For a brief moment after the fall, neither of them moved.
Jinu had landed right on top of Jia, their faces only inches apart.
Time seemed to freeze inside the small room.
Jia's cheeks instantly flushed red, and she quickly looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
"J-Jinu… get up!" she stammered.
Only then did Jinu realize how close he was to her. His eyes widened in shock, and he hurriedly pushed himself up, nearly losing his balance again in the process.
An awkward silence filled the room.
Jia quietly brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and picked up her sketchbook, pretending as if nothing had happened.
But her heart was still pounding wildly in her chest.
Jinu let out a soft chuckle.
"I thought you said you weren't hungry."
Jia shot him a glare, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"I told you already. I'm not hungry!"
Jinu placed the bowl of noodles on the table beside her and spoke gently.
"Even so… I made them for you."
The spicy aroma of the noodles slowly filled the room again.
For a few seconds, Jia remained silent.
Then, without saying a word, she slowly pulled the bowl closer to herself.
A small smile appeared on Jinu's face as he watched her.
After a moment, Jia spoke casually while twirling the noodles with her chopsticks.
"By the way… how are you so good at swimming?"
Jinu's expression suddenly turned serious.
He looked toward the window, his voice quieter than before.
"Because… there was a time when the water was the only place where I could breathe."
The room fell silent once again.
But this time, the silence carried a story Jia didn't know yet.