woo slipped out of the room without a word, and after a few moments, she followed.
Her heart pounded as she made her way to the rooftop. She wasn't sure what to expect—perhaps a confrontation, or maybe another one of his subtle mind games. But a part of her was eager to find out, curious to see what Jin Woo had in store.
As she opened the door to the rooftop, she was greeted by a gentle breeze. The air was crisp and cool, a welcome contrast to the tension she felt inside. Jin Woo stood near the edge, his back to her, hands resting casually in his pockets.
For a moment, Isla hesitated, watching him. He seemed lost in thought, his posture relaxed yet distant, as though he were carrying the weight of something much larger than either of them.
"What is this about, Jin Woo?" Isla finally asked, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest.
He turned slowly, a small smile playing on his lips, but there was something serious in his eyes. He gestured to the skyline beyond, where the city sprawled out beneath them, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun.
"I wanted to show you something," he said, his tone quiet, almost reflective.
Isla stepped closer, her eyes following his gaze. At first, she didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Just the city—tall buildings, busy streets, the endless hum of life. But then she noticed something peculiar.
Amid the sea of glass and steel, there was one building that stood out, its design unlike any of the others. It was an older structure, hidden between the more modern skyscrapers, its architecture intricate and almost forgotten.
"That building," Jin Woo said, nodding toward it. "It was designed by my father."
Isla's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected this—a glimpse into Jin Woo's life, his history.
"He was an architect," Jin Woo continued, his voice soft, as if he were sharing a piece of himself he rarely revealed. "But he never got the recognition he deserved. Most people don't even know that building exists. It's overshadowed by everything else around it."
Isla stared at the building, understanding dawning on her. Jin Woo wasn't just showing her the city—he was showing her something personal, something tied to his past.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Jin Woo sighed, turning to face her fully. "Because I realized something, Isla. We've been so focused on competing, on winning, that we've forgotten what's important. My father built that building not for recognition, but because it was his passion. He didn't care about the accolades or the success. He cared about creating something meaningful."
Isla's heart softened as she listened. This wasn't the confident, arrogant rival she had known. This was Jin Woo—real, vulnerable, and human.
"I don't want us to be like that," he said quietly. "I don't want to lose sight of what matters because of some competition. You and I—we're better than that."
For a moment, Isla was speechless. She had spent so long thinking of Jin Woo as her rival, the obstacle in her path to success. But now, standing here with him, she realized there was so much more to him than she had ever imagined.
"I didn't expect this from you," she admitted softly.
Jin Woo smiled, a genuine, almost shy smile. "Neither did I."
They stood there in silence for a while, watching the city below as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The tension between them had shifted again, but this time, it wasn't confusing or unsettling. It was peaceful, like they had finally found some common ground.
As the sky darkened and the first stars began to appear, Isla turned to Jin Woo, her heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks.
"I think," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "we might be better together than apart."
Jin Woo looked at her, his eyes softening as he nodded in agreement. "I think you're right."
For the first time, Isla felt a sense of calm when it came to Jin Woo. There were still so many questions, so much left unsaid between them. But in that moment, it didn't matter. They had time to figure it out.
One step at a time.
And maybe, just maybe, they weren't enemies anymore.