Chapter 38: Ryu Taesan

The airport was bustling with early morning travelers, the steady hum of conversations and the rolling of suitcases filling the air. But none of it mattered. Because I was waiting for her. I checked the time on my watch, exhaling slowly. Then— I saw her. And my heart pounded harder than it should. Sera walked toward me, effortlessly blending into the crowd, yet standing out in a way only she could. She wore a simple half-sleeve shirt and cargo pants, her hair tied up loosely, her steps unhurried. She always dressed comfortably for long journeys. She had told me that once—years ago. And I remembered. I always remembered. A small smirk tugged at my lips as I glanced down at my own outfit—similar to hers. A half-sleeve black shirt, cargo pants, sneakers. I had known she would wear something like this. And somehow, I had unconsciously matched her. Sera reached me, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. Before she could say anything, I reached forward and took both her bag and luggage from her. She blinked, startled. "Taesan—"

"I got it," I said simply.

She hesitated. "I can carry my own things."

I raised an eyebrow, effortlessly holding onto her luggage. "I know you can. But I won't let you."

Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to argue, but then she sighed, shaking her head. "Still the same."

I smirked. "You too."

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the small smile she tried to hide. For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us felt different here—outside the office. Without the weight of professionalism between us, the walls we had carefully built felt thinner. And maybe that's why—

Instead of calling her Miss Yoon, I just said, "Sera."

She looked up at me, surprised for half a second. Then, she smiled faintly. "Taesan."

I liked how my name sounded when she said it. Natural. Familiar. Like we had never been apart. Like nothing had changed. But we both knew— Everything had.

The plane hummed softly as it cruised through the sky, the cabin lights dimmed to a warm glow. Most passengers had settled in, some lost in movies, others flipping through books or typing away on their laptops. Beside me, Sera had been quiet for a while. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Her posture had relaxed, her breathing steady, her eyelids drooping slightly. She was trying to stay awake, but I knew better. And then— Her head tilted. Fell gently onto my shoulder. I froze. For a moment, I didn't move. I barely breathed.The warmth of her skin against mine, the soft scent of her shampoo—it was all too familiar. Too much like the past. I swallowed, my fingers curling slightly against my lap. Eight years. Eight years since I had last been this close to her. Eight years since I had touched her. I glanced down at her hand, resting lightly between us. And before I could stop myself, before I could think about what I was doing— I reached out. Slowly. Carefully. I let my fingers brush against hers, then slipped my hand into hers, my grip firm but gentle. She didn't stir. Didn't pull away. I exhaled quietly, my thumb brushing against the back of her hand. I had no right to hold her like this. No right to want this. But for now—for this moment—I let myself be selfish. Just this once. A soft movement caught my attention. I looked up. The flight attendant had approached our seats, a polite smile on her face. She was about to ask if we needed anything when her gaze flickered to Sera, peacefully asleep against my shoulder. I raised a hand slightly, giving her a silent sign. She's sleeping. She blinked, then smiled knowingly. With a small nod, she turned and walked away without another word. I let out a slow breath, adjusting slightly in my seat. Sera's hand was still in mine. And for the first time in Eight years— I felt at peace.

The announcement of our arrival echoed through the cabin, pulling me from the quiet trance I had been in. The plane was descending, the city lights of London twinkling below us. The long flight was finally coming to an end.

I glanced down at Sera.

She was still asleep, her head resting against my shoulder, her breathing soft and steady. Her fingers were still loosely intertwined with mine, as if they had never let go.

A part of me didn't want to wake her up.

But the moment the plane jolted slightly upon landing, she stirred.

Her eyelashes fluttered, her brows furrowing slightly before she slowly opened her eyes.

For a brief second, she looked up at me, still caught between sleep and reality.

And then—

She realized.

Her body tensed slightly, and her gaze flickered down to our hands.

I didn't move.

Didn't let go.

Her lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. A soft blush dusted her cheeks as she quickly pulled her hand away, sitting up straight.

"I—" she started, clearing her throat. "Did I sleep the whole flight?"

I smirked, stretching slightly. "Almost."

She bit her lip, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, clearly flustered. "You should've woken me up."

"And miss the opportunity to let you use me as a pillow?" I teased. "No chance."

She shot me a glare, but the pink in her cheeks betrayed her.

I unbuckled my seatbelt as the final announcement played overhead. "Come on, we should get going."

Sera nodded quickly, clearly eager to change the subject.

As the passengers slowly began to disembark, I reached for her luggage before she could. She opened her mouth to protest, but I silenced her with a pointed look.

She sighed but didn't argue this time. The moment we stepped out of the plane, the cool London air greeted us. The airport was buzzing with movement, people coming and going, but my focus remained on Sera as we walked toward baggage claim.

She stretched her arms slightly, still drowsy from the flight.

"You're not used to long flights anymore, huh?" I asked.

She glanced at me, rolling her shoulders. "I forgot how exhausting they are."

I chuckled. "You looked comfortable enough to me."

She narrowed her eyes. "Forget everything that happened on the plane."

I smirked. "Not a chance."

Her glare deepened, but she quickly looked away, pretending to focus on something else. I watched her, my expression softening. We had just arrived, and yet— I already knew. This trip was going to change everything.

The streets of London stretched before us, bathed in the golden glow of streetlights. The air was crisp, carrying the familiar scent of rain-soaked pavement. I tightened my grip on the luggage handle as I followed Sera toward the taxi stand.

She walked ahead of me with confidence, weaving through the crowd like she belonged here. Of course, she did. She had lived here for years. But what surprised me was just how effortlessly she navigated the streets.

As soon as we got into the taxi, she leaned forward, giving the driver a location. "Take us to the Briarwood Hotel."

I raised an eyebrow. She even knows where to stay?

"You know London better than I expected," I mused.

She glanced at me, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, I lived here, remember?"

"I do," I said, watching her. Too well.

The taxi started moving, weaving through the streets. I sat back, my eyes flickering between Sera and the passing cityscape. I had been to London before, but this time, it felt different.

Because she was here.

Because I wasn't alone.

The ride was silent for a while, just the soft sound of the radio playing in the background. Sera shifted slightly, rubbing her arms. I noticed.

Without a word, I shrugged off my jacket and placed it over her shoulders.

She stiffened. "Taesan—"

"Just wear it," I cut in, not looking at her.

She hesitated but eventually pulled it tighter around herself. "Thanks," she murmured.

I smirked. "You always forget how cold it gets at night."

She turned to me, surprised. "You remember that?"

I met her gaze. "I remember everything."

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't say anything.

She looked away first.

I let out a quiet chuckle, satisfied.

—

When we arrived at the Briarwood Hotel, the grand building loomed above us, its lights warm and inviting. Sera quickly stepped out of the taxi, adjusting my jacket around her shoulders, and led the way inside.

The hotel lobby was luxurious yet cozy, the scent of fresh flowers lingering in the air. Sera approached the reception desk confidently.

"Reservation under Yoon Sera and Ryu Taesan," she said.

The receptionist typed something on the computer, her brows furrowing slightly. "Ah, Miss Yoon… I'm afraid we have a small issue."

Sera and I exchanged glances. "Issue?" she asked.

The receptionist gave us an apologetic smile. "We only have one room left. A deluxe suite, but with one bed."

I felt Sera stiffen beside me.

She turned to me instantly, already looking for another option. "We should find another hotel."

I cut her off smoothly. "No."

She blinked. "What?"

I turned back to the receptionist, keeping my expression calm and professional. "It's fine. We'll take the room."

Sera grabbed my arm. "Taesan, we should—"

"It's close to Solace," I said firmly, meeting her eyes. "This is the best option."

Her lips parted in disbelief. "But there's only one bed."

I smirked slightly. "Are you worried about that?"

She scoffed, pulling her hand away. "That's not the point—"

"I can sleep on the floor," I said smoothly.

Her eyes narrowed. "Still—"

"We're not wasting time switching hotels," I interrupted, signing the check-in papers. "We have work to do, Sera. And I'm not carrying your luggage all over London."

She let out a frustrated sigh, clearly realizing she had no way out of this.

The receptionist, hiding a smile, handed me the key.

"Enjoy your stay, Mr. Ryu, Miss Yoon."

—

The moment I pushed open the hotel room door, Sera marched in, clearly still irritated.

She turned to face me, arms crossed. "You planned this, didn't you?"

I leaned against the door, smirking. "I wish I was that lucky."

She threw me a glare, but I could see the slight pink on her cheeks.

The room itself was spacious and modern, with large windows overlooking the city. The problem?

The massive king-sized bed in the center.

Sera's eyes darted to it, then back to me.

I chuckled. "Relax, Sera." I walked over to the couch, dropping my bag. "I did say I'd sleep on the floor."

She exhaled, rubbing her temples. "I swear, you enjoy making my life difficult."

I smirked. "A little bit."

She turned away, pretending to ignore me as she started unpacking. I watched her, amused.

Then, without thinking, I said, "You smell like coffee. You even drank coffee in the car, you love it so much i guess."

She froze mid-motion.

Slowly, she turned, confused. "What?"

I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. "Your lips," I murmured, reaching out without hesitation.

She stilled as my thumb gently wiped the faint stain of coffee from the corner of her mouth.

Her breath caught.

I took my time, brushing the soft skin before finally pulling away.

"Miss Yoon," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "make sure no one else sees you like this except me."

Her eyes widened, her breath uneven.

I leaned in slightly, my gaze locked onto hers.

"I'd hate it if anyone else did."

Her face turned completely red.

She jerked away instantly, grabbing a pillow from the bed and throwing it at me.

I caught it easily, laughing. "That's not very professional of you."

"Neither is this!" she snapped, glaring at me as she stormed off toward the bathroom.

I smirked, dropping onto the couch, watching her disappear inside.

She was so easy to fluster.

And God, I loved it.

Sera disappeared into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her as if that would somehow erase what just happened.

I smirked, shaking my head as I dropped onto the couch.

She was still the same. Still so easy to fluster.

The sound of running water filled the room as I leaned back, stretching my arms behind my head. My mind replayed the moment from earlier—the way her breath had hitched when I touched her, the way her lips parted in shock, the way her entire face turned red.

She had no idea how much I enjoyed seeing her like that.

I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly.

What are you doing, Taesan?

I was pushing her. Testing her limits.

I told myself it was just a game, just harmless teasing. But deep down, I knew the truth.

I didn't just want to tease her.

I wanted her.

Eight years of distance hadn't changed a damn thing.

The sound of the bathroom door unlocking snapped me out of my thoughts.

I opened my eyes just as Sera stepped out, steam rolling from behind her.

And my breath caught.

She was dressed in a simple oversized sweater and shorts, her damp hair falling over her shoulders, strands sticking to her skin. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat of the shower, her skin glowing under the warm hotel lighting.

She looked… beautiful.

She rubbed a towel over her hair, then paused when she noticed me watching her.

Her brows furrowed. "Don't look at me like that."

I smirked, tilting my head. "Like what?"

Her glare deepened. "Like you—like you're thinking something weird."

I chuckled. "I didn't say anything."

"You don't have to," she muttered, turning away, clearly flustered.

I stood up, grabbing my towel. "Relax, Miss Yoon. I'm just appreciating the view."

Her face turned even redder. "Just go take your shower!"

I laughed but didn't push further. Not yet.

I walked past her, my shoulder brushing lightly against hers as I entered the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

—

By the time I stepped out of the shower, dressed in a casual T-shirt and sweatpants, Sera was sitting on the edge of the bed, scrolling through her phone.

Her stomach suddenly let out a quiet growl.

She froze.

I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Hungry?"

She cleared her throat, setting her phone down. "I—I forgot to eat on the plane."

I grabbed my jacket. "Let's go."

She blinked. "Go where?"

"Dinner," I said simply.

Her eyes widened. "It's almost midnight."

"And?" I shrugged. "You think I'm going to let you starve?"

She hesitated, clearly debating whether to argue.

Then, finally, she sighed in defeat and got up, grabbing her own jacket.

As we stepped out of the room and headed toward the hotel restaurant, I glanced at her and smirked.

"What?" she asked warily.

I slid my hands into my pockets. "Nothing. Just… this almost feels like a date."

She rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.

The hotel restaurant was nearly empty at this late hour, the soft hum of jazz music playing in the background. The warm lighting cast a golden glow over the elegantly set tables, and the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air.

Sera sat across from me, her fingers playing idly with the edge of her napkin as she looked down at the menu.

"I didn't expect to be eating dinner at midnight," she murmured.

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "Well, you're the one who forgot to eat on the plane."

She shot me a look but didn't argue.

After ordering, we fell into a surprisingly comfortable silence, the occasional clinking of silverware and quiet chatter from the few other diners filling the space between us.

When our food arrived, she sighed in contentment, taking the first bite. Her eyes fluttered shut briefly, a small smile appearing on her lips.

I watched her, resting my chin on my hand.

She always had this little habit—closing her eyes whenever she tasted something she really liked. I had seen it before. I had memorized it before.

And even after all these years, it was still the same.

"You like it?" I asked.

She nodded, swallowing. "I love food."

I chuckled. "I remember."

Her expression faltered slightly at my words, her fork pausing midair.

She looked at me for a moment, as if trying to figure out whether I had meant to say that.

I did.

Because I still remembered everything about her.

—

After dinner, we stepped out of the restaurant, the cool London air brushing against us. The streets were quiet, the city lights reflecting off the damp pavement from an earlier drizzle.

We walked side by side, our steps falling into an easy rhythm.

Then, out of nowhere, I said, "I'm still hungry."

Sera turned her head, her brows knitting together in concern. "Then… we can eat now."

She sounded serious, as if she were already thinking of another place to grab food.

Then, she quickly corrected herself, "I mean, dessert. We can have dessert somewhere."

I smirked, tilting my head. "Yes, dessert would be good."

I took a step closer, watching the way her breath hitched slightly.

"And I can have it right now."

Before she could react, I leaned in, closing the space between us.

And then—

I kissed her.

Her lips were soft, warm, and for a split second, I felt her stiffen in shock.

But then—

She melted.

She placed her hands on my shoulders, grounding herself, letting herself lean into me.

My fingers found their way to her waist, pulling her closer.

The city around us faded into nothing. There was only her.

Only this.

We pulled away just slightly, our breaths mingling in the cold air. Her eyes searched mine, uncertain, vulnerable.

I exhaled softly, brushing my thumb over her cheek. "I hate that I love you so much."

She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I'm sorry."

I smirked, my fingers tracing the side of her jaw. "I've already forgiven you."

Her eyes widened slightly.

I leaned in again, my lips barely a breath away from hers.

"Because my personal dessert is so sweet."

A soft, shaky laugh left her lips. And then—

I kissed her again.

This time, it wasn't rushed.

It was slow, deep—filled with everything I had wanted to say for years but never could.

She kissed me back just as gently, her fingers curling against the fabric of my shirt.

We stood there for a long time, lost in each other, in the quiet of the empty street, in the soft glow of the streetlights.

No past. No future. Just us.