CHAPTER 34

                                    

                                          
AUTHOR'S POV
THE FESTIVAL FRENZY
The charity gala ended with Soo-hyun and Ji-won feeling a mix of emotions. The night had been a rollercoaster of jealousy, tension, and unexpected moments of closeness. As they walked to their car, the echoes of the night's events lingered in their minds.
"That was... quite a night," Ji-won said, glancing at Soo-hyun as they reached the car.
"Yeah, it was," Soo-hyun replied, unlocking the car. "You handled everything really well."
Ji-won smiled softly. "So did you. Thanks for standing up for me."
Soo-hyun nodded, feeling a surge of protective warmth. "Anytime."
The drive back to their condos was mostly silent, both lost in their thoughts. Ji-won kept replaying the moment Soo-hyun had kissed her in front of everyone, feeling a mix of surprise and happiness.
"Do you regret it?" Ji-won suddenly asked, breaking the silence.
"Regret what?" Soo-hyun asked, glancing at her briefly before returning his focus to the road.
"The kiss. In front of Ji Chang-wook and everyone else."
Soo-hyun's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. "No, I don't. I wanted everyone to know how I feel about you."
Ji-won felt her heart skip a beat. "And how do you feel?"
Soo-hyun took a deep breath. "I care about you, Ji-won. More than I realized."
They arrived at Ji-won's building, but instead of getting out, Ji-won turned to Soo-hyun. "I care about you too," she said softly. "But this is all so new and confusing."
"I know," Soo-hyun replied, reaching for her hand. "Let's take it one step at a time. We don't have to rush."
Ji-won nodded, feeling reassured. "One step at a time."
The next morning, Ji-won woke up feeling lighter, the events of the previous night playing through her mind. She decided to call Krystal and Jong-suk to talk about what happened.
"Wow, sounds like quite the night!" Krystal exclaimed after Ji-won finished recounting the gala. "And Soo-hyun kissed you in front of everyone?"
Ji-won blushed, even though her friends couldn't see her. "Yeah, it was... unexpected."
Jong-suk chuckled. "Seems like he's serious about you, Ji-won. How do you feel?"
"I think I'm serious about him too," Ji-won admitted. "But it's all happening so fast."
"Take your time," Krystal advised. "Don't let anyone rush you. This is your relationship."
Meanwhile, Soo-hyun met up with Lee Ji-eun and Jung Hae-in for brunch. As they ate, he recounted the events of the gala, including the kiss and the confrontation with Ji Chang-wook.
"Sounds like you made quite the statement," Ji-eun said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure about Ji-won?"
"I am," Soo-hyun said confidently. "She's... different from anyone I've ever met. I want to make this work."
Hae-in nodded approvingly. "Then go for it. But remember to communicate. You both have a lot to figure out."
"I will," Soo-hyun promised, feeling more determined than ever.
A week after the charity gala, Ji-won received an unexpected text from Soo-hyun. 
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