The street outside Ji-Hyun's apartment was strangely quiet for a Friday evening. The city lights shimmered off the wet pavement, the kind of glow that made everything look softer, almost unreal. They stood in front of her building, neither of them quite ready to end the night.
"Thanks for walking me home," Ji-Hyun said, hugging her coat closer. The wind was colder than she expected, brushing against her cheeks.
Seon-woo nodded, shifting his hands into his pockets. "You looked… tired today. Just wanted to make sure you got home fine."
She looked at him. His hair fell slightly over his forehead, still messy from the long day. He always tried to play things cool, but he was the kind of person who noticed every small detail. That was what made her heart ache in the weirdest way.
"I'm fine," she said softly. "I mean… because you were there."
His eyes flicked to hers for a second, and she immediately forgot how to breathe. It wasn't romantic. At least, she forced herself to believe it wasn't. Just… comforting. Familiar. Dangerous.
He cleared his throat. "Alright. Go inside before you freeze."
She nodded and took a few steps backward toward the entrance. "Goodnight, Seon-woo."
"Night."
She turned to scan her keycard, but something made her look back one last time — maybe the wind, maybe instinct, maybe something she didn't want to name. And that's when it happened.
Seon-woo turned to leave, his foot landing on a slick patch of pavement. In one sharp second, she saw his eyes widen as the world tilted for him. The sound of his shoe skidding echoed too loud in the empty street.
"Seon-woo!"
He slipped backward, landing hard on the ground with a thud that made her chest drop. His breath hitched sharply, and she rushed toward him without thinking.
He winced, pressing a hand to his lower back. "Ow… ow— okay, wait. Don't laugh."
"I'm not laughing!" she said, crouching beside him. "Are you okay?"
He attempted to sit up, only to inhale through his teeth. "I think I twisted something. Or bruised something. Definitely broke my pride."
"This isn't the time for jokes," she scolded, supporting his arm. "Can you stand?"
"I can try. Maybe."
But when he tried to push himself up, his face tightened in pain. He wasn't pretending — she could see that clearly now. And suddenly the cold around them felt sharper, harsher.
"Okay, no. Don't move like that," she said quickly. "Come inside. Just until you're steady."
He hesitated. "Ji-Hyun, I can just call a cab—"
"You can barely move."
"I can crawl into the cab."
"That's even worse."
He sighed, defeated. She offered her arm, and he reluctantly took it, leaning more of his weight than he intended. His steps were slow and uneven, and every time he winced, she felt it like an echo.
Inside the lobby, the security guard looked up from his desk. "Everything alright, Ms. Ji-Hyun?"
"He slipped outside," she explained. "I'm taking him upstairs for a bit."
The guard nodded sympathetically as the elevator doors slid open.
Inside the small elevator space, Seon-woo leaned his shoulder back, carefully avoiding the bruised area. Ji-Hyun pressed the button for the 6th floor, glancing at him.
"You should've been more careful," she murmured.
"I'm sorry for… injuring the sidewalk with my back."
"Seon-woo."
He gave a tiny smirk, but she could tell he was in actual pain. And that realization made her palms cold.
When they reached her floor, she guided him out, unlocking her door. The familiar warmth of her apartment wrapped around them immediately. It smelled like lavender from the candle she had lit that morning.
"Sit," she ordered, pointing at the couch.
"Yes, ma'am."
He lowered himself down extremely slowly, brows knitted, until he finally settled onto the cushions.
"Stay there," she said.
"Not planning to sprint away."
She rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a warm compress, and returned.
"Lift your shirt a little," she said instinctively, then stopped herself. "Wait— not like that. Just… the area that hurts."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm injured, not extinct. I understand instructions."
"Just— just turn a bit," she muttered.
He did, revealing a slightly reddened area near his lower back — nothing graphic, just enough to make her worry harder.
She gently pressed the warm compress against the bruised spot. He breathed out slowly, relaxing a little.
"That help?" she asked.
"Yeah. You're good at this."
"I Googled it."
"Ah," he said. "Professional."
She shot him a look, but she couldn't stop the tiny smile forming.
After a few minutes, he straightened slightly. "It's getting better."
"You need rest, though. If you go home like this, you'll hate yourself tomorrow morning."
He tilted his head. "Are you suggesting I camp on your couch?"
"No. The couch is terrible for injuries."
He blinked. "So… where am I sleeping then?"
She froze for half a second. "My bed."
"Ji-Hyun—"
"It's not like that," she cut in quickly, cheeks warming. "I'll sleep on the couch. You just need the soft mattress."
He looked like he wanted to argue, but pain won.
"Fine," he murmured. "But only because you sound like you'll fight me for it."
"I will."
She helped him stand and guided him toward her bedroom. He paused at the doorway, glancing inside — it was simple, soft-colored, surprisingly neat. Something about it felt strangely intimate, even though nothing romantic was happening.
"You sure?" he asked one last time.
"Yes. Just lie down slowly."
He did, sinking into the mattress with a relieved exhale. She handed him the warm compress again and stepped back.
"You need anything?" she asked.
"Water. Maybe something for the embarrassment."
"I'm not making you tea for your pride."
"Worth a try."
She stepped out to get him some water. When she returned, he was lying there quietly, staring at the ceiling.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
He shifted a bit. "I… didn't think you'd worry this much."
"How am I not supposed to?" she said, more honestly than intended. "You got hurt."
He looked at her for a moment that lasted a bit too long. Not romantic — just… full of understanding. Shared history. Shared secrets. Shared pain.
"I'm fine because of you," he said quietly.
Her heart did something complicated at that.
"Get some rest," she whispered. "I'll be in the living room."
She turned off the main lights, leaving the soft lamp glowing beside him.
But as she walked out, she heard him speak again.
"Ji-Hyun."
She paused in the doorway.
"Thank you," he said, voice low but steady. "Really."
She nodded, swallowing. "Anytime."
The living room felt colder without him. She wrapped a blanket around herself and sat on the couch, trying to get comfortable. The apartment was silent except for the faint hum of the heater.
But every few minutes, her mind drifted back to him — lying in her room, hurt, trusting her.
It shouldn't have meant anything.
It didn't.
…Probably.
She lay down, closing her eyes, but sleep didn't come easily. She wasn't sure why. Maybe worry. Maybe something else she didn't want to name.
She woke up some time later to the sound of soft footsteps.
"Ji-Hyun?" Seon-woo's voice was groggy.
She sat up quickly. "What are you doing? You shouldn't be walking!"
"I woke up and you weren't there. Thought something happened."
She stared at him. "I'm literally ten feet away."
He shrugged, leaning slightly to one side to avoid pressure on his back. "Still."
She sighed. "Go back to bed. Please."
He hesitated. "Only if you come inside the room. You look more tired than I am."
"What? No. You need the space."
"Ji-Hyun." His tone softened. "You don't have to sleep on the couch. There's enough room on one side."
She felt her heart stumble again — but not in the way she used to with her ex. This was different. Calmer. Safer. More confusing.
"It's fine," she said quietly. "I'll stay here."
"Then at least take the blanket properly," he said, picking it up clumsily.
She couldn't help smiling. "Okay. Fine. I'll tuck myself in."
He looked relieved. "Good."
As he turned to go back inside, he paused again.
"You know… tonight could've gone way worse. I'm lucky you were there."
She shook her head. "We look out for each other. That's what the deal was."
He smiled faintly. "Yeah. The deal."
But the w
ay he said it made her chest tighten.
She watched him walk back to the room slowly, and for the first time all night, she couldn't tell if the warmth in her chest was worry… or something else starting to grow without permission.