a/n:
hi, friends! i'm sorry for starting off with a note right at the beginning! 😅 we are nearing the ending of this story and i'm low-key dreading it because i don't want to disappoint any of you, but i also understand that not everyone will like what i write and i need to be okay with that 🙃 i'm also dreading it because i don't want to say goodbye to any of these fictional characters that i've created lol.
anyway, thank you to those who have sent in words for the little game. those words will be in bold throughout the rest of the chapters. i'm not sure if any of you follow me on tumblr, but i've mentioned i'll be doing a podcast episode to celebrate the ending of this story and you'll be able to send in questions and comments (a form link will be up when i post the last chapter :')) i'll also have a survey for y'all too :) and i also want to apologize because this chapter is 10.9k lmaooo. anywho, ENJOY!!! <3
and if you haven't already taken the quizzes i've made, be sure to do so :)
- how well do you know TIU? | https://uquiz.com/PtPMpY
- which TIU character are you? | https://uquiz.com/YNkcfo
playlist:
strangers - jonas brothers
love of my life - avery lynch
shift - the rose
everything - kina grannis, imaginary future
The impending meeting was coming up at the end of the week. Your agent, Jae, wouldn't take no for an answer and immediately responded to the Netflix executive, saying you'd take the meeting. If the meeting was anywhere else in the world, you wouldn't hesitate, but the fact that you had to fly out to LA for this made you feel reluctant.
And when everyone heard you'd be in LA, the only topic of conversation was if you were planning to see he-who-must-not-be-named.
"Will you tell Jungkook you're in town?" Hyunie asked as she cut through her French toast covered in Nutella and strawberries. Taehyung leaned over to take a bite from her fork, but she refused to let him have any.
Yoongi sat, wavering his fingers together. "Oh-the plot thickens. Dun, dun, dun."
He'd become too comfortable knowing your business and complained that he knew too much for his own good. He was cool with you, but his lifestyle was too chill to mesh with everyone else's dramatics, including yours. Though he works in the movie business, that didn't mean he wanted his life to be like a goddamn drama.
"Wouldn't that be weird? To meet up with an ex?" you asked with reluctance as you searched your friend's faces for any words of advice.
It'd be nice to catch up, you thought, but what if old feelings resurface? Then what? You'd be screwed and have to start from square one again. You had gotten too far to return to the sad, pathetic person you once were.
Hyunie interjects, "Of course not! You're friends too."
You deadpanned. "I haven't spoken to him in over a year-and I'd hardly call us friends."
Honestly, could you even go back to being just friends? How were you supposed to be friends with your ex-slash-best-friends-little-brother? How can anyone return to being just friends after being with someone like Jeon Jungkook? You could hardly keep your friends now and then to add an ex as a friend? It sounded like a recipe for disaster.
With a mouth full of strawberries, Tae threw in his two cents. "Just go see him. What's the worst that can happen? You gonna sleep with him?" He smirked and grabbed another bright red strawberry. This conversation amused him for days, making smart comments and occasionally alluding to what the two of you used to have.
"Really, Tae?" You rolled your eyes, sipping your coffee. You'd like to think you had some kind of self-control.
"What? I'm just being realistic here. The two of you probably have all that pent-up sexual frustration, and who knows-you might not be able to contain yourselves if you're in the same room." Taehyung wiggled his eyebrows and then bit down his bottom lip, thrusting and slapping the air while in his seat. Hyunie elbowed him in his rib, causing him to groan at the pain. She whispered something indistinct to him, and the two bickered quietly.
You turned to Yoongi. He was always wise and had the right answers. "What should I do?"
You interrupted him just as he was about to sip his coffee. His lips thinned, and he stared blankly at you. "Why are you asking me?"
"Because you're the most unbiased person here, and you don't know Jungkook like we do."
Yoongi shrugged. "I don't know. Do whatever you want. If you want to see him, go see him. If you don't, then don't. It's as simple as that."
Everyone turned their attention to you, wondering how you'd respond. It wasn't as simple as Yoongi had said. The weight of your previous relationship with Jungkook wasn't one where you could simply put it behind you and pretend like you could be friends again. There was too much history, too much hurt-just too much of everything. You tried to convince yourself for months that there were no more feelings.
And you had made so much progress, minus being upset when you heard he was in town-but regardless, you had moved on, and seeing Jungkook again could set you back a few steps.
Yoongi set down his knife and fork and turned to you. "You're a big girl, and you've worked through a lot of things, and if you don't think you can handle seeing him again, then don't put yourself in that situation. I'm sure he'd understand."
"Or-or-you could just fuc-"
Hyunie covered Taehyung's mouth, muffling the rest of his sentence. "Don't listen to my crazy husband. Do what you think is best for you, okay?"
After brunch with the crazy lovebirds, you sat in Yoongi's car, staring aimlessly out the window, and said nothing the entire car ride.
As he pulled up to your apartment complex, you needed to ask him again. "Tell me the truth. What would you do in my position?"
He sighed, and his shoulders slumped. He knew you needed reassurance, but honestly, there was no right answer for this situation.
"Well, considering that I've gotten to know you over this past year, I'd say that it's gonna eat at you day and night if you don't reach out to him. You'll wonder, 'what could've been' or 'what if I did X, Y, and Z?' You're good at compartmentalizing, but I have a feeling ten years down the line, you're gonna be upset at yourself. So, I don't know, as I said earlier if you want to see him, go see him. If you don't, then don't. Whatever you choose will be the right decision."
But what was the right decision? You thought of all the possible scenarios that could play out. What if you call to meet up, and he doesn't want to? Or what if you meet up and it's awkward? Or what if you meet up and old feelings resurface?
You were thankful for Yoongi and glad he could always be honest with you. With his advice in consideration, along with everyone else's minus Kim Taehyung's, you pondered your next move as you tossed and turned in bed.
Should you try and meet up with Jungkook? But you were doing so well. You had deleted his number, photos, and texts, and if you wanted his new number, you'd have to ask Yuna, and you wouldn't hear the end of it from her if you did.
Maybe it'd be easier to just not try to see him. You were sure he was doing well, living in LA, doing whatever he was doing, seeing whomever he wanted. You just didn't want to return to feeling insecure and vulnerable, and you had worked so hard to be where you are today. Maybe it'd be better if you didn't tell him you were in town.
❤️
A non-stop flight from Seoul to LA was close to eleven hours, but you wished it was longer. The lower the flight time, the higher your anxiety rises. Los Angeles was a big city, and there was no way you'd bump into Jungkook, right? That's a ridiculous thought to have. You'd have a higher chance of bumping into a celebrity than your ex. You were just psyching yourself out at this point, and there was no need to because you decided not to tell him you'd be in town.
After eleven hours on a flight and only six hours of sleep, you hoped you'd bump into no one. Your swollen ankles and puffy eyes were horrendous for anyone to see. But here you were-in Los Angeles, where many dreams came to fruition or never saw the light of day, and you were hoping for the former, whatever that dream may be. You were curious about what Netflix had to offer and if it would require you to move here. Though, you didn't want to get ahead of yourself, thinking about the what-ifs because nothing was set in stone.
Being a huge corporation, Netflix paid for everything-the flight, hotel, and transportation. Not too shabby, especially since they were trying to woo you into whatever job this was. They booked a corner suite at the Conrad Los Angeles, overlooking the city's skyline. The hustle and bustle of city life were similar but different from Seoul and could possibly be a place where you'd have to get used to.
The luxe Mercedes Benz E-Class you were sitting in pulled up behind the slew of cars from other hotel guests. This felt too fancy from anything you were used to, but you weren't complaining.
You bid your driver farewell and thanked them as he pulled your luggage from the trunk and set it beside you. Just as you grabbed the handle, a driver behind you honked, gesturing for you to move out of the way. You jumped back, your heart racing as the loud horn continued in short outbursts until you stepped onto the hotel's sidewalk.
God, this city sucks already, you thought, and you hadn't even been here for that long, either. Brushing off the awful interaction, you breathed a big breath, ready to take on whatever this trip had in store for you.
❤️
"Miss? I'll need a form of ID and a credit card to put on file."
You handed what the front desk receptionist needed from you. Now, you understood all the buzz and why this was the hot spot. The hotel was gorgeous and a great place to hang out, even if you weren't a guest.
As the receptionist input your information, your eyes scanned the lobby, taking everything in. A rowdy group of men exited one of the hotel restaurants, entering the lobby. You noticed a man in a monochromatic cream-colored outfit. You appreciate a man who was put together.
After catching a glimpse of him, you could've sworn your eyes were deceiving you. No, it wasn't him. You were seeing things, weren't you?
This city was far too big for you to end up at the same hotel as your ex-boyfriend, right? Destiny was definitely being a prude and playing tricks on you.
"Here's your ID and card back. You're located on the 16th floor, room 1613."
"Thank you."
When you grabbed your ID, card, and luggage, you turned around to ensure you were imagining things. The group of men had disappeared and was nowhere to be found. But you shouldn't be looking for Jungkook anyway. You decided not to tell him you were in town. Wouldn't you look pathetic going back on your word?
But instead of going directly to your room, you might have 'taken the long route,' cruising through the hotel-just to see what they had to offer. Though, who were you kidding? That person definitely looked like Jungkook! Except he had longer hair, and you hadn't seen any recent photos of Jungkook, so you had no idea if he had shaved his head or had long, glorious hair like Rapunzel.
You would've lurked longer, but now you felt super creepy and stalker-ish, and your large rollaway luggage wasn't helping either. Maybe it was time to give up; you had been looking longer than you should've.
If there was one thing that could possibly make up for the shitty interaction from the furious man honking away like there was no tomorrow-it was the view. The city skyline and clear blue skies with only a few scattered marshmallow-type clouds floating around.
The room was too big for just one person, and you weren't sure what to do with yourself to kill time before your big meeting. So, you quickly freshen up to roam around the five-star hotel. You had nothing better to do, save for the fact that you needed to find that guy again, just to make sure it wasn't Jungkook.
And as you expected, this hotel was packed with people. The restaurant's decor and view were stunning, to say the least. You didn't want to keep going back and forth between the various choices of restaurants, so you stuck with the first place you saw, Agua Viva.
A small commotion turned your head; your eyes focused on it for a split second before returning your attention to the host. You cleared your throat, "I'm sorry. Yes, a seat at the bar is great. Thank you."
You scanned the drink menu, pondering the various choices before you. Alcohol or no alcohol-such a hard decision. Well, considering you were going to an important meeting, it was probably best not to be tipsy, or it could calm your nerves.
"Hello, miss. What'll you have?"
It was a toss-up between the Tornup Tiki Punch or Flamingo Shuttle. What silly names they were.
"I'll have a Flamingo Shuttle, please."
Non-alcoholic it is.
"One Flamingo Shuttle coming right up."
You tapped on the square napkin before you, swiveling your chair back and forth, taking in the surroundings of light laughter and chatter, before returning your attention to the bartender making your drink.
In a city of 3.8 million people, it was stupid to think you had seen Jungkook. Maybe you just wanted it to be him and desperately tried to speak it into existence. You probably had a better chance of bumping into a Kardashian than Jeon Jungkook.
"Is this seat taken?"
You closed your eyes and took a deep breath before turning around to confirm your suspicions about the familiar voice.
It's like time stood still; everything and everyone quieted down, and it was only you and him. He was like a stranger from a different lifetime staring back at you, but everything you felt while with him came rushing back like a flood.
"Jungkook." His name rolled off your lips in a familiar way you couldn't explain. It had such a hold on you, pulling you right back like a lovesick puppy.
"Noona," he said with his big brown, doe eyes crinkling in the corner, along with a bunny smile.
The one word made you clench around nothing, but it's just a word-what's wrong with you? Honestly, woman.
"Is this seat taken?" He repeated, making you come back to reality.
"No, it's yours if you'd like."
You watched his every move. His hand held your stool, and his thumb lightly brushed against your back as he sat down. Immediately, you straighten your posture in case of any other accidental touches.
Jungkook crossed his arms on the counter, turning to you. The both of you smiled awkwardly, waiting for someone to say something.
"I thought I saw you," the both of you said in unison and chuckled after.
"It's me," you scrunch your nose, flashing a smile.
Jungkook shook his head, copying your smile. "I thought I was going crazy for a split second. Wha-" he paused to let his mind catch up with his words. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for a meeting."
He nodded. "Oh. It must be an important meeting if you flew all the way out here."
You hummed. "Yeah, it's pretty important."
Should you spare more details? Or just leave it at the bare minimum? You didn't want him to conjure up any ideas as you had been for the last few weeks.
"Your Flamingo Shuttle, miss. Would you like to bill it to your room?"
"Yes, please." If Netflix was paying, you were drinking.
You lightly groaned after taking a sip, not realizing you'd been thirsty after flying all day, or was it Jungkook's presence making you feel suddenly parched?
"Anything for you, sir?" The bartender asked Jungkook, to which he shook his head no.
"It's good to see you," Jungkook said as the bartender left to attend to another guest.
Your crossed leg unintentionally touched his pant leg when you turned toward him. You took your time letting your eyes gaze over this new Jeon Jungkook. His permed hair had grown longer, and a fringe was swept softly across his left eye. The piercing that adorned his eyebrow had disappeared, and the only thing decorating that pretty face was a lip piercing.
"It's really good to see you too. You look great, by the way. I love the long hair. It really suits you." You couldn't help but wonder how his hair would feel entangled between your fingers.
He proceeded to touch the ends. "Thanks. You-you always look great," he chuckled lightly.
Your heart skipped a beat at the compliment as you suppressed a smile. "Thanks. I-um, do you have time to catch up? If you're not busy, that is, but if you are, then please feel free to go. I don't-I don't want to keep you from anything."
"I have some time," he said with a twinkle in his eyes and his tiny dimple on display.
Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as you made it in your head. You were overanalyzing nothing. Jungkook seemed happy to see you, even though you thought he'd be running in the other direction, considering he had left on a whim.
"Um, do you work around here?"
"Yeah, I was just getting some early drinks with my colleagues."
Your mind immediately went to Alex, which you fucking hated, but you couldn't help it. Obviously, she wasn't with the group of him and rowdy men, but you assumed they still worked together, and who knew in what kind of capacity-or maybe she had him eating in the palm of her hands again.
You stopped the ongoing conversation in your head. It wasn't good for anyone if this continued.
"This is a great place. I can see why you'd come here." He hummed in agreement. "How-how are you? How's everything?"
Jungkook cleared his throat, interlocking his hands together, light tapping his thumb on the other. "It's good. I'm-good. Work has been going well. I, uh-I've taken up running along with boxing, but Bam-he's a handful."
"Bam?"
"Yeah! My dog."
"You have a dog?"
"He's still a pup, but he's getting so big already." Jungkook pulled his phone from his back pocket, scrolling to find a photo of Bam. "See." He set his phone on the counter, pushing it to you.
"Oh, my god. He's precious! He has big doe eyes like his dad," your mouth curved into a smile. "He's perfect for you."
Jungkook cleared his throat, pressing the off button on his phone. "How are you? What's new?"
His question was so broad you weren't sure where to start. He obviously knew about your meeting but didn't know what it was for. But how much information would you feel comfortable divulging?
"I'm good." You let out a nervous chuckle. "I just got back from a solo trip, and then this whole LA thing happened, and now I'm here."
"Ah-right. Yuna told me about your trip. How was it? Did you enjoy yourself?"
You nodded. "It was great. I practically laid out on the beach most of the time, got some sun in," you smiled and shrugged. "And what about you? I heard you were back in Seoul for a little bit."
He hummed. "Yeah, for my mom's birthday dinner, and I finally got to meet Indie."
"Ugh, I love that little booger," you chimed in.
"She's amazing, and she's growing up so fast."
"Right? She grew up in a blink of an eye."
Then you realized Jungkook had missed most, if not the entirety, of Indie's first year. Time had passed, and you had also grown and blossomed without your awareness in the midst of it all.
Jungkook beamed a soft smile.
"Are you sure you don't want anything to drink?" you asked again, searching for the bartender.
He shook his head. "I'm good, thanks."
"Positive?" You gave him a look.
He nodded. "Still trying to take care of me?"
"Well-I am older than you."
Jungkook chuckled and turned away for a moment. "I, uh, already had some earlier, remember? So, I shouldn't have anymore."
"What? You can't hold your liquor anymore, old man?" you teased.
He scoffed at your lame joke. "Are you taunting me?"
It almost felt like old times when you were just friends, ragging on each other.
You sipped your drink before answering, "Yes."
He flashed a close-lipped smile. "Can I take a rain check?"
You hummed lightly. "You got it."
Jungkook rubbed the back of his neck and swiveled in his chair, lightly brushing his knee against yours. "Do you have my new number?"
You bit the inside of your cheek. No, because you recently deleted all his contact, texts, and photos. You shook your head.
He held out his hand, wavering his fingers for your phone. You gave it over without hesitation and watched as he saved his number. "Call me if you need anything or want to get that drink before you leave."
He handed it back, his fingers softly touching yours. "I should go. I left Bam too long by himself."
Your heart almost leaped out of your chest and onto the counter, your stomach fluttering with a swarm of butterflies and the bead of sweat on the nape of your neck finally caressing your skin when he touched you. "Yeah, sure, of course." You nervously scratched your temple. "I, uh, I should get going too. I have my meeting soon."
Jungkook smiled and stood, and you followed suit. He stepped back, straightening his cream-colored jacket and smoothing down his pants. "I'll talk to you soon?"
You weren't sure if he really meant it or if it was just an expression. Either way, you didn't want to put more meaning into it than needed. You smiled and hummed.
He stepped away, waving his hand before walking off into the sea of people who just entered the restaurant.
You half expected him to look back, but he didn't. He was calm, cool, and collected as he confidently walked away, making you think he was over you.
Jungkook sat in his Uber, pinching himself to ensure he wasn't dreaming-that he really saw you and had a conversation, and it wasn't as awkward as he thought it would be. Unless it was awkward, and he invented a fictitious scenario in his head, misunderstood your body language, and misinterpreted your words.
"Sir?"
"Oh, uh, sorry. Yes, you can drop me off right here." Jungkook's mind raced back and forth, replaying the conversation.
He closed the car's door, shuffling to the apartment complex's gate. He punched in the code, rushing to his place to let Bam out.
The 50-pound puppy popped his head up, panting and wagging his tail as he saw his owner. Bam sprung to his feet and dashed over to Jungkook, smelling and licking his palm more than normal.
"I know, Bamie. I know."
Jungkook smelled different. He must've had the faintest smell of you on him.
"Come on, boy. You've been waiting for me for too long."
❤️
Bam whined when Jungkook's mind was on something else and did not notice him. He was scratching Bam's belly, staring off into space with nothing but you on his mind. It's like you had completely taken over him, like you were his paradise, and even if he tried to resist, it was probably useless now. He could never escape you.
Should he go back to the hotel? Would that seem too needy? He thought he was trying to get over you, but here you were, right in front of him, practically within reach-no ocean between the two of you. If now wasn't the time, then when?
Was he prepared to fight for you? To be with you again? Was he ready for you to reject him if he wanted more, but you didn't?
He sighed, fighting with himself for his next move. Whatever his decision, he wanted to ensure it was the right one. The real question was-did he want to be with you again after all this time?
The answer was yes-it has always been yes. You're it. You've ruined him-it will always be you.
He was so close to getting in his car and driving back. Every cell in his body was urging him to go and confess his undying love-that is, until he remembered he ran away, that he hurt you.
What if you had moved on but didn't want him to know? He had no right to delve into your business anymore. What if you had moved on with that Yoongi guy? He'd heard that guy's name too many times from Yuna and Taehyung for him not to suspect anything was up with the two of you. You looked so happy with Yoongi that one time he saw you. Maybe he was the cause of your euphoria, the person you spent all your time with, the person you dreamed with, shared your hopes with-maybe you had fully closed the chapter that Jungkook was a part of, and Yoongi was the 'take two' of your story.
But could Jungkook just be a foolish dreamer? Thinking he still had a chance with you?
He'd given you his phone number, and the ball was now in your court. If you wanted to, then you'd contact him. Otherwise, perhaps it's best that he's not constantly chasing you. If you still wanted him, then you needed to let him know, and if you didn't, then maybe he could finally try to let you go.
❤️
You checked yourself one last time, smoothing out your tailored skirt and matching blazer. You wished you had chosen another pair of heels, but your nude slingbacks were the only things you packed, so it'd have to suffice. With a swipe of your raspberry lip tint, you were now ready to charm whoever this executive was.
The hostess led you through the restaurant to a private dining lounge. A few guests were scattered far and wide while light jazz music and laughter filled your ears. Were all Netflix meetings always this fancy? You had looked up the menu beforehand, and the prices were somewhat reasonable for dinner, but you'd be fine with instant ramen from the convenience store. You could probably order the whole menu if you wanted since you weren't paying.
"Mr. Wells will be here shortly," the hostess smiled, leaving you at the table as you mindlessly fiddled with your thumbs.
You wondered how your name even landed on the desk or email of someone across the ocean. Or could Jae just be a great writing agent, and he just had his connections? Maybe you'd find out during this dinner.
A waitress stopped by the table, bringing glasses of water and a bottle of Champagne.
"Oh-I didn't order this."
"Mr. Wells did. He wanted to apologize in advance for his lateness. He's held up in traffic at the moment." The waitress poured the champagne into two tall flutes.
Fifteen minutes went by as you sat waiting for this Netflix exec. He was already leaving a bad taste in your mouth because of his lateness, but it's not like you had any other plans.
You scanned the room, watching others converse and eat before pulling out your phone. You went to your contacts and scrolled down to Jungkook's name. It was like deja vu all over again-staring aimlessly at his name, whether or not to delete it or keep it. Only this time, he would hopefully pick up the call.
You were tempted to text him to see what he was up to. Considering it was a Friday night, he was probably out with friends, maybe Jimin or a girlfriend. You'd heard from Taehyung that they hung out fairly often. At least he had a friendly face in this city.
A low, husky voice said your name, making you look up from your phone. The man standing before you was not someone you pictured. If you had all the confidence in the world, you'd whistle and holler at this Park Seo Joon look alike.
"I'm Zachary Wells, but just call me Zach." He grinned as he quickly scanned your face and held out his hand. You stood to shake it.
"It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you and your work," Zach said, gesturing for the both of you to sit.
"You have?"
"Whenever Kenji is in town, you're all he ever talks about."
Ah, Kenji. You should've known. Well, you supposed one of your exes was good for something.
Zach grabbed the attention of the waitress. "Should we order dinner? I'm starving."
❤️
The two of you had a lot in common. Zach was fairly easy to talk to and was a chatterbox. But just like Kenji, Zach was avoiding why he had wanted to meet you in the first place.
The conversation had finally winded down after an hour, and the champagne and water washed down the last of your dinner. And now, only one thing remains.
"So, you're probably wondering why I wanted to meet with you." You hummed. "Well, as you know, we've been expanding Netflix into South Korea, and we're picking up a lot of Korean dramas as demand grows here in the States. As I was talking with Kenji, we thought you'd be perfect for the role of director for creative marketing. I understand you've been a writer for a long time, but I believe you have the potential to help us thrive even more with your market knowledge and insight."
"Would that mean I wouldn't have to move out here? That I could stay in Seoul?" It was the first thought on your mind.
"We'd onboard you here in LA for a few months and then get you settled back in Seoul."
Zach's offer was too good to be true and to pass up. You didn't have anything else going for you right now. No show and only a half-finished script.
"So? What do you think?" Zach leaned back in his seat, draping his arm behind you, scanning you from head to toe. He finished the last of his champagne, gesturing for the waitress to bring another one.
It's not like you could give him an answer right here, right now-coming to live in LA, leaving your life and friends behind. It was a big ask and not a decision you'd take lightly.
Your silence encouraged him to move closer, and his knee knocked into yours. "What do I have to do to convince you?" he said, his finger lightly brushing against your knee.
Immediately, you pulled back, pushing his hand away. "Is this how you get everyone to come to work for you?" You scowled, disgusted by his action.
"This is an opportunity of a lifetime, babe. Don't waste it." Zach raised his brows, waiting for you to change your mind. He tried to touch you again, but a loud smack echoed throughout the room, making others around you stop and look at the commotion.
"You're feisty. I like that." Zach licked his lips, massaging his cheek.
"You're a disgusting pig."
He scoffed. "Oh, am I? I'm here trying to give you a job, and here you are, being a fucking bitch. I hear you have nothing else lined up for you, right? And I can easily tell everyone in this industry to never give you another job again." He threatened and then proceeded to move in again.
"If you touch me again. I'll fucking scream," you seethed, your face warm to the touch, smoke fuming from your ears.
Zach rolled his eyes and threw his hands in defeat. "Fine-have it your way. Good luck getting a job in this industry ever again," he spat out before leaving.
Everyone in the restaurant was looking at you. You cowered, unsure of where to go or what to do. You weren't expecting this turn of events. It was just too good to be true.
❤️
This whole trip felt like a bust. You came here expecting to return to Seoul with a job but instead had a creepy interaction with a high-level executive, and they paid for everything, including your flight and hotel. You shivered at the thought of him knowing exactly where you were staying. You were alone in a big city, and the only person you knew was your ex-boyfriend.
You illuminated your phone to check the time, debating whether to call Jungkook. Would it be weird? Would you look desperate if you called? It's not like you had any dignity left anyway.
Unlocking your phone, you clicked on Jungkook's contact; your thumb hovered over the call button. Fuck it, you thought and pressed call.
It rang a few times before Jungkook's familiar voice was on the other end-it felt like old times.
Hello?
"Hey, it's me."
Hey. I was hoping you'd call. Are you done with your meeting already?
"Yeah, um, would you mind picking me up at the restaurant?"
Yeah! Of course. Text me the address. I'm coming right now.
Jungkook zipped through the city, and thankfully, there wasn't any heavy traffic to slow him down. He got to the restaurant in less than 20 minutes. He pulled up and saw you waiting on the sidewalk with your arms crossed, trying to keep yourself warm. Parking the car, he ran over to you.
"Hey-are you okay?" he asked with concerned eyes, scanning you from head to toe, ensuring you weren't hurt.
"Yeah, can we go?" Your body language was telling Jungkook otherwise.
He opened the door for you, and you quickly got in, fastening your seat belt and breathing a sigh of relief once you lay against the headrest. Jungkook looked over, biting his cheek as he could tell you weren't okay-your eyes were glassy, and he could see how your mascara smudged. He began to input the address for the hotel, but you stopped him.
"Can-can we go back to your place?" Jungkook perked up. "I don't want to be alone if that's okay."
He certainly wasn't going to deny you. "Yeah, of course. That's fine with me."
"Are you sure?"
It probably wasn't fair of you to do this to him.
"Yeah, of course. Anything for you."
"Jungkook, you can totally say no-"
He gently placed his hand on top of yours. "Hey-it's okay. We'll go to my place."
❤️
You waited a good distance behind Jungkook as he unlocked the door. He took a step but then stepped back and turned to you.
"Bam gets excited when new people come over. So, I apologize if he's a bit wild."
You smiled, assuring him you'd be okay. You were nervous but psyched to meet him, actually-you hoped he would like you. Considering Jungkook was his owner, Bam would probably be the sweetest pup.
As soon as Jungkook opened the door, the brown-coated Doberman greeted him. He knelt down, rubbing his floppy ears. "I told you I wouldn't be gone long, right, Bamie?"
Jungkook looked at you, beaming a wide smile before returning to his puppy. Bam's tongue hung out as he panted, looking in your direction-he really did have big, doe eyes like Jungkook. Maybe they were drawn to each other through lingering starry eyes.
He let go of him, and immediately Bam came to sniff your hand, giving a few licks before looking up at you. "I think he likes you."
"Whew-I passed Bam's vibe check," you joked as you crouched down to cup his face, in which Bam licked your chin. "Oh-" You scrunch your eyes closed and giggle at the pup. He really was so sweet.
"Bam-house," Jungkook commanded. Bam whined quietly before following his owner's order. He pouted the entire stroll to his crate. As he lay down, he took his turtle chew toy into his mouth, making it squeak.
You slipped off your shoes and set down your bag, looking around Jungkook's apartment. As you expected, it was squeaky clean, with a few photo frames of his mom, Yuna, and Indie. Then you noticed the 'Rising Star' award he had displayed on a shelf next to a few other awards he must've gotten at his new job. The stark white walls and flooring contrasted against the black and brown hue furniture. You chuckled to yourself when you saw the workout equipment in the corner-of course, it's right in his living room.
"If you're tired, you can take my bed. I'll take the couch."
"Oh-" It wasn't your intention to sleep here. You didn't want to be alone after that icky interaction with Zach. "I'm okay. Do you just want to hang out and talk for a little bit?"
Jungkook took a big gulp and cleared his throat. He figured this was the moment of truth. He didn't know what to expect anymore-it could be good or bad.
"Yeah," he smiled, making his way to the couch, gesturing for you to do the same. "Make yourself at home."
That was easier said than done. You felt intrusive and feared that you crossed a boundary you shouldn't have.
He watched you sit on the opposite end. And never in a million years did he think you'd be here, sitting with him. Is it possible that you have found some way to forgive him?
Your eyes found his, and the two of you nervously chuckled.
"Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee? Tea?"
You shook your head. You didn't mind just sitting here and being in his presence. It felt so comforting after such a long day of traveling and a shitty meeting.
"How was your meeting? Did it go well?"
You sighed, positioning your body toward him as you leaned against the couch. You purse your lips before answering him. "The guy was a bit of a douche. The job sounded like a great opportunity, but I refuse to work with someone who thinks I'll sleep with them for a job."
Jungkook's eyes widened, and he shifted in his seat. "I'm sorry, what?"
You could see Jungkook clenching his fist, but honestly, he had nothing to worry about. You hoped the slap Zach got was more than enough to scare him off.
You held your hands up to calm him down. "I can take care of myself, Jungkook," you assured him. "He got a nice slap from me," you beamed.
He breathed a sigh, relaxing his body into the couch cushion. "I'm sorry the meeting wasn't everything you had hoped for."
You shrugged. "It's whatever. I'm sure something better will come along."
"I'm sure it will."
"So, what were you doing on a Friday night? I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." You scanned the room, and there was nothing indicating he had company over.
Jungkook pouted, shaking his head. "Just hanging out with Bam."
"No girlfriend or anything?"
Jungkook suppressed a smile, but he couldn't help it. Maybe this was your subtle way of asking if he was seeing anyone. "No. No girlfriend. LA girls aren't really my type." Because you were, he thought. As hard as he tried to let you go, he just couldn't.
You hummed and then wanted to kick yourself because that question came out of nowhere, but it was the question lingering on your mind ever since he had left. Someone who looked like him would've surely had women lined out the door, ready and willing to date him and bear his children.
"What about you? Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, avoiding your gaze.
"No. No boyfriend."
"So, you're not seeing that Yoongi guy?"
You licked your lips, the corners of your mouth curving into a smile. "I'm guessing you heard that name from Yuna or Taehyung?" He nodded. "He's just a friend and a pain in my ass."
"Ah-got it."
"And what about Alex? Is she still around?" You couldn't not ask. It was like a giant elephant hanging out in the room with you.
Jungkook figured her name would come up sooner or later. "Alex's not working for the company anymore. She moved out of the country."
"Good," you huffed; if she wasn't near Jungkook, that made you happy.
"You really hate her, huh?"
"Yeah, kind of."
Jungkook softly chuckled, letting a beat pass. "I'm sorry, by the way."
"Sorry for what?"
"Everything that happened with us."
"I'm sorry too." Your lips thinned, your fingers unconsciously picking at your hand.
"Why are you sorry?"
You appreciated that he didn't point out your flaws, but he wasn't the only one at fault. Neither one of you was perfect. "Jungkook, you're not the only one to blame. I should have communicated my feelings better when we were together."
He nodded in agreement. "Do you think you could ever forgive me?"
Initially, it was hard to even think about forgiving Jungkook, but as time passed, the pain and hurt subsided. "Mm. I forgive you. Do you forgive me?"
"Yes," he chimed in. You chuckled at how fast he answered. "What?" He raised his eyebrow.
You shook your head. "Nothing-"
"Just say it."
"I shouldn't."
"Why not?"
"Because-I just-shouldn't." You wanted to say you found him cute and endearing and that he forgave others too quickly.
"Fine," he pouted, shifting his leg onto the couch.
Your mouth opens involuntarily, exhaling a yawn from exhaustion. The time difference really fucked you up. Quickly, you covered it with both hands and excused yourself.
"Am I boring you?" Jungkook teased.
"Yes, actually. I hadn't realized you'd become so dull," you quipped, covering another yawn. "See-so boring that you're making me sleepy." You leaned on your arm against the back cushion.
"Or maybe you're just becoming an old lady."
You scoffed. "I'm an old lady? You're the one who's staying in on a Friday night! Old man."
"Yeah, I had to stay in, just in case an old lady needed me." Jungkook giggled and looked away before returning to meet your eyes. "I've missed this."
"What?"
"Us."
It was this specific moment when you moved into flight mode. You gave a half-smile and shifted your position so your feet touched the ground. You checked your phone for the time. "I should get an Uber and go back to my hotel."
"I can take you."
"Jungkook, you've done so much for me already. I don't want you to have to drive back and forth."
"I don't mind-honestly."
You stood up. "I know you don't-but I do. It's okay-really." You unlocked your phone and pulled up the app, determined to call for a car. All of this was becoming too much for you, for your heart. His presence, the giggles, the familiarity of what the two of you used to be.
Jungkook stood and walked over to you, gently pushing away your phone. "What's going on? Tell me the truth." He could always tell when your mind was working overload-racing with thought after thought.
Should you tell him why you needed to leave after the two of you had a nice, civil conversation without screaming or yelling? Your therapist did tell you that no one would know how you feel unless you told them-and you just told Jungkook that you should communicate better.
Ugh, goddamnit.
Speak now or forever, hold your peace.
You didn't want to revert back to your old ways-being anxious, self-conscious, unsure of what you wanted. You sighed. "The truth?" Jungkook nodded. "The truth is-I probably shouldn't have called you."
"Why?" he asked as his starry eyes gazed deeply into your soul.
"Because-I was-I am scared."
Jungkook raised his eyebrow, unsure of why you'd be scared. "Scared of what?"
"I was scared that if I called you and we talked-old feelings would resurface, and I don't want to make the same mistakes again."
"You still have feelings for me?"
"I think so? I'm-I'm not sure," you stammered. "That's why I didn't call you in the first place when I knew I was coming to LA, and then when I happened to bump into you-well, I guess what I'm trying to say is that yes, I still have feelings for you."
His eyes fell to the floor, and he sucked in his lips, trying not to smile, before looking back at you. "Am I the mistake?"
You shook your head. "You were never a mistake."
"Then what mistakes are you referring to?"
You hung your head and sat back down, and Jungkook followed suit. You nibbled on the inside of your cheek, and he looked at you, waiting for an answer.
"I don't know. Me-falling too fast, building fantasies inside my head, knowing it'll never be real, not saying how I feel, pushing away people who love me. Should I keep going?"
"So, you didn't want to call me and come here because you were scared all that's gonna happen if you talked to me? Is that right?"
It sounded ridiculous, but he hit the nail on the head.
You hummed.
There was the slimmest chance of you bumping into Jungkook while in the same city, but you hadn't fully prepared yourself if you did bump into him. You weren't ready for the unresolved feelings and the smallest flutters of butterflies, your body to warm up to the simplest of accidental touches and soft giggles.
You could've just sucked it up, called an Uber, returned to your hotel, and tried to brush off the slimy interaction with the Netflix exec, but instead, you called the one person you knew would bring you comfort-Jungkook.
Should you just be completely honest and bare your soul? You were halfway there. Maybe it was time to grow up and just say what the fuck you wanted.
Jungkook was silent and waited to see if you had anything else.
You cleared your throat, thinking it was now or never.
"Our breakup," you paused to recollect yourself and to stop your lips from quivering so much. You started again, "Our breakup-it really fucked me up. You left without saying goodbye, and after that, I kind of spiraled-drinking every day, showing up late to set, and ditching our friends. Hell-I almost let some random guy fuck me in a bathroom."
You sighed. "I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad, but I needed to go through all those things to be where I am today. I've done a lot of work on myself and had a lot of healing through therapy, a solo trip, and some new friends-okay, just one new friend, but that's beside the point-I just don't want to go back to the same person I was before."
Jungkook opened his mouth to speak, but you stopped him.
"I'm not saying that being here with you again will make me become the person I was before-I just want to make better decisions being the new person I am now."
Finally, hearing how you felt after all this time relieved him. He had waited so long for you to finally share yourself with him.
Jungkook's mouth moved from side to side, nibbling on his bottom lip before he spoke, "I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye. The weekend in Jeju really fucked me up. So much was happening with Taehyung and Hyunie's wedding, and then we were on the brink of breaking up while pretending to be happy. My heart and my mind were all over the place. Then I saw you with Yoongi, and that really sent me over the edge because that's when I knew I had lost you and could never get you back-no matter how hard I tried, I don't think anything would've worked. So-I left."
Your jaw tightened, trying to hold back tears as Jungkook recounted his side of the story. You didn't know he saw you with Yoongi; it must've been shortly after you returned from Jeju. And as much as you were hurting, so was he.
Well, since both of you were in apology mode.
"I'm sorry too," you said. "Growing up, it was only me. I had to do everything myself because my parents weren't really there for me, and so I always felt like I didn't want to bother others with my burdens. I know it's not an excuse, but I'm slowly learning that I don't have to do everything alone-that it's okay to ask for help. So, I'm sorry I never communicated well and kept things from you."
He licked his lips, thinking about how new this was all for him-you baring your feelings. "No, that makes sense. I get it."
"You do?"
"I mean-I'm not perfect either. We both made mistakes, but you're wrong about one thing."
You raised your eyebrow. "What's that?"
"You had me and Yuna, and you know my mom loves you like you're her own. She might love you more than she loves me," he said. "And you know you can always tell me what's going on. I'll always be here for you-no matter what happens between us."
You grinned because he was right. You had overlooked the huge part that their family played in your life. You couldn't discount that.
"If there's one thing I truly regret from all of this-it's cutting ramen out of my diet since I've moved here," he joked to lighten the mood.
You dramatically gasped, covering your mouth. "You cut ramen from your diet? It's like I don't even know you anymore."
The two of you giggled.
"I guess we've both done some growing up, huh?" Jungkook knocked his knee into yours.
"Yeah, looks like it."
"So, what now?"
You shrugged, unsure of Jungkook's feelings, but you wanted to express yours. "I don't want to wake up one day and regret not trying again. I want you. I want all of you, but I'm scared-scared that I'll get hurt and go back to my old ways. I've had a lot of healing, and I'm in a good place, but seeing you again, being near you, makes me want to forget everything that has happened and jump in your arms and tear off your clothes."
Jungkook covered his mouth as he silently chuckled at your confession.
"Are you basking in my misery?" you sneered.
His lips turned into a pout as he shook his head. "No, I just-this is what I wanted all along while we were dating."
"What? Me acting like a fool?"
"No-you telling me how you feel, tell me how much you want me, to claim me as yours."
You opened your mouth and made a face. "You want me to grovel? Get on my knees?"
Jungkook bit his tongue when you got down on your knees in front of him. He had to tell himself and his dick to calm the fuck down because it was not the time and place to be thinking of such naughty things.
You gazed up at him; seeing him squirm was fun. "You like me on my knees?" you asked, sitting back on your legs.
He cleared his throat, adjusting his sweats as he shifted back on the couch. He thought back to the very first time you sucked him off after having dinner with Yuna and your mom. "I'm sorry. I think you were confessing your love for me. Go on. I'm all ears."
You smacked his thigh. "I'm-you're ruining this moment!"
"I'm ruining it? You're the one who got down on your knees! You know how much I love that," he mumbled the last of his words.
You turned and cupped your ear toward him. "I'm sorry. I didn't catch that."
"Just-go on. You were saying?" He cocked his head to the side, waiting for you.
You huffed, tilting your head back before landing on his sparkly doe eyes and cute little dimple peeking through. "I am stupidly in love with you, Jeon Jungkook, and I'll do whatever it takes to be with you again."
Jungkook felt a sense of relief when he heard those words, but there was still a small sliver of fear. "What if we're just fooling ourselves into thinking this will work?"
"Then I guess we can be fools together."
After baring your soul to Jungkook, you wanted nothing more than to jump into his lap and ride him like an endless merry-go-round, but you've changed and didn't want to regret anything going forward with him. The two of you needed to take things slow and steady because you wanted to win the race.
The two of you stayed up late-talking, drinking beer, and catching each other up on life until the sun came up. It was like no time had passed, and you picked up right where you left off.
Bam had taken a liking to you, staying by your side, following you whenever you got up and moved around. He wouldn't let you out of his sight. He definitely took after Jungkook.
The size of your bladder warranted another trip to the bathroom, and when you returned to where Jungkook and Bam were, you noticed Jungkook in a compromising position.
"Why are you on one knee? Are you taking a page out of my book?" you teased, not wanting to jump to any conclusions because you both agreed on taking it slow.
Without an answer, he took out something he was hiding behind his back. He held a blue velvet box in the palm of his hand.
Your eyes widened, and your heart raced rapidly because you knew exactly where that box was from. You and Yuna had looked at engagement rings for hours on end when the two of you thought Namjoon was getting ready to propose. You had mentioned it too many times to Jungkook while the two of you were dating. There's no way he'd be proposing, right?
This whole thing with Jungkook was new-well, not really new, but you'd have to turn him down if he were to ask your hand in marriage. You were definitely not ready because the two of you had just agreed to try this relationship again.
"What the fuck is that? It better be a ring pop," you implored. He slowly shook his head, beaming a smile from ear to ear. You repeated 'no' under your breath, shaking your head.
"You don't even know what it is."
"Oh-I know what it is!"
Jungkook leaned over on his knee toward you. "Okay, so tell me."
"It's-it's the ring that I couldn't stop talking about. Why do you have it?"
He giggled at how cute and flustered you had become. "For once, you're wrong."
"I'm never wrong," you huffed.
He stood, making his way to you, lifting your chin with his index finger. He stared deeply into your eyes. "You are completely and utterly wrong."
You pouted and crossed your arms. "Prove it."
Jungkook sighed at how stubborn you were. He opened the blue velvet box, and it was not the ring you had envisioned. "It's a promise ring." Because it was the ring that complimented the engagement set.
You visibly gulped, and there was a sense of relief. "A promise ring?"
He nodded. "You are everything I could ever want and more. It's always been you, and there's gonna be no one else for me. You are worth walking through hell and back, and considering we've done that already-I'd do it again if I had to, but please, please-I don't want to do it again," he pleaded, making you smile. "If you'll let me, I want to love you and show you I'm worthy of your love every day for the rest of my life."
You found yourself grinning from ear to ear, loving his little declaration of love. You moved closer to him, looking at the ring and then at him. "I want to make this right-us. I was wrong for not fighting for you-for us, and I don't want to make that mistake again."
He pulled the ring from the box, grabbed your left hand, and placed the piece of jewelry on your finger. "We're in this together-you and me."
You glanced at the ring, smiling at how pretty it looked on your finger. "You and me."
❤️
A lot has happened in the last 24 hours-you flew to LA, had your meeting, and rekindled your relationship with Jungkook. The last thing wasn't anything you expected, but it became the silver lining to this short trip you were dreading in the first place.
The pair of you couldn't stop smiling and giggling in the elevator up to your hotel room-mind you, you'd kept your distance from him the entire night, but it was becoming pure and complete utter torture.
Your time in LA was already coming to an end, and everything in you wanted to just leave your life behind and stay, but you had to resist; you had to fight it-at least for now.
"So," you trailed off, unsure what to say to him.
"So," he repeated, leaning next to your door.
You both smiled and laughed at the tension filling the hallway.
"Do you," you paused to think through your words, "want to come in until I have to leave?" This was a good boundary, you thought-just until you had to leave for the airport.
Jungkook licked his lips, flipping his lip ring back and forth with his tongue. His eyes explored your face before landing on your lips. "I'd love to, but we know if I do, then you won't get anything packed, and you'll for sure miss your flight."
You scoffed, rolling your eyes, and playfully smacked his chest. "I have no idea what you're alluding to, mister."
But you fucking knew and wanted it too.
He eliminated the distance between you, slowly caging you against the door. You closed your eyes when he gently caressed your cheek with the pad of his thumb. You had forgotten how much you had missed his touch-your body was glowing inside, illuminated from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. You wanted nothing but to savor this moment-a moment you thought ceased to exist, a moment you thought only existed in your reveries.
The tiny hairs on your skin, tingling, standing on their end in anticipation of an expected kiss. All this tension was killing you softly.
His other hand snaked around the nape of your neck, pulling you even closer. Your eyes fluttered open, watching his lips part, his breaths slowing down, and you were trying to remember if they were still soft and had the faintest taste of strawberry. And you wanted to gently tug on that silver piece of jewelry and hear him whine because of it.
Your stomach somersaults like there's a gymnast going for the gold for the floor exercise when his body brushes against yours. The twitch in his black sweats is what really makes you melt and clench around nothing. It's been far too long since you've been touched, and he was the only one that could bring you pleasure.
"Can I kiss you?" His eyes are desperately darting back and forth between yours, waiting for your okay.
"Please," you pleaded, almost inaudible if he wasn't so close.
He doesn't go right in like you expected. He took his time, both hands cupping your face and your hands gripping his tiny waist like nothing had ever stopped between the two of you. The tip of his nose nudged yours, his lips lightly feathering across the top of your lips-not going in just yet. His warm hot breath fans the ever-growing desire within you. It was thrilling for him to rediscover everything he loved about you.
You closed your eyes in excitement, scrunching the bottom of his shirt in your hands. You slightly tugged on it, wanting him to hurry and just fucking kiss you already. You had never known him to be so careful, so gentle.
He giggled at your frustration. "I thought we were taking things slow."
You deadpanned. "It's too slow," you whined, trying to reach for his lips, but he pulled back. "I thought you wanted to kiss me?"
Jungkook flashed a soft smile, his dimple on display. "I do."
"Then shut up and do it already," you pouted. You couldn't handle the teasing between you anymore. You wanted to make up for everything lost within the last year. If you had all the time in the world, you'd want him to do anything and everything to you, but that day would have to wait.
He tilted his head and leaned in; his nose nuzzled into the side of your face, and the deep yearning you'd hidden inside was released as his lips finally found yours. Lips on lips delicately caressing and wandering like the two of you were in a drought, in desperate search of food and water.
You gently nipped on his bottom lip, lightly pulling on his ring before kissing the side of his mouth. He grinned, thinking he'd get you back for that, not today but soon. Your hands traced the curves of his body, causing him to press himself further into you. The evident erection in his sweats tells you how much he was enjoying this too.
The kiss became heated and fervent, like an all-consuming fire taking everything in its path. Your hands are placed on his toned chest, holding on for dear life as he presses you against the door, breathing life back into you like your life depends on it.
You pulled back, gasping for air, but he leaned in, wanting just a bit more. You're intoxicating, and he's greedy. He's a man starved from your touch and kisses. There's no way he'll ever let you go again. He'd fight for you until his very last breath.
Your arms drape around his neck, your fingers twirling and tugging at the ends of his long hair. You deepen the kiss, your warm tongue nipping at his mouth, begging for more access to him. Kissing isn't enough anymore. You needed him-all of him. To rediscover his deepest desires, wants, and needs was the only job you wanted right now.
Jungkook withdrew from your kiss. "You have to pack."
You took a moment to catch your breath. "Or you can come inside and help me pack." You moved in again for another kiss, but he resisted.
"I would love that, but..." he trailed off, letting the desire within subside.
Your lips thinned. "But then we wouldn't be taking it slow, would we?" He nods. "I should pack."
He leaned in to quickly give you a peck on the lips. "Mm, you should."
Your shoulders slump, and you tilt your head against the door. "But I don't want to."
"But you have to." You groaned and stomped your feet like baby Indie. "I'll see you soon."
"Not soon enough."
❤️
bonus (jk pov - hotel)
"Sorry, I got here early, but some lady was taking forever to get her luggage," the driver said as Jungkook's colleague opened the door.
"You coming?" His colleague asked from inside the car.
"...uh, you go on without me. I left my phone inside. I'll catch an Uber."
His colleague shrugged and shut the door behind him before the car took off. Jungkook stood before the hotel's entrance, unsure whether to enter or just leave.
He thought he saw you while waiting outside the restaurant, but he figured it was just his eyes playing tricks on him. Even if it was really you, he wasn't sure he was ready to face you, let alone know what to say. He abruptly left without explaining his actions. He didn't think when he did it, which was a stupid, rash decision he later regretted. He couldn't bear the heartache of being so close to you.
The plan was to get as far away as possible so he could forget, but the problem was that he couldn't. You were the love of his life (yes, even at the tender age of 25). He had no desire for anyone else. Even when gorgeous women were flinging themselves at him in this new city. He wasn't concerned with them because they weren't you.
Everything made him think of you. From peonies to hot tubs and even bowling. He'd go back and say goodbye if he could. He despised the way things ended.
Before he knew it, his foot had stepped past the sliding glass door, heading in, unsure of where even to begin. He began his search as he walked through the lobby, peering at the reception desk.
He noticed a woman standing at the counter. Maybe your hair had grown out. Approaching the woman, he tapped them on the shoulder. "Noona..."
When the woman turned around, Jungkook quickly apologized before returning and going on the hunt for you. You may have already gone to your room, but he wasn't about to give up so easily. He'd be sorry if he missed you by a millisecond. Could his eyes be deceiving him? Maybe he didn't see you just standing there. Maybe he missed you so much that he imagined everything.
He told himself he'd look for ten minutes before giving up and going home. He walked around the lobby, past the reception desk, down the hallway, and even took the elevator up a few floors before returning down.
He was sure the workers thought he was creeping around and wouldn't be surprised if they had called security. He only had a few minutes before calling it quits and heading home. He walked past the restaurant he was just at, then took a few steps back.
What if you had gone to get a drink?
It didn't take long for him to notice you sitting alone at the bar, waving the bartender down to order. His eyes were not deceiving him; he was not insane.
It was you.
You were absolutely stunning, he thought. Even after a year apart, you'd become more beautiful than ever. He needed a moment to take you all in because he didn't think he'd ever see you again-here in LA.
Every heartbeat was like a metronome, keeping in sync with every step he took toward you. He drew a deep breath and closed his eyes as he stood behind you, his mind racing with the right words-what would he say after a year?
"Is this seat taken?"
Fuck-if he could, he'd punch himself. He could've come up with something better.
a/n:
hi, everyone!! the long-awaited reunion is here, and i hope you liked it. please let me know your thoughts and be sure to vote ❤️❤️