"You… you did it."
"I may have crossed the finish line, Yesoh Yeo, but you have always been my starting point," he insisted, placing his hands on either side of her face with teary eyes. "This victory may be sweet, but not half as much as getting to come home to you."
"I'm so proud of you," she hiccupped, kissing his cheek. "My Wyn."
"Always your Wyn." He leaned in and kissed her, slow and deliberate, as though he had all the time in the world. The crowd around them erupted in cheers again, this time for a different reason. In that moment, it was just the two of them, as though the entire world had narrowed into that one perfect, infinite second.
When he finally pulled away, he grinned, boyish and radiant, the weight of the last two years lifting from his shoulders.
"I should probably go get my medal…" he teased. "You know, for the hundredth time."
"You think?" she replied, laughing through her tears as she gently pushed him back towards the rink.
He skated back to the ice, the cheers of the crowd swelling around him once more. Yesoh watched him—she always watched him—with such pride and adoration. The fear she'd carried for months melted away, replaced by the unshakable certainty that, despite the fact that the world had attempted to pull him under, to pull both of them under countless times without mercy, they had conquered the world through every challenge, every doubt, every barrier. In that moment, she knew that Jiwon would be proud, that perhaps somewhere far away, she was always watching too.
This wasn't just his victory—it was their undoubtable triumph, a testament to everything they fought through together. And as the gold medal was placed around his neck, Wynter locked his gaze on her, knowing that he had struck gold in more ways than one.
New York, Yesoh's Birthday
Winter swept New York City like a storm the day Yesoh Yeo stumbled upon her 21st year.
The New York City skyline glimmered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Wynter's apartment, a warm glow casting across the open living room. String lights hung from the ceiling beams, and the sweet scent of freshly baked cake filled the air. Wynter stood near the kitchen island, checking his watch nervously as Cahya and Sydney finished the final touches on their masterpiece: a towering chocolate cake with elegant swirlsof frosting and delicate sugar flowers. Their last-minute, hours-of-watching-the-Food-Network masterpiece.
Soleh was supposed to participate, but he was neck-deep in exam season during his first year at MIT. Computer science, just as he'd always dreamed of. If one thing was certain, it was that the Yeo children had lived up to their name—they commanded the odds in their favor, didn't take any form of resistance or "no" for an answer. Their dreams were never just dreams; they were checklists. And Pat and Jurie couldn't have been any more proud.
"Careful, Cahya," Sydney teased as Yesoh's brother concentrated on piping intricate details on the cake. "You're making it too pretty to eat. You sure you don't practice in your spare time?"
"I'm a pianist. Being good with my hands is kind of the whole gig. You don't get to perform at Carnegie Hall by being clumsy," Cahya scoffed.
"Is there a particular reason you're talking to my fiancé about how good your fingers are, Cahya?" Jax scolded, and Sydney rolled her eyes.
"So possessive!" Sydney mused, glancing once more at the diamond on her ring finger that Jax had been saving up for since he was fifteen. He'd always known Sydney St. James would be his wife; it was just a matter of working hard so he could someday afford that big heart, effortless charisma, and unwavering kindness. "I accept apologies in YSL boxes."
"Trust me, I know," Jax grumbled. "I just got you the new foundation they dropped last weekend."
"And I appreciate you so much, Jaxie," Syd smiled, kissing his cheek.
He blushed. He was smitten, always had been.
"You're the one who insisted we bake from scratch," Cahya replied, wiping flour off his cheek. "If this doesn't win Yesoh over, I'm blaming you."
Jax chuckled from his spot on the couch. "Sydney's never wrong when it comes to surprises, trust me. It's kind of her thing." He leaned over to steal a kiss, making Sydney roll her eyes in mock annoyance.
Meanwhile, Wynter paced near the living room window, the keys to the night's big surprise clutched tightly in his hand. Since the last Olympics, Wynter had gone into what his family was calling hibernation—he was taking time off the ice, being what Bae called a stay-at-home boyfriend, cheering on Yesoh at every turn. The tabloids couldn't get enough of them: the Ice Prince with a tragic backstory and the small-town ballerina who defied the odds. It was a story for generations. Recently they were on the cover of Sports Illustrated for a shoot that sold on the streets of Manhattan like hotcakes.
Bae lounged on the arm of the couch, scrolling through her phone in one of her signature designs—a bold, quirky jumpsuit that radiated authenticity. Business was booming for her lately, and she loved every minute of it.
"So, tell us everything," Sydney said, settling next to Bae with a curious gleam in her eyes. "Your shoujo-inspired store is blowing up, right? How did this even start?"
Bae grinned, tucking her hair behind her ear with a shrug. "Honestly, it was a random idea at first. You know how I've always been obsessed with those over-the-top, cutesy romantic manga likeKamisama Kiss,A Sign of Affection, andBlue Spring Ride? I figured, why not translate that whole vibe into fashion? Pastels, oversized bows, sailor collars… You get the picture."
Cahya raised an eyebrow. "Sailor collars, huh? Is this your way of living out your childhood fantasy of being a shoujo girl? Ishould've converted you over to the shonen side of things a long time ago. I mean, did you even tryJujutsu Kaisen?"
Bae chuckled, nodding. "Maybe just for Gojo. But seriously, I wanted to make something that felt playful, nostalgic, and just a little bit dramatic. A fashion brand that's fun, colorful, and, you know, quirky."
"I mean, it definitely fits you," Sydney said with a laugh. "How's the store doing?"
"Better than I expected!" Bae's eyes brightened. "I started small—just an Etsy shop—but once I opened the physical store in Nottingham, it really took off. People are loving it. I have designs based on shoujo themes, like love confessions and dreamy, magical girl vibes. There are dresses, accessories, and even socks with hearts on them."
