Author pov:

The old man made his way to the basement, each step slow and deliberate. The dim light barely illuminated the dusty space filled with remnants of a life once lived. He reached a wooden box in the corner and gently lifted it.

He went up, leaving the basement behind, the box in his hands. The box, marked as 주하류크 (Juharyuk).

He settled into his favorite old chair, the leather creaking under his weight. Opening the box, he was greeted by the faint smell of old paper and memories.

Inside, there were love letters, an old diary, a hair clip, and an ancient phone. Each item held a story, a piece of a past that was both bittersweet and beautiful.

He powered on the phone, the screen flickering to life. The wallpaper was a photo of His first love,her smile as radiant as he remembered. It was a picture he had taken, a moment frozen in time.

The TV in the background played a news segment. "Why did Jungkook give up on his career? Why did he donate all his money? He disappeared. He's nowhere to be seen. Where is he?" The questions echoed in the room, but he paid them little mind.

As he sat reminiscing, the door creaked open, and the kids rushed in. They had been playing outside but were drawn back by their curiosity. "Grandpa! Grandpa! Tell us more about Ha-rin and Jungkook!" they chorused, their eyes wide with anticipation.

He smiled, patting the seat beside him. "Alright, come here, and I'll continue the story."

The children gathered around, their excitement palpable. "So, where did we leave off?" he asked, even though he knew very well.

"Ha-rin was crying because Jungkook loves her," one of the kids piped up.

"Ah, yes," he nodded. "Well, you see, after Ha-rin ran to find Jungkook, soaking wet from the rain, she found him in the park..."

The children's eyes widened, hanging on to every word. "What happened then, Grandpa?"

"She ran up to him and, without a second thought, she said, 'Marry me or go and die. You have two options, decide.' Jungkook, soaked to the bone, looked at her and said, 'I will marry you because marrying you is like dying.' And then..."

"And then what?" another child asked breathlessly.

"He hugged her tightly, shushing her cries, and then he kissed her," he continued, his voice soft with nostalgia. "They danced in the rain, enjoying their love in the symphony of the storm."

The kids sighed dreamily, enraptured by the romance. "Did they live happily ever after, Grandpa?" one of them asked.

He looked at the old phone in his hand, the picture of Ha-rin still smiling at him. "Yes," he whispered, "they did, in their own way."

The room fell silent as the old man closed the box, sealing away the memories once more. "And that, my dear children, is the story of my first and last love, 주하류크 (Juharyuk)."

"But Grandpa," one child asked, "if they were so happy, why did they part?"

𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃

Ha-rin pov:

I stood in front of the mirror, my hands trembling slightly as I applied the final touches of makeup. Today was the day. My first date with Jungkook. My heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves.

"Come on, Ha-rin," I muttered to my reflection. "You’ve got this. It’s just a date. Just a perfect date with the most perfect guy."

I glanced at the clock. I had about thirty minutes before I needed to leave. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. I smoothed down my dress, a light bue sundress that I hoped would be just right. Not too casual, not too formal.

I grabbed my phone and checked for any messages. Nothing new from Jungkook, but that was fine. We had already confirmed our plans. I smiled to myself, remembering the way he had asked me out, his voice a mix of confidence and shyness.

"Ha-rin," my mom called from downstairs. "Are you ready yet? Jungkook will be here soon."

Almost, Mom!" I replied, giving myself one last look in the mirror. "You look good," I told myself. "He’s going to love it."

I headed downstairs, my heels clicking on the wooden steps.

My mom was waiting for me in the living room, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You look beautiful, sweetheart," she said, giving me a quick hug.

I felt my cheeks flush with warmth. "Thanks, Mom," I said, returning her hug.

"Are you nervous?" she asked, her smile kind and knowing.

"A little," I admitted, smoothing down my dress again. "But I’m more excited than anything."

"That’s my girl," she said, giving me an encouraging pat on the back. "Just be yourself, and everything will be perfect."

Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. My heart skipped a beat. "That must be him," I whispered, feeling the butterflies in my stomach multiply.

Mom gave me a reassuring nod. "Go on, I’ll get the door." She walked over and opened it, revealing Jungkook standing there with a bouquet of flowers in hand.

He looked amazing, wearing a white shirt and black pants, his hair neatly styled. He smiled when he saw me, his eyes lighting up. "Hi, Ha-rin," he said, stepping inside and handing me the flowers. "These are for you."

"Thank you, Jungkook," I said, blushing even more as I took the bouquet. "They’re beautiful."

"You ready to go?" he asked, his smile making my heart race even faster.

"Yeah, I’m ready," I replied, giving my mom one last look. She nodded, her eyes full of encouragement.

Jungkook offered me his arm, and I took it, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as we stepped out into the evening. This was it—the start of something new, something beautiful. And I couldn’t wait to see where it would take us.

We walked out to his car, but as Jungkook opened the door for me, a sudden wave of nerves washed over me. "Um, actually," I stammered, "could we walk instead? It's such a nice evening, and I could use the fresh air."

Jungkook looked a bit surprised but nodded with a smile. "Sure, if that's what you want."

As we started walking, I couldn't help but feel clumsy. I tripped over my own feet and laughed nervously, trying to brush it off. "I guess I’m just a little... excited."

Jungkook chuckled. "It's okay. Walking is nice. Gives us more time to talk."

"Yeah, totally," I agreed, though my mind was racing. Why was I acting so silly? I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

We walked in comfortable silence for a bit, the cool evening air doing little to calm my nerves. Every now and then, Jungkook would glance at me, making my heart race even more.

"Do you like to walk a lot?" he asked casually, breaking the silence.

"Uh, yes! I mean, sometimes. I just thought it would be nice, you know?" I replied, feeling my face heat up.

"I get it," he said with a smile. "It is a beautiful evening."

I nodded, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. "So, where are we going?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from my awkwardness.

"I made reservations at a place I think you'll love," Jungkook said, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"That sounds great," I said, though my mind was still spinning. Why did I feel so nervous around him? I took another deep breath, hoping I could get through the evening without making a complete fool of myself.

As we continued walking, Jungkook turned to me with a gentle smile. "You look beautiful tonight, Ha-rin."

My face flushed a deep red. "Thank you, Jungkook. You look great too," I managed to say, though my heart was still pounding.

We arrived at the restaurant, only to be greeted by a hostess with an apologetic expression. "I'm terribly sorry, but it seems there was a mix-up with your reservation, and we're fully booked tonight."

Jungkook frowned slightly but quickly composed himself. "That's alright. Thank you anyway." He turned to me, his smile returning. "How about we find a smaller place nearby? I know a little restaurant that's not too far."

"Sounds perfect," I said, feeling relieved.

We strolled down the street until we found a cozy little restaurant. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and a delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen. We took a seat by the window, and I felt myself starting to relax.

"This place is nice," I said, glancing around.

"It is," Jungkook agreed. "Sometimes the best places are the ones you find by accident."

We ordered our food, and as we waited, Jungkook leaned in slightly. "So, Ha-rin, tell me something about yourself that I don't know yet."

I thought for a moment, trying to come up with something interesting. "Well, I love to write. It's something I've been passionate about for years."

Jungkook's eyes lit up. "Really? What kind of things do you write?"

"Mostly stories," I said, feeling a bit shy. "I like creating different worlds and characters. It's like an escape for me."

"That's amazing," Jungkook said, genuinely impressed. "I'd love to read something you've written someday."

"Maybe," I replied with a smile, feeling my nerves start to ease. "What about you, Jungkook? What's something I don't know about you?"

He grinned. "I love painting. It's something I do to relax and clear my mind."

"Painting? That's so cool!" I exclaimed. "I'd love to see your work sometime."

"Deal," he said with a chuckle. "We'll do a trade – I'll read one of your stories, and you can see one of my paintings."

"Deal," I echoed, feeling a warm connection forming between us.

Our food arrived, and we continued to talk and laugh, sharing stories and dreams. It felt so natural, like we had known each other for much longer than we had. As the evening went on, my nerves melted away, replaced by a sense of comfort and happiness.

After dinner, Jungkook took my hand and led me to a secluded spot just outside the city. The night sky was clear, and the air was cool and crisp. We walked along a quiet path, surrounded by trees and the soft sounds of nature. It felt like we were in our own little world.

We reached a small clearing where we could stand and watch the night sky. I looked around, feeling a sense of peace and anticipation.

"Wait here for a moment," Jungkook said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

I nodded, watching as he moved a short distance away and fiddled with something in the darkness. Suddenly, the sky exploded with color as a firework shot up and burst into a dazzling display. My eyes widened in surprise and delight.

Jungkook returned to me and gently stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on my shoulder, and I could feel his breath against my neck.

"Beautiful," he murmured, but I had a feeling he wasn't talking about the fireworks. "Just like you, Ha-rin."

My heart skipped a beat, and I leaned back against him, feeling safe and cherished.

"Jungkook, this is amazing," I whispered, my voice filled with awe.

"I'm glad you like it," he replied softly. "I wanted to make tonight special for you."

We stood there, watching the fireworks light up the sky, the colors reflecting in our eyes. It felt magical, like a scene from one of my stories. After a few minutes, the fireworks began to die down, and Jungkook shifted slightly.

"I have something for you," he said, reaching into his pocket. "Close your eyes."

I did as he asked, feeling a flutter of excitement. I heard him move closer, and then I felt his hand gently sweep my hair to the side.

"Okay, open your eyes," he whispered.

I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection in the small hand mirror he held up. He had placed a beautiful hair clip in my hair, its delicate design sparkling in the moonlight.

"Jungkook," I breathed, touched by the gesture. "It's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you," he said, his voice sincere and full of emotion. "I wanted to give you something special, something that would always remind you of tonight."

I turned to face him, tears of happiness welling up in my eyes. "Thank you, Jungkook. This means so much to me."

He smiled and pulled me into a tender embrace. "You mean a lot to me, Ha-rin. More than you know."

As we stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace, I felt like time had stopped. Jungkook's warmth and the soft glow of the moonlight made everything feel perfect.
𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃

Dear readers, if you enjoyed this chapter. please don't forget to like and leave a comment. Your support and feedback mean the world to me and help me keep creating for you.

'In the shadows of the night, love blooms in the most unexpected places.'

Missing them(⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)*sobbing*