Noon stood in front of the café door for a few seconds, hesitating. He didn't know that Seen was watching him quietly through the glass, her eyes following his stillness in silence. Eventually, he forced himself to move forward, encouraging himself inwardly: It's not the first time. I've been here with her before... that night I invited her out.
He opened the door and stepped in.
The café had a warm, cozy atmosphere. The walls and furniture were made of aged brown wood, dotted with real green plants that added a touch of life—without being overbearing. Noon immediately liked the calm vibe.
He walked slowly toward the last table on the right, where Seen was already seated quietly, her beautiful black eyes fixed on him.
She gave him a gentle nod, and he approached with steady steps, even though his heart was pounding. Both of them were nervous—but the anticipation and desire for this moment were stronger than anything their calm expressions showed.
Noon pulled the chair and sat across from her. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He raised his hand to run it through his hair before finally speaking:
"How were your exams? Did they go well?"
It was a shallow question—he knew that. But he couldn't fight his habit of avoiding direct confrontation. That lazy part of him still lingered, no matter how hard he tried to escape it.
Seen smiled gently. She wasn't sure how to begin either. Just like Noon, she had spent her exam days studying hard, occasionally hanging out with a friend or two. But deep down, she knew that exams weren't what brought them here today.
She looked at him seriously, her gaze steady, and spoke in a calm tone:
"They went well."
Then she took a deep breath, her eyes deepening as they locked with his.
"And I think… I love you too. But…"
She stopped midsentence. The moment the words left her lips, Noon's chair jolted unexpectedly, nearly tipping over. He caught himself just in time and looked up at her, flustered, his face quickly turning red. Seen's heart pounded, but she pushed past her nerves and continued:
"But I have some strict conditions, and I need to tell you about them now. If you really love me, I think… you'll be okay with them. So? Do you want to hear them?"
Noon nodded seriously. Words had abandoned him; his tongue refused to move.
She said:
"First, I'm going to tell my parents about these feelings. And you should too. I don't like hiding things from my family—especially something like this."
Noon's mind froze for a moment, but she continued:
"Second, I can't enter a dating relationship. I think dating often starts because of infatuation or interest, right? You like someone, so you start dating... But to me, true love means choosing someone without hesitation and simply marrying them."
She raised an eyebrow when she saw the questioning look in his eyes, then added gently:
"But… there's a problem. I want to finish my studies. I have so many goals that might conflict with marriage. So I'm not ready for that step right now. That doesn't mean I don't love you, Noon. On the contrary… And I think you're not ready either. So... it's better to keep this love in a safe space, until we're both truly ready for a commitment. Don't you think?"
She let out a small sigh before continuing:
"And third, everything I've said doesn't mean I'm putting up walls between us—not at all. I just like to be clear from the beginning. It's the right thing to do. I don't want any misunderstandings between us. What do you think? And if you have any conditions, you can tell me."
She was serious. She had thought about this deeply and knew it might feel heavy for him—but she chose honesty over vagueness.
On the other side of the table, Noon was stunned. This was the second time Seen had surprised him like this—just like the time she pushed him to confess his feelings. And now, she was talking about marriage, family, true love… all at once. But he wasn't too shaken to respond.
He spoke in a calm voice, despite the storm within him:
"Well… to be honest like you, I never really thought of all that before. But… that doesn't mean my feelings aren't real. I just… hadn't looked at it from that angle. Hearing you now made me realize I've been a bit shallow."
He paused, then continued:
"If you really love me, I have no problem waiting, or telling our families. I don't mind any of your conditions—as long as your feelings for me are genuine. And if you're not ready for dating, that's fine too. I won't judge that."
He smiled lightly and added:
"I only have one condition… Let's always talk things through. No matter what happens, no matter what either of us does… let's talk. No bottling things up, no hiding, no piling things inside until they explode later. For me, that's the foundation of love."
He felt proud of himself in that moment—for managing to express himself, even through the nerves. Sure, he might've borrowed that last line from the protagonist of his favorite novel, but it felt perfectly fitting.
As for Seen, her expressions changed throughout the conversation—from calm, to nervous, to confident, to shy—then back to her usual composed self.
As soon as Noon finished speaking, she gave him a gentle smile and said softly:
"Alright… I agree to that too."
Noon let out a long breath, smiling, then leaned back in his chair. Seen did the same.
It had been a heavy conversation—filled with everything. For both of them, it was a defining, honest moment.
And now... they let themselves melt into the comfortable silence between them—for a few long seconds.
Suddenly, a voice came from above:
"Ahem. Sir, ma'am… Would you like to place an order?"
The young man was tall, with a kind face, shaved blond sides, and a friendly smile softening his sharp features. He wore the server's uniform and held a long order pad, clearly confirming that he worked there. From his attentive posture and the faint flush in his cheeks, it was obvious—he had been standing there for a while, overhearing their entire conversation.
When both Noon and Seen heard his voice, their faces turned bright red. They realized they'd been speaking loud enough to be overheard—and were so absorbed in their conversation, they'd forgotten the world around them.
Noon's face flushed crimson as his eyes darted quickly around the café. Seen buried her face in the table, pretending she didn't exist.
The waiter understood immediately. He gave them a gentle smile and said in a calm tone:
"It's alright. That happens a lot in our café. If you'd like, I can come back in a minute?"
Noon shyly raised his hand, and the waiter handed him the menu.
Noon ordered the coffee he had in mind, and the waiter brought it over shortly after. As time passed inside the café, silence blanketed the two. They were so shy neither spoke a word until they finished their drinks.
In the end, they decided to leave. The waiter bid them farewell with a warm smile, and the moment they stepped outside, he let out a loud chuckle:
"Ah… kids these days take things way too seriously!"
His coworker glanced at him and asked:
"You do realize… you're the same age as them, right?!"
---
Noon and Sin stepped out of the café in silence, wrapped in an aura of awkwardness.
Noon let out a frustrated sigh and grumbled,
"Damn that waiter... Why was he eavesdropping on us?!"
Sin responded with a teasing scoff and a hint of gentle annoyance,
"You're right... Because of him, I couldn't enjoy my coffee, and I burned my tongue."
Noon glanced at her pouty expression. It was a look he hadn't seen before, and it made him chuckle quietly without thinking.
Sin turned to him with a mix of embarrassment and irritation in her eyes.
Trying to change the subject quickly, Noon asked,
"So... where to next?"
Sin paused to think, pressing her palm against her chin in a cute pose.
"How about we go back to that river we visited last time?" she suggested.
Noon thought for a second, then nodded in agreement.
---
That bridge was one of the most charming spots in their cozy neighborhood. A calm river flowed beneath it, framed by soft, comforting grass.
The bridge itself was large and made of iron, confidently stretching over the water in a simple yet beautiful design.
Noon and Sin sat down on one of the grassy patches near the riverbank, far enough from the bridge that the sound of passing cars couldn't disturb them.
Sin leaned back on her hands, settling into a relaxed position as she gazed at the golden sunlight reflecting gently across the water's surface. It was a naturally beautiful scene, like a painting come to life.
Noon sat in a crouched position, looking up at the sky. The fluffy clouds glowed with the sun's golden hue, and for a moment, everything felt still.
He loved the sky—loved it with all his heart.
They sat in silence for a while, until a thought slipped out of Noon's mouth unfiltered:
"So... even someone like me... can be loved."
As soon as Sin heard his words, she quickly turned toward him, her face full of concern.
"Why would you say something like that, Noon?"
Noon didn't see the point in hiding it anymore. They were in a relationship now, and eventually, she would find out. Keeping it in was exhausting—saying it felt much easier.
"Well... I just never expected anyone to return my feelings. I didn't think it was possible."
Her smile faded, and a soft shadow crossed her eyes.
"Why would you think that?"
He answered calmly,
"I'm not special in any way. It's just... something deep inside me always whispered that I didn't deserve it. I didn't do anything to earn it. Or maybe... maybe I still can't believe you actually love me.
It's not that I doubt you—I know you're sincere. It's just... hard for me to believe it."
Sin's expression grew more serious as she asked,
"When did you start thinking like that? That's not healthy, Noon."
Noon's gaze deepened as he stared up at the sky again, as if looking beyond it.
"I think... it all started back in high school."
He was ready to open up.
There, on the quiet riverbank, beneath the golden sun, and beside the first person who had ever truly loved him back—he wanted to tell her everything.
He really did.