The following week was a whirlwind for Jina Han. Between her job at the boutique and the preparations for the upcoming Seoul Fashion Week, she barely had a moment to breathe. Yet, the memory of her dance with Hyunsoo lingered in her thoughts like a sweet melody that refused to fade. As she meticulously arranged fabrics in the store, her mind wandered back to the way he smiled, the warmth in his gaze, and the easy way they had conversed.
"Jina! Earth to Jina!" Minji's voice broke through her reverie, pulling her back into the bustling world around her.
Startled, Jina looked up to see her best friend leaning against the counter, arms crossed, a teasing grin on her face. "What are you daydreaming about? Is it that billionaire again?"
Jina rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile creeping onto her lips. "Maybe. It's just... I don't know, Minji. There's something about him that feels familiar."
Minji raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Familiar? Did you two talk about your childhood or something?"
"Not exactly," Jina replied, fidgeting with a roll of fabric. "But he mentioned his family, and it got me thinking."
"Thinking? Or overthinking?" Minji teased, walking closer. "Come on, spill it! What did he say?"
Jina hesitated. "He didn't say much. Just that family can be complicated." She paused, a frown forming on her brow. "It made me wonder about my own family."
Minji's expression softened, understanding flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean? You have a wonderful family."
"Do I?" Jina countered, her voice laced with uncertainty. "Sometimes it feels like they're more focused on their expectations than on what I want."
Before Minji could respond, the boutique's door chimed, signaling a customer entering. Jina quickly shifted her focus, but her thoughts remained tangled with Hyunsoo and the unspoken connections they shared.
Later that evening, after closing up the boutique, Jina decided to visit her parents for dinner. The thought of her family's expectations loomed over her like a dark cloud. Despite their love, there were moments when their concerns about her future felt overwhelming.
As she arrived at her family's apartment, the familiar scent of her mother's cooking wafted through the air, pulling her in. "Jina! You're here!" her mother exclaimed, rushing to greet her with a warm embrace.
"Hi, Mom," Jina replied, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.
"Dinner will be ready soon. Your father is just finishing up," her mother said, leading her to the cozy dining room. The walls were adorned with family photos, snapshots of memories captured in time, each one a reminder of her childhood.
"Have you seen Minji lately?" her mother asked as they set the table.
"Yeah, we're busy with work," Jina replied, forcing a smile.
As they settled down for dinner, Jina's father, a stern yet loving man, raised his glass. "To family," he said, his voice steady. "Always remember where you come from."
Jina felt a lump form in her throat. "Of course, Dad."
The conversation flowed around the dinner table, but Jina found herself zoning out, her thoughts drifting to Hyunsoo. She wondered if he felt the same pressure she did from his family. Did he have expectations placed on him that felt stifling?
"Jina, are you listening?" her father's voice snapped her back to the present.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about work," she said, her cheeks warming.
Her mother exchanged a knowing glance with her father before continuing, "You know, Jina, we've been talking about your future. Have you thought any more about finding someone special?"
Jina's heart sank.
"Maybe a nice doctor or lawyer," her father interjected. "Someone with a stable career."
"Dad, I just want to focus on my designs right now," Jina replied, her voice firm. "I'm not ready to settle down."
Her father's brow furrowed. "We just want what's best for you."
"I know," Jina sighed, pushing her food around her plate. "But what if what's best for me isn't what you want?"
The silence that followed felt heavy, the air thick with unspoken words. Jina's mother reached out, placing a gentle hand on hers. "We're proud of you, Jina. We just worry. Your cousin Jinwoo is getting married; it's only natural to think about your future."
Jina took a deep breath, trying to hold back the frustration that bubbled within her. "I appreciate that, but I need to figure things out on my own."
"Sometimes I think you don't understand how important family connections can be," her father said, his tone softer now. "You never know when they might help you."
Just then, the doorbell rang, breaking the tension in the room. Jina's mother looked at her in surprise. "Who could that be?"
"I'll get it," Jina offered, eager to escape the weight of the conversation.
As she opened the door, she was taken aback to find Hyunsoo standing there, his handsome features illuminated by the porch light.
"Hyunsoo? What are you doing here?" Jina stammered, surprised and flustered.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," he said, his tone light, though she could see a hint of nervousness in his eyes. "I wanted to talk to you about the designs we discussed. Is it a bad time?"
Her heart raced. "Uh, no! Come in!" She stepped aside, allowing him to enter. "This is... unexpected."
Hyunsoo walked in, and Jina felt the tension from dinner recede slightly. "I didn't mean to surprise you. I just thought we could go over a few ideas together."
Her family, still seated at the dinner table, looked on with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Hello, I'm Jina's mother," her mother said warmly, breaking the ice. "And this is her father."
"Nice to meet you both," Hyunsoo replied, offering a polite bow.
Jina's father nodded, though his expression remained skeptical. "Are you in town for business?"
"Something like that," Hyunsoo said, his gaze drifting to Jina. "I wanted to discuss some potential collaborations for the upcoming fashion show."
"Fashion show?" her mother asked, intrigued.
Jina felt a surge of pride as she caught Hyunsoo's eye. "Yes, I've been working on a collection, and Hyunsoo's been really supportive."
"Supportive?" her father echoed, his brow raised. "And what exactly is your role in this venture?"
Hyunsoo stepped forward confidently. "I'm helping Jina with her designs. I see great potential in her work."
Jina's heart swelled with gratitude. "Hyunsoo has been a huge inspiration."
"Is that so?" her father asked, his tone shifting as he assessed Hyunsoo. "Well, it's important to have the right people around you in this industry."
As they continued to talk, Jina felt the familiar pressure from her family ease slightly, replaced by a sense of camaraderie with Hyunsoo. With every shared smile and exchange, she felt a burgeoning connection between them, one that seemed to intertwine their fates more deeply.
After a few minutes, Jina excused herself and led Hyunsoo to the living room, the chatter of her parents fading into the background. "I didn't expect you to come by," she admitted, her heart racing.
"I know this might seem sudden," he replied, a hint of earnestness in his voice. "But I wanted to show you that I believe in you. Your designs deserve to be seen, and I want to help you get there."
Jina felt a warmth spread through her chest. "Thank you, Hyunsoo. That means a lot to me."
As they began discussing ideas and sketches, Jina felt a shift within her. For the first time in a long while, she sensed that her aspirations were not just a burden to her family but a possibility. And with Hyunsoo by her side, she felt braver, ready to confront the tangled web of family expectations, hidden secrets, and her own dreams.
Jina and Hyunsoo continued to talk in the living room, surrounded by her sketches and fabric swatches. Her parents' occasional glances from the dining room hinted at curiosity but not the usual pressure, as if they too felt the shift in the air. For the first time, she found herself openly discussing her ideas and dreams, feeling more at ease with someone who truly listened.
As their conversation faded into quiet laughter and shared ideas, the evening slipped by unnoticed.
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