Chapter 31: Pre-Valentine's Tension
The days leading up to Valentine's Day felt different.
Not louder.Not busier.
Just heavier—with anticipation.
Lucia noticed it first in the quiet moments. When she woke up and checked her phone, half-expecting Jin's name to already be there. When she stood in front of her closet longer than usual, wondering why she suddenly cared what color sweater she wore to the grocery store.
Nothing had changed.
And yet… everything had.
She sat in her favorite café with her friend Maya, stirring her coffee absentmindedly.
"You're doing it again," Maya said.
Lucia blinked. "Doing what?"
"Smiling at nothing."
Lucia scoffed. "I am not."
Maya raised an eyebrow. "You are. And I know that look."
Lucia sighed, giving in. "Okay. Maybe a little."
Maya leaned forward, excited. "So. Is this about Jin?"
Lucia froze for half a second.
That pause said everything.
"Oh my God," Maya said, grinning. "It is Jin."
Lucia dropped her voice. "Keep it down."
Maya laughed. "You like him."
Lucia looked down at her cup. "I think… I already do."
Maya softened. "Think?"
Lucia nodded slowly. "I've never felt this calm about someone. And that scares me more than chaos ever did."
Maya reached across the table, squeezing her hand. "That's not fear. That's vulnerability."
Lucia swallowed. "Valentine's Day is coming."
"And?" Maya prompted.
"And I don't know if I should say something," Lucia admitted. "What if I ruin it?"
Maya smiled gently. "Or what if you finally give it a chance to become something more?"
Lucia didn't answer—but the question stayed with her.
Across the hall, Jin was having a similar conversation.
He sat on his couch with his friend Daniel, controller forgotten in his hands.
"You've been distracted for weeks," Daniel said. "You missed an entire level."
Jin groaned. "I know."
Daniel smirked. "Lucia?"
Jin sighed. "Is it that obvious?"
"Yes," Daniel said. "Painfully."
Jin leaned back. "Valentine's Day is coming."
Daniel nodded knowingly. "And?"
"And I want to tell her," Jin said quietly. "But what if I'm wrong? What if I say too much?"
Daniel studied him. "Do you like her?"
Jin didn't hesitate. "Yes."
"Then say something."
"It's not that simple."
Daniel smiled. "Nothing worth it ever is."
Jin ran a hand through his hair. "I don't want to rush her."
Daniel shrugged. "From what you've told me, you two aren't rushing anything."
Jin smiled faintly. "We're… careful."
Daniel stood. "Then be honest. Carefully."
That evening, Lucia and Jin crossed paths in the hallway.
They both hesitated.
"Hey," Lucia said first.
"Hey," Jin replied.
They smiled—nervous, familiar smiles.
"Are you… busy tonight?" Jin asked.
Lucia shook her head. "No. You?"
"Not really."
A pause.
"Well," she said softly, "maybe we could just… walk?"
He nodded. "I'd like that."
They walked through the neighborhood as dusk settled in. The air was cool, the streets calm.
Neither mentioned Valentine's Day.
But it was there.
In the way Lucia tucked her hands into her sleeves.In the way Jin slowed his steps to match hers.In the way their shoulders brushed more often than necessary.
"You okay?" Jin asked gently.
She nodded. "Yeah. Just… thinking."
"Me too."
They shared a small laugh.
At a quiet corner, they stopped.
Lucia looked at him. Jin looked back.
Something hovered between them—unspoken but loud.
"I'm glad we found each other," Lucia said finally.
Jin's chest tightened. "Me too."
Neither said more.
Not yet.
They walked home slowly, both hearts racing for the same reason.
Later that night, Lucia lay awake staring at the ceiling.
Maya's words echoed in her mind.
What if you finally give it a chance?
She reached for her phone, then stopped.
Not tonight.
But soon.
Across the hall, Jin stared at the small box of notes on his desk.
The grapes.
He picked one up.
One grape at a time.
He smiled.
Valentine's Day was coming.
And so was the truth.