The station was unusually busy that evening, the air buzzing with the usual mix of paperwork, phone calls, and distant chatter. But to Soo Bin, it all seemed to fade away as she watched from her desk.
Ha Eun had appeared, unexpectedly lingering near So Hee. She smiled at the Lieutenant, leaned slightly closer than necessary, and dropped casual remarks that were clearly meant to draw So Hee's attention. It was subtle but deliberate.
Soo Bin's chest tightened. She could feel her stomach twisting, a storm building inside her. She had waited, admired from afar, but this—seeing Ha Eun cozying up to So Hee—made something snap inside her.
No… she's mine, Soo Bin thought, the words barely conscious in her mind. I can't just… let this happen.
Ha Eun laughed lightly, brushing back her hair, talking about some old case they had worked on together. So Hee smiled politely, her posture calm, but Soo Bin could see the slight ease in her expression that came from familiarity. That ease—it made Soo Bin's heart pound, made her realize how much she cared.
Soo Bin stood up, fists clenched at her sides. "Wait," she said suddenly, her voice trembling slightly. So Hee looked at her in surprise.
"What is it, Soo Bin?" So Hee asked, tilting her head.
Without thinking, without planning, the words tumbled out, raw and uncontrolled:
"I… I like you, Lieutenant Kim! I like you!"
So Hee froze, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, unable to respond. Ha Eun, who had been mid-laugh, stiffened, eyebrows furrowing in surprise.
Soo Bin's cheeks burned. "I… I just—" she stammered, realizing what she had just said. Her chest tightened with panic, but beneath it, determination burned brightly. I won't back down. I can't.
Without waiting for a response, Soo Bin turned and walked out of the station, the weight of the confession pressing against her chest. Her mind raced with doubt and fear, a thousand questions spinning around.
Maybe she doesn't feel the same way…
Maybe she's shocked, maybe… maybe she hates me now…
But alongside the fear, a stubborn flame of resolve burned. No. I like her. I won't give up. I'll wait. I'll make her see how I feel, even if it takes everything.
The city lights blurred as Soo Bin walked, her heart still hammering. Every memory, every laugh, every quiet moment she had shared with So Hee flashed through her mind. She couldn't erase them. She couldn't ignore them.
Back at the station, So Hee sat frozen, staring at the space where Soo Bin had been. Her heart raced. She hadn't expected the confession, not now, and certainly not so impulsively.
Her mind swirled with thoughts: the quiet moments she shared with Soo Bin, the warmth she felt around her, the laughter, the teasing, the subtle care—but nothing had prepared her for hearing those words aloud.
So Hee's chest ached with a strange, unfamiliar emotion. Shock, confusion, warmth… something deeper she didn't yet have a name for. All she could do was sit there, silent, her mind replaying the confession over and over.
The night stretched on, the station returning to its usual rhythm. But for both of them, nothing would ever be the same. One impulsive confession had shifted everything—tension, curiosity, and feelings that refused to stay silent.
And Soo Bin, walking home through the glowing streets, kept repeating the words in her mind: I like you… I like her. I won't give up.