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You’d been dating Rin for about three months now.
Although “dating” felt like a fragile word — something you held carefully between your palms, afraid it might crumble if you weren’t gentle enough. Rin had never made it official to anyone. Your friends didn’t know, and even on his end, there were no signs.
You’d already introduced him to your family but Rin hadn’t reciprocated that. You understood, of course. He was a professional soccer player, a public figure with eyes constantly on him. Commitment wasn’t something he was used to; affection wasn’t something he displayed easily. And since you were his first girlfriend, you knew you were still walking him through the unfamiliar rhythm of what dating even meant.
But still, sometimes… you wished he’d meet you halfway.
The city shimmered that night on the day of Christmas eve — every corner draped in gold and red, the air filled with laughter and the faint hum of carols spilling from café doors.
You stood among the crowd, watching couples huddled together under strings of lights. Some took photos by the enormous Christmas tree at the plaza’s center — a towering thing of silver ornaments and a star that glowed like a sun. You could hear the click of cameras, the soft, muffled giggles of people who had someone’s hand to hold.
Beside you was Rin.
He wore his coat zipped high, his breath fogging faintly in the air. His steps were steady, almost impatient, like he wanted to get this walk over with. His face was turned away from the noise and the light — focused instead on the empty street ahead, on anything but the crowd.
You trailed after him, rubbing your palms together and breathing into them for warmth. Your cheeks were already flushed from the cold, but maybe also from something else — something you couldn’t quite name without your chest tightening a little.
You looked up again at the huge Christmas tree. For a moment, you imagined being there too, just for a picture. Just one photo where it would look like you were like everyone else.
But Rin didn’t even glance that way.
You exhaled, watching the white mist vanish. At least holding hands would be fine… right?
“Rin,” you called softly, quickening your steps to catch up.
He slowed, just enough for you to reach out — your scarf pulled close to your face as you extended one hand toward him, the other pressed to your chin, trying to hide your nervousness and the heat in your cheeks.
“Hand?” you asked, your voice small, hopeful — so quiet that it might’ve been lost to the sound of bells and chatter.
Rin turned slightly, just enough to look at you over his shoulder. His teal eyes flicked down at your outstretched hand, then back up to your face. His brows knit faintly, and his breath came out slower this time, almost like he didn’t want to say it.
“Not right now,” he muttered.
You froze, your fingers curling back instinctively.
“Oh… o-okay,” you whispered, trying to sound fine. You nodded quickly, as if to convince yourself, then rubbed your hands together again, breathing warmth into them.
He started walking again, and you followed — A few steps behind, you watched his back, the only sound you could register being the rhythmic crunch of frozen gravel beneath his boots in the biting winter air.
Behind you, the tree glittered brighter than ever.
But ahead, the street was dim.
Tonight was really cold, isn’t it?
Your breath clouded faintly in the air as you looked up. The night sky was dark, streaked faintly with silver clouds and the dull glow of city lights. It was the kind of night that made you feel both alive and lonely.
When you lowered your gaze again, your eyes found Rin. His hands were buried in his pockets.
“Where are we going?” you asked, tilting your head toward him.
He didn’t even spare you a glance when he answered. “I’m dropping you off at your home.”
You blinked, your eyes widening.
That was… it? Just like that? You hadn’t even celebrated the day yet, the only thing you both did was eat at a restaurant, did you really get all dolled and dressed up for nothing?
Your steps slowed until you stopped in your tracks completely, your boots crunching softly on the pavement. Rin walked a few paces ahead before realizing you were no longer beside him.
He turned around, his eyes narrowing faintly. “Why’d you stop?”
You looked at him with an expression of rue — your cheeks puffed out, your breath fogging as you frowned softly. The street you were in now was quiet, far from the laughter and lights of the plaza. Just a stretch of dim lamps and soft snowmelt reflecting off the asphalt.
You stepped forward once and raised your hand toward him again, your eyes wide with an innocent look of your eyes — though your voice carried a faint, subtly provoked tone this time as you said, “Hand.”
Your tone carried the tiniest hint of frustration this time — a gentle nudge toward him to make a move.
Rin blinked. Then, with an exhale, he said flatly, “Yes. That’s your hand.”
Your eyes narrowed immediately.
Was he teasing you?
Your cheeks puffed out even more as you huffed, your frustration spilling out in a mist of white breath.
He got the memo perfectly earlier in the crowd, even to reject your offer of holding your hand, now he’s completely oblivious this time?
You huffed them out, frustration puffing in little clouds before you inevitably blurted, “I want you to hold my hand, god damn it!” Your brows furrowed together, cheeks flushed in irritation and cold.
Rin’s eyes widened — startled, his shoulders stiffening for a beat before he moved forward in long, quick steps. Without a word, he reached for your hand — his fingers slipping between yours clumsily.
You blinked at him, your heart easing as warmth finally seeped into your chest. At last, you were satisfied.
You resumed walking, now side by side. You could feel his thumb twitch slightly, like he wasn’t used to it. When you glanced at him from the side, the corner of your lips lifted — his ears were faintly red, the cold doing little to hide it.
After a few more steps, you stopped again.
Rin let out a small, exasperated sigh, turning to you with a mix of annoyance and confusion. “Now what?”
Your head was bowed, your voice small. “Give me a hug, please.”
He stared for a moment, his breath visible in the cold, before sighing again. Then he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around you.
His embrace was firm. You could feel the heat of his body through his coat, the faint flex of his biceps around your shoulders. You melted instantly, your own arms finding his waist as you closed your eyes.
When he finally pulled away, you were smiling — cheeks still flushed.
Seeing your bright smile, Rin’s lips curved faintly in return, his usual sharp gaze softening as his brows eased upward.
You started walking again, fingers still intertwined. You even had a little bounce to your step now, your arm swinging gently with his. For a while, it almost felt perfect.
But as the night air nipped at your fingers again, you lifted your free hand and breathed into your palm, trying to chase the warmth.
And before you realized it, you were standing in front of Rin’s house.
You blinked, looking from the front door to him, eyes wide with surprise. “Wait… this isn’t my house.”
Rin didn’t answer right away. He simply looked at the door, with a calm expression, then opened it like it was nothing.
“Come on,” he said simply.
You followed him hesitantly inside — the warmth of the house instantly brushing your face — and then you froze again.
Because standing there in the living room were a few familiar faces. His parents — both looking toward you.
Rin stepped slightly aside and said, with his usual calm tone, “This is my girlfriend.”
For a second, all you could do was stare, your heart leaping into your throat.
Then, slowly, your lips parted in a dazed little smile.
He introduced you to his family.
He’d always associated snowy nights with silence. To him, winter had always meant empty streets after practice, cold meals, and the goals scored in fields where no one was watching.
But tonight felt different.
The same snow that once reminded him of loneliness now fell softly against the window, touched by laughter and warmth. Maybe this was how old memories were rewritten — through moments like this.
Maybe any season could feel warm, as long as you were in it with him.
You noticed that snow had begun to fall outside, melting the instant it touched the ground. You found yourself staring at the window for a moment.
Maybe Rin was the same — like the snow outside, he was beginning to thaw emotionally. Slowly beginning to let the warmth seep through the cracks.
And just like that, it felt as though a new chapter had begun for the both of you.