Night slowly covered the campsite.
The sky was full of stars… the sea breeze cool and gentle… and the sound of laughter filled the air as everyone gathered around the campfire.
Music played softly from someone's speaker.
Some students danced.
Some roasted marshmallows.
Some just sat and talked.
But Hana sat quietly… staring into the fire.
Her mind wasn't calm.
Joon-woo's sudden kiss…
Nick's quiet understanding…
Gemmy's feelings…
Everything tangled inside her chest.
She wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the flames.
I need to decide… she thought.
Across the fire, Joon-woo kept glancing at her.
She wasn't laughing.
Wasn't talking.
Wasn't even looking his way.
Something about that… hurt more than her anger.
Meanwhile, Nick sat beside his friends, joking casually — but his eyes kept drifting toward Hana too.
He noticed everything.
He always did.
After a while, Hana stood up.
Her decision was made.
She walked straight toward Nick.
"Nick… can we talk?"
He looked surprised… but nodded. "Sure."
They walked away from the noise… toward the darker side of the beach, where the firelight barely reached.
But someone else noticed.
Joon-woo.
And without thinking… he quietly followed from a distance.
The waves shimmered under the moonlight.
Nick stopped walking and turned to her.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently.
Hana looked nervous.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"I… need to tell you something important."
Nick's expression softened. "Okay… I'm listening."
She took a deep breath.
Her heart pounded so loudly she thought he might hear it.
"I want to stop feeling confused," she said slowly.
Nick stayed silent.
"I want something stable… something safe… something that doesn't hurt."
Her voice shook a little.
Nick's gaze sharpened. He understood where this was going… but he didn't interrupt.
Hana stepped closer.
Her eyes were serious… determined… but also scared.
"Nick… you make me feel calm."
He didn't move.
"You don't hurt me… you don't confuse me… you don't make my heart feel like it's breaking every second."
A pause.
Then…
She bowed her head slightly.
"Nick… will you date me?"
Silence.
The waves crashed once… twice… three times.
Nick froze.
Even the wind felt still.
Behind a tree… hidden in darkness…
Joon-woo's entire body went rigid.
His breathing stopped.
He felt like the ground disappeared under his feet.
Nick stared at Hana.
Her eyes were sincere. Honest. Brave.
But he didn't answer immediately.
Instead… he asked softly—
"Is this what you really want… or what you think you should want?"
Hana's lips parted… but no words came.
Nick stepped closer… just enough to see her eyes clearly.
"You're choosing peace," he said gently. "But are you choosing me?"
Her chest tightened.
Tears gathered slowly in her eyes.
"I… don't want to hurt anyone anymore…" she whispered.
Nick understood.
Everything.
Behind them, Joon-woo's hands trembled.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
He waited.
Terrified of the answer.
Nick looked at Hana for a long moment.
Then…
He smiled softly.
Warm. Kind. But a little sad.
He gently held her shoulders.
"Hana… you don't propose to someone because they feel safe."
Her tears fell silently.
"You propose because you can't imagine living without them."
Her heart broke hearing that.
He wiped one tear from her cheek.
"And right now… that's not me."
Silence.
"I won't accept a place in your heart that belongs to someone else," he said softly.
Behind the tree…
Joon-woo's eyes widened.
Hana's voice trembled. "Nick… I—"
He shook his head gently.
"It's okay," he said. "You don't need to explain."
Then he smiled playfully, trying to lighten the heavy air.
"But… if you ever fall for me for real… I might reconsider."
She let out a weak laugh through her tears.
Nick stepped back.
"Go figure out your heart," he said softly. "Don't run from it."
Then he walked away… leaving her alone under the moonlight.
A moment later…
Another presence stepped forward.
Hana turned.
Her eyes widened.
Joon-woo.
He had heard everything.
His eyes were filled with emotions she had never seen before — pain… fear… relief… longing…
Neither spoke.
The distance between them felt endless.
The firelight flickered far behind them.
The waves whispered between them.
And their hearts… beat louder than everything else.