As they sat together in the cozy kitchen, the warm sunlight spilling through the windows, Rosalia couldn’t help but let her mind wander back to their school days. She found herself grinning at Jimin, who was busy rinsing off the dishes. “You know,” she began, her voice light and teasing, “I always thought you were so adorable back in school. You were that cute chubby boy who had the biggest heart.”

Jimin paused, turning to face her, a hint of pink rising to his cheeks. “Adorable? Me?” he asked, feigning disbelief, but a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I didn’t think anyone noticed me back then, let alone thought I was adorable.”

“Oh, come on! You were the sweetest,” she insisted, leaning back against the counter, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. “You were always so caring and kind. It’s no wonder you had secret admirers. You were the one everyone felt safe around.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I was just trying to get through school without being bullied too much. But I’m glad you remember the good parts.”

Rosalia bit her lip, her gaze dropping to her hands. “I remember everything,” she murmured softly, and then glanced back up at him, her cheeks warming. “I’m just surprised at how much you’ve changed. I mean, look at you now! I’m sure you’ve got a six-pack or an eight-pack hidden under that shirt.”

Jimin laughed, a sound that warmed her heart. “I don’t know about that. I just put in a lot of work at the gym after high school. I wanted to feel more confident.”

“You definitely look confident,” she remarked, her gaze lingering on him. “I can see that you’ve grown into a really amazing person, Jimin. It’s inspiring.”

He smiled at her praise, a genuine warmth in his eyes. “Thanks, Rosalia. That means a lot coming from you.”

As they finished cleaning up, Jimin leaned against the counter, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “You know, I still remember the time I got that one chocolate box. The one that had all those heartfelt notes inside it.”

Rosalia’s heart skipped a beat. She had been waiting for this moment, the chance to reveal her secret. “Oh? What happened with that?”

“I never found out who sent it,” he said, his voice growing wistful. “It was during Valentine’s Day, and it was filled with little encouraging notes. They really helped me get through those tough days. But I never knew who was behind it.”

Rosalia’s breath caught in her throat as she felt her cheeks heat up. She remembered that day all too clearly—the careful selection of chocolates, the notes filled with encouragement and admiration for him. It had been her secret way of showing him that someone cared, even if she couldn’t gather the courage to approach him directly.

“Jimin,” she said hesitantly, her heart racing, “that was me.”

His eyes widened in surprise, and she could see the wheels turning in his head. “Wait, what? You sent that?”

“Yeah,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I always thought you were so sweet, and I wanted you to know that someone believed in you. But I was too shy to tell you myself.”

“Wow,” he replied, a look of astonishment on his face. “I had no idea! I thought it was some anonymous admirer.”

Rosalia laughed nervously, the tension in the room shifting to something lighter. “Well, I guess you could say I was your secret admirer for a long time.”

His expression softened, and he stepped a little closer, his gaze locked onto hers. “You had a crush on me?”

“I did,” she confessed, her cheeks burning. “Even though I was the popular girl, I was waiting for you. I never dated anyone in school because I always hoped that you would notice me.”

Jimin’s eyes widened, and he looked genuinely flabbergasted. “Really? I never would have guessed. I just assumed you had everyone at your feet.”

Rosalia shrugged, a shy smile on her face. “I wasn’t interested in anyone but you. I thought you were amazing, and I admired how hardworking and kind you were. I wanted you to see me, but it felt impossible.”

For a moment, they simply stood there, the weight of their confessions settling around them like a comforting blanket. The connection that had always been there now felt stronger, more vibrant, charged with all the things left unsaid over the years.

“Wow,” Jimin said again, shaking his head as if trying to process this newfound information. “I can’t believe I missed that. You were so far out of my league in school; I never even considered it.”

“Why do you think I kept it a secret?” she replied, her voice laced with laughter. “I thought I’d just be another name on your list of admirers.”

“More like the only name on my heart,” he shot back, his tone teasing but with an undercurrent of sincerity that made her heart race.

Rosalia felt her breath catch as she stared into his eyes, the air between them thick with unspoken possibilities. “I really liked you, Jimin,” she said softly, the vulnerability of her admission hanging in the air. “I still do.”

He stepped closer, the warmth of his presence enveloping her. “You have no idea how much I wanted to be noticed by you. I thought you were beautiful, and every time I saw you with someone else, it broke my heart a little.”

“Then why didn’t you ever say anything?” she pressed, her heart pounding in her chest.

“I was scared,” he admitted, his voice low and sincere. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up. You were so popular, and I was just the shy, chubby kid who didn’t think he stood a chance. But now…” He trailed off, his gaze penetrating.

“Now what?” she prompted, her heart racing as she held her breath.

“Now I think I might be ready to try,” he said, a soft smile breaking across his face. “If you’re still interested, of course.”

Rosalia felt her heart soar at his words. “I am,” she replied without hesitation. “I want to explore this with you, Jimin. I want to see where it goes.”

Jimin’s expression shifted, a glimmer of hope lighting up his features. “Really? You’re serious?”

“Absolutely,” she said, feeling her excitement bubble over. “I’ve wanted this for so long, and I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”

“Then let’s not waste any more time,” he said, taking her hands in his, his touch sending sparks through her. “I’d love to take you out for coffee, maybe even a proper date?”

Rosalia nodded, her heart racing at the thought. “I’d love that. I think we should take this chance together.”

He beamed at her, the radiant smile illuminating his face. “Great! Let’s make it a plan then.”

As they stood there, hands intertwined, the world around them faded away. They were no longer just the shy kids from school; they were two adults ready to explore the depths of their feelings for one another.

The kitchen, once filled with lingering remnants of worry and confusion, now felt like a sanctuary of new beginnings. Rosalia couldn’t help but feel excited about the future that lay ahead of them, a journey filled with possibilities, laughter, and love.

As they shared smiles and laughter, Rosalia knew that this was just the beginning of something beautiful, something they both had been waiting for all along. Together, they would navigate the unknown, their hearts open to whatever lay ahead.