The sun was setting over the villa, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The pool glistened under the fading light, a rare oasis in the chaotic world they lived in. Ji Hyo sat at the edge of the pool, her legs dangling in the cool water. She wore a simple bikini set, her hair tied back loosely, enjoying the rare moment of peace.

Daryl appeared from the main house, wearing shorts and carrying a towel slung over his shoulder. He hesitated when he saw her but decided to join her anyway.

“Mind if I sit here?” he asked, his voice low but steady.

Ji Hyo looked up, startled, then smiled softly. “Not at all.”

Daryl sat down beside her, dipping his feet into the water. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, listening to the soft chirping of crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

---

The Conversation Begins

“Never thought I’d see a pool in the middle of all this,” Daryl said, breaking the silence.

Ji Hyo chuckled. “It’s surreal, isn’t it? Sometimes I forget how lucky we are to have this place.”

“Yeah,” Daryl said, glancing at her. “You found a way to keep everyone safe. Not many people can say that.”

Ji Hyo shrugged, her gaze fixed on the water. “I just did what I could. We’ve all done things to survive.”

Daryl nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Still, not everyone could’ve built somethin’ like this. Takes more than luck to keep a group like ours together.”

Ji Hyo smiled faintly, her heart fluttering at his words.

---

A Moment of Vulnerability

“Daryl,” Ji Hyo said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah?” he replied, turning to look at her.

She hesitated, her fingers brushing against the edge of the pool. “Do you ever think about… what we’ve lost? What we’ve become?”

“All the time,” Daryl admitted. “But I try to focus on what we still got. People like you, this place—it gives us somethin’ to hold onto.”

Ji Hyo looked at him, her chest tightening. “You’ve always been so strong, Daryl. I admire that about you.”

Daryl shifted uncomfortably, not used to compliments. “Ain’t nothin’ special. Just doin’ what I gotta do.”

---

The Confession

Ji Hyo took a deep breath, her heart pounding. This was the moment she had been dreading—and hoping for.

“Daryl,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, “I need to tell you something.”

He looked at her, his blue eyes searching hers. “What’s on your mind?”

She hesitated, then gathered her courage. “I care about you. More than just as a friend. I have for a while now.”

Daryl blinked, his expression unreadable. The silence that followed felt like an eternity.

“I know this might be… unexpected,” Ji Hyo continued, her voice faltering. “But I had to tell you. I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore.”

---

Daryl’s Reaction

Daryl stared at her, his jaw tightening as he processed her words. He wasn’t used to this—feelings, emotions, people being open with him.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” he admitted finally, his voice rough.

Ji Hyo’s heart sank, but she managed a small smile. “It’s okay, Daryl. I just needed you to know. You don’t have to say anything.”

He looked away, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “I ain’t good with this kinda stuff. Never had much practice, y’know?”

“I understand,” Ji Hyo said gently. “But you don’t have to figure it out right now. I just wanted to be honest with you.”

---

A Glimmer of Hope

After a long pause, Daryl turned back to her. “I care about you too, Ji Hyo. I just… I don’t wanna mess things up.”

“You won’t,” she said, her voice steady. “We’ll figure it out together, one step at a time.”

Daryl nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Alright. One step at a time.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the two of them sat in companionable silence, the weight of unspoken emotions finally lifted. For the first time in a long while, Ji Hyo felt a sense of hope—hope that even in a world as broken as theirs, there was still room for connection, for understanding, and maybe even for love.