"Prints?" she asked, her voice a gentle prompt, as if to bring Seokmin back to reality. He nodded, his eyes still fixed on hers, and handed her the prints. She took them, her fingers brushing against his, and began to examine the photos with a quiet intensity.

As she studied the prints, her voice dropped to a conversational tone, as if she were sharing a secret. "My parents are getting divorced," she said, the words spilling out with a nonchalance that belied the pain beneath.

Seokmin's eyes widened, his gaze locked onto hers, as if he couldn't believe she was comfortable enough to share this with him.

She continued, her voice steady, but with a hint of vulnerability. "Probably because they thought we had enough love, or we've grown up." The words hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the fragility of relationships.

Her voice cracked slightly at the end, but she remained steady, refusing to let her emotions get the better of her.

A faint smile played on her lips, a wry acknowledgment of the irony. "They were together for us all these years, and now they're parting ways for themselves."

The chuckle that followed was a low, husky sound, a mixture of sadness and self-deprecation.

Her eyes met Seokmin's, a direct, unflinching gaze that seemed to dare him to look away. "This is the story behind me," she said, her voice firm, but with a hint of vulnerability.

"Not as beautiful as you assumed." The words hung in the air, a challenge, a warning, and a revelation all rolled into one.

Her gaze drifted back to the printouts, and a soft smile spread across her face, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil that had simmered beneath her surface just moments before.

"These are wonderful pictures!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with genuine admiration. She handed the printouts back to Seokmin, her smile radiant, and her voice infused with a warmth that caught him off guard.

"If you think they can help you with your career, then... go ahead," she said, her words generous, and her tone sincere. "All the best!" she wished, her smile lingering as she turned to leave the cabin and the studio.

Seokmin followed her out, his eyes fixed on her retreating figure, but she moved quickly, her strides long and purposeful.

As she approached the exit, Seokmin called out, his voice carrying across the space between them. "You're offering them to me to use," he yelled, his words tinged with a hint of wonder.

"But we're not even friends, right? You don't mind?" he asked, his voice trailing off as he watched her pause, her hand on the door handle.

A hint of a smile played on his lips, his eyes locked onto her, searching for answers, seeking to understand the complexities of this enigmatic woman who had captivated him with her beauty, her vulnerability, and her generosity.

"I'll be here for two weeks," she said, her voice carrying across the space between them, without turning back.

But she abruptly stopped, her hand still grasping the door handle, as if something had caught her attention. Slowly, she turned around, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"If you can press pause on your love story," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement, "we could be friends." She shrugged, her shoulders barely rising off her frame, as if the suggestion was no big deal, but her smile betrayed a hint of warmth, of possibility.

Seokmin's excitement was palpable, his eyes shining with a barely contained enthusiasm. He squealed, the sound loud enough for Hana to hear, and his hands clutched the picture tightly, as if it was a lifeline.

But he quickly composed himself, his face smoothing out into a neutral expression, as if trying to play it cool.

Hana, however, had already caught the glimpse of his unguarded excitement, and she felt herself smiling at him, a soft, gentle smile that spoke volumes about the connection that was slowly forming between them.

"Were you just friends?" Areum asked, her eyes wide with curiosity, as she gazed up at Seokmin with an innocent expression. He chuckled softly, a warm smile spreading across his face, before responding.

"Your mom asked me to pause the love story, not to end it," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"For the meantime, I was in love with her friendship," he added, his voice filled with a deep affection, as he reminisced about the memories they had shared.

As he spoke, Areum's eyes sparkled with delight, and Seokmin's thoughts drifted back to those idyllic days when he and Hana had started hanging out together.

They had spent their days strolling through the streets, meeting up at cozy cafes, and even having intimate picnics. With each passing day, Seokmin's feelings for Hana had grown stronger, while Hana had begun to feel the sparks of attraction.

"Your mom's attachment circle was small," Seokmin said, his voice filled with a sense of wonder. "Somehow, I managed to enter it," he added, a soft smile playing on his lips.

Areum's eyes grew wide with excitement, and Seokmin chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Poor Pluto, couldn't," he said, his voice filled with amusement, as he recalled Hana's aversion to dogs. Haneul, who like Pluto, even argued with her to keep him for few days with them.

"Yeah, your mom didn't like dogs at all," he said, his smile tinged with a hint of nostalgia.

The warm glow of the hotel's restaurant enveloped Hana, her brother, and their uncle and aunt as they sat at a cozy table by the window.

The aroma of delectable dishes wafted through the air, teasing their taste buds. "How is it?" her uncle asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

"Yeah, it's really tasty," Hana replied, taking a bite of her food. But her enjoyment was short-lived, as her eyes suddenly locked onto a familiar figure waiting outside the restaurant.

Seokmin stood by the window, a bag slung over his shoulder, his eyes fixed intently on her. Hana's throat constricted, and she choked on her food, her eyes widening in surprise.

Haneul's worried expression was immediate, and he reached out to pat her back. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Hana assured him she was fine, but her eyes darted back to Seokmin, her expression a mixture of annoyance and amusement. She discreetly gestured for him to leave, but Seokmin just smiled mischievously and shook his head.

He mouthed something, his lips moving silently, and Hana's eyes narrowed as she tried to decipher his message. Suddenly, it clicked – he was gesturing for her to meet him at the bar.

Hana's eyes flashed with irritation, but she couldn't help the tiny spark of excitement that ignited within her.

She silently excused herself, pushing her chair back, and made her way to the bar. She waited for him at the door and immediately pulled him in. Hana noticed the bar was empty as she shut the door.

As they stepped into the bar, Seokmin let out a low, throaty laugh, the sound sending a shiver down Hana's spine.

He slid onto a bar stool, his movements fluid and confident, and placed the bag on the counter with a soft thud. Hana's eyes narrowed, her brows furrowing in annoyance.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice low and urgent, her eyes darting around the bar as if she feared being overheard.

She felt a flutter of anxiety in her chest, worried that her uncle might discover Seokmin's presence.

But Seokmin just gestured at the bag, a mischievous glint in his eye, before pulling out a bottle of whiskey.

Hana's expression transformed in an instant, her eyes widening in excitement as she took in the sight of the bottle. "You brought it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Seokmin winked at her, his smile growing wider as he reveled in her excitement. He loved the way her eyes sparkled, the way her face lit up with joy, and he felt a surge of happiness at being the one to bring her such delight.

The air around them seemed to vibrate with tension, but it was no longer just annoyance or anxiety – it was anticipation, excitement, and the promise of something more.

Seokmin reached for two whiskey glasses on the counter, but Hana's gaze had already wandered to the guitar hanging on the wall.

Her eyes lit up with a passion that was impossible to ignore, and she quickly retrieved the instrument, her fingers instinctively finding the familiar curves of the guitar.

She sat on a stool and began to strum the strings, the melody flowing from her fingertips like a river.

As she started to sing, her voice poured into the room like honey, warm and golden. Seokmin's eyes snapped back to her, his gaze filling with admiration as he listened to her sing.

Her voice was like nothing he had ever heard before – it was as if the notes themselves were dancing on her tongue, leaving a trail of magic in their wake.

Seokmin felt himself getting lost in the beauty of her voice, his eyes drifting shut as he let the music wash over him.

He was transported to a different world, one where the only sound that mattered was the sweet, melodious tone of Hana's voice.

Time itself seemed to stand still, and all that existed was the music, the moment, and the girl with the golden voice.

As the last notes of the song faded away, Seokmin erupted into applause, his eyes shining with genuine admiration.

It was a moment that Hana had never experienced before - her mother had never acknowledged her talent, never shown her pride. But Seokmin's reaction was different, it was sincere, and it touched a deep chord within her.

He walked towards her, his movements fluid, and kneeled in front of her, his eyes locked onto hers.

"Imagine singing this on a stage with thousands of audience?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement, his eyes sparkling with joy and pride.

For a moment, Hana allowed herself to dream, to envision the thrill of performing in front of a sea of faces.

But reality soon set in, and she muttered, "There's no chance," her smile tinged with sadness. She placed the guitar down, her fingers reluctantly letting go of the instrument.

"I wrote this song during my childhood," she said, a faraway look in her eyes. "And my Mom doesn't like all these.."

Seokmin's face lit up with a bright smile, and he asked, his voice filled with enthusiasm, "Please sing for me once again?" He looked at her with puppy-dog eyes, his expression irresistible.

Hana held his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper, as she responded, "If I sing this again, I might fall in love." Her eyes locked onto Seokmin's, the air thick with tension.

Seokmin's smile faltered for a second, as if he was realizing the depth of her words, but before he could respond, Hana's face broke into a smile, and she said, "I meant the song!" She chuckled, the sound husky and inviting.

Seokmin's face relaxed, and he grinned, but before he could say anything, they heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

In an instant, Seokmin grabbed Hana's hand, his fingers intertwining with hers, and pulled her down to crouch behind the counter.

They hid there, their hearts pounding in unison, as the footsteps drew closer, the sound echoing through the silence like a ticking time bomb.

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