A/N: I am so mad at myself - I screwed up with the timing of an event in this story. Even though the story is highly fictional, I want it to be in line with the real life events - that's one of my main goals for this story. :'( sighhh  SO let's just pretend (at least in this story) that she starts filming for Hyori's Homestay only after her Yonsei gig. Without further a due, enjoy! :)

***

They didn’t do anything that night. Not anything like that. But it was the rawest thing they had seen each other up until now. She tried so hard to hold back the tears that had been fighting to just fall. She tried to but in the end, they just do. She couldn’t resist them. Not when she could mentally feel the time slowly ticking away, slowly signaling his time to leave.

That’s why he held her in his arms the whole night, comforting her from her sorrows. He whispered ‘It’s okay, it’s okay. Oppa is here’ over and over again like a lulling lullaby until he realised that the girl who is always on his mind had fallen asleep. He would then her cheeks, wiping her residual sorrows away. Afterwards, he would observe her – feeling slightly better to see her serene state, her face free from worries at least. He kissed her good night, wishing her sweet dreams before joining her in la la land with her still in his arms.

It truly had been a long time since he really cared for someone like this. And he really hates that he was the reason for her tears. And he really hates that he couldn’t do anything about it that could really make it all go away. But at that moment, as he tried to put his negative emotions at the back of his head, he just tried to appreciate all of this. That he still has her here. That she had managed to come into his life. That she truly makes him feel like he wants to be a better person… for her.

For you.

*

She is the first one to be awake and she is happy. At least, for now. He is still here with her. She could feel him: his head on top of her shoulder; his arms wrap around her, caging her so that she would never ever let go; his legs entangle with hers. He is still sleeping peacefully – his breathing steady. She breaks free from his embrace before she comes to observe his sleeping state. He truly does look so innocent when he sleeps – complete opposite of his awake persona. She gives him a small peck on his cheek before making her way to the kitchen.

*

Even in his dreams, Jieun manages to conquer his mind. At this moment, he dreams that she is here with him, in his arms. Almost like how he imagines it to be outside his dream. “Jieun ah,” he mumbles, his eyes still close as he tries to feel ‘her’ and pulls ‘her’ closer to him. But the ‘her’ is missing. Wait, where is she? He instantly opens his eyes to realize that she is not there with him.

Where could she be? He is pretty sure that he stayed the night at her place (the room he is in at this moment is definitely not his room) but could all that be just a dream? Thinking about it leaves him feeling hollow. False hope. To think that he would be leaving in a few hours – and if all that was just a dream, he could feel the emptiness inside begins to fill up his heart.

And it vanishes into thin air as soon as he could smell something from the kitchen. And it smells good. He could feel his stomach grumbling just having the thought of it. He heads out to the kitchen and sees her there busily making food.

“Good morning.” He wraps his arms around her from behind and rests his head on her shoulder.

“Morning,” she replies, silently enjoying his embrace as she continues to stir the soon-to-be cooked pumpkin soup from the pot. “Did you sleep well, oppa?”

“I did. The best I’ve had in a while… and it’s all because of you,” holding her tighter than before. “Thank you for just being here.”

“Early in the morning and you’re already this cheesy, oppa?”

“I can’t help it. I won’t be seeing you for few weeks, Jieun ah.”

“It’s just few weeks, Kwon Jiyong shi… not forever. And besides, you’re the one leaving me, not the other way around.”

“Says someone who is also leaving Seoul later,” to which Jieun turns around to face him and sticks her tongue out to. “I’m sorry I can’t be there to see you perform later.” That’s the thing about being at the top of their fields. As much as they want to support each other as much as possible such as attending their concerts or performances, their schedules would not allow them to.

“It’s okay, oppa. And besides, I don’t think you would fit in with the crowd. It is after all a university festival.”

“Are you saying that I’m old?” He widens his eyes, pretending to look and feel offended.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying ahjusshi.” With that, Jiyong tickles her with all his might, leaving her uncontrollably giggling. “Oppa, stop. I have to finish cooking this.” That’s what she managed to say in the midst of her laughters.

“Okay okay, I’ll leave you to it.” He gives her a peck on her cheek before trying to exit the kitchen.

But Jieun is quick enough to grab his wrist to prevent him from leaving. “Uh uh uh, not so fast. I need a small help here.”

“Jieun ah, come on. You know I’m not a good cook,” he whines.

“I’m not asking you to cook. I’m just asking you to help me taste it. See if it’s well-seasoned or not.”

“Okay, omma.” He grabs the wooden spoon from the pot and tastes her cooking. Wow, it’s better than he expected – it’s actually really good. Preparing for her upcoming gig in Jeju sure does wonders to her cooking skills. Not that she was bad before, just that her cooking palettes have expanded recently and he really appreciates tasting it. “You, this tastes so good!” He indulges more of the soup, trying to enjoy it as much as he could while it lasts.

“Are you sure it’s already good enough?” she asks for his validation. He is, after all, someone who often eats and values fine cuisine.

“It’s perfect, you.” He gives her a kiss, feeling blissful for this moment. He wraps his arms around her tiny frame, tightening the embrace. She corresponds to his gesture, putting her arms on the shoulders, feeling the positivity he brings out in this moment. And to her life.

*

Hours feel like seconds when spending time with each other. Soon, it feels like that scene in Cinderella when the clock struck midnight. It is his time to leave. He looks at her for one last time in a while, trying to memorise this moment. “Jieun ah, I have to go.”

“I know, oppa. Take care out there. See you soon.” She musters a small smile, not wanting to ruin it with sadness and tears.

“See you soon too, Jieun ah.” He hugs her tight, not wanting to ever let go. But he has to. He lets her go from the embrace slowly. He was about to leave but… “Jieun ah,” he whispers.

“Yes?” She looks at him expectantly.

“I…” Three words pop into his head. Those three simple words that explain perfectly how he feels for her. He badly wants to say it out loud for her to hear but… “I’m going to miss you.” He is not ready to say it to her... not yet.

“I’m going to miss you too.” She gives him a wave and before she knows it, he’s gone.