The office hummed with its usual energy, papers shuffling and keyboards clicking in a steady rhythm. Nam Jihoon sat at his desk staring into the distance, But his mind wasn't in the present. It was far away—twelve years in the past, replaying fragments of a memory he'd never let go. Jihoon's gaze lingered on the files scattered before him.
"Team Leader Nam."
The soft voice pulled him back to the present. He turned to see Cha Hayeon standing before him, a file in her hand and a bright smile on her face.
"Here is the project file you asked for," she said cheerfully.
Jihoon blinked and took the file from her hands. "You did a great job and even finished it before the deadline."
"Of course, Team Leader. I worked really hard on it," she beamed, eyes sparkling with pride.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he gently patted her head. "Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Cha."
The gesture sent a jolt through Hayeon's chest. She froze for a second, and then her face turned beet red. Her heart fluttered wildly as she struggled to contain the grin trying to stretch across her face.
Wahhh!! He patted my head…! He really patted my head! I can't believe it!
Just then, the loud voice of a superior echoed across the floor.
"Attention, everyone!" It was Manager Park, a tall, energetic man in his late 40's who often organized company events. "I have an announcement. Tomorrow, we're heading out for a one-day company field trip."
The room erupted with curious murmurs and exchanged glances.
The Manager continued, "We'll start with trekking. Once we reach the top, we'll have a team paint-ball shooting game. "You can team up however you like, so choose your partners wisely."
Gasps of excitement and whispers filled the air instantly.
Hayeon turned to Jihoon, eyes wide with a sudden idea. "Team Leader Nam, are you good at shooting games?"
He chuckled softly. "Yeah, I'm pretty good at them. What about you?"
She tilted her head innocently. "No, I've never played before. I don't really know how it works."
His chuckle deepened. She frowned.
"Why are you laughing?" she asked, pouting slightly.
"Oh, nothing," he said, smiling.
She took a tiny breath and looked up at him. "So… I was wondering… Would you like to be on the same team as me?"
Before Jihoon could answer, Seo Jinwook, an overly confident employee sitting nearby, chimed in, "Hayeon, if Team Leader Nam doesn't accept you, you can always team up with me. I'm pretty good at shooting games too."
Jihoon turned sharply, his smile polite but eyes unmistakably cold. "You don't need to worry, Mr. Seo. Of course I'll accept her on my team. Just look at her—pleading with those innocent eyes. How could I possibly say no?" He glanced at Hayeon, his tone softening. "Besides, she's been working hard lately. I think she deserves a little reward, don't you think?"
Hayeon practically glowed. "Don't worry, Team Leader! Even if I've never played before, I'm great at physical activities. I won't let our team down."
Jihoon nodded, his smile soft. "Alright then, I'll trust you."
---
The next morning, excitement buzzed through the air as employees gathered at the bus terminal. Hayeon's heart fluttered with anticipation. She'd imagined countless scenarios of what today might bring—sitting beside Jihoon on the bus, resting her head on his shoulder, sharing quiet conversations...
Spotting a two-seater, she quickly took the aisle seat, hoping Jihoon would choose the spot beside her. Her cheeks turned pink just imagining him next to her.
And then, there he was—Jihoon, boarding the bus. The moment their eyes met, he smiled. Flustered, Hayeon immediately scooted to the window seat to make room. But before he could respond—
"Hayeon-ah!" Seo Jinwook plopped into the seat next to her. "Wow, thanks for saving this seat for me!"
Her entire fantasy world crumbled. She stared at him in disbelief but forced a smile."Y-Yeah… Jinwook sunbae... you can sit here…" she said through gritted teeth, forcing a smile.
Jihoon, now expressionless, took the seat directly across the aisle. She stole a glance at Jihoon, who was now sitting across from her. Pouting, she mumbled internally, I wanted to sit with you…
As the Manager climbed aboard and called for departure, Jinwook leaned toward her. "You look really pretty today—even in sportswear!"
She chuckled awkwardly, not looking at him. "Thanks, sunbae…"
He kept talking. And talking. She felt her energy drain.
After ten more minutes of listening to Jinwook's endless chatter, she finally said, "Sunbae, I think I'm getting a bit dizzy. I'm going to sleep, okay? Please wake me up when we reach the destination."
"Of course! If you want, you can lean on my—"
"I'm comfortable on the window," she quickly cut in, forcing another smile.
"Ah, o-okay…"
As soon as she leaned her head back, her mind wandered again to Jihoon. Sleep came easy, lulled by daydreams and bus vibrations.
---
Some Time Later…
As the bus neared the destination, Hayeon slowly stirred awake, feeling warmth against her cheek. Huh? What is this…?
Wait—was I resting on Jinwook?
She jolted upright.
But to her utter shock—it wasn't Jinwook at all. It was Jihoon.
"Team Leader Nam?! What are you doing here? Weren't you sitting across?"
He smiled calmly. "Jinwook wanted the window seat, so I switched with him."
Her heart skipped several beats. She could hardly believe it. It was the exact dream she'd imagined.
"We're five minutes away from our destination," Jihoon said softly. "Best of luck to our team."
She smiled. "Best of luck to us."
---
The trail was steep but beautiful, surrounded by whispering trees and cool mountain air. The Manager gave a final instruction.
"Be careful. Some areas are slippery. Stay safe!"
"Team Leader Nam!" Hayeon announced. "Don't worry. I'll come in first!"
Without waiting, she darted ahead.
Jihoon called after her, but she was already gone.
Watching her dash like an excited puppy, Jihoon smiled fondly. "She's still the same… adorable as ever."
Up ahead, Hayeon ran until she felt she'd left everyone behind. She slowed to a walk, proud of her lead.
But soon, she reached a narrow, steep path winding upward. It was thin, just wide enough for one person, and on one side was a steep wooded slope. Slipping here would mean tumbling down through the trees.
As she took a cautious step, her foot slipped—and she landed hard on her stomach. Her eyes widened in fear.
There was one thing that even hayeon was scared of and that was "falling from dangerous heights"
She wasn't afraid of all heights—she could climb trees and balance on narrow ledges without a second thought. But cliffs, rooftops, or anything where one misstep meant death? That kind of height made her freeze.
The thought of tumbling down that treacherous incline and over the cliff's edge made her scream, her voice echoing through the vast silence.
She began to cry, not just in fear but in the helpless, childlike way one does when they believe the end has come. Her sobs were raw, vulnerable, her tears blurring her vision. But somewhere within the fear, she forced herself to calm down. Wiping her tears away with trembling hands, she looked around, trying to find anything to help her get back on her feet. Her gaze landed on a patch of small, green grass growing by the edge. Clutching at it, she pulled herself up—stumbling, shaky, but standing.
A breath of relief escaped her lips. "Thank God... I'm safe," she whispered to herself, almost in disbelief. A shaky laugh followed. "Wow. That was terrifying."
She turned to walk ahead, her heart still pounding. But after just a few steps, she paused, a strange thought settling into her mind. "It wasn't even that hard to get up," she murmured. "If I just leave now, what's the point of all that drama? No one even saw it."
A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. "If Nam Jihoon had seen me like that... he'd definitely rush to save me. I could cry in his arms. He'd worry about me. He'd hold me, comfort me..."
A dreamy smile crept onto her lips. She imagined his strong arms wrapping around her, his gentle voice whispering reassurances, the warmth of his presence.
And then, in a moment of reckless impulsiveness, she did the unthinkable. She returned to the same dangerous spot from which she had just escaped... and lay back down.
Yes, she lay down, right there on the treacherous path.
Just so her Prince Charming could find her.
Call it crazy, or call it hopelessly romantic—Hayeon had fallen hard. And in that moment, she was willing to do anything for a slice of that fairytale. Heights no longer mattered. Fear no longer existed. All that mattered was Jihoon.
She lay there, waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting...
Minutes passed. No one came.
She waited longer. Still nothing.
Her arms began to ache. Her back was stiff. "Why is it taking them so long?" she grumbled. "I've been lying here forever. I'm tired now."
With a sigh, she decided to get up. "Okay, this was a stupid idea. I should just forget it. They're not coming."
She tried to pull herself up again—but this time, she couldn't.
Confused, she looked around for the same patch of grass she had used before, but it was gone. Every blade had been plucked out during her earlier escape. Now, only loose, dry soil remained.
Panic returned.She pushed her hand into the dusty ground, trying to gain traction—but the earth crumbled beneath her fingers. No matter how hard she tried, it kept slipping down, offering no support.
Realization dawned.
"This was a mistake..."
Tears welled up again, this time from genuine fear. "Why was I so stupid?" she sobbed. "What was I thinking? Now I'm stuck here! I might actually die! I haven't even been on a proper date yet... Is this how it ends?"
She wailed louder, crying out for help.
Then—a voice.
"Hayeon!"
Her eyes shot up. It was him.
"Team Leader Nam..." she whimpered, her lips trembling. Her face scrunched into a pout as she looked at him. "Please help me... I'm so scared.
"Don't worry," Jihoon said, his voice firm yet gentle. "I'm here. I've got you."
Just a bit above where Haiyeon had fallen was a safer spot leading forward. Jihoon made his way to it and stretched out his hand.
"Take my hand."
She took it trembling, and he gripped her tightly, pulling her up with one strong tug. Within moments, she was back on solid ground. The second her feet found stability, she collapsed into his arms.
She wrapped herself around him, trembling as she clung to his warmth. Jihoon embraced her just as tightly, whispering to her softly as she cried against his chest.
"I was so scared… Why did it take you all so long?" she sobbed.
"I'm sorry I came late... You must've been so scared. I'm really sorry, Hayeon."
His hand patted her back, then moved up to stroke her hair, his touch gentle, comforting. Their heads leaned into each other instinctively, foreheads brushing, breaths mingling.
The moment felt charged—intimate, unspoken.
"Are you okay now?" he asked, cupping her face gently.
She nodded, tears still clinging to her lashes.
"Come. Sit here. Have some water.
He sat down, pulling her softly onto his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist while holding the water bottle in his other hand.
She shyly grabbed his wrist with both hands and drank, her eyes meeting his as she sipped. Jihoon smiled softly and wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb.
"You're alright now?"
"Mmhm," she nodded. "We can go now. Thank you... for coming. For saving me. I was really scared."
"You don't have to thank me," he replied. "It's okay."
Jihoon looked at her, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. "If you're having trouble walking… you can hold my hand."
Hayeon stopped in her tracks, eyes widening slightly before a flush bloomed across her cheeks. She hesitated, her heart thudding in her chest, then gave a small nod. "Alright… I'll hold your hand."
Their fingers intertwined, his touch warm and reassuring. And in that moment, it hit her all at once—what she had quietly longed for was unfolding before her eyes. The embrace earlier, walking side by side, and now… this. She was holding his hand.
It's actually happening, she realized, her heart fluttering. Somehow, everything I wanted… it's happening.Suddenly, the fear didn't matter anymore. It had been worth it.
I think it wasn't so bad. Maybe it was even worth it, she thought, her lips curving into a smile as she giggled silently to herself. I got to do this with Jihoon.
Hand in hand, they walked together until they reached the designated resting area. Jihoon turned to her with that familiar calmness. "You should go rest in the tent for a while. I'll call you when lunch is ready."
She nodded obediently and walked toward the tents, still dazed with happiness. As soon as she stepped inside and saw the bedding laid out, she dropped onto it without a second thought. Face buried in the soft blankets, she kicked her feet and squealed into the pillow, her body buzzing with joy and her cheeks still flushed pink. She rolled around like a child, giggling to herself, unable to contain her excitement.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with her, and she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Sometime later, a familiar voice gently nudged her awake. "Hayeon, wake up. It's lunchtime."
She stirred, rubbing her eyes. "Already? she yawned, sitting up.
Her colleague smiled, handing her a chilled fruit juice. "Here. Team Leader Nam asked me to give this to you."
Her eyes widened slightly as she accepted the drink. "He did? Oh… thank you."
The colleague chuckled and added, "You know, he was really worried about you. Even after we all walked ahead, we couldn't find you anywhere. He said he'd go look for you himself and asked us to follow slowly."
Haiyeon's cheeks turned red again. He was that worried?
The colleague nodded, amused. "Yeah. He was genuinely concerned."
"I think it was worth it… We reached first anyway, so it was all worth it." She said softly, hugging the juice box
At that, the colleague let out a laugh. "Hayeon, you do know the trekking wasn't a race, right? You didn't have to come first. The only real game is the paintball-shooting one we'll play later."
"…Wait, what?!" Hayeon sat bolt upright, staring.
"Yeah!" the colleague laughed.
Hayeon's face turned crimson. "Oh my God—seriously?! I ran like a maniac for nothing?!"
Hayeon buried her face in the blanket again with a groan. "This is so embarrassing. I was trying so hard to come first. I must've looked ridiculous…"
"Don't worry," the colleague said with a smile. "No one knows why you ran off like that. You're safe."
But Hayeon just sat there, her face hidden, lips in a pout. "Still… I looked so dumb, I feel like such an idiot…"
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