It was an autumn night in Seoul, and the moonlight cast a gentle glow over Han River Park. Lee Serin sat on a bench, gazing up at the sky, a deep sigh escaping her lips. Five years into her corporate life, everything she had built had crumbled in an instant. Her boss's betrayal, her colleagues' cold stares, and a sudden breakup notification from her boyfriend of three years.
"This is truly the worst..."
Her murmur was carried away by the wind. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she was too exhausted to even cry.
That's when it happened.
"Are you alright?"
A low, warm male voice reached her ears. Serin was startled and turned her head. The silhouette of a man stood beneath a streetlamp. He was tall with broad shoulders, a typically masculine physique.
"Oh, yes... I'm fine."
Serin quickly wiped her tears and tried to stand. But she had been sitting for too long, and her legs gave way, causing her to stumble.
"Be careful!"
The man quickly stepped forward and held her arm, steadying her. At that moment, their eyes met.
His face, seen under the moonlight, was as perfect as a sculpture. Dark eyebrows, deep eyes, and soft yet masculine lips. But what captivated Serin most was the warmth she felt in his eyes.
"Are you really okay? You seem to have cried a lot."
His voice held genuine concern. Serin found herself tearing up again without realizing it. All day long, no one had genuinely worried about her, and her heart crumbled at the warmth shown by this stranger.
"I'm... Kang Junhyuk."
The man introduced himself first. Serin hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.
"I'm Lee Serin. And... I'm really not okay."
A smile spread across Junhyuk's lips at her honest answer.
"In that case, would you like to talk for a bit? Sometimes it's easier to confide in a stranger."
Serin accepted his offer. The two sat back down on the bench, and Serin began to slowly recount what had happened to her. Junhyuk offered appropriate responses throughout, genuinely listening to her story.
"That man is truly foolish. To lose such a wonderful woman."
Serin gave a bitter smile at Junhyuk's words.
"A wonderful woman? What's so good about a woman like me..."
"I can tell just by looking at you right now. A heart that knows how to care for others even in difficult situations, the courage to express your feelings honestly, and..."
Junhyuk paused, then looked into Serin's eyes.
"You have eyes more beautiful than starlight."
Serin's heart began to pound. Such a line would typically only appear in a drama, but coming from this man, it didn't feel awkward at all. Instead, it felt genuine, making it even more touching.
"Junhyuk-ssi... what do you do for a living?"
"I'm an architect. I turn people's dream spaces into reality."
"That's wonderful. I was just an ordinary office worker... and now I'm not even that."
"Ordinary? You're not ordinary at all. In fact, you're special."
The two talked, oblivious to the deepening night. They spoke of their dreams, their favorite things, and their views on life, feeling a strange sense of kinship.
"Look at the time already."
Junhyuk said, checking his watch. It was well past midnight.
"Shall I walk you home?"
"No, it's alright. Just to the subway station is fine."
The two walked slowly towards the subway station. Upon arriving at the station, Serin couldn't hide her regret.
"Today... thank you so much. You comforted me a lot."
"It was a good time for me too. Perhaps... if it's alright, could I have your contact information?"
Serin hesitated for a moment. But seeing his sincere eyes, she couldn't refuse.
"Here."
Serin handed him her business card, and Junhyuk offered his in return.
"May I contact you tomorrow?"
"Yes... that'd be nice."
Just before Serin entered the subway, Junhyuk called out to her.
"Serin-ssi!"
"Yes?"
"Our meeting today wasn't a coincidence. It must have been destiny."
A genuine smile, one she hadn't worn in a long time, bloomed on Serin's face at his words. The subway doors closed, and as the train departed, Junhyuk's figure outside the window grew smaller and smaller.
Serin placed her hand on her chest. Her heart was still pounding rapidly. She never imagined that what had been the worst day would end with such a special encounter.
'Kang Junhyuk...'
Serin smiled, repeating his name to herself. It had been a long time since she looked forward to tomorrow.