Scene 5 – The Truth Jiho Never Told
As they prepared to leave, Cheng called out.
"Kiara! Someone found an old box in the student council room."
Mahi immediately became excited.
"What if it's a time capsule?"
Everyone followed Cheng.
Inside the dusty room, Kiara noticed an old cardboard box placed on one of the shelves.
A label was attached.
Class of 20XX.
Curious, she opened it.
Inside were old photographs, letters, and school memories.
Mahi laughed.
"Oh my God! Look at Cheng's haircut!"
"HEY!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Then—
Kiara pulled out a photograph.
Her smile disappeared.
The picture showed two families together.
Young Kiara.
Young Jiho.
Her mother.
Her father.
And Jiho's parents.
Kiara frowned.
"...Why do our families know each other?"
Silence.
Jiho froze.
His expression changed immediately.
He recognized the photo.
His fingers clenched tightly.
Kiara looked toward him.
"Jiho?"
Flash—
Years ago.
Jiho stood in his father's study.
Lee Minseok:
"You'll stop contacting her."
Teenage Jiho stared at him.
"What?"
Lee Minseok:
"The Kim family has enough problems."
"What does that have to do with Kiara?"
His father looked away.
"Everything."
Jiho's voice shook.
"I'm not leaving her."
Lee Minseok slammed documents onto the desk.
"If you care about that girl, you'll stay away."
Jiho looked down.
On the papers—
Kim family's divorce case.
Kiara's mother's name.
And headlines threatening scandal.
Flash.
Back to present.
Jiho forced himself to smile.
"It's probably because our parents were acquaintances."
Kiara studied him.
"...Really?"
Jiho avoided her gaze.
"Yeah."
But his voice lacked conviction.
For the first time—
Jiho lied to Kiara.
Not because he wanted to deceive her.
Because he wanted to protect her.
Again.
And deep inside—
He knew he was making the same mistake.
Scene 6 – The Surprise
School rooftop.
Evening.
The others had mysteriously disappeared.
Kiara looked around.
"Where did everyone go?"
Jiho scratched the back of his neck.
"...I might know."
Kiara narrowed her eyes.
"What did you do?"
Jiho smiled nervously.
Nothing dramatic.
No candles.
No grand gestures.
Just the rooftop where everything started.
A small speaker.
Two canned drinks.
And an old comic book.
Kiara blinked.
"...You kept this?"
Jiho nodded.
"You gave it to me."
Kiara laughed softly.
"You never returned it."
"I was planning to."
"When?"
Jiho looked at her.
"When you forgave me."
Silence.
The sunset painted the sky orange.
Jiho took a deep breath.
"Kiara..."
She turned toward him.
Jiho smiled weakly.
"The first time I confessed, I was selfish."
Kiara remained quiet.
"I had just found you again."
"I was scared."
"And I rushed everything because I thought I'd lose you."
He looked down at his hands.
"But this time..."
He met her eyes.
"I know how stubborn you are."
Kiara raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
"And how hardworking you are."
"And how you pretend to be strong even when you're hurting."
Kiara's expression softened.
Jiho took another step closer.
"I don't want to chase you because I'm afraid of being alone."
"I don't want you to choose me because of nostalgia."
He smiled gently.
"I just want the chance to stand beside you."
No kneeling.
No dramatic speech.
Just honesty.
"Kim Kiara."
"Will you let me love you properly this time?"
Kiara's heart pounded.
The rooftop suddenly felt too small.
Too quiet.
She remembered—
The rain.
The bicycle.
The comic store.
The old promises.
The way he waited outside her walls.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Jiho immediately panicked.
"Oh no. Are you crying? Was this too much? Forget I said anything—"
Kiara grabbed his sleeve.
He stopped talking.
Kiara looked up at him.
"You really talk too much."
Jiho blinked.
"...Is that a yes or a no?"
Kiara's lips curved into a small smile.
"It's unfair."
"What is?"
"You already knew I was falling for you again."
Jiho smiled sheepishly.
"Maybe."
Kiara took a deep breath.
Then—
Very gently—
She held his hand.
Not because she was scared.
Not because she pitied him.
But because she wanted to.
"I can't promise everything."
Jiho squeezed her hand.
"I don't need everything."
Kiara looked directly into his eyes.
"But I think..."
A tiny smile appeared.
"I want to love you properly too."
Jiho froze.
"...Really?"
Kiara laughed softly.
"Don't make me repeat it."
A grin spread across Jiho's face.
The brightest smile she'd seen in years.
"So..."
"We're dating?"
Kiara immediately pulled her hand away.
"Don't push your luck."
Jiho laughed.
Then carefully held her hand again.
"Okay."
They stood side by side.
Watching the sunset.
Neither noticing—
Downstairs—
Mahi, Cheng, Secretary Ryu, and Manager Hyun were secretly spying.
Mahi whispered excitedly,
"SHE SAID YES!"
Cheng wiped imaginary tears.
"Our Jiho finally won."
Secretary Ryu smiled.
"It only took him years."
Manager Hyun sighed.
"He really is his father's son."
Then paused.
"...Except he's choosing differently."
Up on the rooftop—
Kiara leaned lightly against Jiho's shoulder.
Just for a moment.
Jiho smiled.
"Kiara?"
"Hmm?"
"This means I can call you."
Kiara rolled her eyes.
"You already do."
"Can I take you on a date?"
"...We'll discuss it."
Jiho laughed.
For the first time in years—
The future didn't feel frightening.
Until Jiho's phone vibrated.
The screen lit up.
Father Calling...
Jiho's smile faded.
Kiara noticed.
"Jiho?"
He quickly turned off the screen.
"...It's nothing."
But deep down—
He knew the truth he'd hidden from Kiara wouldn't stay buried forever.
And when it surfaced...
It might test everything they had just begun.