"I hope this... accident won't cause you any trouble."

~•~

Minkyung glanced at her watch as she exited the café and headed toward the main building next door. She knew these buildings as if she had lived there her entire life—she had interned here during her studies, and wanting to make a great impression from the very first day, she memorized the entire layout of the building. She was the fastest person on-site, as she truly knew every nook and cranny.

The meeting she was rushing to was one of those her father had arranged as part of his constant effort to control her life. This time, it was with one of his colleagues, the head of a major media company, who was offering a lucrative collaboration for their family. Minkyung despised the way her life was turned into a bargaining chip in her father's business deals, but she knew she had no choice but to comply. KBS still thought all these people approached them of their own accord, but that wasn't true. Her father orchestrated everything, and nothing would come of it unless she agreed to marry someone they had chosen.

Walking beside her was her assistant, a petite brunette with a bob cut, holding a folder containing documents for the meeting. She struggled to keep up with Minkyung's brisk pace—a pace that had been natural for her since childhood. Even back then, Minkyung's quick stride had made it hard for her friends, if she managed to make any, to keep up with her. Taking the folder from her assistant, Minkyung began flipping through the papers. Contracts, numbers, and terms—everything was meticulously laid out to secure her family's position in the media industry. However, Minkyung knew her place in it wasn't guaranteed. Though she worked as a meteorologist and appeared on broadcasts, her father never considered it truly valuable. If she agreed to everything, he'd reduce her to a background figure, possibly pushing her entirely out of the weather world.

As they neared the entrance to the meeting room, her steps were suddenly interrupted when someone collided with her. Absorbed in the documents she was reviewing, Minkyung hadn't noticed the person approaching. The impact was abrupt and sharp, and she instinctively braced herself for a hard fall. Her heart raced, anticipating pain—but it never came.

Instead, she felt strong arms catch her around the waist, steadying her before she could lose her balance. Startled, she looked up to apologize, but the words caught in her throat. She found herself gazing into dark eyes—intense yet oddly calm. The man who had caught her leaned slightly closer to ensure she was stable. His face was mere inches from hers, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to stand still.

"I'm sorry," came a deep voice, confident and assured. Minkyung, still startled, glanced upward, finding herself face-to-face with a stranger. His face was alarmingly close to hers, and the tension between them was immediate. His dark brown eyes looked at her with a mix of curiosity and warmth, as if she were something precious he had stumbled upon. He looked at her like a child seeing candy for the first time.

He wore a dark suit that fit his muscular frame perfectly. If she had taken a closer look, she might have noticed his neatly styled hair and striking features, but her mind was too preoccupied with the fact that his arms were still around her. It was as if time had slowed, leaving her in awe. Quickly regaining her balance, she stood upright, signaling that his hands were no longer needed. The absence of his touch left an unexpected chill on her waist, as if something was missing.

"Are you okay?" he asked again, his voice laced with concern yet soothing—perhaps it was just how deeply attractive it sounded. Minkyung realized she was indeed unharmed, her balance fully restored thanks to his firm grip.

"Y-yeah," she stammered, her voice tinged with confusion. "I'm fine." She had no idea why she was suddenly so flustered. Talking to people, especially attractive ones, had never been an issue for her. She often interacted with handsome men in the newsroom, but this time felt different. What was wrong with her?

Now that she had more time to look at him, she realized she recognized the man before her. He was Lee Soohyuk, a renowned actor and model known for his roles in TV dramas and high-profile ad campaigns. Many in the entertainment industry remembered him not just for his looks but also for his quiet yet magnetic presence.

Lee Soohyuk smiled slightly, noticing how Minkyung seemed caught off guard. His expression was friendly, yet he exuded an air of confidence. "It's my fault; I shouldn't have been moving so quickly," he said with a touch of humor, easing some of Minkyung's tension.

Minkyung attempted a smile and glanced at her assistant, who stood nearby, visibly flustered by the situation. "It's... fine. Thank you," she said, though she couldn't help but look back at Lee Soohyuk. There was something unexpectedly comforting about his presence, even as her embarrassment lingered.

"I hope this... accident won't cause you any trouble," he added with a touch of humor, prompting a nervous laugh from Minkyung. Though clearly just a coincidence, Minkyung couldn't help but notice how peculiar this encounter felt. What was Lee Soohyuk doing in the KBS building, especially since he was signed under YG? She hadn't read anything about him being involved in a new project, nor was she aware of any meetings he might have here.

Before she could say anything more, Lee Soohyuk leaned slightly closer and added, "By the way, good luck with your meeting. I know it can be... challenging to handle family matters like this."

His words sounded genuine, and Minkyung felt they weren't just empty pleasantries or subtle flirtation. There was a certain depth and kindness in them that contrasted with his formal and somewhat aloof demeanor. She couldn't help but wonder how someone like Lee Soohyuk could know anything about what was happening within her family. Sure, her name and her family's name often appeared in the papers thanks to her father's constant need for publicity, but that didn't mean it extended into her personal life.

"Thank you," she replied as they stood there, watching as he slowly walked away. Yet, her thoughts lingered on their unexpected meeting.

Her assistant, standing frozen with wide eyes of astonishment, finally found her voice. "Oh my god, that was... Lee Soohyuk!" she whispered, barely containing her excitement. Minkyung glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, though her attention remained on his retreating figure as he walked down the hall in the opposite direction. His long strides and relaxed posture added an effortless grace to his departure—so quintessentially him.

"Yeah, that was him," she answered calmly, not taking her eyes off his silhouette. In truth, she couldn't quite understand why his presence felt so captivating. Maybe it was the unexpected nature of his behavior or the way he had steadied her without hesitation. Maybe it was just his deep voice, which still echoed in her mind.

"You're so calm! How can you act like this? Lee Soohyuk just caught you, talked to you, and even wished you luck! This is like a scene from a movie!" Her assistant tugged lightly at her sleeve, her expression brimming with excitement. "If that had happened to me, I'd probably cry tears of joy!"

Minkyung smiled—a subtle expression, not amused but more introspective, as if grappling with something she couldn't quite name. "It was just a small misunderstanding in the hallway. Nothing more," she replied. Her calmness wasn't feigned, but she couldn't deny that the memory of his eyes, gazing at her with an intensity she hadn't anticipated, was something that would stay with her.

"A small misunderstanding? Minkyung, you just don't get it!" Her assistant clutched her head as though trying to dispel the absurdity of the response. "Lee Soohyuk! One of the most sought-after actors and models in Korea. And not only did you meet him, but he literally saved you from falling! This is... I don't even have words!" He might not be the most sought-after, her assistant was exaggerating a little, but he was certainly someone whose name was often mentioned these days.

Minkyung simply shrugged, though she silently admitted her assistant had a point. Encounters like this didn't happen every day. Still, she tried not to overthink it. "It looks like we need to hurry," she said instead, redirecting her attention back to the hallway ahead of them. Yet, her eyes involuntarily glanced back over her shoulder, catching one last glimpse of Soohyuk disappearing around the corner.

Her assistant noticed and smirked mischievously. "See? You're interested! You keep looking at him." Minkyung hadn't meant to stare, but she just couldn't help it. He was undeniably attractive, and seeing him up close made her realize it even more. They had been so close that they could have easily kissed—not that she wanted to entertain such thoughts. If she did, she'd probably lose her mind and have to scold herself for her runaway imagination.

"I'm not interested," Minkyung lied automatically, though she felt her pulse quicken slightly. That subtle remark had caught her off guard more than she cared to admit. It was just a coincidence, she told herself again. Nothing more.

"Of course not," her assistant replied in a tone dripping with sarcasm. "But now you officially have a story to tell for the rest of your life. You should be grateful for your luck. Do you think anyone like Lee Soohyuk has ever caught me? No, at best, I've been trampled on the stairs."

Minkyung couldn't help but smile. "Maybe you just have bad timing," she replied with deliberate nonchalance.

"Bad timing? This isn't about timing; this is destiny!" The assistant looked like she was about to burst with excitement. "Do you even realize what thousands of girls would give for this? He touched you, literally saved you, and looked like it was the most natural thing in the world."

"It was just a coincidence," Minkyung repeated, but her voice was weaker this time. In her mind, she replayed how Soohyuk's deep voice sounded when he wished her luck with her meeting. There was something peculiar about those words, something that didn't quite add up. How could he have known the meeting weighed on her? Was it just an observation, or did he know more than he should?

As her assistant continued her monologue about how amazing Lee Soohyuk was and how ungrateful Minkyung seemed for this "gift from above," Minkyung tried to redirect her focus to the upcoming meeting. But her thoughts kept drifting back to him. Maybe it was his sincere, apologetic gesture, or maybe it was the way his gaze seemed to pierce right through her.

When they finally arrived at the meeting room, her assistant fell silent, though the excitement in her eyes was still evident. "You know what? If you ever meet him again, you have to take me with you. I need to see him again. Maybe this time he'll notice me and save me," she said dramatically.

"Sure," Minkyung replied with a smile, this time a genuine one. "I'll do my best."

But as she prepared to step into the room for the meeting ahead, his words continued to echo in her mind. And though she tried to focus on what lay before her, part of her couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if she met him again.

~•~