It was the third dinner gathering between your family and Sungchan's, officially marking the agreement of your arranged marriage. The atmosphere was light, filled with polite conversation as the adults chatted, and your younger sibling and his younger cousins ran around the house. The air carried the scent of simmering spices from the dining table, where plates of kimchi jjigae and bulgogi steamed gently under the warm lights. You were doing your best to keep things together— pretending like this whole situation was no big deal, even though you were still far from comfortable with it.

As you refilled your cold drink at the kitchen counter, the condensation from the glass chilling your fingers, you heard the soft rustle of footsteps behind you. You turned, startled, to find Sungchan casually leaning against the fridge, his arms folded with a small smirk tugging at his lips. The kitchen light caught the warm brown of his eyes, making them appear almost amber in the dimness.

"So, how’s that guy you were kissing five months ago? Still keeping up with your... interests?" His voice was relaxed, as though he was making small talk about the weather, but there was a playful edge to his words that made your stomach drop like you'd missed a step on the stairs. You blinked, nearly choking on your drink as the cool liquid burned slightly in your throat. How did he even remember that?

You fumbled for words, your heart racing as your mind scrambled for a response, your fingers tightening around the cold glass until your knuckles whitened. He hadn't really just brought it up, had he?

"I remember you getting pretty cozy with that guy a while ago— any reason you stopped kissing him?" His smile was almost teasing, though his tone was low, as if he was sharing a secret rather than interrogating you, enjoying the way your embarrassment colored your cheeks pink.