Ahn Hae stood in the kitchen, making hot cocoa for Leo, who was sitting just a few meters away. The small apartment felt warm, but the atmosphere was overwhelmingly awkward.
Just moments ago, when she had finally gathered the courage to look up, she saw his pale face, his lips cracked from the cold. The sight had made her want to disappear on the spot. Her pathetic state was nothing compared to the flawless image of an idol. So, in an attempt to make amends, she had invited him to her place to warm up.
And now, all she could do was mentally berate herself.
"Oh my god, what were you thinking?! You actually invited Leo into your house? If someone finds out, even ten lifetimes won't be enough to wash away your sins, Ahn Hae!"
"Ahn Hae?"
Leo, noticing how she had shrunk into a corner of the kitchen, called out hesitantly. He worried that his presence was making her uncomfortable. Yet at the same time, deep inside, he felt a ridiculous sense of happiness just being near her. The conflicting emotions made his heart restless.
His voice broke the silence of the room like a stone thrown into still water, snapping Ahn Hae out of her daze.
"Ah! It's done!"
She quickly brought the cup of hot cocoa over, setting it down in front of him. Her movements were hesitant, just like the first time they had met.
"Thank you."
Leo wrapped his hands around the cup, letting the warmth seep into his skin.
"My place is a bit small… I hope you don't mind…" she said, voice tinged with embarrassment.
"It's fine. Back then, my group and I used to live in a space even smaller than this."
Leo casually revealed a piece of his difficult past, hoping it would ease her discomfort.
Ahn Hae's apartment was tiny, but it was cozy. Everything was arranged in a simple yet charming way. He noticed the vintage-style decorations—warm, nostalgic, just like her.
"Did you decorate all of this yourself?" He took a sip of cocoa, feeling the warmth spread through his body.
"Yeah. I bought things little by little. It took a while to put it all together." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushed pink under the fluorescent light.
"You're really talented. It looks beautiful."
Hearing Leo compliment her almost made Ahn Hae want to scream in excitement.
But she forced herself to stay calm. She had to suppress the fangirl in her heart. So instead, she casually asked, "Did you finish work for the day?"
"Yeah. I have tomorrow off, so I just wanted to take a walk around the city… Somehow, I ended up here."
That was a lie.
Leo quickly took another sip of cocoa to hide his guilty expression.
"I shouldn't have called out to you…"
Ahn Hae fiddled with the hem of her shirt, guilt creeping in. The moment she thought she saw him, she hadn't even hesitated—she had just run outside and shouted his name. She hadn't considered anything else.
"Don't say that. I'm the one who shouldn't have shown up here…"
As soon as he said those words, silence fell between them. Both of them, perhaps, were reflecting on the series of foolish choices that had led to this moment.
"But… why were you crying earlier?"
Leo finally voiced the question that had been gnawing at him. The way she had broken down in tears felt like a dam finally bursting. What had shattered her strong facade? He was certain it wasn't because of him.
Caught off guard, Ahn Hae struggled to find an answer. She couldn't possibly tell him the truth—that after their broadcast together, she had been harassed by his obsessive fans. That would only make him feel guilty.
So she forced a smile and said, "I was just really happy."
"Happy?" Leo frowned.
"Yeah. I was just surprised and happy to see you again."
Leo studied her expression carefully. He could tell she was lying, but he didn't have the heart to call her out on it. After all, he was a liar too.
"Are you hungry?" she suddenly asked, clearly trying to change the subject.
Leo subconsciously touched his stomach. He hadn't eaten anything since the afternoon, having been too busy with his schedule. But asking for food on top of everything else? That would be too much.
So he shook his head. "I'm not hun—"
Grrr…
A loud grumble interrupted his sentence.
Leo's face instantly turned crimson. He wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury himself in it. Why couldn't his body cooperate for once?
Ahn Hae covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. He was just as adorable in real life as he was on screen.
"I'll cook something for you."
"I can't let you do that. It's already so late—"
"It's fine! I'm hungry too, so I'll just make something for both of us."
Before he could protest further, she got up and disappeared into the kitchen.
Leo sat there, unable to stop her. His mind was still stuck on the words "for both of us."
For some reason, they sounded incredibly sweet.
A strange warmth spread through his chest, more comforting than the hot cocoa in his hands. And for the first time, he started to realize what this unfamiliar feeling inside him was.
He placed a hand over his heart, listening to its eager, erratic beats.
Was it too soon to feel this way?
Ahn Hae originally planned to cook instant noodles, but when she checked, she realized she had run out. She had gotten home late from work and completely forgotten to buy more.
She opened the fridge to see what she could use instead. There were only a few eggs, some sausages, and the rice she had left in the cooker that morning. Looks like kimchi fried rice would have to do.
"We're out of noodles, so how about some kimchi fried rice?"
Holding a frying pan in her hand, Ahn Hae turned to ask Leo. The way she looked, like a dedicated housewife, made him chuckle.
"No problem. I'm lucky to have anything to eat at all." He got up and walked into the kitchen. "Let me help you."
To his surprise, Ahn Hae reacted as if she had seen a ghost. She immediately held the frying pan out like a shield to block him.
"No way! If I let you help, I'd be betraying the sacred code of my fan club!"
"…Fan club?"
Leo was starting to get used to her strange expressions, but that didn't make them any less confusing.
Ahn Hae bit her lip. There was no way she could explain something so superstitious to him. Instead, she forced an awkward smile and gently pushed him back toward the table.
"Just sit back and relax. I'll take care of everything."
A guest should respect the host's wishes. With no other choice, Leo returned to his seat, sipping his hot cocoa while Ahn Hae rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
Now that he had some time, Leo took a better look around her apartment. A particular corner by the window caught his attention. There was a small wooden desk and a cozy chair, with a neatly arranged bookshelf beside it.
It was clearly her favorite spot, given how much care had gone into it. He could already picture her sitting there with a warm drink in hand, flipping through a book as raindrops tapped against the window, maybe with soft music playing in the background. She really knew how to enjoy life.
His gaze drifted back to Ahn Hae, who was still busy cooking. Watching her so focused on preparing a meal filled him with a quiet warmth.
It had been so long since he'd seen something like this. Probably before high school, back when his mother would cook while waiting for his father to come home. He used to sneak bites and get scolded for it. But after that happened, family dinners had become a distant memory.
Leo found himself watching her for a long time, not just observing, but soaking in the rare, simple joy of the moment.
* * *