Keep calm, He thought silently to himself. Just keep calm. If you act jumpy, she’ll know somethings up. She always knows when something’s up.

He almost sighed, but he knew that would just tip her off. Jackson and MinHee were slowly moving away from the busy pier, and towards a silent, more secluded edge. He shouldn’t have asked her to go for a walk with him. It was never too late to change his mind, right? Besides, he didn’t really want to stay away from her. He just wanted what was best for her.

“So,” Jackson said finally, coming to a stop. “You’re kind of serious with Jinwoo, huh?” MinHee nodded, looking down at her feet. “And… you’re happy, right?” She nodded again. “Okay. That’s good. I, uh… I want you to be happy. 

She looked up now, a confused look on her face. She raised an eyebrow, but she looked worried. Jackson offered a shrug. “As long as you're happy, then everything’s alright, right?” Confusion still played her features, but she nodded slowly. He turned and started walking again. He hadn’t realized how fast he was walking, or how large his steps were until she was practically running to keep up with him. “So,” He started, and she giggled. He figured it was a nervous giggle. Maybe there was something funny going in over his shoulder?

He actually looked. Nothing. She was giggling at him.

He stopped walking. “Look,” He said, and MinHee’s eyes widened. “I think you know that I find you absolutely beautiful.” From the look on her face, she didn’t, but he couldn’t stop now. He’d started, and now he had to finish. “I, uh, think I’ve been pretty blatant about it,” No. He hadn’t. He thought he had, but she was clearly confused by this. “Maybe not, but still.”

He bit the inside of his lip and continued, rubbing at the back of his neck. “So I think you’re perfect, and inspirational, and so strong, but you’re with Jinwoo, and I’m not telling you to leave him or anything I just…” He had been speaking so fast that he was entirely out of breath. He sighed, pulled off his snapback, and pushed his fingers through his hair. He put the hat back on before continuing. “I care about you, a lot, and as long as you’re happy, I think I’ll be alright.” parted, in confusion? But he continued. “So I think I’m done chasing you, and I hope you’re, uhm, happy with Jinwoo. You guys are cute.”

Even when he said this, after planning it, practicing it in his head, he felt like he’d said it wrong. Or like he was doing the wrong thing. He couldn’t go back on it now, though. What’s