Ha Rang: “The kind where I forget to breathe.”
“Can I tell you something embarrassing?” Ha Rang asked, staring at the water.
Jae laughed — not mocking, but warm. “Good. Because I’ve been trying to figure out how to ask for two weeks.”
From there, the floodgates opened. They texted until 3 a.m. about dreams, fears, and the weird pressure of being 19 and wanting someone for the first time. Ha Rang confessed he’d never dated anyone. Jae admitted he’d only kissed one person, and it felt “like a handshake.” Their first real date was at a tiny noodle shop, then a walk along the river at dusk. Jae kept brushing Ha Rang’s hand with his own — accidental? Intentional? Ha Rang’s skin tingled each time. By the time they sat on a bench under a cherry tree, Ha Rang was vibrating with nervous energy.