Small Happiness
After laying out her memories—raw, painful, and powerful—Minah looked at all three men around her.
She slowly signed with calm clarity:
"Thank you for helping me."
Jaewook turned to the others and translated, his voice soft:
"She says thank you for helping her."
The room paused.
Then—
Hyun Soo flashed a wide grin.
"Of course!"
"We'll always help our sis-in-law."
Kang Ho choked on air, trying to smother a laugh with his sleeve.
Jaewook turned to Hyun Soo slowly. His expression was calm but deadly.
"What did you just call her?" he asked.
Hyun Soo casually sipped his tapioca drink like nothing happened.
"Mmm. Taro's really good today."
"So anyway, Kang Ho, did you see that email about tunnel mapping—"
Minah giggled softly, eyes crinkling at the edges.
She stood up, light on her feet now, and quietly began tidying the table.
She gathered the empty bubble tea cups—one with way too much whipped cream—and stacked them on the tray.
Then she gently straightened the messy spread of papers, aligning them neatly like it was second nature.
"She's cleaning our mess after helping us remember how to breathe," Kang Ho mumbled.
"She's too good for this villain-infested world." Hyunsoo added.
Jaewook watched her quietly for a moment—then stood and helped gather the rest of the cups.
"She's not alone anymore," he said simply.
And no one disagreed.
-----
As soon as they stepped into the mall, Hyun Soo beelined for the nearest bubble tea shop like it was calling his name from across dimensions.
"Brown sugar tapioca, my beloved," he whispered like a prayer.
Kang Ho, trailing behind, shook his head in defeat.
"This is your third one today."
"This is my emotional support drink, Kang Ho."
Jaewook, meanwhile, turned to Minah.
"Do you want anything from here?"
Minah looked around the shop, then shook her head politely.
She pointed down the hall—toward a popular boutique with floral window displays.
Jaewook followed her gaze and smiled.
"Do you want to look at dresses?"
Minah hesitated, then signed casually:
"Maybe."
---
From the corner, Hyun Soo and Kang Ho watched like undercover agents pretending to blend in.
> "What are we even doing here?" Hyun Soo asked between sips.
"Observing the slowest-burn romance in the history of ever," Kang Ho muttered.
"Come on, let's follow the lovebirds."
---
Inside the boutique, the lighting was warm and soft.
Racks of elegant dresses lined the walls like a pastel rainbow.
The shop clerk blinked the moment she saw Minah walk in.
"Oh my gosh… is she a model?"
Minah shyly looked away.
The woman turned to Jaewook with a grin.
"Is she your girlfriend? She's gorgeous."
Jaewook didn't miss a beat.
He shook his head slowly.
"Not yet," he said calmly.
"I'll wait until she says yes."
---
Outside the boutique…
Hyun Soo choked on his bubble tea so violently that two teenagers looked over in concern.
"DID HE JUST—"
Kang Ho dropped his phone. His face was stunned.
"That was... a full-on proposal in Jaewook-speak."
Hyun Soo:
"Do I cry? Do I scream? Do I ORDER ANOTHER DRINK?!"
Kang Ho picked up his phone in silence.
"Let's just keep walking before we explode."
---
Inside, Minah was touching the sleeve of a light blue dress.
She hadn't heard what Jaewook said.
But when she looked up at him again, something in his gaze made her heart skip.
Calm. Certain. Unshakeable.
And maybe…
She wasn't far from saying yes.
----
The curtain rustled.
Minah stepped out in the light blue dress—simple, flowing, elegant. The kind of dress that didn't scream for attention… but quietly demanded it.
Jaewook looked up.
And then—he froze.
For a moment, everything else faded.
No noise.
No crowd.
Just her.
Standing there in soft light like the memory of a dream he thought he'd forgotten.
His voice was low, steady, and a little stunned.
"It suits you."
"Do you like it?"
Minah blinked, then gave a small nod—shy, but smiling.
Jaewook turned to the shop clerk without hesitation.
"We'll take the dress."
"I'll pay."
Minah's eyes widened slightly. She instinctively raised her hands to protest—
But then paused.
And instead… she signed softly:
"Thank you."
Jaewook's eyes softened even more.
---
Outside the boutique, Kang Ho and Hyun Soo stood like two stunned bodyguards who had just witnessed the most emotionally expensive purchase of the decade.
Hyun Soo whispered:
"Did he just… buy it like it's no big deal?"
Kang Ho:
"He looked at her like she was the dress."
Hyun Soo put a hand over his chest.
"I'm not crying. I just have lactose intolerance. From the milk tea."
Kang Ho wiped a fake tear and muttered:
"We're witnessing art."
---
Back inside, Minah touched the fabric of the dress as it was folded into the boutique's luxury bag.
Jaewook stood beside her, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable—but his eyes said it all.
She's worth everything.