Three days after the olive branch incident—and two very official, very heart-skipping kisses later—Kaelira sent Aria a message that made her heart flutter and her suspicion rise all at once.
💙: "Don't make plans for tonight. Dress cute. Slightly warm. Slightly romantic. Slightly… flower-themed 🌸😉"
🌼: "...What does slightly flower-themed even mean??"
💙: "You'll see 😌"
Aria stared at the message for a full minute, then sighed in delight.
This was Karina now—not just the idol, but her Kaelira. Dorky, charming, mischievous. The one who made flower puns under her breath and thought Aria's hands were magic. The one who liked surprise plans.
So Aria dressed up. Not too much. Just soft jeans, a pale blue cardigan-sweater with embroidered daisies on the sleeves, and her favorite ribbon in her hair. She even tucked a tiny forget-me-not into her jacket pocket.
She stood outside her apartment at 6:45 sharp, heart thumping.
And right on cue, a familiar black van pulled up. The back door slid open.
Inside, Kaelira grinned. "You ready, florist girl?"
Aria stepped in. "Are we breaking laws?"
"Not technically. Just borrowing a rooftop."
⤹ ❀
Kaelira led her through an old building in Itaewon, all the way up a rickety iron staircase to the rooftop.
And then—
Aria stopped in her tracks.
The rooftop had been transformed.
There were flower petals scattered in a soft circle around a picnic setup—blankets, cushions, fairy lights hung on poles stuck into cracked concrete. Lanterns glowed like little suns. In the center was a basket with a handwritten tag: "Operation Picnic Petal."
"You did this?" Winter asked, breathless.
Kaelira scratched the back of her neck. "I… may have bribed two stylists and borrowed a prop team."
Aria's mouth curled into a wide, helpless smile. "You are ridiculous."
Kaelira reached for her hand. "Only for you."
⤹ ❀
They were five minutes into the picnic when the first gust of wind attacked.
The lanterns danced. The cushions shuffled. One napkin tried to fly into the next district.
Aria shrieked mid-laugh, lunging for the runaway napkin while Kaelira dove dramatically after a tumbling cup of bubble tea.
They stared at each other, windblown and breathless.
"This is going great," Kaelira declared.
Aria laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Romance: 0. Wind: 1."
Kaelira smirked. "Let's call it a draw."
⤹ ❀
They were halfway through their bento boxes when a single pigeon landed three feet away.
Aria paused, chopsticks halfway to her mouth.
Kaelira narrowed her eyes. "Sir. This is a private event."
The pigeon blinked.
Then came two more. And then five. And then a terrifying, feathered squadron.
"Oh no," Aria whispered. "They smell the tamagoyaki."
Kaelira leapt to her feet. "BACK OFF, DEMONS."
She waved a napkin like a sword while Aria dissolved into laughter, clutching her stomach.
"I think one of them's your fan," she gasped. "He's got your stare."
"I am not losing to a bird," Kaelira growled, dramatically shooing them away.
Eventually, the feathered army retreated. Kaelira returned, disheveled but proud.
"I protected our date," she said solemnly.
"You did." Aria took her hand, eyes shining. "You're my brave knight. In soft denim armor."
Kaelira beamed. "With strawberry milk as my sword."
⤹ ❀
Ten minutes later, a motorcycle revved loudly from somewhere below.
Then:
"IS THERE A 'KAELIRA' HERE?!"
Aria blinked.
Kaelira slapped a hand to her forehead. "Oh no."
They both rushed to the rooftop edge.
Down below, a poor food delivery man stood with a confused expression, holding a bag labeled 'Emergency Chocolate Cake'.
Aria snorted. "Please tell me you scheduled dessert after the picnic?"
"I didn't think the wind would eat the actual food!" Kaelira yelled back. "COMING!"
Five minutes, two stairs nearly tripped on, and a victorious bag-carrying return later, Kaelira presented Aria with a very slightly melted slice of chocolate cake.
Aria looked at her—sweaty, windblown, smiling too wide—and felt something fizzy and wonderful bloom in her chest.
"I love this," she said softly.
Kaelira blinked. "...The cake?"
"This whole thing. The mess, the birds, the lights. You." Aria reached over and gently fixed a petal stuck in Kaelira's hair. "You're the best date I've ever had."
Kaelira's smile softened.
Then she leaned closer, cupped Aria's cheek, and kissed her. Soft, slow. No wind could ruin this one.
⤹ ❀
They lay side by side on the blanket, staring at the stars above.
Aria curled into Kaelira's side, head on her shoulder.
"Next time," Aria murmured, "we picnic indoors."
Kaelira laughed. "Agreed. With guard pigeons."
Aria giggled. "And backup dessert."
Kaelira turned to look at her. "But… even with everything going wrong…"
She took Aria's hand.
"…This is still the best night I've had in forever."
Aria smiled, eyes shining.
"Same."
They stayed there long after the lanterns dimmed. Two girls tangled in laughter, petals, and dreams under a Seoul sky that had never looked more magical.