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Inside the dimly lit hotel room, Jake had been mindlessly reading through a book, half-listening to the faint hum of the city outside. Minjae, on the other hand, was pacing around with restless energy, peeking through the curtains and occasionally glancing back at him.

Finally, she threw her hands up. "Okay, this is ridiculous. You're wasting a perfectly good night in a perfectly good city," she declared, marching over to him.

Jake looked up, raising an eyebrow. "And what exactly do you propose I do, Your Highness?"

Minjae grinned, grabbing his hand and pulling him off the bed with surprising strength. "We're going to sit on the balcony and enjoy the night, obviously. You can't just stay cooped up in here like a sad little hermit."

"I was perfectly fine being a sad little hermit, thank you very much," Jake grumbled, but he let her drag him to the sliding glass door anyway.

Minjae pushed the door open, letting the cool night air spill into the room, and tugged him outside. The city stretched out before them, a glittering sea of lights against the dark sky. She plopped down on a chair before patting the chair next to her.

"Come on," she urged. "It's nice out here. And the view's amazing."

Jake hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside her, hands on his lap. He glanced over at Minjae, who was already leaning against the railing, her face tilted up toward the sky.

She let out a content sigh, her eyes reflecting the faint glow of the moon. "See? Isn't this better than being glued to your phone?"

Jake huffed a quiet laugh. "I guess it's alright," he said, though the small smile tugging at his lips betrayed him.

Minjae nudged him playfully with her elbow. "Alright? Just admit it—you're glad I dragged you out here."

"Okay, fine," Jake relented, chuckling. "Maybe you were right."

"Of course I was," she said smugly, settling more comfortably against the railing.

For a while, they sat in companionable silence, the sound of distant traffic and the occasional laughter from the streets below filling the gaps. Jake found himself relaxing, the cool breeze and Minjae's presence easing something in him he hadn't realized was tense.

As the soft breeze carried the scent of night-blooming flowers and distant street food, Jake fidgeted with the edge of his jacket. He stole a glance at Minjae, who was leaning on the railing of their hotel room balcony, her chin resting on her palm.

The city lights reflected in her eyes, making them sparkle like the stars above them. She looked so serene, so effortlessly beautiful, that Jake felt his chest tighten.

He thought he'd gotten used to her by now—her bright energy, her easy smiles, the way she always seemed to know how to make him laugh when he needed it most.