"Camera..." he repeated, his voice laced with a hint of longing, his eyes fixed on the device as it disappeared into Hana's grasp. But she was beyond reason, her frustration boiling over like a tempest.

"Idiot!" She muttered. With a swift turn, she spun around, her dark hair whipping around her face like a vortex. She strode away, the camera clutched tightly in her hand, leaving Seokmin standing alone, his eyes fixed on the spot where she had vanished.

As Hana and her brother stormed off, Mingyu swiftly intercepted them, Pluto tucked securely in his arms. "Excuse me!" he called out, his voice firm but polite. Her brother, on noticing the dog, tried to pet the dog, but Mingyu slapped his hand away.

Hana spun around, her eyes flashing with annoyance, while her brother eyed Mingyu warily. "Why did you scold my friend?" Mingyu asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Hana snorted, a dismissive sound that spoke volumes about her disdain. "Be glad I didn't kill him," she spat, her glare slicing through the air like a razor-sharp blade.

"Isn't he ashamed to follow girls around and take their picture without permission?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in indignation. The accusation hung in the air, a challenge that dared Mingyu to defend his best friend.

"Hana, police complaint!" Her brother said, determination on his face.

Mingyu's voice dripped with sarcasm as he scoffed, "Oh, police?" He raised an eyebrow, his expression incredulous.

"He's a passionate, aspiring photographer, not some creep. Do you know Jung Haein, the famous photographer in Seoul?" Mingyu asked, his tone defensive.

"Seokmin's building a portfolio to work under him. He's got talent, and he's got a dream." Mingyu's eyes locked onto Hana's, his gaze persuasive. "Look at those pictures. You won't find a single vulgar photo. He's an artist, not a stalker."

Hana's skepticism slowly gave way to curiosity as she began to browse through the photos on the camera.

Her eyes widened as she took in the breathtaking shots of nature, the poignant captures of daily life, and the extraordinary moments that Seokmin had frozen in time.

And then, she stumbled upon the photos of herself. Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed at the images, mesmerized by the way Seokmin had captured her essence.

For the first time, she saw herself through his eyes, and the experience was both exhilarating and humbling.

Guilt began to creep in, replacing her earlier anger. She felt a pang of regret for scolding Seokmin, for misunderstanding his intentions. Mingyu's voice cut through her thoughts, his words a gentle reminder.

"He was after you only for his job, not because he's in love with you," Mingyu said, his tone softening. Hana's eyes met Mingyu's, and she saw a glimmer of kindness there, a sense of understanding.

Just then, Haneul's hand reached out to pet Pluto, and Mingyu swiftly slapped it away. "Hey, Pomeranian!" he exclaimed, his voice playful.

The tension was broken, and Hana couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of it all.

She walked back to Seokmin, her steps measured, her eyes locked onto his. "Hi, Seokmin, i'm Choi Hana. she said, her voice softer now, tinged with a hint of apology. "I'm sorry, i was not aware of this.."

She held out the camera, and Seokmin's eyes widened in surprise as he took it from her. His gaze met hers, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"I'm new to this town," she continued, her words spilling out in a gentle cascade. "And we're not even friends... what would anyone else think if you follow them around and take their pictures?" Her eyes searched his, seeking understanding, seeking validation for her actions.

She paused, her lips parting to say "I'm sorry", but Seokmin's words cut her off, leaving her breathless.

"I love you." he said, his voice filled with conviction, his smile radiant. The words hung in the air, suspended like a promise. Hana's eyes went wide, her face frozen in shock.

She couldn't speak, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could do was stare at Seokmin, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. The world around her melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a moment of pure, unadulterated vulnerability.

Mingyu's eyes went wide with alarm as he grabbed Seokmin's shoulder, pulling him in close. "Seokmin, what are you doing?!" he whispered urgently, his grip tightening.

"Don't insult! Say sorry!" But Seokmin just smiled, his voice loud enough for Hana to hear. "It's love at first sight, Gyu."

Mingyu's expression transformed from alarm to incredulity as he stared at Seokmin. He turned to Hana, his face flushing with embarrassment.

"I-I'm really sorry," he stuttered, his words tumbling out in a hurried apology. "I just found out his true colors. You can file a complaint against him, if you want." With that, Mingyu beat a hasty retreat.

Seokmin's gaze locked onto Hana's, his eyes sparkling with sincerity. "My photography mentor used to say something," he began, his voice filled with conviction.

"'Every photo we capture must tell a story.' I didn't understand its meaning until I met you." His words hung in the air, suspended like a promise. Hana's eyes searched his, seeking the truth behind his words.

Seokmin's eyes blazed with excitement as he spoke, his words spilling out in a joyful cascade. "When I clicked your picture, I found a story. My story. Our story! How I met you? How I fell in love with you? How did we end up getting married? The story I'm going to tell our kids and their kids." His voice was filled with conviction, his smile radiant. But Hana's expression was incredulous, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She snatched the camera back, her movements swift and decisive. "This is insane," she muttered, shaking her head. With a flick of her hair, she turned and walked away, her brother following closely behind.

Seokmin remained frozen, his eyes locked onto Hana's retreating figure. He seemed lost in a daze, his mind still reeling from the confession he had just made.

The world around him melted away, leaving only the faint ache of rejection and the huge glimmer of hope.

"I didnt know what i did was right or wrong. I just thought the first interaction with her must begin with the truth.." Seokmin said and chuckled at himself.

"Camera, Dude!!!" Mingyu ran to him and exclaimed after he saw Hana walking away. "It's with my wife." He said, still in a daze.

"To hell with you!!" Mingyu exclaimed and tried to go after Hana.

Days had passed since the encounter, and Seokmin's enthusiasm had yet to wane. As he and Mingyu lingered at the back of the studio, their boss's voice droned.

Seokmin's mind, however, was elsewhere. "What to do now? I just can't find her anywhere," he muttered, his eyes fixed on the ground, his brow furrowed in concern.

Mingyu shot him a sidelong glance, his expression a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "You're still hung up on her, aren't you?" he whispered, shaking his head.

But before Mingyu could continue, his eyes drifted toward the entrance, and his gaze locked onto a familiar figure. "Wait, did you search for her in our studio?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seokmin's head jerked up, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Hana, who was walking toward their boss with a confident stride.

A bright smile spread across Seokmin's face, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.

"You're laughing?" Mingyu scoffed, his voice laced with incredulity. "Wow, you're really something."

As they watched, Hana exchanged pleasantries with their boss, her voice warm and friendly. "Hi, uncle," she said, her smile radiant. "Hi Hana, what brings you here?" their boss replied, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Seokmin tuned out the rest of the conversation, his attention focused solely on Hana. Mingyu, on the other hand, was shaking with anxiety, his eyes darting back and forth between Seokmin and Hana.

Their boss's voice cut through the air, his eyes locking onto Seokmin with a nod. "Seokmin!" he called, his tone firm but friendly.

Seokmin's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly composed himself, his feet carrying him toward their boss with a sense of purpose.

As he approached, his boss's expression turned expectant. "Seokmin, Hana needs some printouts. Could you please help her?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Seokmin's heart skipped a beat as he met Hana's gaze, a spark of excitement igniting within him.

"Sure, sir," he replied, his voice smooth and confident. He turned to Hana, his eyes locking onto hers with a warm smile.

"Please, follow me," he said, his gesture inviting her to walk alongside him. As they walked, the air seemed to vibrate with tension, the silence between them thick with unspoken possibilities.

As they stepped into the cozy cabin, Hana set her bag down on the table, her eyes never leaving Seokmin's face. He busied himself arranging the printouts, his hands moving with a quiet efficiency.

"I'm sorry... I didn't know our boss was your uncle," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of apology.

Hana's gaze narrowed, her eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement. "Would you have spoken that way, if you knew?" she asked, her voice low and husky. Seokmin's eyes met hers, and he slowly shook his head.

Hana's eyebrows arched, her expression skeptical. "You're lying, right?" she pressed, her tone laced with a hint of challenge.

Seokmin nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. Hana's eyes squinted, her gaze piercing as she pulled out his camera from her bag. "Print these out," she said, extending the camera towards him.

Seokmin's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly composed himself, taking the camera from her.

As he worked on printing out the photos, Hana's voice cut through the silence, her words laced with a hint of pain and vulnerability.

"I don't believe in love at first sight, like you," she said, her tone measured. "In fact, I don't believe in love, marriage, or even kids." The words hung in the air, a palpable sense of hurt and disillusionment emanating from her.

Seokmin's eyes met hers, his expression cautious, empathetic. "May I know why?" he asked, his voice soft, gentle, as if afraid to disturb the fragile emotions that simmered beneath her surface.

Hana's gaze drifted away, her eyes losing focus as she slipped into a world of deep thoughts, Seokmin's question echoing in her mind like a haunting melody.

Her mind began to wander, pulled back to a painful memory that still lingered, a raw wound that refused to heal.

The sound of her father's thunderous voice echoed in her mind, making her flinch. "Why the hell are you involving the kids?!" he had bellowed, his anger and frustration palpable.

Her mother's response had been laced with defiance, her voice rising to meet her father's. "They have every right to know!" Kim Heejin had exclaimed, the words hanging in the air like a challenge.

Hana's brother, Haneul, had lain his head on her lap, his body trembling with fear. She had tried to shield him, covering his ears and stroking his hair, but her own heart had been racing with anxiety.

Tears had pricked at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over, but she had bitten them back, refusing to let them fall.

Haneul's grip on her dress had tightened, his hands clutching at her as if she was his only lifeline. The sound of her mother's footsteps had made Hana flinch, her heart skipping a beat as Heejin burst into the room.

"Hana, pack your luggage!" She had ordered, her voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation.

"You and your brother are going to Yongin to stay with your uncle." The words had hung in the air, a stark reminder of the chaos that had engulfed their lives.

As Hana's mind relived the painful memory, her eyes slowly refocused on Seokmin, her expression a mask of quiet contemplation.

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