[🏠︎] backyard.

@[♡] choi taejoon. Nayeon watched him, the way the shadows caught on the curve of his jaw, the way the wind tousled his hair like it was something familiar, something meant to be close to him. His words lingered in the space between them, not quite heavy, not quite light - just enough weight to press against the edges of her thoughts.

Never fell for anyone before. But now I fell with you.

A line like that should have felt rehearsed, should have had the practiced ease of someone who said things without meaning them. But somehow, it didn’t. It sat differently in the air, raw in a way that made her stomach tighten.

She exhaled, a slow, deliberate thing. The night hummed around them, cicadas murmuring in the trees, the scent of damp earth thick after the afternoon rain. There was something about this moment, quiet and unspoken, that felt like a delicate balance. If she moved too fast, if she said the wrong thing, it might slip through her fingers.

So she didn’t move. Not yet.

Instead, she let a small, knowing smile curve at the edges of her lips.

"That's a dangerous thing to admit on television, you know." Her voice was light, teasing, but there was something else beneath it, something careful. "Someone might just take you seriously."

She didn’t say if she did. Perhaps she didn't know if she did.

When he turned, half-expecting her to brush it off, she only tilted her head slightly, watching him in that way she did - studying, understanding without needing to say much.

Then, just as easily, she let the moment slip, stepping forward, falling into stride beside him like it was always going to end this way.

"Come on, then. Before you start complaining about mosquito bites like a real city boy."

She walked ahead first, not looking back. But she knew he was still watching.

@[♡] seo nayeon. The conversation took a brief philosophical turn—just for a moment. Taejoon could feel it, and he knew that if he said something foolish, if he let the wrong words slip, it would shatter whatever this was. Whatever this moment was, lingering in the quiet spaces between falling and getting back up again.

So instead of another lame joke, another half-hearted quip to deflect the weight of it all, he does something unexpected. He shrugs. He chooses honesty—for once. And of all places, he does it on national television.

Now, all he can do is hope that the camera, discreetly fastened to one of the trees, doesn’t catch it. Or if it does, that by some of luck, the editors decide to leave it on the cutting room floor before the episode ever sees the light of day.

"Messy? Wouldn't know. Never fell for anyone before. But now I fell with you. That's a start isn't it. Look, you might not like me now... but you never know."

He jests, a natural flirt.

But then there it was again—that smile. Rare and unguarded, the kind that softened his features and crinkled the corners of his eyes with genuine mirth. It was fleeting, almost unfamiliar, as if even he wasn’t used to it.

He would probably regret his honesty later, spilling his thoughts so easily to a complete stranger. The weight of it might settle in once the moment had passed, once he had time to think. But right now, in this sliver of time, he doesn’t.

And maybe—just maybe—that was alright.

"I'm sure the welcome party should start any moment now. Should we go back in before we start getting bitten by mosquitos? I don't feel like becoming mosquito dinner."

He says it casually, already making his way inside—until he stops mid-stride. Without thinking, he glances back at her, hesitating just long enough to see if she’ll follow or if she’d rather have a moment to herself.

She doesn’t seem bothered by his stupid jokes, not in the way most people are. And for some reason, that makes him wait a little longer.

@[♡] choi taejoon. A soft smile touched Nayeon’s lips as she watched Taejoon extend his hand, his teasing words lingering in the air between them like a shared secret. She could feel the heat of the grass beneath her, the soft weight of the moment pressing in, yet there was an ease to it, as though the fall was nothing more than an unexpected twist in a dance she hadn't known they were performing.

Her laughter faded into a quiet chuckle, the kind that swirled with a subtle undertone of warmth. “Miss London Bridge, hm?”, she mused, her voice laced with a playful, almost wistful tone. There was something about him - something effortless in the way he approached everything, even their unexpected fall. His humor, though imperfect, had a charm that pulled her in without her meaning to let it. It wasn’t just the words he spoke, but the space he occupied - his presence seemed to fill the space with an ease that felt like a breath of fresh air.

She pushed herself up from the ground slowly, brushing the remnants of the fall from her clothes with a delicate motion. The stillness of the backyard felt less intimidating now, more like a space where things could unfold without judgment. The shadows of the trees stretched across the lawn, as if the evening itself was watching them, waiting for something unspoken to happen.

“I didn’t mean to make us fall”, she said, her gaze flickering toward him as she offered him a smile - genuine, unguarded, and undeniably there. “But I suppose I can’t promise I won’t do it again, can I?” There was a mischievous spark in her eyes now, a playful challenge hidden behind her words. She didn’t quite know why, but something about him made it impossible to stay guarded, impossible to hide the parts of her that were often tucked away, even from herself.

Her eyes met his then and for a heartbeat, the world around them quieted, the air thick with something unspoken. Something that made the distance between them feel both vast and nonexistent. She could almost taste it, the way the evening seemed to shift with the weight of their shared laughter, the way it hung in the air, suspended like a fragile thing.

She didn’t know what it was, but the words left her lips before she could stop them. “I think, maybe, falling in love was never meant to be a graceful thing”, she said softly, as though testing the words, letting them settle between them like a secret she wasn’t yet ready to fully understand. “Maybe it’s supposed to be messy. Unexpected. Like falling off a hammock onto the ground.” She paused, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Maybe it’s the kind of fall you don’t try to avoid, but the kind you let happen, because it might be worth it in the end. But don’t get the wrong idea. I'm not saying I fell for you.”

There was a quiet honesty in her words, a part of her she hadn’t expected to share so openly. But for reasons she couldn’t quite place, in this moment, with him, it felt natural. It felt like something that had been waiting to be said, waiting to be heard.

@[♡] seo nayeon. A soft chuckle escapes the man’s lips as he watches the woman settle onto the hammock beside him, her contemplative nature apparent as she takes a moment to get comfortable. Their proximity is striking—just close enough for their bodies to almost touch in a way that might seem too intimate for two people who had only just met. She knew nothing about him, and in return, he knew nothing about her. Yet, there was an undeniable sense of ease between them, an unspoken comfort that hung in the air, as though their back-and-forth conversation had been shaped over years of familiarity.

“You just don’t feel like being Taejoon tonight.”

She says with an almost knowing tone that prompts a shake of his head in response.

“Its exactly moments like this that I like being me. Otherwise I wouldn’t be sharing this hammock with you. How sad is that.. imagine if I was introverted??”

Taejoon flashes a wide, carefree smile as he speaks, but in the next heartbeat, the world suddenly tilts. Perhaps it’s when she shifts, trying to adjust herself for comfort while contending with the solid weight of his presence in the hammock. They both tumble— first—onto the perfectly manicured grass below. The fall happens so quickly that it’s almost as if time slows just enough for them to realize their fate midair. Taejoon winces as they land, the thud of their bodies against the earth sharp and sudden.

“Ma’am did you just make us fall---”

His words trail off when he hears that unapologetic laugh once more, breaking the stillness of the backyard that he had once craved for its peace. The sound pierces through the quiet with an unexpected ease, yet it isn’t unwelcome. Far from it. There’s something almost melodic in the way it spills from her—unrestrained. A spark of amusement flickers in him, and before long, he finds himself joining in. His laughter rises to meet hers, effortlessly weaving into the same rhythm, until the two of them are caught in a shared moment of lightheartedness.

“I joined this show to fall inlove….not to literally fall.. with you.”

He jests with a teasing grin, still seated where they had fallen, his posture relaxed as he watches her. With a playful shrug, he promptly pushes himself off the ground. He pats the backside of his jeans, as if brushing off any remnants of the fall, and then extends a hand toward the woman with a slight bow of his head.

“Don’t fall again …or I’d have to call you Miss London bridge.”

It was a bad joke for such a perfectly opportune moment, but could anyone really blame Taejoon? After all, Nayeon’s smile—effervescent and full of life—seemed to light up the entire place.

@[♡] choi taejoon. The warmth of the evening air wrapped around Nayeon like a second skin, the lingering heat of the day still woven into the earth beneath her feet. She tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes as she watched Taejoon shift in the hammock, the lazy sprawl of his limbs at odds with the sharpness in his gaze.

"Accent lesson?", she echoed, stepping closer. "Ah, so you’ve decided to take my expert guidance after all. A wise choice."

She settled onto the hammock beside him without hesitation, the worn fabric dipping slightly beneath her weight. The space was narrow - narrower than she had anticipated - but she made no move to correct it. Instead, she leaned back, bracing one elbow against the tree as she turned to face him, a smirk playing at her lips.

"So you're saying you're in high demand?”, she teased, eyes glinting with mischief. "Do you really need my help to sweep women off their feet at the grocery store? What are you planning to say, anyway? Something tragically smooth, like, ‘Excuse me, Miss, but are these organic bananas as sweet as your smile?’”

Nayeon chuckled, letting her body relax into the sway of the hammock. It was comfortable - too comfortable, really. The kind of comfort that made it easy to forget the cameras, the flashing lights, the careful posturing they were all meant to uphold.

But maybe that was the dangerous part.

"You’re hiding", she mused, not bothering to phrase it as a question. "Let me guess… too much small talk, too many people trying to figure you out? Or maybe…" She paused, her gaze flickering toward his, sharp yet knowing. "You just don’t feel like being ‘Taejoon’ tonight."

For a second, something unreadable passed through his expression. But before she could study it, before she could even think to dissect what it meant, the world tilted.

One second, she was reclining easily, taking her arm off the tree for balance, the next - air, weightlessness, the sharp gasp that tore from her lips as the hammock lurched violently to the side.

And then, impact.

The ground was firm and unyielding beneath her, the scent of sun-warmed grass filling her senses and the unmistakable weight of Taejoon pressed against her side. A stunned silence settled between them, the only sound their rushed exhales and the distant murmur of the party carrying through the night air.

It took a moment before she registered the absurdity of it all. And then, she laughed.

A bright, helpless kind of laughter, the kind that tumbled out before she could stop it, shaking her shoulders as she lay sprawled in the grass.

"Oh my God", she wheezed between gasps, barely able to turn her head to look at him. "Did we… did we just-"

@[♡] seo nayeon. It was peaceful—finally. Taejoon had managed to put his phone down after scrolling through his SNS, though there hadn’t been much to check anyway. The same old messages from friends, always asking which part of the world he was in now, as if his life were some grand, never-ending journey. He appreciated their curiosity, but at times, it felt distant—repetitive.

Now, though, there was only the quiet. The last sliver of sunlight dipped below the horizon, casting a fading warm, golden hue over everything. Taejoon didn’t mind the stillness. In fact, he welcomed it.

Closing his eyes briefly, he let out a slow breath, letting the exhaustion of the day settle into his bones. Maybe, if he was lucky, he could even steal a short nap before the show demanded his attention once more.

It was the soft voice—spoken in the same poor accent he had attempted in the kitchen—that first caught his attention, followed by the gentle rustling of perfectly manicured grass. Taejoon’s eyes snapped open, instinctively scanning his surroundings.

And there she was. The girl who had laughed at his lame impression earlier, now leaning casually against a tree. Something about the sight made him feel oddly self-conscious—perhaps even a little rude for lounging while she stood. Without hesitation, he sat up, shifting in the hammock before gesturing to the empty space beside him.

“Here,” he offered, his voice now carrying his natural English accent, the slightest hint of New York slipping through.

"Is now a good time for that accent lesson? I think I could really pick some girl up from the grocery store right about now."

He says before chuckling up at her, the sound light and easy. Even with the fading glow of the sunset casting long shadows across the grass, now that there are no distractions, he can actually see her—really see her. And of course, he notices.

She’s pretty. In a quiet yet striking way. In the way her kind eyes soften when she looks at him, in the way her smile—subtle yet ever-present—carries a warmth that lingers despite her sharp wit. There’s something about her that feels familiar, yet entirely unexpected, and for a moment, Taejoon finds himself simply observing, as if trying to commit the details to memory.

"Are you trying to hide away from the party too? Don't tell them I'm here. I'm supposed to be the mood maker."

@[♡] choi taejoon. Nayeon stepped out into the backyard, inhaling deeply as the night air cooled the heat lingering on her skin. The hum of conversation and the weight of too many introductions still pressed against her mind, a quiet buzz that refused to settle. She smoothed her palms against the sides of her dress, grounding herself as she took in the space - soft golden light spilling from the house, the sharp scent of freshly cut grass, the low murmur of distant waves beyond the property’s edge. A brief moment to breathe. That was all she needed.

Her eyes drifted toward the pool, its surface shimmering beneath the early evening glow and then beyond it, where shadows deepened under the trees. It wasn’t until she took a step forward that she noticed the shape nestled between them.

She startled, just slightly, breath catching in .

The tattooed idiot.

He was stretched out in the hammock, the fabric cradling him like something out of a slow, drowsy summer dream. The movement was subtle, the gentle rock of his weight against the breeze. For a moment, she wondered if he was asleep, but then she caught the faintest shift of his breath, the way his fingers flexed briefly against the fabric as if anchoring himself to the moment.

Briefly, she debated slipping away unnoticed, leaving him to his quiet retreat. But the thought barely had time to settle before she shifted, the sound of her heel against the stone pathway giving her away.

“Well, what do we have here?”, she asked in the same exaggerated British accent he had used in the kitchen earlier, exhaling a quiet laugh as she leaned against one of the trees the hammock was fixed to. “Didn’t see you there.”

Meeting new faces was fun, but so was venturing out into the property. Surely there will be a welcome party later for formal introduction. Stepping outside, he takes in the backyard, his gaze sweeping across the open space before settling on the pool just a short distance away. The water glistens under the golden rays of the sun. Taejoon makes a mental note to take a swim at some point—perhaps a refreshing dip in the morning or a relaxing one under the stars once he’s more settled in.
For now, though, he just wants to unwind. With a quiet sigh, he finds a comfortable spot to lean against, pulling out his phone to check his SNS.

Taejoon glances around, taking in the quiet charm of the backyard before his eyes land on something particularly inviting—a hammock, stretched securely between two tall trees, gently swaying with the breeze. It looks comfortable, almost too perfect to resist. Without a second thought, he makes his way toward it, the idea of lounging beneath the open sky far more appealing than lingering indoors.
His glass is already half empty, and as he walks, he takes a few quick sips, finishing the last of his drink before crouching down to place the empty glass on the ground beside the hammock. With practiced ease, he lowers himself onto the fabric, sitting for a moment before pushing off lightly with his foot, sending the hammock into a slow, rhythmic sway.