"Oh, we're at my apartment building."
Ahn Hae's voice rang out, clear and bright like a church bell, pulling Leo out of his daze. He looked up at the quiet apartment complex in front of him—it seemed a little run-down.
Ahn Hae felt embarrassed, letting an idol see her shabby living conditions. She quickly turned to him and said,
"Thank you for bringing me home. You've worked hard today. I had a wonderful time."
Leo knew their time together had to end here. Though he didn't want it to, he forced a smile and replied,
"Thank you for spending time with me today. I had a great experience."
"Me too. Meeting you this close felt like a dream."
Leo stepped forward and pulled Ahn Hae into a hug, leaving her eyes wide with shock. Even though this was just part of the show's scripted farewell, she couldn't stop her heart from pounding wildly in her chest.
His warmth surrounded her, overpowering the autumn chill. He gently patted her back, his deep voice murmuring in her ear,
"You've worked hard today."
It was just a line from the program, yet the tenderness in Leo's voice made the child inside Ahn Hae stir—an inner child that wanted nothing more than to hold onto him and sob. But she was rational enough to keep that part of herself locked away in the dark corners of her heart.
When they finally pulled apart, Ahn Hae still wore her usual bright smile. She bowed to Leo and the production crew once more.
"Thank you, Leo. Thank you, everyone. I was really happy today! You've all worked hard!"
"Yes, everyone has worked hard."
The crew quickly shut off their cameras, bid her farewell, and rushed to pack up their equipment. It was a perfect ending, yet Leo remained standing there, hesitating, making Ahn Hae uneasy. She wasn't sure if she should leave first, and the air between them grew awkward.
Seeing the way Leo looked as if he wanted to say something, Ahn Hae mentally replayed everything that had happened, wondering if she had missed something. Then she noticed his manager standing nearby, holding a coat.
"Oh, I almost forgot."
She removed the coat she had been wearing, carefully folded it, and handed it back to Leo.
"I wanted to wash it before returning it to you, but I guess I won't get the chance. Please take care of it for me."
"You don't have to return it at all," Leo chuckled bitterly. It wasn't like he had asked for it back. He just… didn't want to leave yet.
"Miss Ahn Hae, we need to discuss a few things with you."
At that moment, a staff member approached, likely to go over some details from the filming.
"Ah, I'll be right there!" Ahn Hae replied before turning back to Leo. "I'll go now. You should get some rest too. You've had a long day."
And what about you? Why do you only worry about others?
Leo watched helplessly as Ahn Hae ran toward the director. Under the dim glow of the streetlight, her small figure seemed to shrink into the pale circle of light. Though clearly exhausted, she nodded along to every word, maintaining that infuriatingly gentle smile.
Leo glanced down at the hands that had just held her. The warmth lingering on his skin was too faint, so faint that it made him crave more—an emotion he knew he shouldn't feel.
"Leo, let's go."
His manager approached, still holding the coat. He knew Leo hated wearing things that others had used, so he reached out to take it back.
But instead, Leo wrapped the coat around himself and strode toward his car.
His manager stood frozen, blinking in disbelief.
Did he just imagine that?
"What are you waiting for?" Leo's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
It's probably just because he's cold. Yeah, that's all.
Convincing himself with that reasoning, the manager pushed the odd moment aside and got back to work.
Leo sat in the back of his car, staring out at the city lights as they drove toward his apartment. So much had happened today—things he hadn't anticipated.
The show was supposed to follow the same formula as before: he'd surprise a fan, they'd scream excitedly, and they'd go on a cute little date. But Ahn Hae didn't scream—she had simply dropped to the ground, hiding, whispering to herself.
Even the date had gone differently. He had planned to take her to the Han River or a cozy late-night restaurant, with some sweet, slightly romantic moments thrown in. Instead, she brought him to a pho shop, drinking beer with him like two old friends exchanging stories.
Stories he had expected to be mundane turned out to be strangely captivating through her words. Especially when she talked about her hometown and Trinh's music—her eyes sparkled like a sky full of stars.
Before he realized it, he wanted to hear more, to listen to her share bits of herself. He had started out giving her the usual empty words of encouragement, but at some point, he found himself genuinely rooting for her, admiring the fierce will to live hidden behind her unshakable optimism.
But the most unexpected thing of all…
Was that he had asked for his coat back.
Leo hated it when people wore his clothes. He wasn't short on coats, and he could easily buy a brand-new one. Yet he had accepted this one back—despite it not being anything special.
He looked down at the coat now wrapped around him.
A lot of things today had taken him by surprise.
But this coat…
It was warm.
While one person was lost in thought, another was soaring in happiness.
The moment Ahn Hae stepped into her apartment, she threw herself onto her bed, grabbing her Leo-shaped pillow. She rolled around, hugging it tightly, trying to suppress the squeals of joy threatening to burst out of her.
Today was the luckiest day of her life. It felt as though every bit of good fortune she had was spent on this one day. Even now, it didn't seem real.
She gazed at the printed image of Leo on her pillow, smiling dreamily.
"Leo is so handsome! Even more stunning in person! How can someone be this perfect?"
She had no idea how long she stayed in that state of bliss, but by the time the sun rose, the room had finally fallen silent, accompanied by the sound of steady breathing.
Even in her sleep, a satisfied smile remained on her lips.