{Before the Storm}
The morning sunlight slipped softly through the tall house windows...
painting warm golden lines across the kitchen counters.
The entire place was quiet.
Too quiet.
Only the faint sound of cooking filled the air.
Tyla silently... watching him
moved around the kitchen with calm confidenc
His black shirt hugged his body perfectly... sleeves rolled up to his forearms,
exposing the dark tattoos decorating his skin.
A few buttons near his collar were left open carelessly.
His hair was slightly messy... the kind of messy that somehow looked unfairly attractive.
And the smell...
Butter, toasted bread, strawberries, coffee...
Everything felt warm.
Safe.
Tyla kept staring quietly until he finally noticed her.
"What?" he asked with a small smile while flipping the pan.
She tilted her head slightly.
"How did you even learn to cook like this?"
He chuckled softly.
"I actually love cooking... it's one of my secret hobbies."
A quiet laugh escaped her lips.
"Secret hobby? Since when are you secretly a chef you always make to me good food how?"
He pointed the spatula at her dramatically.
"Since today."
She laughed again.
Ten minutes later...
Breakfast was finally ready.
Elegant pesto and mortadella sandwiches with luxurious French cheese melted perfectly inside.
Soft pancakes covered with strawberries and cream.
Everything looked like something from a luxury café.
Tyla's eyes widened.
"Wow... this looks amazing. You're a real chef."
He laughed lightly while placing the plates down.
"Thank you, princess. I hope you like it."
She tasted a small bite.
Then froze.
"...Wow."
He raised an eyebrow proudly.
"That good?"
"This is incredible."
A soft smile appeared on his face.
"I'm glad you like it."
And for a little while...
Everything felt normal.
Peaceful silence filled the apartment.
Only small conversations...
Soft laughter...
And the warmth between them.
-
Later, they sat together on the couch watching some random movie neither of them was actually paying attention to.
His arm rested around her shoulders while her head leaned against him comfortably.
He played absentmindedly with strands of her hair.
Tyla suddenly lifted her head excitedly.
"Ian... let's play karaoke."
He looked at her dramatically offended.
"I don't think my voice is that great."
She immediately pointed at him.
"Liar. Let's see."
A few minutes later...
The TV displayed lyrics across the screen.
Tyla grabbed the remote control like it was a microphone and began singing dramatically while doing ridiculous idol poses around the room.
Ian stared at her quietly...
Completely distracted by how adorable she looked.
She walked closer and shoved the "microphone" toward him.
"Your turn."
He laughed before taking the remote.
Then suddenly-
He started singing confidently.
Actually singing.
Tyla's mouth dropped open.
"WAIT- your voice is seriously amazing?!"
He only grinned and kept going louder this time.
Soon both of them were singing together at the top of their lungs.
Dancing around the living room.
Laughing nonstop.
At one point her arm wrapped around his neck while both of them held the remote between them like real performers.
Their faces inches apart...
Jumping around the room recklessly.
By nighttime they finally collapsed onto the couch breathless.
"Yeahhh... that was so fun," Tyla said dramatically.
Ian laughed softly beside her.
Then she suddenly sat up.
"Ian... what should I wear to the event?"
The moment she mentioned the event...
Something shifted inside him.
Because for him...
That night wasn't only about revealing their love.
It was going to become a dangerous confrontation.
A war waiting beneath flashing cameras and expensive smiles.
But he hid it instantly behind a grin.
"Anything looks good on my girl."
She giggled.
"Come to my house then. You choose my dress."
"Deal."
-
When they stepped outside his house the guards immediately bowed respectfully.
Tyla leaned closer and whispered:
"They almost erased me from existence the first day... why do they suddenly let me pass now?"
He smirked.
"I told them to protect you properly."
She immediately clung proudly to his arm.
"My powerful boyfriend protecting me... I like that."
He laughed under his breath.
-
At her house, her mother and Mrs. Park greeted them warmly.
"Welcome, son," Mrs. Kim said kindly.
Ian bowed respectfully.
"Hello, Mrs. Kim."
But the warmth quickly faded.
Mrs. Kim sighed.
"Ian... how is this situation going to end? We can't stay trapped inside forever."
Mrs. Park nodded seriously.
"And Han Seoul has school. She can't keep hiding."
Ian's expression softened.
"Please give me a little more time. I'll solve everything."
Then more seriously:
"But until then... please don't leave the house."
The women exchanged worried glances before nodding slowly.
"We trust you."
-
Upstairs in her room...
Tyla immediately threw herself dramatically across the bed.
"Ughhhh... I'm honestly tired of all these problems."
Ian stood nearby with his hands inside his pockets watching her quietly.
"Don't think too much, Tyla. Just enjoy things for now. I'll handle it."
She looked at him for a few seconds.
Then suddenly pointed toward the closet.
"Fine then. Pick my dress."
He walked toward the massive closet.
And paused.
"...Why do you own half of Korea's clothing supply?"
"There's never enough clothes."
He laughed softly before pulling out several dresses.
"Try these."
She saluted dramatically.
"Yes, sir."
-
While she changed in the bathroom...
Ian sat quietly on the edge of the bed.
After a long moment...
He pulled out a cigarette.
The lighter clicked softly.
Smoke curled slowly into the air.
This was the first cigarette he had touched in a very long time.
But lately...
The pressure inside his head had become unbearable.
The enemies.
The threats.
The event.
Everything closing in.
The bathroom door opened.
And suddenly his thoughts disappeared.
Tyla stepped out wearing a short white satin dress with delicate straps crossing across her exposed back.
Her waist looked impossibly elegant.
Her long hair fell softly over her shoulders.
White heels completed the look.
For a second...
He genuinely forgot to breathe.
"What do you think?" she asked shyly.
He stood immediately and walked toward her slowly.
His hand settled carefully on her waist.
Then she noticed the cigarette.
"Yaaah... you smoke?! You never told me."
He sighed lightly.
"I used to be addicted. I quit. Today... I just needed one."
She tilted her head.
"I don't mind. I actually like cigarettes."
Before he could respond...
She stole it from his fingers, took a small inhale,
then blew the smoke teasingly toward him.
He burst into laughter.
"You're seriously unpredictable."
"aren't I
"Wait... you actually smoke?" he asked.
"Yeah. Sometimes." she replied.
But he immediately took the cigarette back and extinguished it.
"No smoking for you. It's bad for you."
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"Hmmm. Fine."
She turned toward the mirror while he stood behind her holding her gently.
Their eyes met through the reflection.
She staring at the purple marks scattered across her shoulders and neck.
She let out a dramatic sigh, lifting her hair slightly.
"Ugh... look at this. How am I supposed to wear the dress now? There are so many marks..."
He laughed softly behind her before stepping closer.
"Really?"
He pulled the collar of his shirt down a little, revealing the mark she had left on his neck.
"You left one here too."
Her eyes widened slightly before she let out another spoiled sigh, crossing her arms.
"But you made way more..."
A smirk appeared on his lips as he moved closer.
"It's fine... just cover them with makeup."
She stared at him for a few seconds... then sighed in defeat.
"Yeah... fine."
"What about the dress?" she asked quietly.
His fingers slowly brushed across her waist.
"It's beautiful enough to make me lose control."
She laughed shyly.
"But let's see the others."
-
The second dress was long blue silk with exposed shoulders and loose sleeves.
Her hair tied up elegantly.
He stared thoughtfully...
Then scrunched his nose slightly.
"Hmm... beautiful. But maybe not."
She groaned dramatically.
"Seriously?!"
-
The third dress was black satin.
Sleeveless.
Open back.
A high slit running dangerously along her leg.
The moment she stepped out-
He froze.
Then slowly clapped once.
"...Wow."
She smiled proudly at the mirror.
"Told you."
He walked behind her slowly, fingertips grazing the exposed skin of her back.
"But..." she whispered thoughtfully,
"I've worn dresses like this before. I want something different."
He nodded once.
"Then try the last one."
-
A few minutes later...
The bathroom door opened one final time.
And this time-
Even the air felt different.
The dress was light brown.
Short.
exposed shoulders
Elegant from the front.
But from behind...
Golden chains draped beautifully across her exposed back like jewelry.
Like artwork.
Her hair fell freely around her shoulders.
Black heels clicking softly against the floor.
"And this?" she asked quietly. "I think this one fits."
Ian said nothing.
He stood slowly from the bed.
Walked toward her.
Took her hand gently and turned her toward him until their faces were close enough to feel each other's breath.
His eyes moved slowly across her face.
"This..." he whispered, "is beyond beautiful."
Before she could answer-
He kissed her deeply.
Soft.
Long.
Like he was trying to memorize her.
When they finally pulled apart she smiled breathlessly.
"Am I really that stunning?"
He rested his forehead lightly against hers.
"You could wear a trash bag and still destroy my sanity."
She burst into loud laughter and fell dramatically backward onto the bed.
He laughed too before throwing himself beside her.
For the first time in days...
He closed his eyes.
Trying to forget the storm waiting outside.
"Ian?" she whispered softly.
"Hmm?"
"Are we really going to announce our relationship?"
He opened his eyes and looked at her quietly.
"Of course we are."
A soft smile spread across her face.
"I love you so much."
He lifted her hand gently and kissed her palm.
"I love you more."
-
And then...
The days passed strangely peacefully.
Too peacefully.
The kind of silence that comes before disaster.
And finally...
The day of the event arrived.