cinna ✧

A blush crept up on your face. "Oh." Your gaze fell down to the floor, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Oh yes!” she exclaimed. “He always talks about how caring, helpful, and supportive you are. The words he says about you are sweeter than any injeolmi toast in the world, but I love the way his eyes sparkle whenever he talks about you.”

You felt touched by the words you heard. “He’s too kind,” you said with a warm smile, “...the least I should do is bring his lunch to him.” 

The receptionist mirrored your smile. “Wonderful, just sign here,” she stated as she pointed to the sign-in sheet. “And don’t forget to sign out when you leave.” 

After filling out the necessary details, she gave you a visitor pass. “You’ll find Mr. Sung’s classroom down the hall, third door on your left.”

“Thank you for your help, Mrs. Kim," you expressed with gratitude. “Have a great rest of your day.” 

“You're welcome!” she exclaimed.

As you turned to leave, you couldn’t help but catch a faint whisper from the receptionist, almost as if she was talking to herself. "What a match made in heaven," she mumbled with a knowing smile.

You walked down the corridor to the classroom and found the door ajar. When you first looked at the classroom, you couldn’t help but notice the vibrant and inviting atmosphere that greeted you. The walls were adorned with bright colors, from cheery yellows to calming blues, creating a warm and welcoming place for young minds to thrive. There were a variety of colorful posters in both Korean and English on the walls. In one corner, there was a well-stocked shelf with Korean and English books and plush cushions that surrounded it. 

In another area, there was what was presumable an arts and craft station filled with an array of paints, coloring pencils, markers, papers, just to name a few tools to allow one to unleash their creativity. Not too far from it was a small dedicated play area featuring a soft play mat and different toys as well as a play kitchen. Lastly, there were cubbies and storage units that lined the perimeter of the room, allowing students to keep their personal belongings organized and in one space.  

As you stood by the entrance, it was abundantly clear that the classroom’s warm and inviting atmosphere wasn’t solely due to the decorations in the room - it was something more profound. Was it Hanbin’s unwavering passion and dedication in creating an environment where students can not only be educated, but also cherished? Perhaps, it was his welcoming smile and patient demeanor that allowed the students to feel at ease. Or maybe it was his enthusiasm, which you could easily hear as he happily engaged with his young students in a lively discussion.

“So, how many people in this room have the last name ‘Lee’?” his voice filled the air.

“Three!” you heard in unison, a chorus of high-pitched voices. 

“What about Park’s?” he continued.

“Four!” came the enthusiastic response.

“Wow! You are all doing great,” he complimented, his tone genuine. “What about Sung’s? How many people in the classroom have the last name ‘Sung’?” 

This time, you heard some saying “two” while others insisting “one.”

“There’s only one Sung in this room,” he clarified as he pointed to himself. “It’s just me.”

“I thought married couples have the same last name,” a little girl declared as she made eye contact with you. 

With a smile on his face, Hanbin answered, “well, Mia, that's true in some families, but not in all of them. In many cultures, each person simply keeps their last name even after getting married.”

“Ohhh, so you and your spouse don’t have the same last name,” she remarked, her voice tinged with wonder.

“Um, that’s right,” he replied, feeling a bit confused. “If it’s alright with you, Mia, may I ask why you are bringing up ‘my spouse’ all of a sudden?” His tone was firm yet gentle. 

The little girl exchanged a knowing look with a few of her fellow classmates, their faces beaming with anticipation. “Look behind you, Mr. Sung!” A few kids, including Mia, exclaimed. 

Your boyfriend’s eyes widen, and as he turned towards the door, he saw you standing there. 

“Oh, [y/n]?” he exclaimed, a hint of surprise in his voice, as he walked towards you. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” 

"I, um, apologize for interrupting," you stammered, "but you seemed to have left your lunch behind, Hanbin – I mean, Mr. Sung." The children’s eyes widen with curiosity. 

“[y/n]?!” you then heard other kids shouted. “The one Mr. Sung talks about?”

“Huh?” you gasped, taken aback by the children’s recognition. “How…”

“Mr. Sung showed us a picture of you a few days ago when we were on our family unit!” you heard one yelled. 

You felt your face flush with warmth. You quickly glanced at your boyfriend: his cheeks were painted a tinge of pink, but he was still somehow composed.

“Thank you for bringing my lunch,” he said, genuinely grateful. “You really saved the day.”

“Of course, I had the day off so that was the least I could do,” you smiled. “Anyways, I’ll be on my way now..” But just before were about to turn, you heard a couple of pleas.

“No, don’t go!” one of them implored. 

“Please stay!” another chimed in. 

“Stay! Stay! Stay!” a few of the kids chanted.

Feeling touched by their enthusiasm, you looked at Hanbin for his approval. He nodded.

“Of course, I’d love to stay if everyone is okay with it,” you agreed.

“Yaayyy!” High-pitch cheers filled the room. 

—

Currently, you found yourself seated next to your boyfriend, sharing the lunch you brought over, alongside his enthusiastic students who were seated at two large tables positioned next to each other. As you enjoyed lunch, you and Hanbin engaged in friendly conversations with the children as they enjoyed their delicious and well-balanced meals provided by the school.

It was fun to learn about their hobbies and interests, their favorite colors, toys, books, kpop group (Zerobaseone was apparently number one closely followed by EVNNE!), their dream jobs, what they learned, funny stories that happened in the kindergarten, and much more. The overall atmosphere was lively and communal. 

At some point, Mia gently poked your arm and when you looked down to make eye contact, you saw an inquisitive expression on her face. 

“May I ask you a question?” she asked. 

“Sure,” you smiled.

“Why did you fall in love with Mr. Sung?” she inquired, full of curiosity in her voice. “What about marriage? When did you get married? Did you have a big wedding?” 

“Well, Mia,” you began. “I fell in love with Mr. Sung for many reasons. One of the things that captured my heart was his kindness. He’s always there to lend a hand or two. He is an empathetic person and knows how to help someone when they’re feeling down. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who cares for others the way he does.”  

Your eyes softened as you continued. “He’s also incredibly attentive. He listens with genuine interest and remembers the little things that matter. Somehow, he knows how to make each person feel special and cherished – it’s amazing really. I’m just so grateful to have him by my side.” 

You heard a few aww’s and saw adorable little smiles from the two tables. You paused, feeling a bit nervous and wondering how to answer the question about marriage. Sensing your momentary uncertainty, Hanbin placed his hand on yours under the table; luckily, the kids seemed oblivious. 

“[y/n] and I aren’t married…yet,” he said, his eyes twinkling as he looked at the children and then you. 

The young students, quick to catch his hint, erupted with loud cheers and exciting questions and comments.

“May I be the flower girl?”

“I want to the ring boy!” 

“Mr. Sung, can please you invite us to the wedding? PLEASEEEE!!!!” 

—

Later that evening, while preparing dinner in the kitchen, you suddenly felt a warm and familiar hug from behind. A smile graced your lips when you recognized your boyfriend’s embrace.

“I’m home,” he whispered, his voice filled with affection, before giving you a quick peck on the cheek.

“Welcome home,” you replied. “How was work?” 

“The best work day ever,” he exclaimed as he slowly let you go and grabbed an apron. “A special person came by to drop off my lunch. It’s too bad you had to leave so soon. The kids loved you so much.” 

“Oh really?” you responded, shock in your voice.

“Yes, a few of them even drew pictures of us during art time,” he replied, now putting on his apron. “They’re in my bag. I’ll show you after dinner.” 

“Aw, that’s so sweet,” you commented, genuinely touched by the children’s gesture. “I had a great time with them too. They’re so charming and full of energy – just like someone I know.” 

A smirk formed on Hanbin’s face as he rolled his sleeves and washed his hands before helping you prepare dinner. 

“They put a lot of effort into those drawings,” he stated, his eyes sparkling with pride. “Maybe we can get some wedding inspiration from them.” 

---

permanent taglist: @starrzhao, @dimplewonie, @keiwook, @partiallyderived 

if you're interested, you can join my permanent taglist by filling out this form