The soft clatter of cutlery echoed through every corner of White Bowl Kitchen.
Waiters moved swiftly between the tables, balancing trays in their hands as they placed dates, poured water, checked dishes, and made sure nothing was missing.
Only five minutes remained until iftar.
And, as it happened every Ramadan, White Bowl Kitchen had transformed.
Its usual evening bustle had doubled.
Perhaps even tripled.
Almost every available space was occupied—inside the restaurant, around the entrance, and even along the riverside seating overlooking the Han River.
It didn't matter whether the guests were Muslim or non-Muslim.
Ramadan had become something many people here admired.
Muslim guests had come to break their fast.
Others had come simply to experience the warmth of Ramadan—to witness its traditions, share in its atmosphere, or quietly observe the evening unfold around them.
And every year, White Bowl Kitchen became one of the busiest restaurants along the Han River during the holy month.
Its location made the atmosphere even more beautiful.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the Han River stretched peacefully beneath the evening sky. The last light of day reflected across its surface, painting the water in soft shades of gold and silver.
The river seemed almost illuminated from within.
Inside, tables were filled.
Outside, more guests continued to arrive.
The fragrance of warm food drifted through the air.
Dates were being arranged.
Water glasses were being filled.
Servers hurried from one table to another.
And everywhere—
there was anticipation.
Five minutes.
Only five minutes remained until the fast would be broken.
Yet somehow, in the middle of all that noise and movement, the restaurant still carried an unexpected sense of peace.
As though everyone, regardless of why they had come, was waiting for the same moment.
The moment the evening call to prayer would begin.
The moment the adhan would fill the restaurant.
The moment Ramadan would quietly take over the entire room.
And then—
the sound came through the speakers.
The adhan.
The private dining area immediately fell still.
Mr. and Mrs. Donghyun quietly broke their fast.
The others followed.
First came the dates.
Then water.
After that, they began eating the fresh refreshments arranged across the table, taking them one by one as the room gradually settled into a calmer rhythm.
The invitation had reached everyone.
Luckily, most of them had already returned to Seoul, while the others had managed to make their way back just in time.
Jeon J had asked them all to join him.
For security reasons, however, they had been brought into the private dining area carefully.
There were still plenty of people outside.
The main hall was completely full.
Even the outdoor seating along the Han River had filled up.
The glass walls surrounding the private dining room had been covered with curtains, keeping the group hidden from the crowd.
They had managed to reach the room without attracting much attention.
About ten minutes later, the tables in the main hall began to clear.
Guests started making their way outside, and the restaurant slowly became less crowded.
Finally, the curtains covering the private dining area were drawn open.
Mr. and Mrs. Donghyun thanked everyone warmly for coming before excusing themselves and stepping outside.
From inside the private room, the others could still see the movement beyond the glass.
Groups of people were leaving the restaurant.
The once-busy dining area was gradually becoming quieter.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
The door opened.
Ji-ho stepped inside.
Zoya walked beside him.
Ji-ho was dressed as casually as ever—a simple T-shirt and trousers.
Zoya wore a simple white dress.
Nothing elaborate.
Nothing that demanded attention.
And yet—
the moment Jeon J saw her, his eyes stopped there.
He looked at her carefully.
For a brief moment, the restaurant around him seemed to fade.
And then—
Busan returned.
That restaurant.
That conversation.
Those words.
The words he had spoken without thinking.
Words that had escaped his mouth before he had even understood how deeply they might hurt her.
Angry words could be taken back.
Apologies could be offered.
But once words reached another person's heart...
they could not simply be pulled back.
Jeon J had learned that too late.
Now, seeing Zoya standing in front of him again, something tightened painfully inside his chest.
But her face showed nothing.
She looked calm.
Almost completely normal.
As though nothing had happened.
As though that conversation in Busan had never existed.
For one fleeting second, Jeon J wondered whether she had truly forgotten it—
or whether she had simply become better at hiding pain than he was.
Ji-ho's voice pulled him back.
"Welcome, everyone."
He smiled warmly.
"We're really happy you could come."
His gaze moved around the room.
"Your coming here means a lot to us."
Jeon J remained silent.
His eyes were still on Zoya.
Ji-ho continued.
"The dinner tables will be set in a little while. I hope you won't have to wait too long."
He glanced toward the restaurant outside.
"And once the prayer begins, we'll excuse ourselves for a while."
Kim Joon smiled.
"We're glad we came."
Then he glanced toward Zoya.
"And I'm glad you invited us. It was nice getting to meet Minji and her friends too."
Zoya looked at him.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"We're happy you all came and joined us for iftar."
Her voice was gentle.
Calm.
But there was something strangely empty behind the smile.
She turned toward Ji-ho.
"Let's go. It's getting late."
Ji-ho nodded.
"Right."
Jeon J watched her.
Something inside him shifted.
She wasn't angry.
She wasn't cold.
She wasn't avoiding him.
And somehow—
that hurt even more.
Then his gaze dropped.
To their wrists.
The bracelets.
Zoya's bracelet.
Ji-ho's bracelet.
The same ones he had noticed before.
Both wore them proudly around their wrists, the tiny charms catching the light whenever they moved.
Jeon J stared for only a second.
Then he looked away.
He didn't want to understand why seeing them together bothered him so much.
Ji-ho and Zoya turned toward the door.
Just before leaving, Zoya paused.
Her eyes moved toward Teahun.
He was sitting quietly at the edge of the table, absent-mindedly tapping one finger against the empty surface.
She didn't like seeing him so quiet.
Not at all.
She turned toward him.
"Teahun, I heard from Minji that you said something yesterday to one of my country's fans about biryani."
Teahun lifted his head.
At that exact moment, his eyes met hers.
She was smiling.
Then she said,
"I made biryani for you today."
Teahun blinked.
For a second, genuine surprise crossed his face.
Then a smile slowly spread across it.
"Only for Teahun?" Hosu asked from his seat, sounding offended.
Zoya laughed softly.
"Yes. But everyone can eat it."
Teahun's smile widened.
Zoya gave them one last glance before stepping outside.
Behind the glass wall, everyone watched her.
She stopped near the entrance.
For a moment, she simply stood there.
Then she carefully adjusted the scarf over her head.
She made sure it was properly placed before gently wrapping it around her hair and shoulders.
One final adjustment.
Then—
she walked out of the restaurant.
Jeon J's eyes followed her until she disappeared from view.
He said nothing.
But somewhere deep inside him, one thought remained painfully clear.
She had changed.
Or perhaps...
He was finally beginning to see the things he had refused to notice before.
The moment Zoya disappeared from view, Minjo's eyes remained fixed on the door.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he quietly murmured,
"I don't like seeing her this quiet."
There was a trace of sadness in his voice.
Jinhun leaned back in his chair and slowly turned his gaze toward Jeon J.
He had been watching him for a while now.
Every hesitation.
Every change in expression.
Every time Jeon J lowered his eyes instead of answering.
Finally, Jinhun spoke.
"This is all because of our golden boy."
Jeon J's finger stopped against the screen of his phone.
He had been scrolling for several minutes without actually reading anything.
Now, for one brief moment, even that mindless movement stopped.
Then his thumb moved again.
He kept his eyes down.
No reaction.
No answer.
Hana spoke quietly.
"She's been like this ever since that day."
Jeon J's scrolling slowed.
Hana continued.
"Since Busan."
A pause.
"From university to work, and from work to home..."
Her voice softened.
"She only really talks when we're all together at the dining table."
She lowered her eyes.
"And it got even worse when she decided she was going to stay with her friend Ji-hye."
Minji let out a quiet breath.
"I was furious with her."
She shook her head slightly.
"I scolded her so badly that I didn't even speak to her for a few days."
A faint, regretful smile touched her lips.
"But in the end, she didn't go."
"She stayed."
"And eventually, she started talking to us again."
Hana's fingers slowly traced the edge of her glass.
"But..."
She hesitated.
"We miss how much she used to talk."
Jeon J stopped scrolling.
This time, his phone remained completely still in his hand.
He didn't look at anyone.
He simply stared ahead.
Minji noticed.
But she said nothing.
After a moment, she finally spoke.
"Don't worry."
Her voice carried quiet certainty.
"She'll be okay."
Silence settled over the room again.
Minji still hadn't spoken directly to Jeon J.
And Jeon J hadn't tried to speak to her either.
No one seemed to know where to begin.
They were all carrying the weight of Busan.
That day had unsettled every one of them.
And perhaps that was why, even after finally sitting together again tonight...
none of them knew what to say.
Seven people.
One room.
And a memory that refused to leave.
Jeon J lowered his eyes.
For the first time, the words he had spoken that day no longer sounded like angry sentences from the past.
They sounded different now.
Sharper.
Heavier.
Like wounds.
And he was finally beginning to understand something he should have understood much earlier—
some wounds did not disappear simply because the person who caused them stopped talking about them.
There was no one else in the room.
Only the seven Soulmates.
Minji and her friends had gone outside, leaving them alone for a while.
For once, there were no staff members hovering around them.
No cameras.
No managers reminding them about schedules.
No one telling them where to stand or when to leave.
Just the seven of them.
The same seven people who had spent years living beneath a strange kind of love.
They were loved.
Deeply.
They knew that.
Everywhere they went, people recognized them.
They smiled at them.
Called their names.
Reached for them.
They were lucky.
Perhaps luckier than most people could ever imagine.
But sometimes, that kind of love came with invisible walls.
And when those walls grew too high...
love could begin to feel strangely close to captivity.
They could walk anywhere—
but not always freely.
They could laugh—
but not always without wondering who might be watching.
They could care about someone—
but sometimes even that had to remain hidden.
Jinhun's gaze stayed on Jeon J.
Too long.
Long enough to notice the tension in his jaw.
Long enough to notice how tightly his fingers were curled around his phone.
Finally, he spoke.
"I think you should announce it."
Jeon J looked up.
The room fell silent.
Jinhun's voice remained calm.
"Whatever side you choose, Jeon J..."
He paused.
"You need to choose one now."
Jeon J said nothing.
Jinhun continued.
"You can't keep standing between privacy and the public forever."
His expression softened.
"We've all respected your decision."
Another pause.
"But watching you like this..."
His voice dropped.
"I don't think I can watch you hurt yourself anymore."
Jeon J's jaw tightened.
Jinhun glanced toward the others.
"And I'm not the only one who thinks this."
No one answered.
They didn't need to.
Their silence said enough.
They wanted an answer too.
Not because they wanted to control Jeon J.
Not because they wanted to decide his life for him.
They simply wanted him to stop carrying something that was slowly consuming him.
Jinhun looked directly at him.
"Go public with it."
Jeon J's eyes dropped.
His fingers tightened against his knee.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Jinhun thought his words had finally reached him.
But he didn't know the truth.
Jeon J was already suffocating beneath the weight of the decision.
He didn't know which side he wanted.
He only knew that everyone was tired of watching him struggle.
And somehow, he had begun to believe that choosing the difficult path was the same thing as being brave.
It wasn't.
Sometimes...
it was simply another way of hurting yourself.
Before anyone could say anything else—
the door opened.
Everyone turned.
Minji walked in with her friends.
She was still talking about something that had happened outside, smiling softly as she stepped into the room.
She had no idea what they had been discussing.
None.
Her eyes moved around the room.
Then stopped on Jeon J.
Something about his face immediately made her smile disappear.
She didn't ask what had happened.
She simply walked toward him.
There was a small empty space beside him.
Minji sat down.
Close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
Jeon J slowly turned his head.
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
She looked back.
Waiting.
Not forcing him to speak.
Not asking questions.
Just...
there.
And somehow, that made it harder.
Jeon J swallowed.
"Minji..."
She blinked.
"Hmm?"
He lowered his eyes.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I want to announce it."
The other six immediately looked toward him.
Their expressions changed.
Because they knew.
This wasn't really what Jeon J wanted.
Or at least—
not like this.
They knew him well enough to recognize the difference between a decision made from peace...
and one made because he couldn't bear the pressure anymore.
Minji remained still.
"Announce what?"
Jeon J finally looked at her.
"Our relationship."
The words left his mouth.
His chest tightened immediately.
He continued before he could lose his courage.
"I want to make our relationship public."
Minji stared at him.
Jeon J took a breath.
"If you can face social media..."
He swallowed.
"And if you're ready to face the rumors, the questions, the comments..."
His eyes remained on hers.
"Everything."
His voice became quieter.
"Then I want to announce that we're together."
Silence.
The other six stared at him.
Because they knew exactly what he was doing.
He was making the decision sound like his own.
But it wasn't.
Not completely.
He had chosen it because Jinhun had told him he needed to choose.
Because everyone wanted an answer.
Because he couldn't bear watching the people around him worry about him anymore.
And because somewhere inside himself, he had started believing that taking the hardest path would prove he was strong enough to handle it.
But courage and desperation could look remarkably similar.
Minji's expression softened.
She hadn't heard Jinhun's earlier words.
She didn't know what had happened before she entered.
But she could see something in Jeon J's face.
The tension.
The uncertainty.
The guilt.
And the way his eyes refused to remain steady.
"Jeon J..."
He looked at her.
Minji's voice was gentle.
"Are you saying this because you want to?"
He froze.
His lips parted.
Nothing came out.
The six Soulmates lowered their eyes.
Because that silence...
was an answer.
Minji slowly reached for his hand.
Her fingers wrapped gently around his.
"Look at me."
He did.
She didn't accuse him.
She didn't tell him what he should do.
She simply asked again.
"Do you really want this?"
Jeon J stared at her.
And for the first time that evening...
there was nowhere left for him to hide.
Not behind Jinhun's words.
Not behind the six people watching him.
Not behind the decision itself.
There was only Minji.
And the truth sitting quietly between them.
His eyes softened.
"I don't know."
The confession came out broken.
Minji's fingers tightened around his hand.
Across the room, Jinhun slowly lowered his gaze.
Because now he understood.
Maybe Jeon J didn't need someone to tell him which side to choose.
Maybe he needed someone to remind him...
that he was allowed to choose for himself.
Jeon J looked at Minji for several quiet seconds.
Then he spoke.
"Minji... sooner or later, everyone is going to know."
His voice was low, but steadier than before.
"I care about you."
There was no hesitation in those words.
"If you can face social media... if you can face the comments, the questions, the rumors..."
He took a slow breath.
"Everything that comes with it."
His fingers remained wrapped around hers.
"Then I want to announce us."
The room went completely still.
Jeon J lowered his gaze for a moment, gathering himself.
Then he looked at Minji again.
He reached for her hand more firmly this time.
"I want to make it clear that we're together."
One by one, the other six Soulmates looked at him.
There was something painful in their expressions.
They knew him too well.
This wasn't making him lighter.
It was making him heavier.
Every word seemed to add another weight to his chest.
Jinhun watched him with quiet sadness.
Minji turned her hand beneath his and gently placed her other hand over it.
"I don't have a problem with it."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"If you're comfortable with it, I'm okay."
Jeon J looked at her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"Whoa!"
Hana's eyes widened dramatically.
"Oh, my God!"
She looked between them.
"Minji and Jeon J... together?"
Her voice rose with excitement.
"Wow!"
A few of the others laughed.
The heavy atmosphere finally cracked.
For the first time in several minutes, someone smiled without forcing it.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Everyone turned toward the door.
It opened.
Zoya stepped inside.
Several waiters followed behind her, each carrying dishes and serving trays.
She moved with the calm efficiency of someone already thinking three steps ahead.
She had no idea what conversation had just taken place.
She didn't know what decision had just been made.
Her eyes swept across the room.
Then, for half a second, they stopped on Minji and Jeon J sitting close together.
Nothing happened.
No visible reaction.
No pause.
No change in her expression.
She simply turned toward the waiters.
"Bring that table forward."
The waiters moved immediately.
"Careful with the soup."
One of them adjusted the dish.
"Put the desserts on the far side."
Another followed her instructions.
"The main dishes can go in the center. Everyone needs to be able to reach them."
Her voice was steady.
Professional.
As though the room contained nothing more complicated than dinner.
She moved around the table, checking each dish and adjusting their positions.
Soon, she was standing directly in front of Minji.
Her eyes lowered.
Only for a second.
They fell on Minji's hand.
Still resting inside Jeon J's.
Zoya noticed.
Of course she did.
But nothing changed on her face.
Not even a flicker.
She simply turned toward the waiters again.
"Move the rice a little closer."
"And put the salad beside the japchae."
Jeon J immediately looked away.
His eyes found the wall beside him.
Suddenly, the wall seemed very interesting.
The pale wooden surface.
The narrow lines in the design.
The reflection of the ceiling lights.
Anything was easier to look at than Zoya.
But he could still feel her standing there.
Minji slowly tried to pull her hand free.
Jeon J's fingers tightened around hers.
Not hard.
Just enough to stop her.
He still didn't look at Minji.
He still didn't look at Zoya.
Zoya noticed that too.
Her expression remained unreadable.
She turned back toward the waiters.
"Move the rice a little closer."
"And put the salad beside the japchae."
The table gradually filled with food.
Halal Korean dishes were arranged beside the larger platters.
Then came the biryani.
The moment the lid was lifted, its fragrance spread through the room—warm spices, saffron, tender meat, and fragrant basmati rice.
Zoya looked toward Teahun.
"Teahun."
He immediately lifted his head.
She pointed toward the large serving dish.
"Put the biryani in front of him."
A waiter placed it carefully in front of Teahun.
Zoya looked at him.
"Try it and tell me how it tastes."
Then she pointed toward Ruhi and Sophia.
"And Ruhi and Sophia can explain how this dish is prepared. You two know the process better than anyone."
Ruhi smiled faintly.
Sophia nodded.
Teahun picked up his spoon.
But before taking the first bite, he looked at Zoya.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I miss your eyes shining."
The spoon stopped in Zoya's hand.
For a heartbeat, she didn't move.
The room went quiet.
Hana's smile disappeared.
Sophia and Ruhi exchanged a quick glance.
Even Minji turned toward Zoya.
Teahun's expression softened.
"Zoya..."
Minjo began.
But Zoya gently interrupted him.
"Teahun, I'm okay, boy."
She gave him a light smile.
It was almost convincing.
Almost.
She picked up the serving spoon again.
"You taste it."
Then she glanced toward the doorway.
"I'll come back."
She turned to leave.
Teahun watched her.
"You're not going to join us?"
Zoya stopped.
She looked over her shoulder.
"No."
A small breath escaped her.
"There is a lot of work in the kitchen, and honestly, I'm not hungry right now."
She gave them a polite smile.
"Maybe I'll eat later."
She took another step.
"Everyone, enjoy."
Teahun immediately protested.
"Then take the dish with you."
Zoya turned back.
"No."
He looked genuinely offended.
"You're really refusing my biryani?"
One eyebrow rose.
"I'm not tasting it."
"Zoya."
"Teahun."
"I made all this effort."
"And I appreciate it."
"Then sit with us."
He pointed toward the empty chair.
"At least one bite."
Zoya stared at him.
Teahun stared back.
Neither moved.
The silence became so ridiculous that Hana had to press her lips together to stop herself from laughing.
Finally, Zoya sighed.
"Fine."
Teahun's entire face brightened.
"You start."
"I said I'll come."
"Come now."
"I said I'm coming."
She gave him a look.
"You don't need to stare at me like that."
A few smiles appeared around the table.
Hana quietly laughed.
Ruhi lowered her eyes, trying not to smile.
Sophia covered her mouth.
Even the tension that had been hanging over the room seemed to loosen.
For the first time in months...
Something almost familiar had returned.
The teasing.
The ridiculous arguments.
The comfortable annoyance.
The old friendship.
It wasn't completely back.
Not yet.
But perhaps...
It was alive again.
Everyone began taking their seats.
Zoya walked out.
The door closed softly behind her.
For a moment, Jeon J remained exactly where he was.
Still holding Minji's hand.
Still looking toward the wall.
But this time, the others finally began eating.
The table filled with warm food and quiet laughter.
At the center sat the biryani, fragrant basmati rice layered with tender meat, spices, and saffron.
Beside it was halal beef bulgogi, glazed in a rich sweet-and-savory sauce.
Japchae shimmered beneath the restaurant lights, tossed with vegetables and sesame oil.
Colorful bowls of vegetable bibimbap waited beside crispy pajeon and fresh salad.
Another platter held steaming tteokbokki prepared with halal ingredients.
Ruhi leaned toward Teahun.
"Okay. Now taste the biryani properly."
Teahun took a bite.
He chewed slowly.
Everyone watched him.
He nodded.
"It's good."
Sophia laughed.
"That's all?"
Teahun took another bite.
This time, he nodded more enthusiastically.
"Very good."
Hana smiled.
"There he is."
The table erupted into laughter again.
For a few minutes...
It almost felt normal.
Almost.
Because one person at the table was still unusually quiet.
And somewhere beyond the dining room, one person had quietly walked away with an expression no one could read.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK 💌