"So, mysterious lunch spot?" Bella teased, bumping her shoulder lightly against his.
He grinned. "You'll like it. It is a little hole-in-the-wall place, but the best noodles in town."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "Noodles? That does not sound very fancy."
Yunho laughed. "It is not about fancy. It is about good."
They turned a corner and soon arrived at a tiny, bustling eatery, its walls lined with faded photographs and handwritten menus curling slightly at the corners. The scent of simmering broth and fresh herbs filled the air, wrapping around them the moment they stepped inside.
They slid into a corner booth, the noise of the restaurant wrapping around them like a comforting shield. Bella tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly aware of Yunho's proximity as he pulled out her chair with a quiet ease that felt old-fashioned in the best way.
"So," she began, "this is your secret spot?"
He nodded with a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes. Not many people know about it. I come here when I want to get away from the crowds."
Bella looked around, noticing the worn wooden tables and the way sunlight streamed through the narrow window, catching in the steam that curled above bowls of noodles. "I like it. Feels like grandma's house. Feels… honest."
Yunho met her eyes. "Kind of like us."
She laughed softly, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the food.
As they ate, the conversation flowed easily. Sometimes it was light and teasing, sometimes it dipped into quiet reflection. They talked about school, music and the small dreams they did not often say out loud. Yunho shared funny stories from swim practice, including the time his goggles snapped mid-race and Bella admitted her disastrous attempts at making pancakes that turned into strange, crispy discs.
Between bites and laughter, Bella realised how far they had come. From awkward introductions to this easy companionship that seemed to breathe on its own. Somewhere beneath it all, a fragile hope began to bloom, delicate and stubborn.
When the meal was over, Yunho reached across the table and brushed a crumb from her cheek with the pad of his thumb. The touch was so brief she could have imagined it.
"Ready for the next surprise?" he asked, voice low and inviting.
They wandered through a nearby vintage market, pausing to examine stacks of vinyl records and shelves crammed with mismatched trinkets. Yunho's enthusiasm was infectious. He pointed at everything like a child seeing the world for the first time.
They stopped at an indie bookstore, its narrow aisles smelling faintly of paper and dust. Bella ran her fingertips along the spines while Yunho stood in the poetry section, flipping through pages as if searching for something in particular.
Later, they tried spicy squid skewers from a food cart. Bella's eyes watered but she refused to admit defeat, earning a grin of pure admiration from Yunho.
"So," he began, glancing at her as they strolled, "did the noodles live up to your expectations?"
Bella smiled, nudging him playfully. "Better than I thought. You have good taste."
He beamed, clearly pleased.
They walked in companionable silence for a moment. It was the kind of silence that felt like company rather than absence.
At one market stand, Yunho picked up a small silver necklace, a delicate charm shaped like a shark.
He held it up, smirking. "This is you."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"
"Think about it," he said, his voice dipping into mock drama. "Quiet. Unassuming. Moves smoothly. But underneath…" He grinned. "Shark. Total shark."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Because I saved you from drowning?"
"Because you glide like you are not even trying and you bite without warning."
Bella squinted at him, then, with no warning, began to sing softly under her breath.
"Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo…"
Yunho blinked.
She kept going, completely deadpan.
"Mommy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo…"
A couple walking past turned to stare. Yunho choked on his drink, laughing.
"Oh no. You did not."
Bella finally cracked a grin. "You started it."
He shook his head, still grinning. "I take it back. You are not a shark. You are chaos in disguise."
"Still waters run deep," she said sweetly. "Sometimes with theme music."
Suddenly, Yunho stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression softer now, more vulnerable.
"You know," he said quietly, "I was not sure about today. About asking you out, or whatever this is."
Bella blinked, surprised by his honesty.
"But now," he continued, "I am really glad I did. You make it easy to be myself."
She looked up at him, the sunlight catching the edges of his hair and felt something stir deep inside.
"It is not always easy for me either," she admitted, her voice low.
They stood close, the hum of the market fading into the background. Without thinking, Yunho reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered just a moment longer than necessary.
Bella's breath caught.
"Guess we have come a long way from those first awkward days," he murmured.
He smiled, eyes shining. "And I am hoping there is a lot more to come."
They reached the edge of the overlook just as the sun dipped into the horizon, setting the ocean on fire in shades of gold and crimson.
Bella sat with her arms wrapped around her knees, the breeze tugging gently at her hair. Beside her, Yunho stretched out across the bench, his hood pushed back, one arm slung lazily behind his head as if the view was something he saw every day.
She tried to keep her gaze on the sea, but her eyes betrayed her.
He was all long limbs and casual perfection and somehow the soft light made it worse. Or better, depending on how honest she was being with herself.
Yunho spoke after a long pause, his voice quieter now. "I used to be scared of being average."
She turned toward him, watching instead of the sunset.
"All the winning, the captain stuff… it felt like if I stopped pushing, I would disappear."
Bella was silent for a moment before she said, "You are not average, Yunho. But even if you were, being still does not mean you are nothing."
She turned fully toward him now. "You are not average. You could not disappear if you tried."
He glanced at her, surprised by the certainty in her voice.
"You are six foot two, handsome like sin and top student of the year. There is nothing about you that blends in."
She looked back toward the ocean, unbothered, as if she had just stated the weather. "Average is not even in your orbit."
Yunho blinked, then laughed softly, not because he did not believe her but because it was so Bella. Quiet. Unfiltered. True.
And suddenly, the ache in his chest felt just a little lighter.
Yunho looked at her then, really looked. No teasing grin, no casual confidence. Just a quiet sort of relief, as though she had given him something he had not realised he needed.
"I have been thinking about something all day," he said suddenly.
Bella tilted her head. "Yes?"
He hesitated, his eyes flicking to her lips, then back up. "Something I have wanted to do since before we even got here."
Her heart skipped. "And?" she whispered.
He leaned in slowly, careful, close enough for her to feel the question hanging between them.
She did not move away.
So he kissed her.
It was soft at first, tentative, as though testing the edge of something new. But it deepened quickly, as if all the unspoken tension between them had finally found its place. There was warmth in it and laughter too, like they were both half a breath away from smiling.
When they finally broke apart, Yunho stayed close, his forehead almost brushing hers, lips curved in a lazy grin.
"Well," he murmured, his voice low, "not that I minded, but you have cold hands."
Bella blinked, still dazed. "What?"
"I felt that," he said, smirking. "You definitely copped a feel. Abs. Left side."
Her face flushed instantly. "I did not."
He gave a mock wounded look. "You did. Brazen, too. Should I be worried?"
Bella narrowed her eyes, then straightened, feigning indignation. "Excuse me, I was looking for love handles to hold onto. For balance."
Yunho let out a startled laugh. "Love handles?"
She sniffed. "But alas, there were none. Just all that tragic muscle."
He shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. "You are unbelievable."
"And you," she said sweetly, brushing past him to hide her reddening cheeks, "should be grateful I did not push you off the bench from sheer panic."