The cold wind blew gently as a group of friends chatted together. One of them, Lia, spoke up, “Please order something, I’m hungry.”

Another friend turned to her and chimed in, “Yes, me too, Lia baby.”

A third friend stood up and asked, “What do you guys want to eat?” But the others only shrugged and told her to order for herself. Undeterred, she headed toward the food counter.

As she approached, she asked politely, “Excuse me, sir, what’s special here?”

The attendant turned to her and replied, “Ma’am, our signature coffee is a specialty. Would you like to try some?”

After a moment’s thought, she nodded. “Okay, give me three cappuccinos.”

Just then, she felt a gentle tug on her arm. Turning, her lips curved into a smile when she saw a little boy standing there.

The boy, his tiny hand placed politely over his chest, introduced himself, “Myself Min. And you?”

Aira's smile widened as she took in his adorable face and polite demeanor. “I’m Aira, Min. But what are you doing here without your parents, hmm?”

Min pouted. “Appa left me alone here.”

Aira’s heart melted at the sight. The boy then grinned and added cheekily, “And you have a name as pretty as you are.”

Her laughter bubbled up as she crouched down. “Okay then, give me your Appa’s number, and I’ll call him.”

But before she could get an answer, Min darted away—straight into the arms of a man in a black checked shirt and perfectly combed hair.

Aira’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes landed on him. The man’s sharp features and commanding presence left her momentarily breathless.

The man swept Min into his arms with a worried expression. “Where were you, Min? I was searching everywhere for you like a crazy man, and here you were, just chilling.”

Min made a face. “You were always talking on the phone and not paying attention to me, so I decided to go for a walk.”

The man’s shoulders softened. “Okay, Min. I’ll never neglect you again. I’ll give you all my attention, always.”

Min tilted his head up, unconvinced. “Promise me, Appa will always be there for me?”

“Pinky promise, my little crazy,” Jae  said, making a silly face. Min’s giggles rang out, and Jae chuckled as he took his son’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

As they turned, Min waved over his shoulder. “Bye, pretty woman!”

But Ilmia couldn’t reply. She stood frozen, lost in Jae’s gaze.

And Jae too—his world narrowed to only her. When I see her, everything stops. There’s no one else. She’s the only one who ever captured my heart.

The spell broke when Min tugged at Jae’s hand. Jae cleared his throat and asked softly, “Who is this?”

Min grinned. “She’s the pretty woman who helped me when I got lost. She was about to call you, but you came instead.”

Jae turned back to Jae, locking eyes with her again. “Thank you,” he said sincerely, extending his hand.

Still dazed, she shook it. The brief touch sent a spark through both of them.

“I’m Park Jae min. Thank you for helping my son.”

Her lips curved faintly. “It’s my pleasure, Jae Min Sir . I’m Aira .”

He smiled warmly. “Don’t call me ‘sir.’ Call me by my name.”

She chuckled nervously. “Okay, sir— I mean, Jae min.”

He laughed at her teasing tone, and for a brief moment, it felt like time had stopped.

“Okay, Aira , bye. See you again.”

As Jae and Min walked away, Aira stood still, her heart thudding in her chest.

At the Friends’ Table

When Ilmia finally returned, Lia face-palmed. “Were you going to order or make it yourself?”

Roselyn giggled. “Yeah, right, Lisa baby. What took you so long, Ilmia?”

Aira’s expression was unreadable. “I saw Jae,” she said softly.

Lia and Roselyn exchanged confused looks.

“What do you mean? What Jae?” Roselyn pressed.

“I saw him. But he’s not the same Jae I used to obsess over… he’s different now, Rose.”

Roselyn gave her a skeptical look. “Don’t overthink it. He’s fine, okay? Snap out of it.”

Aira rolled her eyes and sipped her cappuccino, though her mind lingered elsewhere

At Jae’s House

That evening, Min was fast asleep, but Jae  sat lost in thought. His heart was heavy, his mind. Playing the encounter

"Hyung,” Tae Hyun's voice snapped him back. Wearing a white T-shirt and glasses, he gave Jae's shoulder a shake. “What's wrong? You seem far away.”

Jae's eyes welled with tears. “I saw her, Tae . The love of my life. The one I've been waiting for all these years. But... why now? Why when I can't even reach her?”

His voice cracked. “I was so close, but I couldn't touch her, couldn't tell her. She's my everything, Tae. The only one who's ever stolen my heart.”

The tears fell freely. Tae Hyun pulled him into his arms, letting him cry. “I don't know what fate has in store, but one thing is clear—you still love her, hyung.”

After what felt like hours, Jae's sobs subsided. His eyes swollen, he whispered, “What if she's married, Tae Hyun?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But if you're given another chance... will you take it?”

Jae didn't hesitate. “I will. I promised myself I'd love her until my last breath.”

Tae Hyun nodded solemnly. “Then be strong, hyung. I don't know what storms await you, but you must be ready.”

### At Aira's House

That same night, Aira stood by her window, gazing up at the moon. Her lips trembled as she whispered, “Jae-ahh, I've been waiting to see you—not as just another man, but as my everything.”

Her chest rose with each uneven breath. “We met like strangers today, but my heart still beats only for you. I deleted my social media to escape the pain because I was madly in love with you.”

A tear rolled down her cheek. “Even when I worked at HYBE, I never dared to look at you properly. But my heart... it always raced for you.”

She closed her eyes, her voice breaking. “It's been six years. I didn't even recognize your son. I only came back to social media because a colleague suggested it. I wished to see you once in my life... and now that I have, it's enough.”

Her whisper grew softer, carried into the night air.

“I love you unt

il my last breath, Jae-ahh. My one and only.”

The moon's glow bathed her face, as if silently holding her secret.