A Rocky Start

The early morning light filtered through the large windows of Y/N's seaside café, casting a golden glow over the mismatched tables and chairs. Y/N hummed softly to herself, painting the final strokes on a canvas that had consumed her thoughts for weeks. It was her favorite time of day-before the tourists flooded in, before life felt too chaotic.

The doorbell jingled, signaling the arrival of her first customer. She glanced up briefly, offering a polite smile before returning her focus to the waves on her canvas. "Take a seat. I'll be with you in a minute," she said without looking.

"Uh... sure," a deep voice replied, laced with hesitation.

Jungkook stood awkwardly in the doorway, dressed in a simple black hoodie and jeans, a bucket hat pulled low over his face. It had been months since he'd been in a public place without security or a disguise. The anonymity was freeing, but it also made him nervous. As his gaze wandered, it landed on the woman at the counter. Her brow furrowed in concentration, lips slightly pursed as she worked.

She was beautiful. But it wasn't just her looks-it was the way she seemed so lost in her world, completely unaware of the chaos he'd left behind in Seoul.

Jungkook walked closer, his attention shifting to the canvas. He leaned in for a better view, not realizing how close his shoulder was to the wet paint.

"Wait-don't-!" Y/N's warning came too late.

The edge of Jungkook's sleeve smeared across the still-drying paint, leaving a jagged streak across the tranquil waves she'd painstakingly created. Y/N's heart sank as she stared at the ruined piece.

"Oh no," Jungkook muttered, pulling back instantly. "I didn't mean to-"

"Do you have any idea how long that took me?" Y/N snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut through his apology. She turned to face him fully for the first time, her hands clenched into fists.

Jungkook froze under her glare. Most people would have recognized him by now-apologized profusely or begged for a selfie. But this woman? She didn't seem to care who he was, only that he'd just ruined her hard work.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice sincere. "I'll pay for it. Name your price."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Do I look like someone who paints for money? It's not about the price. It's about respect."

Jungkook opened his mouth to respond, but Y/N held up a hand. "Forget it. Just... sit down and order something. And keep your arms far away from anything breakable."

She stormed off to the kitchen, leaving Jungkook standing there like a scolded child. For a moment, he considered leaving-this was far from the peaceful escape he'd envisioned. But something about Y/N intrigued him.

When she returned with a coffee for him, her irritation hadn't completely faded. "So, what brings you here? Most tourists stick to the bigger cafés in the city."

"I needed a break," Jungkook admitted, stirring his coffee. "Somewhere quiet."

Y/N studied him carefully. "You're not from here, are you?"

"No," he said, his lips twitching into a small smile. "And you?"

"Born and raised," she replied. "Unlike you, I don't have the luxury of running away when life gets hard."

Her words stung, though she didn't mean them maliciously. Jungkook wanted to explain, but how could he, without revealing who he was?

The conversation drifted into silence, each lost in their thoughts. Y/N glanced at him, curious but guarded. Who was this mysterious man who spoke as if the world weighed heavily on his shoulders?

As Jungkook left the café that day, he couldn't shake the memory of her fiery eyes and sharp words. And as Y/N cleaned up for the night, she couldn't help but wonder why his presence lingered in her mind.

What secrets was he hiding?

And why did she feel like her quiet life was about to change forever?

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***