Bella stood at the door long after Yunho disappeared, her hand still lightly resting on the doorknob. The cool metal grounded her, a small anchor as the rest of her thoughts floated somewhere between the feel of his lips and the way he'd looked at her before leaving.
She shut the door quietly and leaned her back against it.
What just happened?
Her pulse was still thudding in her ears. Like her body was trying to catch up to something her mind hadn't processed yet.
It wasn't their first kiss. That had been unexpected, maybe a little heated. But this one… this one was different. Measured. Clear. Intentional. Possessive much?
She pressed her fingers to her lips, as if that could help her hold onto it a little longer.
Yunho. The same guy who used to drive her insane with his cryptic replies and shameless sarcasm. The same guy who showed up on basketball courts uninvited. The same guy who used to tease her with half-smirks and maddening questions.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, something had shifted. She wasn't sure when exactly it happened. Maybe it was during those quiet moments after practice, when he'd walk beside her in comfortable silence.
Or maybe it was now, in the afterglow of a kiss that felt too real to ignore. Bella dropped her phone on the desk and sank onto the bed. She stared up at the ceiling.
Yunho's POV
Yunho arrived at Bella's dorm. He knocked gently and when she opened the door, there he stood in his hoodie, simple and earnest.
"Couldn't sleep," he admitted as she stepped aside to let him in. "Too much in my head. About you." Instead, Yunho leaned in to kiss her. Claim her. He wanted her to like him for who he is, not for the wealth his family brings.
He has been evading the topic since the incident with Jason where both sets of parents offered to put in generous donations to the new school building for the arts. Truth be told, his father had decided to sponsor the entire construction costs in exchange for silence. The education board had to look the other way.
As he heard Bella's soft sigh, the warmth of her breath against his neck, all control evaporated.
His lips met hers again, slower this time but deeper, like he was no longer asking but answering something unspoken between them. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, grounding herself in the warmth of him. The earlier teasing that had simmered between them spilled over in quiet desperation, in the way they clung to each other like they were starving.
Yunho's hand found the small of her back, pulling her closer and for a moment, there was only the steady rhythm of their breaths, the whisper of clothes brushing, the weight of everything they hadn't said pressing between each kiss.
And as suddenly as he did, he pulled away from her as if he has quenched his thirst. "Now maybe I'll sleep now." Yunho said and with that, turned to leave.
Yunho stood by the lobby of the building, slightly dazed but feeling brave by his own actions.
A soft tug of regret unfurled in his chest. He hadn't planned the kiss. It had just…happened. That's not the way to do this, right? You don't kiss someone when they're vulnerable or confused. You talk. You build trust. But something genuine shifted in that moment and he was afraid that he will be judged, evaluated for his worth for what his parents had achieved financially rather than who he is as a person.
He pulled out his phone reflexively and read Bella's text again. The one where she'd scoffed at the idea that he was interested, calling him out as "some undercover chaebol playing commoner."
His shoulders sagged a little, guilt pricking behind his eyes. He had meant the joke. But was it still a joke?
He tapped open the messaging app, hesitating. Maybe it was pointless. She'd already dismissed him. He lingered for a long time and thought about what he wanted to say but, in the end, the message was erased before it was ever fully formed.
The next day when Yunho walked Bella home, she guided him inside, heart fluttering in ways she still hadn't quite processed. She closed the door behind him and led the way through the narrow hallway, toward the kitchen. Not the place she expected to bring him, but it felt right.
The small room smelled faintly of last night's dinner and lingering notes of soy sauce and garlic. Scented candles flickered on the table. Yunho paused in the doorway, taking it all in.
"You live here?" he asked, genuine concern flickering in his eyes.
"Yeah" she replied softly, chest tightening. "It's nothing fancy."
They sat across from each other at the little dining table, legs tucked under chairs the wrong way, a bloom of awkwardness between them. Yunho cleared his throat.
"I thought… maybe you'd like to stop by my place sometime," he said. "But I don't want to rush things. We could just hang. Study. Watch something dumb on TV."
Bella blinked, unsteady in her seat.
She wanted to understand but don't want him to feel obligated to share his sanctuary just because she did. She thought for a long time but she found herself nodding.
"Netflix and chill?" Bella asked as Yunho widen his eyes in wonder at her. Both of them then burst out laughing uncontrollably.
The following weekend, Yunho guided Bella through quiet residential streets, the evening air fresh against her skin. Ahead loomed his home, a sprawling mansion draped in ivy, its brick facade dotted with tall windows that glowed softly as dusk settled in. The entrance was grand: towering columns, a sweeping driveway and a carved wooden door flanked by ornate lanterns. Yunho walked her through the sprawling gardens as they made their way towards the house. Despite its elegant scale, the house felt inviting, like a timeless secret waiting to be discovered.
Bella's heart beat a little faster as Yunho stepped forward and opened the door. Inside, the foyer stretched wide before them, lit by a sparkling chandelier that scattered warm light over polished marble floors and lush oriental carpets. Two uniformed housekeepers appeared as if from the walls themselves, offering quiet smiles, home slippers to change into and asking if they'd like something to drink.
Yunho spoke gently. "Welcome home."
Bella followed Yunho through the grand hallway, walls lined with tasteful artwork and antique heirloom furniture consisting of velvet chairs, polished mahogany tables, ornate mirrors. The house exuded warmth and history, yet the hush of perfectly maintained order spoke volumes: this was a home run with care and precision. It was a mishmash of European, Japanese and Chinese influence but somehow, it worked.
They passed a long wooden staircase, where a butler stood, head bowed in a respectful nod. In the background, a discreet household manager directed the staff through subtle gestures, ensuring dinner was prepared and rooms were ready.
Yunho led her into a sunlit sitting room where wide windows overlooked manicured gardens. Plush couches and delicate curtains softened the space and a tray with steaming herbal tea and delicate snacks, just in case she got hungry, had been laid out by one of the housekeepers.
Bella felt a thrill, awed, slightly overwhelmed and undeniably comforted.
Yunho handed her a cup. "I thought you might like something warm."
She inhaled deeply, savouring the aroma and the fact that he'd thought ahead. "It's… beautiful," she said quietly, glancing around.
He gave a small, modest smile. "It's my safe place."
As housekeepers moved silently in the background, straightening cushions, arranging fresh flowers, Yunho sank onto a couch beside her. Bella sat close, mindful of the space between them.
There was no pretense here. No carefully crafted persona. Just a home, lived in and loved for a moment of quiet intimacy.
Bella cradled her cup, feeling the gentle heat seep into her palms. "You live here by yourself?" The question slipped out before she realised.
He nodded. "My parents are... abroad. And yes, for now, it's just me."
She set the cup down, watching him with new curiosity. "It's not lonely?"
Yunho paused, looking at the cup in her hand before meeting her gaze. "Some days. But it's peaceful."
Silence draped over them, comfortable and real.
Bella's mind raced, not with judgments or expectations but with gentle wonder. Finally, she spoke in a soft whisper: "Thank you for letting me in."
Yunho offered her a warm look. "I want you to feel at home."
The rest of the evening drifted by in calm conversation, no theatrics, just two people in a house that spoke of generations yet felt modern and welcoming. By the time Bella left, stepping back into the night, the world outside felt quieter and something inside her had shifted in ways she couldn't ignore.