season 1: episode 4

Episode 4: "The Quiet Before the Storm"

Days passed after that night, the memory of Ji-hoon’s kiss still lingering on Naabi’s skin, as soft and fleeting as the rain that had fallen around them. It wasn’t just the kiss that stayed with her, though. It was everything—the way his eyes had looked at her, the way he had seen her as more than just the café owner, as more than just a woman passing through life. He had seen her soul.

But Naabi wasn’t sure how to navigate this newfound connection. The closeness she felt with Ji-hoon was undeniable, but with it came a wave of uncertainty. What did it mean for her? For the café? For her future? She had never been one to let someone in so easily, never let herself become so vulnerable.

Butterfly Brew felt different now, somehow. It had always been her safe place, her sanctuary from the chaos of the world, but now it felt like a canvas for something more—something more beautiful, but also more complicated.

That afternoon, the café was quiet. The rain had let up, but the gray sky lingered, painting everything in muted shades of blue and silver. Naabi sat at the counter, her fingers tracing the edge of her coffee cup as she watched the world go by outside. She didn’t expect him to show up today, but she couldn’t stop the flutter in her chest at the thought of him.

And then, as if on cue, the door opened.

Ji-hoon stepped in, drenched once again from the rain, his dark hair sticking to his forehead. His eyes, though, were bright, his smile wide as he spotted her across the room.

“Hello, beautiful,” he greeted her, his voice warm and inviting.

Naabi smiled, a blush creeping up her neck. “Hi,” she said softly, trying to ignore the way her heart fluttered. “You didn’t need to come today, you know. You’re always so drenched from the rain.”

Ji-hoon shrugged playfully, his eyes twinkling. “I like the rain. It makes everything feel a little more… mysterious. Besides, I wanted to see you.”

Naabi’s heart skipped a beat, and she tried to ignore the blush that colored her cheeks. “Well, you’re here now. What can I get you?”

“I’ll have the usual,” he said, walking toward the counter. “And maybe this time, you’ll sit with me for a bit?”

Naabi hesitated, but then she nodded. She hadn’t really allowed herself to stop and relax when he came around, too busy with the café and the responsibilities that came with it. But today felt different. She wanted to know more about him. She wanted to share more of herself with him, but she didn’t know how to start.

As she poured his coffee, Ji-hoon sat down across from her, his gaze never leaving her face.

“You’ve been distant lately,” he said gently, his voice soft but piercing, like he could see straight through her. “What’s going on, Naabi? I thought we were getting closer.”

Naabi froze, her hand stilling over the coffee cup. The sudden shift in his tone caught her off guard. She hadn’t realized she had been putting up walls around him. It wasn’t intentional, but she had become so afraid of what she was feeling that she had subconsciously pulled back.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just… all of this feels so sudden. And I don’t know what this means. What we are. I’ve never—”

“Never let anyone in?” Ji-hoon finished for her, his voice understanding, almost as if he had read her mind. “I know. You’ve been independent for so long, keeping everyone at arm’s length. But you don’t have to do that with me, Naabi.”

She felt her chest tighten. The vulnerability in his voice was enough to make her want to break down right there, but she held it in, afraid of what would happen if she let go.

“You’re right,” she whispered, her gaze dropping to the counter. “But it’s not that simple. I’ve always had to protect myself. I’ve been alone for so long, Ji-hoon. I don’t know how to let someone in without feeling like I’m losing myself.”

Ji-hoon reached across the table, his hand gently resting on hers. His touch was warm, grounding. “You won’t lose yourself, Naabi. I’m not asking you to give up who you are. I just want to be there for you. To be part of your life.”

Naabi swallowed the lump in her throat. She wanted so badly to believe him, to trust that this wasn’t just some fleeting thing. But her heart ached with doubt. The walls she had built around herself for so long were hard to tear down.

“You’re asking for a lot,” she said softly, pulling her hand away gently. “And I don’t know if I can give it to you.”

Ji-hoon’s expression softened, and he leaned back in his chair, giving her space. “I’m not asking for everything, Naabi. Just a chance. A chance to show you that I’m not going anywhere.”

The air between them felt heavy now, thick with unspoken emotions and uncertainty. Naabi wanted to believe him, but the fear of getting hurt held her back.

“I need time,” she said finally, her voice barely audible. “I need to figure this out. I need to know what I’m doing before I drag anyone else into it.”

Ji-hoon nodded, his eyes dark with something she couldn’t quite place—maybe disappointment, maybe understanding. But there was no anger, no frustration. Only patience.

“I’ll wait for you, Naabi. However long it takes.”

Her heart swelled at his words, and she felt the weight in her chest lighten just a little. She didn’t know if she was ready, but maybe, just maybe, she could take the first step. With him.

Naabi didn’t know where this would go. She didn’t know if she could open herself to him the way he wanted. But for the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn’t alone in the world. And maybe that was enough.

As Ji-hoon left the café that day, his words still echoing in her mind, Naabi found herself standing by the window, watching the rain fall once more. But this time, it didn’t feel like a storm. It felt like a beginning.

And she couldn’t help but wonder—maybe, just maybe, she was ready to let someone in after all.

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End of Episode 4.

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