"Sophie?"
I paused in the middle of texting when a familiar voice called my name. A soft breath caught in my throat as I looked up, my eyes landing on him.
"Samuel?"
He was leaning casually against a black Audi A6 across the parking lot, his arms crossed and a bright, easy smile on his face. When our eyes met, he pushed himself off the car and straightened, lifting a hand in a small wave.
For a second, I didn't move.
I just stood there, taking him in, my mind trying to catch up with what I was seeing. It had been years, and yet somehow… he looked the same.
Maybe a little more mature. A little sharper around the edges.
But still him.
I realized I had been staring a second too long and cleared my throat, forcing my feet to move. I walked toward him, my steps quickening without me meaning them to.
By the time I reached him, whatever hesitation I had felt was gone.
I stepped into him, wrapping my arms around him tightly.
"I missed you," I said, my voice softer now, more honest than I intended. "When did you get back?"
Samuel let out a quiet laugh as his arms came around me, pulling me closer in a way that felt warm and familiar.
"I've been here all week," he said. "I was starting to think you were avoiding me."
I pulled back slightly at that, just enough to look up at him. "Avoiding you? I didn't even know you were in Seoul."
"Yeah?" he said, one brow lifting slightly. "Then I guess my timing was just bad."
"Or mine," I replied, a small smile forming before I could stop it. "I was in Paris all week."
For a moment, we just stood there, looking at each other, and something about it felt… easy.
"I hope you enjoyed every minute of it."
My expression faltered for a quick second, and it didn't go unnoticed by Samuel. I quickly replaced it with a bright smile.
"I did."
Samuel placed his hands on my shoulders, causing me to look up into his eyes. "What happened? And don't even think about lying."
I puffed up my cheeks. "Out of all the people in my life, you are the only one I can't bullshit, you know that."
"Thank you."
"It's not a compliment, silly," I said with a soft chuckle.
"Are you in a hurry?" Samuel asked. "Want to go for a drive and grab supper?"
I nodded.
Samuel opened the passenger-side door of his vehicle, and I climbed in, buckling up. From the décor of the interior to the scent of the car, everything screamed Samuel.
It wasn't too high-tech, yet not too basic either. Just the right balance. The complete opposite of Harley.
My gaze followed Samuel as he walked to the driver's side and climbed in, fastening his seatbelt.
The vehicle roared to life when he pressed the start button.
He looked at me. "Where do you want to go for supper?"
I pondered for a moment. It was Samuel's first time in Seoul, and I wanted him to have the best experience. My face lit up when the perfect spot popped into my mind.
"How about Sorae Kitchen?" I said.
Samuel flashed me his signature smile and winked. "Sorae Kitchen it is."
The ride to Sorae Kitchen was filled with laughter and reminiscing. It was a nice change of pace, and I was so engrossed in our conversation that I didn't notice when the tension melted away.
"I am so happy to see you," I said, a little too honestly. "Did you move here or…"
Samuel made a left turn and pulled into the Sorae Kitchen parking lot. He turned off the engine and then looked at me.
"I transferred to Seojin Hospital. Starting Monday, we'll be colleagues."
My face lit up with excitement.
We exited the car and walked side by side toward the restaurant. The moment we stepped inside Sorae Kitchen, the noise from the street faded behind us. The space was smaller than I expected, softly lit with warm lighting that made everything feel calmer, quieter.
Conversations blended into a low murmur, and the faint scent of grilled meat and spices lingered in the air. It felt… comfortable. Like the kind of place people came to stay a while.
"Table for two?" the hostess asked, grabbing the menus and cutlery from behind the counter.
We nodded and followed her toward an empty table by the window.
Before I could pull out my chair to sit down, Samuel had already pulled it out. As soon as I sat down, he gently pushed the chair in before taking his seat opposite me.
"When did you become such a gentleman?" I asked in a teasing tone.
Samuel leaned back slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "I've always been one. You just never noticed."
I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. "Touché."
Samuel's smile lingered for a second before he reached for the menu. "So… Paris," he said, glancing up at me. "How was it?"
I hesitated for just a moment before shrugging lightly. "It was nice. Busy."
"That sounds like a very safe answer," he said, one brow lifting slightly.
I let out a quiet laugh. "It's the only one you're getting for now."
He studied me for a second longer than necessary, like he was trying to read something I wasn't saying. "Alright," he said finally, letting it go. "I'll take what I can get."
The rest of the conversation flowed more easily after that. It wasn't forced or careful the way things had been with Harley.
With Samuel, the silence didn't feel heavy, and the words came without effort, slipping into place like they always had. At some point, I stopped thinking about what to say next.
And that was what unsettled me the most.
Because for the first time since Paris, I wasn't replaying anything in my head. I wasn't questioning every word or trying to understand something I couldn't remember. I was just… there, sitting across from him, listening, responding, breathing without that weight pressing against my chest.
And I didn't know what to do with that.
By the time we stepped out of Sorae Kitchen, the night had settled into something quieter. The street was calmer now, the earlier noise fading into the background as a cool breeze brushed against my skin.
Samuel unlocked his Audi, the soft click echoing faintly in the stillness before he opened the passenger door for me.
The drive back was easy, filled with light conversation that didn't feel forced or careful. I found myself responding without overthinking, letting the silence fall when it came without feeling the need to fill it. It had been a while since something felt that simple.
When the car slowed in front of the Huang residence, the moment lingered a second longer than it should have. I reached for the door, then paused, glancing over at him.
"Thanks for dinner," I said softly.
Samuel smiled, that same steady warmth still there. "Anytime."
I nodded, stepping out into the cool night air, but the feeling stayed with me as I walked toward the entrance.
Because something had shifted tonight.
I just didn't know what it was yet.
And somehow… that unsettled me more than it should have.