The sunlight hit my face, making me squint my eyes. Stretching my arms, I yawned loudly, still feeling the lingering tiredness from a restless night. As I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up, I could hear my mother's voice calling from downstairs.

"What?" I shouted back, my voice still groggy. Her response reached me faintly, "Hurry up and come downstairs! Someone's here to meet you!"

Confusion knitted my eyebrows together. Who could be here to see me so early in the morning? Pushing aside my thoughts, I quickly finished my shower, making sure to rinse off all the soap. Time was of the essence.

Wrapped in a towel, I cautiously peeked out of the bathroom, ensuring that the coast was clear. It took me less than five minutes to get dressed, wanting to make a good impression. First impressions matter, after all.

As I entered the hall, my eyes widened as they locked with a familiar face. Kim Seokjin, what are you doing here at 8 in the morning? The tension between us was palpable, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.

Breaking the awkward silence, Jin put on a fake smile and greeted, "Good morning!"

Clearing my throat, I replied, "Uh, morning." Confusion flooded my mind. I couldn't recall inviting him to my house, so how did he know my address?

Interrupting my thoughts, Jin spoke again, his voice dripping with sweetness, "Mrs. Park, we should get going now." He respectfully bowed to my mother, who returned the gesture happily. My confusion only deepened. I had no plans with Jin, so where was he taking me?

Smiling cheerfully, my mother chimed in, "Sure, have a fun date, you two!" Her clapping made me cringe. Was there something wrong with her too? As I reluctantly walked towards Jin, wearing the most confused expression, my mother elbowed me in the ribs and whispered in my ear, "Come back from your lovely date, and we will have a nice talk about who this guy is."

Oh, dear lord, save me from the impending scene.

"What the hell are you doing, Jin?" I whisper-shouted as he dragged me by the hand out of the house. All the while, I could feel my mother's burning gaze on us. As soon as the door was shut, I let out my frustration, "What is this date thing going on?"

"We are a couple, and couples go on dates, don't they?" Jin responded, unlocking his car. A mixture of surprise and annoyance surged within me. "We are only faking it, you know that very well." My face remained blank, and Jin didn't seem pleased with my reply. "Just calm down and get in. This is all for your sake," he said with a hint of frustration.

I rambled angrily, "For my sake? Just admit that you're in love with me." We both got into the car, and I struggled with my seatbelt. Jin's sudden proximity caught me off guard, and I assumed he was leaning in for a kiss. But to my embarrassment, he was simply buckling me in.

"Stop, what are you doing?" I stammered, feeling my face flush. Jin's response was teasing, "Buckling you in, dumbass." The click of the seatbelt echoed in the car, mocking my earlier assumptions. Oh, Y/n, why do you always make a fool out of yourself?

As the engine roared to life, our long drive commenced. I continued to ramble, annoyed by his actions. "Bitch, who even told you to come straight to my house?" I rolled my eyes, frustration simmering within me. "You could have asked me before doing so. You have no idea how mad my mother must be."

"Yeah, my bad," Jin admitted, his hand casually resting on my thigh. "I'll take note of that to avoid trouble next time." My anger boiled over, and I angrily pushed his hand away, muttering, "Oh honey, there will not be a next time."

"Y/n, you're so feisty," he snickered, once again placing his hand on my thigh. This time, I chose not to react, ignoring his attempts to provoke me. "Go fuck yourself," I muttered under my breath, my gaze fixed out the window as I silently passed the time, avoiding his irritating antics.

Finally, we arrived at the café. The tantalizing aroma of coffee enveloped the entire space. A friendly waitress approached us with a warm smile, ready to take our orders. Jin quickly glanced at the menu and ordered an egg roll with mint soup, and I followed suit, trusting his judgment.

"Alright, I'll get your orders within 15 minutes," the waitress said before walking away, still wearing her pleasant smile. I found myself marveling at the existence of such charming cafes on the vibrant streets of Seoul. Being confined by my strict parents, I rarely ventured out, unaware of the hidden gems that surrounded me.

Turning his attention to me, Jin leaned back in his chair and asked, "So, how do you like it?" I returned a small smile, replying, "It's cool." My gaze wandered around the café, noticing the presence of many young couples, deep in conversation and shared moments.

"They come here often for breakfast," Jin explained, catching my gaze lingering on the other couples. "The Rainbow Street is mostly occupied by couples. It's a popular spot." I nodded in understanding, finally realizing the reason behind the romantic atmosphere.

Curiosity piqued, Jin continued, "Did you visit such places often in Busan?" My face fell at the question. "Not quite often. I wasn't allowed to go unless my two best friends came along."

Understanding my predicament, Jin sympathetically replied, "Oh, that's understandable." A slight laugh escaped his lips, lightening the mood. My eyes continued to roam the café until they stopped at the sight of someone entering. "What is Jisoo doing here?" I whispered to myself, noticing Jin's gaze also shifting in that direction.

"Oh, Y/n!" Jisoo exclaimed in delight as she approached our table, a tight smile on her face. While she acted thrilled to see me, it was evident that her attention was mostly on Jin. I knew she wasn't standing in front of me just to meet me; she was here for Jin.

"Hey, Jisoo," I replied plainly, not giving her the reaction she desired. Rosé, who accompanied Jisoo, stood there awkwardly, aware that Jisoo's intentions were to ruin our 'date.' Sensing the tension, Rosé attempted to defuse the situation, suggesting that they continue with their plans and let us enjoy our date.

Jisoo dismissed Rosé's suggestion with a laugh, patting the chair beside her. "I'm sure Y/n doesn't mind, right, Y/n?" She locked her gaze with mine as I shook my head, blindly complying with her demand. I disliked how she always wanted things to go her way, behaving like a child throwing tantrums over an expensive toy.

"Yes, thank you very much," Jisoo muttered, while keeping her gaze down, scanning the menu. I shifted my attention to Jin, who sat beside me with clenched fists, clearly unimpressed by Jisoo's sudden intrusion. I understood why he felt that way—it was too early in the morning for her to be disrupting our time together.

With Jisoo mindlessly babbling away, I tried my best to salvage the atmosphere of our supposed date. But time seemed to drag on, the awkwardness at the table growing with each passing moment.

---

"Why was it so hard for you to not invite her?" Jin's face contorted with anger as he expressed his frustration. "You let her touch me all over! You could have asked her to stop!"

Frustration welled up within me as I retorted, my voice rising in response, "Jin, you're a grown man. Learn to stand up for yourself." The tension in the car intensified. "It doesn't matter. Some random girl decides to ruin our date and flirt with my supposed boyfriend, and you want me to do nothing about it?"

I turned away from him, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze. "We're not in an actual relationship. Why do you keep forgetting that?" The silence that followed was suffocating. Not a word passed between us as we continued the drive back home, my gaze occasionally flicking towards him, but his expression remained unchanged.

Jin's jaw was clenched, his nostrils flaring, and his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel too tightly. The car ride back home felt painfully awkward, with an invisible wall separating us. I wanted to apologize for my outburst, to mend the fragile connection between us, but the words caught in my throat.

"I'm sorry if I was too harsh," I finally mumbled, my voice barely audible. But even that small attempt at reconciliation didn't seem to affect Jin. He continued to drive in silence, not looking at me. His only response was a cold, "It's okay."

I shot him a disappointed look, hoping for a more heartfelt response, but it was met with the same unyielding gaze. Deflated, I sighed and turned my attention back to the passing scenery, relieved when my house finally came into view.

As the car's tires screeched on the pavement, I glanced at Jin one last time. "I'll see you tomorrow, right?" His gaze finally shifted up to meet mine, and he gave a barely perceptible nod.

With a heavy heart, I got out of the car, feeling the weight of our unresolved tension lingering in the air. I watched as Jin drove off, his retreating figure leaving me with a mix of confusion and longing. Why did my words hurt him so deeply?

---