After successfully ending my first romantic dinner in catastrophe, I expected Jongin to just drop me off in front of my apartment but he didn't. After I rejected his offer, he paid for our meals and led me back into his car. Even until then he was still willing to hold my hand. At that moment, I was so close to bawl my eyes out — either because I was very touched by him or I just wanted to cry over my stupidity.

Although he was holding my hands, Jongin had become noticably quieter. He didn't say anything until he parked his car in front of Han River.

"Let's talk a walk." He finally broke his silence and gave me a smile.

I went out of the car and saw him already a few steps ahead of me. I thought he needed some time alone so I decided not to catch up with him that quickly. I crossed my arms over my chest te keep the warmth that was slowly slipping away from my body. I continued to walk and kept my eyes on my feet.

Is this gonna be the end of us?

Then I bumped into someone. I was about to say sorry but the familiar touch on both of my arms made me look up in silence. Jongin was searching for my eyes and we just stood there quietly.

"Do you know that I actually want to be a dancer?" He suddenly asked.

I nodded.

"But my parents own a company where hundred thousands of workers go for a living. Their lives are on my hands. Do you think I can still dance?" He continued, not breaking our eye contact.

I couldn't catch where he was going at so I remained silent.

"I thought it was unfair because I just graduated from high school. I still have dreams to accomplish. I still have my loved ones to spend my time with." He said while looking intensely at me. He slowly moved his hand to rest at the area between my jaw and my neck. He started caressing my cheek and I couldn't help but to lean in to his touch.

"But then my father brought me to the company last week. I didn't expect anyone to know me. I've never been there. But as soon as I stepped my foot out of the car, they started bowing at me as if I was a royalty. Their eyes looked at me with admiration and pride. They thought I would do well. They expected me to do well, that I would be a great successor. Then it hit me. These very people were putting their hopes on the same young man who wanted to throw away his duty a few days ago. Then I realised that I can't be selfish. I can't afford to be selfish."

Jongin was trying to blink his tears away. The sight before me broke my heart and I wanted him to stop but he didn't let me.

"Trust me, I really reallly want to be with you. I really want to go on those dates that you've planned for us but I have to do what I have to do first." He sighed and hung his head low, choking back a few sobs.

I couldn't imagine how much turmoil he was experiencing right now. I had seen the way Jongin danced and if  that wasn't passion, I don't know what was.

Now it was my turn to cup his cheeks and brought his head up so that he could look at me.

"Just because you have to go doesn't mean you have to stop loving me. And just because I let you go doesn't mean that I have stopped loving you either. This may be hard and I may not know what I'm gonna do when you're not around but if there's one thing you should know is that you're the bravest guy I've ever met in my life. Throwing away your dream so that other people can have a better life is the greatest thing that I've ever heard someone would do. And you, Kim Jongin, are about to do just that." I said as I poked his nose lightly, in my attempt to lighten the mood.

He only chuckled through his tear-stained expression.

"And as you try to be a better man thousand miles away from me, know that there is this girl who is waiting for you. Know that I'll always have your back, that I'll always be here. I may be going on my own path, but you'll always have my heart. So now go and come back as a greater man." I smiled although a lone tear which fell from my eye betrayed my expression.

"What would I do without you?" I heard him say as he wiped away my now freely-flowing tears.

He gave me a warm smile before claiming mylips.

And under the dim moonlight, with the mighty Han River as witness, I had my first kiss with Jongin.

It wasn't timid, but it wasn't sloppy either. It was warm and passionate, just the way I liked it. He pulled me closer by my waist as I hugged him by his neck. And it was as if we owned the world, we continued to show our love for each other under the stars.

— ✿ —

Six years later.

"Welcome!" I greeted chirpily.

I was now the owner of a beautiful cafe at the side of the Han River, a place of beautiful memories to me.

I had completed my study in university but I felt that I had a passion in meeting and interacting with new people. So here I was opening my own cafe which had been on going for almost a year. It wasn't that crowded, but it was enough to make me happy. There were many regular customers who always came by. And I treated those people like they were my own friends. What I like the most from being a cafe owner was that every single day I got to see different chapters of life of my customers. Some were happy episodes while others might not be as fortunate. But that was alright. It made me see things differently. And I liked it that I kept learning about life.

Jongin and I were still together. I guess?

He had promised me that he would come back after five years, but he was a year late.

The first year he had gone to London was pretty good. He called me often. He even sent me his pictures every weekend. The second year was getting a little bumpy. He had so many assignments that sometimes I would be watching him do his homework as we Skyped. The following years weren't getting any smoother. In fact, he hadn't contacted me much for the past one year. Thankfully, he remembered to wish me a happy birthday.

I tried to bring this topic up whenever I went out with Sehun, who was now a CEO himself. (Seriously, these guys were like real-life princes!) But Sehun would just shrug it off, saying that Jongin was okay and that he might just be busy. After a while, I had stopped asking altogether. I felt like my relationship with Jongin would not be going anywhere but every time I remembered my promise to him, I thought it was too easy to give up. Every night, my thoughts would take me back to Jongin. I would try to ring him once in a while which went straight to his voicemail, but I wasn't losing my faith. I believed in him, although my brain was telling me not to.

I was busy wiping the table when a pair of polished black shoes greeted my view.

"You know I hate coffee yet you still opened a coffeeshop." A familiar deep voice reached my ear.

I immediately looked up and couldn't believe my eyes. Jongin was standing a few steps away from me with hands on his pocket as he leaned on the door. He looked as handsome as ever, if not better.

His hair was no longer dark brown but was now back to its natural black colour. He cut his hair. I liked it. He looked neater, and smarter. He looked more like a fine gentleman now. The crisp black suit he was wearing didn't help to tone down the authoritative aura he was giving off.

And then I started feeling conscious about my appearance. I didn't have the time to check my wardrobe this morning hence the white shirt and light denim I was wearing. I started to fiddle in my Nike shoes when I heard him walking toward me. I gulped and even until now, my stupid cheeks couldn't stop blushing whenever Jongin was around.

"Do you miss me?" He asked teasingly as he grabbed me by my waist.

I squealed as he spun me around.

"I've come back as a better man now, Jung Haneul." He said in that y voice of his.

He then went down to kiss me on my lips. Gosh, I wasn't a fan of public display of affection but here I was enjoying myself making out with my long-time boyfriend.

After what felt like forever, he released me and went to examine my face. I wanted to cover my face, scared that I had become uglier than what he had remembered, but Jongin stopped me halfway.

"You look beautiful." He said softly as he untied my hair.

I couldn't believe that I was just making out with this perfect man in front of me.

"Now we're off to our date." He said as he grabbed my hand.

Oh, how I missed his firm and strong hold.

"W-wait, but I just opened." I tried to protest.

"I've taken care of it." He simply said and tossed his finger to the air, signaling to a group of men near his car. Only then I realised that he came with a driver and a few other smart-looking people, all dressed in crisp black suits. But of course none of them looked as intimidating as Jongin.

"Who are they?" I asked innocently as I saw a few them entering my now abandoned cafe.

"They are my man. They'll take care of your cafe while we're out." He explained.

My mouth formed an inaudible O, but I still had questions in mind.

"W-where are we going?" I asked timidly.

Jongin didn't answer right away. Instead he spun me around, trapping me in between himself and his car. He leaned on me and his handsome face was just a few centimetres away from mine. Oh goodness.

"Can we stop with all the questions, or do you want me to kiss you again?" He smirked.

Gosh, I thought I had tamed this side of him six years ago. Where's my sweet and romantic Jongin? Why did I get back this overly confident and dangerously hot boyfriend?

I squirmed under him and stuck my tongue out.

"Whatever." I escaped his embrace and went to open the door myself. I quickly slid inside the car and heard him chuckle.

Jongin shook his head and let out a hearty chuckle.

"You're the end of me, Jung Haneul." He smiled to himself and went to follow me in.

TA-DAAA!!! And that's officially the end of this story! WOOO!!!

Do you like it? ;)