The soft hum of the night filled Namra’s quiet bedroom. She lay on her bed, one arm resting over her forehead, staring at the ceiling. The day had been long, but she wasn’t tired. Her mind kept replaying moments from earlier—Sooheon’s warm smile, the way they had laughed together, how easy everything felt now.

Her phone vibrated beside her, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She turned her head and glanced at the screen. Onjo.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she reached for the phone. Without hesitation, she answered.

"You're still awake?" Namra asked, pressing the phone to her ear.

"I could say the same to you," Onjo replied, her voice light with amusement. "I figured I'd call since we haven't talked much lately."

Namra hummed in response, shifting onto her side. "Yeah, things have been… busy."

Onjo sighed dramatically. "Tell me about it. I swear, Cheongsan and Gyeongsu almost started a fight today over who was better at arcade basketball. It was ridiculous."

Namra let out a soft chuckle. "Sounds about right."

"Seriously, though," Onjo continued, "how have you been? You always keep things to yourself, so I have to check in."

Namra hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t always the best at opening up, but Onjo was one of the few people she trusted completely.

"I've been… good," she said, truthfully. "Better than before."

Onjo seemed to pick up on something in her tone. "Better, huh? That’s suspicious. What changed?"

Namra hesitated before saying, "I think I just… let go of some things. And let in some things, too."

Onjo was silent for a second before laughing softly. "That’s the most poetic answer I’ve ever heard from you."

Namra rolled her eyes but smiled. "Shut up."

"Fine, fine," Onjo teased. "I won’t push. But, you sound different, Namra. Happier."

Namra's fingers brushed against the soft fabric of her blanket. Happier. It was such a simple word, yet she hadn’t realized how much she had changed until now.

"I think I am," she admitted quietly.

Onjo sighed in satisfaction. "Good. You deserve that."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the only sound being the faint chirping of crickets outside.

Then, Onjo spoke again, her tone playful. "So, does this happiness have anything to do with a certain someone?"

Namra blinked. "What?"

"You know what I mean," Onjo teased. "You're letting things in, right?"

Namra rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling again. "Maybe," she admitted, a small smirk playing on her lips.

Onjo gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, is this a confession?!"

Namra shook her head. "Goodnight, Onjo."

"Oh, come on! At least give me a hint!"

Namra chuckled and hung up before Onjo could say anything else. She placed her phone down beside her, exhaling softly.

Maybe Onjo was right. Maybe she was happier.

And for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t afraid to admit it.

Onjo put her phone down, still grinning from her conversation with Namra. She stretched her arms and let out a content sigh. Namra sounded different today—lighter, at ease. It was a rare thing, and Onjo couldn’t help but feel happy for her.

Just as she was about to settle into bed, her phone vibrated again. This time, it wasn’t a call.

Cheongsan: Still awake?

Onjo smirked, shaking her head.

Onjo: Obviously. Why?

A second later, her phone buzzed again.

Cheongsan: Come outside.

She frowned at the message but got up anyway. Sliding open her window, she peeked out. And there he was—Cheongsan, standing near the small wall outside her house, hands in his pockets, looking as casual as ever.

Onjo rolled her eyes but grabbed a light jacket before sneaking out.

As soon as she stepped outside, she whispered, "You do realize it’s late, right?"

Cheongsan shrugged. "It’s not that late."

Onjo sighed, sitting on the low wall beside him. "So? What’s so important that you had to call me out here?"

He leaned back, gazing at the night sky. "Nothing much. I just felt like talking."

She glanced at him. "Since when do you just feel like talking?"

"Since always," he shot back with a smirk. "You just never noticed."

Onjo rolled her eyes. "Right. Sure."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the cool night air brushing against their skin. The street was quiet, the distant sounds of the city barely reaching them.

"So," Cheongsan finally said, "who were you talking to earlier?"

Onjo raised an eyebrow. "Eavesdropping, are we?"

He scoffed. "Please. Your voice carries."

She nudged him playfully before answering, "Namra."

Cheongsan hummed. "She doing okay?"

Onjo thought for a moment. "Yeah. Actually, she sounded… different today. Like, happier."

Cheongsan gave her a curious look. "Happier? That’s new."

"I know, right?" Onjo said with a small smile. "I think something’s changed for her."

Cheongsan tilted his head, considering this. "Obviously it has to do with Sooheon."

Onjo smirked. "You catch on quick."

Cheongsan scoffed. "I’m not blind. Yeah, it’s obvious."

Onjo chuckled. "It’s nice, though. Seeing her like this."

Cheongsan nodded in agreement, then glanced at her. "What about you?"

She blinked. "What about me?"

"Are you happy?" he asked, his voice quieter now.

Onjo hesitated for a second before smiling softly. "Yeah. I think I am."

Cheongsan watched her for a moment before grinning. "Good."

The night stretched on, and their conversation drifted to lighter topics—school, their friends, stupid inside jokes. Just two people, enjoying the quiet night together.

It had been a few years since that late-night conversation outside her house, and everything had changed—yet, somehow, nothing had changed at all. The bond they’d forged through endless talks, laughter, and shared moments still felt as fresh as the first day they met.

Tonight, like many nights before, they found themselves at the same spot—the small wall outside Onjo’s house. It had become their place, a quiet haven where they could escape the world and simply be. The same spot where they’d sat and talked for hours, and the same spot where Cheongsan had asked her, years ago, to be his.

Onjo sat beside him, her head resting on his shoulder, their fingers tangled together. It was a peaceful silence, the kind that only comes when two people have shared enough to not need words. The soft breeze moved through the air, carrying the scent of the earth, the trees, and the faint trace of the distant sea.

"So," Cheongsan began, breaking the silence with his usual casual tone, "I’ve been thinking."

Onjo raised an eyebrow, not needing to ask. "Uh-oh, when you start like that, I know something’s up."

He chuckled softly. "I was just thinking about how much has changed. About us."

She smiled, eyes closing as she savored the warmth of his hand in hers. "Has it really changed that much?"

"Yeah," Cheongsan said, his voice soft, his tone reflecting the depth of his thoughts. "We’ve been together for years now. And it feels like we’ve grown in ways I didn’t expect. We’re different, but we’re still the same. And honestly, it’s better than I ever imagined."

Onjo leaned back slightly, tilting her head to look at him. There was a certain softness in his gaze, a quiet affection that spoke volumes. "You’ve always been full of surprises, you know that?"

He grinned, though there was a hint of seriousness in his expression now. "You, more than anyone, know I never say anything I don’t mean."

Onjo chuckled softly, her thumb gently tracing the back of his hand. "I’m starting to realize that, yes."

"Yeah, well," Cheongsan continued, his gaze turning thoughtful, "I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m glad it’s you. All this time, I’ve been with you. I wouldn’t want to change a thing."

Her heart fluttered, but she kept her cool, smiling up at him. "You’re such a sap."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I mean it, Onjo. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me."

Onjo turned her body toward him slightly, still holding his hand. "I feel the same way."

For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Instead, they let the quiet wash over them, a comfortable, familiar stillness. It wasn’t that they needed to fill every moment with words—it was the unspoken understanding, the shared history, that made this silence feel like home.

Finally, Cheongsan broke it again, but this time with a lighter tone. "So, when are we telling the others?"

She groaned and rolled her eyes, but her lips curved upward. "Do we have to? Every time we even mention it, they all get way too excited."

Cheongsan smirked, clearly enjoying the thought of their friends' reactions. "Maybe we’ll just surprise them. Keep them guessing."

Onjo rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. "You’re impossible."

"Yeah, but you like me that way," he teased.

She nudged him playfully. "I do, actually."

With that, they lapsed back into a comfortable silence, the night continuing to unfold around them. As they sat together, their fingers entwined, their hearts in sync, they knew that whatever the future held, they’d face it side by side.