The tension between them had settled into a thick, uncomfortable silence as Hana pushed the half-eaten cake samples away, her appetite long gone. She wasn't sure what to say anymore, not after Namjoon's dismissive attitude about the entire wedding planning process. It felt like they were walking two entirely different paths, hers filled with hope and effort, while his was paved with cold indifference.

The baker returned with the final sample-a delicate white cake topped with buttercream rosettes. "This is one of our most popular options," the baker explained with a smile. "It's a vanilla chiffon cake with layers of strawberry cream and a hint of champagne in the buttercream. I saved it for last because it's a real showstopper."

Hana barely glanced at it. She had already given up on trying to get any sort of reaction from Namjoon. But she still picked up her fork out of politeness, cutting into the soft, fluffy cake and taking a small bite.

Her eyes widened as the flavors burst on her tongue. It was delicious-light, airy, with just the right balance of sweetness. She had to admit, this cake was something special. But before she could say anything, she caught movement from the corner of her eye.

Namjoon had leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the cake in front of him. There was a flicker of something in his eyes-curiosity, perhaps? Interest? He cut a piece with his fork and took a bite, his expression unreadable at first.

Then, to Hana's complete surprise, his eyes lit up.

"This one," he said, his voice suddenly filled with conviction. He took another bite, savoring the taste. "We have to have this one."

Hana blinked in shock, her own fork frozen halfway to her mouth. Was this the same Namjoon who had been indifferent to every decision so far? The same man who had dismissed every other cake as just "fine"? And yet, here he was, showing actual emotion-insisting on something for the first time.

"You really like it?" Hana asked, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.

Namjoon nodded, his gaze still fixed on the cake. "It's... good. Really good." He glanced up at her, his expression softening just slightly. "This is the one."

For a moment, Hana didn't know how to react. It was the first time she had seen Namjoon show any enthusiasm about the wedding. She felt a strange warmth spread through her, a small flicker of hope that maybe-just maybe-there was a chance they could connect on something after all.

A hesitant smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I like it too," she said softly.

The baker beamed at them, clearly pleased with their decision. "I'm so glad you both like it! I'll make a note of this for your order."

Namjoon's eyes lingered on the cake for a moment longer before he leaned back in his chair, his expression returning to its usual calm. But the difference was still there, subtle but undeniable. For the first time since they'd started planning, he had cared about something, and it wasn't just out of obligation. He had genuinely enjoyed the cake, and in that moment, he had let his guard down, even if just for a second.

Hana's heart swelled with a mixture of relief and cautious optimism. Maybe it wasn't much, but it was something-something that made her feel like they weren't completely hopeless.

---

As they left the bakery, the sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the streets. Hana walked quietly beside Namjoon, still processing the unexpected shift in his demeanor. She glanced up at him, wondering if he would say anything about what had just happened, but he remained silent, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat.

After a few minutes of walking, Namjoon cleared his throat. "I'll drop you home."

Hana blinked, caught off guard by the offer. He had never shown any interest in making sure she got home before-usually, their meetings ended with him leaving her to find her own way back.

"Oh, you don't have to," she said quickly. "I'm fine taking the bus."

But Namjoon shook his head, his tone firm but not unkind. "I'll take you. I can't have my family questioning my gentleman skills."

Hana raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. "Your gentleman skills?"

He gave a faint smirk, the closest thing to a joke she had heard from him. "Believe it or not, I do have some."

She laughed softly, the tension between them easing for the first time in days. She didn't argue further, deciding to let him do this one small thing for her. It felt like a step forward, however small.

Namjoon led her to his car, a sleek black sedan that matched his no-nonsense personality. He opened the passenger door for her, and Hana couldn't help but feel a little taken aback by the gesture. It was rare for him to go out of his way for her like this, and she found herself wondering if the cake had somehow softened his edges, even if just for the evening.

As they drove through the city streets, the soft hum of the car's engine filled the silence. Hana stole a glance at Namjoon, his profile illuminated by the passing streetlights. His expression was calm, almost thoughtful, as he focused on the road ahead.

For a moment, she debated whether to say something-something about how nice it was to see him enjoy the cake, or how she appreciated him taking her home. But she hesitated, unsure of how he would react. Their dynamic was still so fragile, and she didn't want to risk ruining the small bit of progress they had made.

Instead, she shifted in her seat and cleared her throat softly. "Thanks for coming today," she said, her voice quiet but sincere. "I know you're busy, and I appreciate you taking the time."

Namjoon's eyes flicked toward her briefly before returning to the road. He didn't respond right away, and for a moment, Hana worried that he was going to brush her off again. But then, after a pause, he spoke.

"I said I'd be there," he said simply. "It's... important."

Hana blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat at his words. It wasn't much, but the fact that he had acknowledged the importance of the wedding planning-of being there with her-meant more to her than he probably realized.

They lapsed back into silence, but this time it felt different. It wasn't the cold, awkward silence that had hung over them for the past few weeks. It was quieter, softer, almost comfortable.

As they pulled up in front of her apartment building, Namjoon put the car in park and glanced over at her. "Do you need help carrying anything inside?"

Hana shook her head, touched by the offer but not wanting to inconvenience him further. "No, I'm good. Thanks, though."

He nodded, and for a moment, they just sat there, neither of them quite sure how to end the conversation. Hana felt a strange sense of calm settle over her, the weight of their earlier tension lifting just slightly. It wasn't perfect-far from it-but for the first time, she felt like they were at least moving in the right direction.

"Goodnight, Namjoon," she said softly, reaching for the door handle.

"Goodnight, Hana," he replied, his voice just as soft.

As she stepped out of the car and walked toward her building, Hana felt a faint smile tug at her lips. It wasn't much-just a sliver of warmth in the cold distance that usually separated them-but it was enough. For the first time, she felt like there was hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make this work.

She glanced back at Namjoon as he drove away, the taillights of his car fading into the night. He was still a mystery to her, still distant in so many ways. But tonight, she had seen a glimpse of something more-a flicker of emotion, a spark of care. And that small spark was enough to keep her going, to keep trying.

Because even though Namjoon was difficult and closed-off, there was something beneath the surface-something she was starting to see. And for the first time, she felt like she wasn't alone in wanting to make this marriage more than just a formality.

As Hana stepped into her apartment, she felt a renewed sense of determination. She would keep trying, keep pushing through the cold distance between them. And maybe, if she was patient enough, they could build something real-something that wasn't just about obligations, but about understanding, respect, and maybe even love.

With that thought in mind, Hana closed the door behind her, a small but genuine smile still lingering on her lips.

Author note: So this was the fourth chapter of the series Hearts in chaos : Into the abyss. How was it? Is it captivating your minds and curiosity? If yes please do give some comments and votes, it really is motivating. Also a shoutout to -jennieverse- and TEEN_FIX for the amazing cover they made. Thanks guys for the support. Happy reading 📖