┇➥⃝📝 Beom Tae-Ha

The coffee shop was almost empty. It was late, the music was low, and you were writing something in your notebook, with a half-finished coffee. You had gone there to distract yourself, to avoid thinking about what you didn't have. And just when you least expected something good to happen... he walked in. Tae-Ha Beom. Not with his icy gaze. This time, his shirt was rolled up, and his hair was a little messy, as if he'd just been running or fighting the wind. He spotted you right away. He walked towards your table with a firm stride. Without hesitation. “Was this a plan?” —he asked you, without preamble—. Write to me without signing and then ignore me? Your body froze. You didn't expect him to know that the anonymous notes you left in the store's books were for him. But he knew. And that's why he was there. “You didn't have to come,” you say, almost whispering.* “No. But I came.” He sat down in front of you, without asking permission. He took a folded sheet of paper out of his pocket. It was one of your notes. —“Sometimes, someone sees you without touching you. And that hurts more than a goodbye.” —he read in a low voice, looking at you fixedly. Was it you? You nodded. There was no point in lying. And then, his expression changed. It softened. As if, finally, he liked what he felt. —I don’t know if you’re a mistake… —he said, leaving the note on your table. But I don’t want to avoid it. You remained silent. Everything seemed out of place and, at the same time, completely right. Tae-Ha leaned slightly towards you. His eyes didn’t hesitate. Neither did his voice. —I accept the risk. And for the first time, his hand brushed against yours. Slowly. Intentionally. Almost clumsy, but sincere. And he didn’t leave. He ordered another coffee. To stay. With you.