As the days passed, Tae and Ariana found themselves spending more and more time together. Their connection deepened with each interaction, but there was still a sense of careful distance between them. Tae could see the wariness in Ariana's eyes-she was cautious, guarded, and understandably so. Her time with the Italians had left scars, both physical and emotional, and Tae knew he had to be patient with her.

One afternoon, while the others were busy with their own routines, Tae decided to take Ariana out for a walk in the nearby woods. The cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead, and the sound of birds chirping filled the air as they strolled along a secluded path.

"How are you feeling today?" Tae asked, his voice gentle as he glanced at Ariana beside him. She looked peaceful but thoughtful, her gaze focused on the trees in front of them.

"I'm doing better," Ariana replied after a moment. "It's been nice to just... exist without constantly looking over my shoulder."

Tae nodded. "I'm glad you feel that way. You deserve to feel safe."

Ariana smiled softly at his words, though a hint of sadness lingered in her eyes. "It's strange, you know? I spent so much time being afraid, constantly worrying about what was going to happen next. And now that I'm free... I don't know how to feel."

"You'll figure it out," Tae reassured her. "You've been through hell, but you're stronger than you think."

Ariana stopped walking for a moment and looked up at him, her expression vulnerable. "You really think I'm strong?"

Tae met her gaze, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I know you are. You survived something that most people wouldn't. And you didn't break."

Ariana swallowed hard, blinking back tears that threatened to fall. She hadn't expected Tae to understand her pain the way he did. Most people either pitied her or treated her like she was fragile, but Tae saw her differently. He saw her strength, even when she couldn't see it herself.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Tae reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "You don't have to thank me, Ariana. I'm just telling you the truth."

They continued walking, hand in hand, neither of them speaking as they enjoyed the comfortable silence between them. It wasn't until they reached a small clearing that Tae stopped, turning to face her.

"There's something I want to ask you," he said, his tone suddenly serious.

Ariana tilted her head, curious. "What is it?"

Tae hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I've been thinking a lot about us... about where this is going. I know you've been through a lot, and I don't want to rush you or push you into something you're not ready for. But I need to know if you feel the same way I do."

Ariana's heart raced in her chest. She had been avoiding this conversation, unsure of how to express the conflicting emotions swirling inside her. She cared about Tae-there was no denying that-but she was still healing, still trying to find her footing in a world that had changed so much.

"I do care about you," she admitted, her voice soft. "More than I thought I would. But I'm scared, Tae. I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," Tae said firmly. "Whatever you're afraid of, we can face it together. I'm not going anywhere, Ariana. I'll wait as long as it takes."

Ariana looked up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "How can you be so sure? How can you be so patient?"

Tae smiled, his expression warm and reassuring. "Because you're worth it. You're worth every second of waiting."

Ariana's breath caught in her throat at his words. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. Tae wasn't just kind-he was genuine. He didn't just want to be with her; he wanted to be there for her, to support her through her healing, no matter how long it took.

Without thinking, Ariana stepped closer to him, resting her head against his chest. Tae wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as they stood in the clearing, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of nature.

For the first time in a long time, Ariana felt safe. Truly safe.

---

Over the next few weeks, Tae continued to be a constant presence in Ariana's life. He helped her with the bakery, ran errands with her, and spent countless hours simply talking and laughing with her. Their bond grew stronger with each passing day, and though they hadn't officially labeled their relationship, there was an unspoken understanding between them.

One evening, after a long day of helping Ariana bake for a large order, Tae invited her to his room to relax. They sat together on the couch, sipping tea as they talked about their plans for the future.

"Do you ever think about what's next?" Ariana asked, her voice soft as she curled up beside him.

Tae smiled, glancing down at her. "All the time. I think about what I want to do with my life, how I want to live it. And lately... a lot of those thoughts involve you."

Ariana blushed, her heart fluttering at his words. "Really?"

Tae nodded. "Yeah. I know it's still early, and we're both figuring things out. But I can't help thinking about the future... and how you fit into it."

Ariana was quiet for a moment, her mind racing with thoughts. She had been so focused on her healing, on rebuilding her life after the trauma she had endured, that she hadn't given much thought to what her future might look like. But now, sitting here with Tae, she realized that maybe-just maybe-there was room for something more.

"I think about the future too," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's hard for me to imagine it sometimes."

Tae reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You don't have to imagine it all right now. We'll take it one step at a time. Together."

Ariana smiled, her heart swelling with affection for the man beside her. Tae was everything she hadn't realized she needed-kind, patient, and understanding. And for the first time in a long time, she felt hopeful about the future.

As they sat together in comfortable silence, Tae leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. "We'll figure it out," he whispered. "One day at a time."

And for the first time since her ordeal, Ariana believed him.