The group was busy fortifying the villa, preparing for the colder months. Daryl stood near the barn, repairing a fence while Ji Hyo watched from a distance. Her gaze lingered on him, her thoughts conflicted. She admired his strength, his quiet dedication, and the way he always looked out for everyone. But she wasn’t sure how to act on the feelings growing in her heart.

“Hey, Ji Hyo!” Tara’s voice broke her reverie, and Ji Hyo quickly turned, trying to mask her emotions.

“Huh?” Ji Hyo said, blinking.

“You’ve been staring at Daryl for, like, ten minutes,” Tara teased, a mischievous grin on her face.

Ji Hyo’s cheeks turned red. “I wasn’t staring!”

“Oh, you were definitely staring,” Rosita added as she walked by, smirking.

---

The Group Notices

As the day went on, Ji Hyo couldn’t escape the teasing. Glenn and Maggie exchanged knowing looks, Rick and Michonne smiled whenever they saw her near Daryl, and even Abraham raised an eyebrow when she handed Daryl a water bottle.

“You’re not exactly subtle, you know,” Michonne said later that evening as the group gathered for dinner.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ji Hyo said, focusing intently on her plate.

“You like him,” Maggie said, her tone playful but kind.

Ji Hyo looked up, flustered. “I… I don’t know what you mean.”

“Come on, Ji Hyo,” Glenn said with a chuckle. “It’s written all over your face.”

---

Daryl’s Obliviousness

Meanwhile, Daryl was completely unaware of the group’s growing amusement. He was busy sharpening his knives in the corner, his focus entirely on his task.

“You think he has any idea?” Tara whispered to Rosita.

“Not a clue,” Rosita replied, shaking her head.

“He’s about as sharp in this department as a dull blade,” Abraham muttered, earning a laugh from the others.

---

A Private Conversation

Later that night, Ji Hyo found herself sitting on the porch, staring up at the stars. Michonne joined her, sitting down quietly.

“You know, it’s okay to feel something in a world like this,” Michonne said after a moment.

Ji Hyo sighed. “It’s not that simple. Daryl… he’s been through so much. I don’t want to make things awkward or distract him from what’s important.”

“You’re not a distraction, Ji Hyo,” Michonne said firmly. “You’re part of this group, and you matter just as much as anyone else. If you care about him, that’s not a bad thing.”

Ji Hyo hesitated, then nodded. “Maybe. But… what if he doesn’t feel the same?”

“Then you’ll deal with it,” Michonne said. “But you’ll never know unless you try.”

---

The Group’s Plan

Unbeknownst to Ji Hyo, the rest of the group had noticed her feelings and decided to help—subtly, of course.

“Someone needs to clue Daryl in,” Maggie said as they gathered in the kitchen.

“Good luck with that,” Glenn said. “He’s not exactly the most open guy.”

“Maybe we don’t tell him directly,” Rick suggested. “But we can nudge him in the right direction.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Tara said with a smirk. “Leave it to me.”

---

The “Accidental” Pairing

The next day, the group conveniently found reasons to pair Ji Hyo and Daryl together for various tasks.

“Daryl, why don’t you take Ji Hyo with you to check the traps?” Rick suggested casually.

“Sure,” Daryl said with a shrug, grabbing his crossbow.

Ji Hyo’s heart raced as she followed him into the woods.

---

An Unexpected Moment

As they worked together, Ji Hyo found herself relaxing. Daryl’s calm presence was comforting, and she admired the way he moved through the forest with quiet confidence.

“You’re good at this,” Ji Hyo said as they checked another trap.

“Been doin’ it a long time,” Daryl replied. “You ain’t bad yourself.”

Ji Hyo smiled, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance.

---

The Group’s Amusement

When Ji Hyo and Daryl returned to the villa, the group exchanged amused glances.

“How’d it go?” Tara asked, grinning.

“Fine,” Daryl said, heading inside without a second thought.

As Ji Hyo followed, her cheeks flushed, the group burst into quiet laughter.

“She’s got it bad,” Glenn said, shaking his head.

“And he’s got no idea,” Rosita added.

“Not yet,” Maggie said with a smile. “But he will.”

---

To Be Continued…

Though Ji Hyo wasn’t ready to confess her feelings just yet, the group’s quiet support gave her courage. And as the days passed, she began to realize that maybe, in this broken world, there was still room for love—and for hope.