Silent Confessions

Ji-woo's expression was one of slight disappointment. "Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Min-joon felt a bit defensive. "Hey, you were the one who asked, so you don't get to act like I said something weird."

She looked away, pouting a little. "I just thought... maybe there was something else. Something more meaningful or... I don't know, personal?"

Min-joon shook his head. "No, not really. Why do you ask? What are you curious about?"

Ji-woo let out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. She seemed to gather her thoughts before looking at him again. "Min-joon, do you have any experience with romance?"

Min-joon blinked in surprise. "Love?" he asked, not sure he had heard her correctly.

She nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes, love."

He scratched his head, feeling even more awkward. "Not really. Why are you asking me this now?"

Ji-woo's cheeks flushed a light pink, and she turned to face him more fully. "What would you do if a girl confessed her feelings to you?"

Min-joon felt a rush of confusion and curiosity. 'Where did that come from?' he wondered. "Why are you asking me that?" he said out loud, trying to keep his voice calm.

Ji-woo didn't answer immediately. Instead, she just stared at him, her eyes searching his face as if looking for something.

Min-joon let out a sigh, feeling the weight of her gaze. "Well... I guess I'd be happy. I mean, it's nice to know someone likes you, right?"

Ji-woo's expression softened slightly, but she still looked a bit unsure. "You guess?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Min-joon shrugged, feeling a bit lost. "Yeah, I guess. Why? Do you have someone in mind or something?"

Ji-woo's blush deepened, and she quickly looked away, focusing on a spot on the wall. Min-joon watched her, his mind racing with possibilities. 'Is she talking about me?' he wondered, the thought making his heart beat a little faster.

Before he could ask her anything more, a faint noise from above made them both tense up. They held their breath, listening intently. The sound grew louder, and Min-joon realized it was the ghouls, still searching for them. He placed a finger to his lips, signaling Ji-woo to stay quiet.

They sat there in silence, waiting for the danger to pass. As the minutes ticked by, Min-joon couldn't help but think about Ji-woo's questions. 

'What if she likes me?' he thought, the idea both thrilling and terrifying. 'But we've known each other for a while now, why hasn't she ever said anything?'

But for now, all they could do was wait and hope the ghouls would move on. The conversation would have to wait.

The basement remained quiet as Min-joon and Ji-woo held their breath, listening intently for any sign of the ghouls' movements above. The distant sounds of scraping claws and low growls echoed through the building.

Ji-woo glanced nervously at Min-joon, her thoughts racing. She hadn't expected their conversation to take such a personal turn, especially not in the midst of fleeing for their lives. But now that the question was out there, she couldn't shake the curiosity about Min-joon's feelings.

Min-joon, for his part, was trying to process the implications of Ji-woo's inquiries. 'Does she really want to know my feelings?' The thought both thrilled and unnerved him. 

He had always seen Ji-woo as a nice reliable friend since childhood. The idea of anything beyond their friendship was new and uncharted territory.

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the tension in the air almost tangible. Finally, the sounds from above began to fade, growing fainter as the ghouls moved farther away. Min-joon let out a quiet sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"They're leaving," he whispered to Ji-woo, his voice barely above a murmur.

Ji-woo nodded, her eyes still fixed on the ceiling above them. "We should give it a few more minutes," she replied softly. "Just to be sure."

Min-joon agreed, settling back against the cold concrete wall. His mind was still buzzing with thoughts of Ji-woo's questions. 

Meanwhile, Ji-woo was struggling with her own thoughts. 

'Why did I ask him that? Oh I'm so embarrassed right now, ugh!' she thought.

She couldn't ignore the questions swirling in her mind.

After what felt like an eternity, Ji-woo finally broke the silence. "Min-joon," she began hesitantly, turning to face him.

He looked at her, his expression serious but open. "Yeah?"

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "I... I'm sorry for asking you those things. It was... out of nowhere, and probably not the best time."

Min-joon shook his head, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay, Ji-woo. I understand. We're in a tough spot right now, and sometimes our minds wander."

She nodded, grateful for his understanding. "I just... I wanted to know."

He tilted his head, studying her intently. "Know what?"

She hesitated, searching for the right words. "If... if there was anything you might regret, or... someone you liked."

Min-joon furrowed his brow, sensing there was more to her question than met the eye. "Why are you asking me this?"

Ji-woo looked away briefly, her cheeks flushing faintly. "I guess... I just want to understand you better, Min-joon. We've been through a lot together, and... I care about you."

His heart skipped a beat at her words, his own feelings stirring in response. "I care about you too, Ji-woo," he admitted quietly, although he blushed as spoke.

She met his gaze again, her eyes wide and vulnerable. "Good," she said softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "That's... good to know."

They sat in silence once more, their unspoken words hanging between them. The basement was still and quiet now, the danger outside temporarily forgotten. 

Min-joon could see Ji-woo's face more clearly than ever before, illuminated by a soft glow that seemed to echo the warmth in his heart.

As they waited for the right moment to emerge from their hiding place, Min-joon couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them. 'Maybe,' he thought, 'when all of this is over, we can talk more about these things. About us.'

But for now, they were safe. And in the uncertain world they inhabited, that was enough.