Mina's P.O.V.

It was one of those quiet evenings when the air seemed to promise something special. My cousins, Sana, Momo, and I had decided to cook dinner together. Tonight's menu was inspired by a shared craving for Thai dishes. After a week of indulging in Japanese cuisine, we wanted something different yet equally satisfying.

We planned to make Pad Thai, Hor Mok Ma Prow Awn, and Jim Jum—a dish reminiscent of Mala Tang, Sana's all-time favorite. The kitchen buzzed with activity as we prepared the ingredients, laughter mixing with the sounds of chopping and sizzling.

As we set about our culinary mission, Momo noticed we were missing key ingredients for the Pad Thai. "We don't have noodles or bean sprouts," she pointed out, her brows furrowing in frustration.

"I'll go to the supermarket," Momo volunteered. "I need to grab a few things for myself anyway."

Sana and I nodded in agreement, and Momo grabbed her bag, promising to be back soon.

While Momo was away, Sana and I continued working in the kitchen. I couldn't help but hum a tune as I chopped vegetables. Cooking always reminded me of home and the times I'd prepared meals with my parents.

Sana noticed my mood and teased, "Someone looks happy—or is it that you're in love?"

Startled, I nearly dropped the knife. "What?" I asked, trying to play dumb.

"Come on, Mina," she grinned mischievously. "Do you like Chaeyoung?"

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I kept my eyes on the cutting board. "I'm too busy to be in love," I mumbled. "I need to focus on my upcoming ballet recital."

Sana wasn't buying it. "Chaeyoung has that bad-boy charm every girl dreams of," she said matter-of-factly.

"Bad boy?" I scoffed, trying to suppress a laugh.

"Yes! And it's obvious he likes you," she added, her voice dripping with confidence.

"Enough, Sana," I said, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. But her words lingered, especially when she pointed out, "It's also obvious you like him too."

Her comment caught me so off guard that I accidentally nicked my finger with the knife.

"See what you did?" I groaned, rushing to rinse my hand.

Sana quickly handed me a tissue and bandaged my finger. "Fine, I'll stop... for now," she said, but the playful smirk on her face warned me she wasn't done.

Two hours passed, and there was still no sign of Momo. It was already past 7 PM, and she hadn't called or texted. I dialed her number, but it wouldn't connect.

"She's probably in an area with poor signal," Sana reassured me, though I could see the concern in her eyes.

Then, a loud noise outside caught our attention—the distinct rumble of a motorcycle. Moments later, the doorbell rang. I rushed to the intercom and saw Momo standing at the gate... with someone else.

Sana peered over my shoulder. "Is that—wait, who's that guy?" she exclaimed, her tone growing annoyed. "Momo has a boyfriend and didn't tell us?"

We hurried to the gate, a mix of curiosity and frustration bubbling inside us.

As we reached the gate, the figure removed their helmet, revealing none other than Chaeyoung.

"Chaeyoung?!" Sana and I said in unison, completely stunned.

I froze. My heart sank at the sight of him with Momo. A strange mix of disappointment and sadness washed over me. Did this mean Chaeyoung and Momo were... together?

Momo quickly explained what had happened. She'd been harassed by some men at the supermarket, and Chaeyoung had intervened, driving them away. I felt a wave of relief, followed by guilt for jumping to conclusions.

"I thought you two were secretly dating," I muttered under my breath, chastising myself for imagining such a scenario.

Chaeyoung smiled at me, his usual dimpled grin making my heart skip. I nodded in acknowledgment, trying to suppress the warmth spreading across my face.

As Chaeyoung prepared to leave, Momo stopped him. "You lost your groceries, right? At least eat something decent tonight," she said. "You saved me and even threw away your groceries. It's the least we can do."

He hesitated but eventually accepted. Sana gave me a sly grin. "Good luck," she whispered, nudging me playfully.

I followed Chaeyoung to the garage, where he parked his motorcycle. He looked rugged yet oddly vulnerable, and I found myself worrying. "Are you sure you're okay? You're not hurt, are you?" I asked, scanning him for any injuries.

"I'm fine," he assured me, his voice soft.

He explained how fighting had been a constant in his life since childhood. "At least now, I can use it to protect the people I care about," he said, his gaze steady.

There was something in his eyes—an unspoken depth that drew me in. It felt like, for a fleeting moment, I could see into his soul.

He smiled, breaking the spell, and my lips mirrored his almost instinctively.

The arrival of my parents interrupted our moment. I rushed to greet them, but Chaeyoung froze like a statue.

"Chaeyoung," my dad said warmly. "It's good to see you again. How are you?"

Chaeyoung quickly composed himself, bowing politely. My parents listened intently as Momo recounted her ordeal, expressing their gratitude to him for protecting her.

"Come inside," Dad insisted. "Join us for dinner."

Chaeyoung looked hesitant but eventually followed us inside. He seemed awestruck by our home, his eyes darting to the high ceilings and elegant decor.

Dinner was lively. Chaeyoung sat across from me, deep in conversation with my brother, Kai, about motorcycles. He shared how his bike was a gift from his parents before they passed away, a fact that softened everyone's hearts.

"This food is amazing," he said, smiling at me. "I haven't had a meal like this in ages."

I found myself secretly pleased, though I tried to hide it.

After dinner, Kai invited Chaeyoung to the garage to show him his own motorcycle. Meanwhile, Sana and Momo seized the opportunity to tease me relentlessly.

"Admit it, Mina," Sana said. "You like him."

"Leave me alone!" I protested, but they only laughed harder.

As Chaeyoung prepared to leave, Momo apologized for her past rudeness, and the two shook hands, officially becoming friends.

When he finally drove off, he paused at the corner, turning to wave at me. I waved back, my chest tightening with an inexplicable warmth.

As he disappeared into the night, I looked up at the sky, the stars twinkling above. For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to wonder if this strange, fluttering feeling in my chest was something more than admiration.

But before I could dwell on it, I heard laughter from the veranda—Sana and Momo, of course, still teasing me.

I sighed, realizing the night was far from over.

"Great," I muttered. "This is going to be a long night."