The restaurant Ah-ri chose was the polar opposite of Se-jun’s usual haunts. It wasn't a minimalist glass box with white tablecloths; it was a basement trattoria with checkered curtains, candles stuck in old wine bottles, and an accordion player who looked like he’d been there since the Renaissance.
"This place has a 22% chance of giving me a headache," Se-jun noted as they sat down at a tiny, cramped table.
"It has a 100% chance of being the best meal of your life," Ah-ri countered, tucking her napkin into her collar. "Stop calculating the acoustics and look at the menu. The carbonara is legendary."
As they ate, the professional barriers began to erode. Away from the fluorescent lights of the office, Se-jun started to talk—not about quarterly goals or server speeds, but about his childhood in London, his obsession with vintage watches, and the fact that he actually liked cheesy 80s synth-pop.
"You like Tears for Fears?" Ah-ri gasped, nearly dropping her fork. "The Ice King listens to 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World'?"
"It’s structurally sound songwriting," Se-jun defended, though he was blushing. "The synth layers are incredibly precise."
"You’re such a nerd," she giggled. "A high-fashion, terrifying nerd."
"And you," he said, setting his wine glass down, "are a chaotic force of nature. You spend more time decorating your desk than doing your actual design work, yet your layouts are the only ones the CEO approves on the first draft. Why?"
Ah-ri shrugged, her expression turning uncharacteristically thoughtful. "Because I don't design for the CEO. I design for the person who’s going to see the ad on a rainy Tuesday when they’re tired and bored. I want to give them something pretty to look at. I want them to feel... noticed."
Se-jun watched her. The candle flame flickered in her eyes, and for a moment, the world felt very small—just the size of this checkered table.
"I noticed," he said quietly.
Ah-ri looked up. "What?"
"The design you did for the spring campaign. The one with the subtle gradient in the corner? Most people wouldn't see it. But it made the whole image feel... warmer. I didn't say anything at the time because I didn't want to encourage your 'unorthodox' work habits, but it was excellent."
Ah-ri felt a lump in her throat. A compliment from Se-jun was worth more than a dozen gold stars from anyone else. "Thanks, Se-jun. That... that means a lot."
The accordion player started a slow, romantic ballad. Usually, Se-jun would have rolled his eyes at the cliché. Tonight, he just reached across the table and took Ah-ri’s hand. Her skin was warm, and her pulse was racing.
"Data point number four," she whispered. "You’re a closet romantic."
"Don't push your luck, Cupid," he replied, but he didn't let go.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments