Chapter 53: Me Too

The kiss deepened, soft and searching, like they were both trying to catch up to something long overdue. Ji-Ah's heart pounded, but it didn't feel frantic. It felt like relief, like finally being able to breathe after holding her breath for far too long.

When they pulled away, their foreheads rested together, both of them a little out of breath.

Evelyn smiled, her hands gently cupping Ji-Ah's face. "I didn't think you'd be the one to make the first move."

Ji-Ah smirked, feeling a new, bold kind of warmth spread through her. "You were taking too long. I figured I'd save you the trouble."

Evelyn chuckled, the sound low and pleased. "Well, I'm glad you did."

For a moment, they just stood there, not speaking, not needing to. The space between them felt different now, charged with something new. It was as if a line had been crossed, and neither of them was thinking about going back.

Ji-Ah shifted, suddenly aware of the silence that had settled over them, the weight of everything unspoken. "So… what now?" she asked, her voice a little uncertain despite herself.

Evelyn didn't hesitate. "Now we figure it out," she said softly. "Together."

Ji-Ah felt a small knot in her chest loosen. It was strange, this feeling of being tethered to someone else in a way that made everything else seem less important. Like nothing else could matter as much as this.

They stayed close, not speaking for a while, just taking in the newness of what they were sharing. The city outside seemed so far away, as if the rest of the world had quieted down to make space for them.

Ji-Ah finally broke the silence. "I don't want to mess this up," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Evelyn's eyes softened, and she stepped back just enough to look at Ji-Ah, her hand still resting lightly on Ji-Ah's arm. "You won't," she reassured her. "We both want this, don't we?"

Ji-Ah nodded. "Yeah. But I'm not used to—this. To not holding back."

Evelyn smiled, her thumb brushing over Ji-Ah's wrist in a gentle motion. "You don't have to hold back with me, Ji-Ah. Not anymore."

A laugh bubbled up from Ji-Ah's throat, light and relieved. "It's kind of terrifying, you know?"

Evelyn's grin widened, and she leaned in again, this time pressing a quick kiss to Ji-Ah's lips. "I know. But I promise, terrifying can be fun sometimes."

Ji-Ah's heart fluttered at the simplicity of it all. The chaos and the noise of everything else seemed to fade into the background. This was real. This was them.

"So," Evelyn said, pulling away just enough to meet Ji-Ah's eyes again, "we going to spend the rest of the night figuring this out, or…?"

Ji-Ah smiled, feeling the lightness of the moment. "I think I'm already figuring it out."

Evelyn chuckled and pulled her closer. "Good. Me too."