Prompt By: @kireitenshi

-Title: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

-Ship: BTS' Jungkook x IU

Characters: [MAIN] IU/Lee Jieun (soloist), Jungkook/Jeon Jungkook (BTS), Suzy/Bae Suji (miss A) [SIDE] Eunhyuk/Lee Hyukjae (Super Junior), Jeon Junghyun (Jungkook’s older brother), Jeon Jihyuk (OC), Ahn Jehoon (OC), Soyee/Jang Sojin (gugudan), Bae Subin (Suji’s older sister), Bae Sangmoon (Suji’s younger brother), Bae Hyunsook (Suji’s mom; née Jeong), Sulli/Choi Jinri (f(x)), Ha Minwoo (ZE:A), Lee Donghae (Super Junior)

Word Count: 4902

Warnings: Divorce; running away; strong language

Summary: In which Lee Jieun runs into Jeon Jungkook again, and realizes that things have changed so much she’s unsure if she’s moving forward or backward.

 

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It had been three months since Lee Jieun broke up with Jeon Jungkook.

 

She hated to say it, to admit it, but she was doing so much better off without him.

 

She had more time to focus on school, and she felt she did better in her classes, She wasn’t as attached to the Internet anymore, strengthening her real-life relationships, whether it be her friends or family, or even Lee Hyukjae, the cute older boy her best friend, Bae Suji, warned her against, but she couldn’t help but like anyways.

 

“He’s nothing but trouble,” Suji would say in a condescending tone, breaking her pastry in half and handing one half over to Jieun, who took it. “I just don’t want to see your heart broken again, is all. I think he has a criminal record, anyways.”

 

“No, that’s some of his friends.” Jieun defended.

 

“That’s really not helping your case.”

 

Besides the introduction of Hyukjae into her life, things continued to look up for Jieun. She had been accepted into a new program run through her school for art, and not only was she vastly improving, but her art was beginning to become noticed, having been entered in small, local competitions, but winning some money for something she had worked so hard on was still just as rewarding.

 

It was early October when Jieun and Suji decided to walk to the convenience store near Suji’s home in Kijang, planning on picking up a few snacks for their night in; yogurt, popcorn, gamdongran, dorisak, samgak gimbap. Really, whatever they could blow Suji’s paycheck on and as much as they could shove down their throats.

 

They were expecting to over-buy and feel regret later for buying so much.

 

What they didn’t expect when they sat down at a table in the small sit-down area to tear open a box of Binch cookies was for a figure to come up to their table, gaining their attention.

 

“Jieun?” he said, his arms that were crossed against his chest unfolding, the fingertips of one of his hands laying gingerly on the table. “Is that you?”

 

The girls looked up to the boy. He was taller than both girls, still making Jieun the shortest. He had a slim figure, but his arms were defined, as if he once had muscle, but gave up on them. He wore a black windbreaker over a black and white striped shirt. His dark hair was longer than Jieun was used to seeing it, and hung close to his eyes. His skin was pale, except for his cheeks and the tips of his fingers and nose, which were a blotchy red.

 

“Jungkook.” Jieun muttered. She was surprised, to say the least. She felt bad upon seeing him. Not only did she feel guilty for breaking up with him (although that felt like a lifetime ago), but she hadn’t even thought about him properly since. Yes, at first she was heartbroken and upset, especially with the way things ended, but soon she got over it and moved on, forgetting about him.

 

It was easy to forget about Jeon Jungkook. He made no effort to be remembered.

 

“How have you been?” Suji filled in, noticing Jieun freezing up and giving her a kick to the ankle under the table, shaking her from her daze.

 

“Getting better.” Jungkook admitted.

 

“Why don’t you sit?” Jieun asked, pulling out the chair next to her. “You look tired.”

 

“Exhausted.” he admitted, taking the chair and sinking into it.

 

“What are you doing all the way out here?” Seeing Jungkook in a state like this was strange enough (Jieun knew Jungkook cared a lot about his image and appearance, and the hole in his windbreaker was not only unlike him, but worrying and scary), and almost a half hour away from his home, seemingly on his own, was also strange.

 

“I ran away.”

 

“What?” both girls demanded. He had said something so big, so dangerous, so scary, so life-changing so casually, as if declaring what he was eating or what class he was going to.

 

“When?” Suji pressed.

 

“Why?” Jieun asked, concerned for the well-being of her former flame.

 

“Because,” Jungkook started. “Home got… unbearable. I can’t remember how much I told you.” For the first time, Jungkook turned and faced Jieun, looking at her properly and up-close, and not squinting at her from across the room, questioning if it really was her or if the hunger was starting to affect his vision.

 

“You didn’t tell me much.”

 

“I wanted to. I did. I would type it all out, and then think better of it and delete it and keep it vague, but I can’t remember exactly what I told you. I didn’t want to burden you with all of it.”

 

“You wouldn’t’ve.” Jieun said softly, almost a whisper.

 

Jungkook sighed before speaking. “Growing up, my parents always argued, but that never bothered me. It was normal. But it got worse and worse the older we got. It started with my father leaving for weeks - maybe months, it was all over the place I couldn’t keep track - at a time, and then suddenly returning, just to argue with my mom and leave again. He missed Junghyun’s graduation.”

 

“Junghyun?” Suji asked, cutting in.

 

“My older brother,” Jungkook filled in. “He’s the only one I actually like in my family,” he paused, scratching at his eyebrow. “It wasn’t long until my parents actually divorced, but it’s not like it did much. My father kept coming around, trying to claim custody, although the court told him he only has supervised visitation rights. My mother let my aunt and my three cousins moved in, but the house is too small for all of us. I ended up sharing a room with my brother, which wasn’t bad, but then one of my cousins, the middle child, Jihyuk, wanted to move in with us because he fought with his siblings too much, and Junghyun let him.

 

“That’s why video calls and stuff stopped. When it was just Junghyun and I, it was fine. He was often out with friends or didn’t care, but Jihyuk wants everything I have and wants to do everything I do. I ended up giving in and downloading games on my phone and let him slobber all over it just to get him to shut the up.”

 

Jungkook sighed, leaning forward onto the table and putting his head into his hands. “A month or so ago now Junghyung left for university, and the more my dad came around and the more unbearable the rest of my family came, the more I didn’t want to be there, so I just packed up and left.

 

“I have another aunt and another cousin - much more bearable than the ones I lived with - that live in Yangsan, so I’m heading there.”

 

For the most part, Jieun and Suji listened intently to Jungkook, Jieun not even touching the food in front of her, Suji never glancing away from him. Now that Jungkook seemed finished with his story, they dared to speak.

 

“Jungkookie, I’m so sorry.” Jieun muttered.

 

“Yangsan isn’t too far from here,” Suji said, always the more reasonable and composed one between her and Jieun. “When did you leave home?”

 

“Three days ago.” he admitted.

 

“You don’t live that far, though.” Jieun said.

 

“I can’t remember what town it was, it was coming in, but they had a homeless shelter I stayed at for a bit. I didn’t really think before I ran away, I just threw some things in my bag and walked out. I don’t even know if anyone noticed. They do now, my mom’s called me several times, but I turned my phone off to save battery.

 

“I was still in shock kind of, and got kind of scared when night fell, so I stayed there at the shelter. I lied and said I was nineteen, and they gave me a mat and a blanket and a pillow and I was planning on staying there just for the night, but I ended up staying two days. My mother left a voice message on my phone saying she issued a police report for me as a missing persons and to come home. But I don’t want to, and I figured she wouldn’t look for me at a homeless shelter that far from home.

 

“I ended up leaving the shelter partly because some guy there - Jehoon, his name was - threatened me. He was also a crazy heroin junkie and scared the out of me, and he smelt like animal puke, and I had to sleep near him, so that was fun. I also left because one of the workers, Sojin, found out I lied about my age and said she tried to run me through the system to find out if I had a criminal record or was emancipated or whatever, why I was here, but I gave her a fake name as well, saying I was Ryu Sangwoo, and when I didn’t come up she told me she’d have to contact authorities or provide my real identity. I knew she was going to contact the police whether I gave her my real name or not, so I left this morning, and I ended up here.”

 

“What are you doing for tonight?” Suji asked.

 

“What if the cops do find you?” Jieun pressed.

 

“You’re not walking to Yangsan at this time of day.”

 

“Please tell me you’re not hitchhiking, either.”

 

Although there had been plenty if daylight left when the girls entered the store, a quick glance out the window they sat near told them any sunlight they had relied on previously would be gone soon. Enough for the girls to walk back to Suji’s house if they left soon; not enough for Jungkook to walk all the way to his aunt’s in Yangsan.

 

“I’m not hitchhiking; I’ve done all that on foot. I’ve watched enough YouTube documentaries in the middle of the night to know that’s a bad idea. I’ve walked.”

 

“YouTube documentaries shouldn’t be teaching you that.” Jieun frowned.

 

“Brooklyn 99?”

 

“A little better.”

 

“It’s not like I had stable parenting to tell me not to get into stranger’s cars.”

 

“That still doesn’t answer my question about what you’re doing for the night. I’m not sure if Kijang has a homeless shelter.” Suji pointed out.

 

“I’m not walking in the dark. I’m too scared for that. I’ll find somewhere; maybe a hospital or a school or something.”

 

“You could stay with us for the night, if Jieun’s okay with that.” Suji looked at Jieun expectantly.

 

“If your mom’s okay with it.” Jieun said before Jungkook got the chance to protest.

 

“Sangmoon’s away tonight so you can sleep in his room. My mom will definitely let you stay the night, especially considering your condition. You can wash up and we’ll give you a good meal.”

 

Jungkook bowed his head, avoiding eye contact with the girls. “You really don’t have to.”

 

“It’s better than a homeless shelter or the streets.”

 

“I don’t want to intrude.”

 

“Jeon Jungkook, you’re literally homeless right now. You’re not intruding.”

 

Jungkook lifted his head up, looking at the stern and stubborn Bae Suji. “I don’t want your mom to report me.”

 

“She won’t. I’ll make sure of it. And if she does, we’ll slip you out the back before they have the chance to get here, and Jieun and I will act like we don’t know anything about your situation, except that you ran away. Right, Jiji?”

 

“Right,” Jieun agreed. “At least stay until it’s lighter out.”

 

“Just for one night,” Jungkook agreed, finally giving in. “I don’t want to stay any longer than that.”

 

“That’s fine, but you can if you want or need to,” Suji said, standing up and grabbing the bag of food the girls had bought previously. “Do you want anything from here, Jungkook? We have some change leftover.”

 

Jungkook shook his head. “I’m fine, thanks. I have some change of my own, anyways.”

 

Jieun and Jungkook stood up as well, following Suji out of the store and down the street in the direction of her home. The two trailed behind her. The atmosphere should’ve been serene, walking in a peaceful neighbourhood close to sunset, but instead it was tense and uncertain; the tension between Jieun and Jungkook’s past that hadn’t been really addressed properly, and uncertainty of Jungkook’s situation. There was a possibility that someone would turn him in, or the cops would turn him in, or that he wouldn’t even make it to his aunt’s in Yangsan.

 

“What did you bring with you?” Suji asked from in front of them, breaking the air.

 

“Not much,” Jungkook admitted. “Stole 20,000 won from my mom’s wallet, two things of banana milk from the fridge and a bag of chips. I took a charger, portable charger, my phone, a flashlight, and four batteries. I think they’re the right kind; I just grabbed whatever I could get to first. And a change of clothes.”

 

“Pretty impromptu, huh?” Jieun said, and Jungkook nodded.

 

“Very spur of the moment.”

 

Suji’s mother wasn’t home when the three arrived, but her older sister, Subin, was.

 

“You can’t just bring home random boys from off the street.” Subin argued after Suji had filled her in on what had happened, insisting that Jungkook was staying the night.

 

“He’s not just some random boy, Subin,” Suji fought back. “He’s my friend, and he needs our help.”

 

“Mom’s not going to like this.”

 

“I’m sure Mom would rather help a boy who needs it than send him back onto the streets, especially at this time of night. Look; it’s almost dark.”

 

“Just wait until Mom comes home.” Subin said, using a snide tone. With that, she her heel, walking off, her arms folded across her chest.

 

“Nevermind her,” Suji said, ushering her friends up the stairs. “Do you want me to run the bath, Jungkook?”

 

“Are you saying I smell?” he asked, taken aback.

 

“N-no, it’s just you’ve-” Suji started, but Jungkook cut her off.

 

“I’m kidding,” he said. “There were showers at the homeless shelter.”

 

“I thought you smelled pretty decent for someone who’s been on the streets for three days.” Jieun muttered.

 

Suji went about her business, forcing Jungkook to eat something and rooting through her father’s clothes to give him something to change into while she washed the ones he previously wore.

 

While Suji fussed in the next room, preparing her brother’s room so Jungkook could sleep there, he and Jieun stayed in Suji’s own room, playing a video game while they waited.

 

Jieun expected it to be a little awkward, a little tense, but again, it was strangely relaxed, but there was a small inkling pulling at her, something she knew had to do with their past.

 

Was it that she still had feelings for him? No, she had just been texting Hyukjae, they were going to set up a date next week. Was it that she felt bad for him? That had to be it; she had always been an overly empathetic and sensitive person. Or so she liked to think.

 

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to play a game properly.” Jungkook muttered, repeatedly slamming one of the buttons on his controller.

 

“What do you mean?” Jieun asked. She knew Jungkook liked his video games. He would often play while they were video call each other, and she would do homework in the meantime.

 

“With my family moving in, someone else is either on the console or bugging me in some way.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Suji had done most of the talking that night, on behalf of the both of them, and now that Jieun was left alone in the room with him, she didn’t know what to do, and that fleeting feeling that tugged at her didn’t help.

 

“Are you hungry?” Jieun asked.

 

“I just ate.”

 

Jieun was silent, letting her character on screen be swarmed by enemies and die, dropping out of the game. She set her controller down on the floor near her; both she and Jungkook leaned against the side of Suji’s bed.

 

“Tell me about what’s been going on with you.”

 

“What do you mean?” she asked, scooting closer to him, suddenly feeling tired, her eyelids heavy.

 

Jungkook never looked at her, concentrating on the screen in front of him, jumping and swinging his weapon around. “You know, like, what you’ve been up to lately. It’s been awhile since I last spoke to you. Not that that’s anything you could help.”

 

“Not much.” Jieun fibbed. She didn’t want to tell him much of what she had been doing, not wanting to make it seem like she was doing so much better than him and rub it in, but also didn’t know how he felt after their breakup, and wanted to avoid hurting him any further.

 

“There’s gotta be something. New movie? An award? It’s a new school year; how are your classes?”

 

“Fine,” she shrugged. “I’ve got art classes, math, literature, and science.”

 

“Cool. I took gym and a science and a math and a history.”

 

“What are you going to do for school?” Now that Jungkook was two towns over, it was a little hard for him to attend his high school, especially when avoiding his mother there.

 

“I don’t know. Hopefully whatever high school’s in Yangsan. Know anyone there?”

 

“Choi Jinri.” Jieun said without missing a beat. “I played on a tennis team with her.” That wasn’t a hundred percent a lie, they did play on a tennis team, but that’s not how Jieun knew her. Jinri was close friends with Hyukjae, and although Jinri lived in Yangsan, she often visited as the towns were close.

 

“Since when did you play tennis?”

 

“A few years now.”

 

“Oh.” Jungkook paused. “I think I forgot about that.”

 

“I don’t care.” Jieun yawned. She almost tacked I’m over you to the end of that, but caught herself.

 

Despite their past, Jieun still felt a sense of comfort with Jungkook, and, feeling increasingly tired, she leaned over, placing her head in Jungkook’s lap.

 

Jungkook still concentrated on his game, Jieun hearing the sounds indicating a level up and new assets being unlocked, but as she drifted off, she felt Jungkook’s hand rest softly on the top of her head, playing with her hair.

 

The next morning, the first thing Jieun felt was warm, and as she came to her senses further, a stiffness, and, blinking back the sunlight that bashed in through Suji’s bedroom window, she was met with a loud, baggy orange shirt, and soft hands and arms wrapped around her, encasing her.

 

Her eyes flitted up, setting on a sleeping Jungkook, his hair hanging in front of his face, his lips parted as he drew breath in and out.

 

He could use a haircut, was her first thought, and she felt shame for her next thought, But he’s cute, so it’s fine, and then, He looks so peaceful asleep. No, no, I don’t like Jeon Jungkook anymore, he and I are done. Over. Nothing good comes of this. Jungkook doesn’t need a relationship right now. Besides, I like Hyukjae! He’s so much better than Jungkook. Sure, he doesn’t smell as sweet and isn’t as warm and comfortable and…

 

“Jieun?”

 

She shook herself from her thoughts, literally, giving her head a small shake. “Hey.”

 

“Mornin’.”

 

She suppressed a small giggle. “Mornin’.” she imitated, and he smiled sleepily at her.

 

Not one of them acknowledged the fact that she was curled up against his chest, their legs tangled, and at first she wasn’t even sure if Jungkook even registered that they were entwined in Bae Suji’s bedroom floor, the video game from the previous night on a pause screen, until he murmured something, but she was too caught up in her thoughts, all involving Jungkook, to hear what he said.

 

“What?” she asked.

 

“Nothing. Never mind. Sorry, I shouldn’t-” he flicked his gaze away, focusing on something between them, but being this close together, there wasn’t really anywhere to look away.

 

“No, really, I didn’t hear you.”

 

“I asked if I could kiss you, but that’s stupid, I’m just-”

 

Jieun knew she shouldn’t’ve said it. She shouldn’t’ve encouraged it and led him on. She liked Hyukjae, after all, and she and Jungkook were in the past, nothing, nothing, nothing.

 

“You can kiss me if you want.”

 

And he did - gentle at first, as if scared, hesitation. But when she kissed him back, he moved in a little harsher, but his lips and movements were still gentle. It wasn’t as if he was trying to rip her lips off, like other boys had kissed her, or immediately shove his tongue down , but as if he didn’t want to hurt or scare her.

 

There was a creak behind them, but neither one of them broke apart to check what had caused it, and after that, a groan, which again, neither one of them wanted to check the source of.

 

To Jieun, it felt like they had been kissing for long, and she would’ve continued if she could, lay there in her best friend’s home, kissing her ex-boyfriend all day.

 

But they eventually broke apart and gathered themselves up, making their way downstairs for breakfast, which Suji’s mother had prepared and left out before she left the house.

 

“Are you two done smashing face?” Suji asked, sitting at the kitchen table. Her hair was a tangled mess, the sleep shirt she wore huge on her, reaching her knees. “Because you two will totally ruin my appetite.”

 

“We weren’t ‘smashing face’.” Jieun argued as Jungkook aimed hungrily for the food, as if he had never been fed in his life.

 

“Don’t like to me, Miss Lee Jieun, I saw you.”

 

“It was more of a gentle makeout.” Jongkook commented, his mouth full.

 

“You’re not helping.” Jieun sighed as Suji gasped, pointing at him.

 

“I knew it! I saw you! Lee Jieun, you’re a filthy liar! Anyways,” Suji immediately sobered up, relaxing back into the chair and regarding Jungkook. “My mom left to go get Sangmoon from his friend’s house, but she can drive you over to Yangsan after if you want.”

 

“Are you sure?” Jungkook questioned, and Suji nodded, saying it wasn’t much of a problem.

 

It wasn’t long before Suji’s mother returned with Sangoon, and she insisted on getting Jungkook over to Yangsan as soon as possible.

 

“It’s not good for you to be MIA for so long,” she insisted. “Your family must be worried sick.”

 

Jungkook, Suji, nor Jieun bothered to fill Ms. Bae in on the fact that it was Jungkook’s family he was running away from, but it wasn’t that big of a deal, and they feared that Ms. Bae would turn Jungkook in if she found out.

 

Ms. Bae really stressed the hurry on them, leaving Jungkook little time to collect what few things he had with him and say goodbye, which, to Jieun, was nothing but a hug and an exchanging of,

 

“Bye.”

 

“Bye.”

 

And a closed door, followed by a car backing out of a driveway.

 

The following Tuesday at school, Hyukjae took Jieun out in his car during lunch hour, and they ended up kissing in the parking lot, and Jieun couldn’t help but think that Hyukjae’s kiss was harsher than Jungkook’s, as if he really was trying to rip her lips off.

 

She never told Hyukjae about Jungkook, and vice versa, and rather kept Hyukjae for the weekdays, at school and sunset evenings, and Jungkook for the weekends, scarce texts, the taunting, teasing idea of a meet-up, a second chance.

 

Jungkook was fine in Yangsan, and ended up attending the high school there, making friends with Choi Jinri and Ha Minwoo, and although his aunt and cousin respected him and his privacy more so than the ones he previously lived with, he still limited his phone usage, scared that his mother would find a way to track him down using that, despite that his aunt had already told his mother he was with her.

 

Jungkook’s mother didn’t take too kindly to Jungkook running away to live with his aunt, but his aunt defended him, even taking his side in court against her. The original plan was emancipation, but Jungkook’s aunt rather fought to have her as his legal guardian, limited visitation with his mother.

 

Jieun stayed with both Hyukjae and Jungkook, but both relationships failed to put on a clear label, which was Jieun’s only excuse to Suji.

 

“You can’t lead one of them on,” Suji insisted one night, again, camped out at Suji’s home. “Pick one or the other.”

 

“I don’t see why I have to,” Jieun argued. “They don’t know each other, nor will they. I’ve made sure of that.”

 

“I still think it’s cheating.”

 

“It’s not cheating if I’m not officially dating one of them.”

 

“It’s still backstabbing.”

 

Jieun didn’t have an argument for that, and as much as she saw the point Suji drew, she couldn’t choose between Hyukjae or Jungkook.

 

Hyukjae provided much more of a thrill for Jieun; he would take her to parties and place his hand low on her waist, drive a little recklessly, say things that almost got him into fights. It wasn’t an uncomfortable sort of thrill, but rather one that pushed Jieun outside of her comfort zone just enough.

 

At first, Jungkook provided a different sort of thrill for Jieun, the thrill of rekindling an old spark, the thrill of finding out what was really going on inside Jungkook’s world, but again, that spark slowly died out as their communication ceased and Jungkook’s world filled with court and papers and the potential for a new life. That spark was still there, though, not completely burned out, but barely holding on. There was that thrill of potential, as Jieun knew she and Jungkook could be so much greater together, but their circumstances and situations never lined up perfectly, for such a perfect match and such a perfect couple needed such perfect circumstances to be perfect.

 

“I feel like I’m just whirling in circles.” Jieun told Suji. It had been a week over two months since they had last seen Jungkook, and at this point they had reverted back to little communication, but it was still better than leading up to their breakup.

 

Her relationship with Hyukjae was slowly dwindling as she grew used to what she did with Hyukjae. She was no longer that girl who accompanied Hyukjae to parties, a rarity, a ‘party ’ as Lee Donghae dubbed her. She was used to the reckless driving, not bothering with gripping the door handle or squealing when they turned corners sharply, but rather swayed in time with the movements. What she did with Hyukjae was still fun, and she liked the sense of popularity it gave her.

 

“Breaking up with Jungkook and getting with Hyukjae made me feel like I was finally moving forward, but this tussle between the two of them makes me feel like I’m moving backward, and that no matter who I choose, I’ll just end up back at square one.”

 

“You’ve moved one step forward, and now you’re moving two steps back.”

 

“Exactly. Especially since I’ll be in the same spot whether I choose Jungkook or Hyukjae.”

 

“What about neither?”

 

“Same position.”

 

“Just choose whoever you feel better with. It’s not like you’re going to marry whoever you choose; we’re fifteen. Besides, Hyukjae goes off to college soon. Isn’t he going to college in Seoul?”

 

Jieun nodded solemnly; he had just received his acceptance letter.

 

“See? You’ll break up in August when he leaves, if you’re lucky, November before he returns for the winter holidays, resulting in a slightly awkward reunion or run-in; again, if you’re lucky, a hookup, but that’ll just make your already strained relationship even more tense.”

 

“That’s oddly specific.”

 

“I’ll be saying, ‘I told you so’ in about seven months. Or I’ll be announced a godmother in nine.”

 

“Shut up!” Jieun squealed, hitting her friend in the arm. She sobered up, relaxing. “But going back to the topic at hand, you’re right; I can’t stay with both of them. It’s not fair to the other.”

 

“Do you know who you’re gonna choose?”

 

Jieun was silent for a moment, mulling it over. “I think Hyukjae. Although we’re limited, there’s more for us than Jungkook and I. We’re not going anywhere.”

 

Jieun stayed true to her word and did just that, finally having the guts to make her and Hyukjae official. She never bothered to tell Jungkook, as again, their communication lessened and lessened, and she felt she had no reason to tell him.

 

However, feelings of guilt creeped in in late July, a little over a week before Hyukjae left for college, when they attended a movie. Walking into the theatre, she was on his arm, their arms looped through each other.

 

Jieun saw him when Hyukjae made a joke, and she laughed. He appeared out of the corner of her eye, wearing the same black windbreaker with the hole in it, although by now the weather was too warm for it.

 

He hung by the wall, attached to his phone. He looked up briefly, catching her eye. He smiled, and she gave a small wave, placing her hand on Hyukjae’s arm, letting him lead her into the theatre.

 

FIN

Part 1: [By Chance]