Saturday, Joohyun woke to a brisk dawn curled on her bed under the warmth of her comforter. Usually, knowing it was a weekend morning, she’d try to catch more sleep but today she couldn’t fall back to the routine. Sporting a big smile on her face, she sat up and chased away the sleep decorating her eyes by rubbing them with her loosely-curled fists. She slowly stretched her limbs and then yawned (quite unattractively.) The whole room was doused in artificial yellow light after Joohyun switched on the night lamp, inspiring a sepia-toned ambiance.

 

Her beaming smile faltered a little upon seeing the sad, unoccupied other half of the bed. She ran her dainty hand along the empty space and usually this would make her heart constrict with yearning and sadness, but not today. In five days time, she'd have someone to see the sun rise with, to start a day with. Just five more days, Joohyun thought to herself; pretty lips turned to a delicate curve, heart drumming in excited beats and eyes sparkling in the darkness of the room. She can't wait for next weekend to come. Her mind was filled with that positive thought before finally looking out her window. The curtains were drawn to the sides, like that of a stage in a theatrical play, except what the window framed was just Seoul cloaked in darkness with only a tiny hint of light cracking along the horizon. Joohyun merely stared at the almost still life. Quite. Serene. She drew her bended knees towards her torso and rested her chin on it, while witnessing the city slowly rouse from its deep slumber with the slow painting of lovely fiery hues against the vast black canvass of the early morning sky with the faint faint sounds of passing cars from great distance; the musical score to this wonderful weekend morning. 

 

Then her stomach grumbled, demanding some food. She chuckled while patting her tummy, ok ok I'll get up and cook breakfast. When she stepped out of the room, a ball of fur rubbed itself all over her ankle and she stooped to pick up the squishy at her feet. Tofu. Her cat. Their cat. 

 

"Good morning sunshine." Joohyun cooed at the cat, holding it in her arm. "Had a good sleep?" She went to the kitchen, opened the cabinet holding the cans of cat food, opened it and poured all of in the Tofu's food bowl. Then she set her to the side after its soft fine fur.

 

She washed her hands and went on making breakfast for herself, which ended up being comprised of her favorite ma cradled in a large green Keroro mug, a plate of seasoned steamed salmon with a bowl of steaming rice, and a small dish of cabbage kimchi on the side. Jalmokgetsumnida.

 

Weekends would only be the time she could get a proper breakfast when her weekday mornings would usually be spent hurrying to get to the daycare she teaches to. Weekends would also mean a break from teaching preschoolers to write their names in hangul, identify colors, sing and dance to nursery rhymes, and count past the fingers they have on both hands. It was no easy feat but the crescent-eyed, toothy smiles and small waves of goodbye, chiming see you tomorrow seonsaengnim! she would daily receive from the little kids at the end of each day makes her believe she has the best job in the world. And in between chewing her breakfast, and taking a sip of her tea, she suddenly smiled at thought of having her own in the future.

 

She had practically scrubbed clean every crooks and crannies of their three-bedroom condo unit in one of the modern-architectural, sky-kissing buildings smacked in the center of Apguejong-dong. After satisfying her OCD tendency, making sure the whole flat was spotless, magazine spread-worthy, she took a bath. Under the warm shower her tired muscles found refuge, the cascading water washed away the stiffness, as well as the sweat and dusts that clung to her skin. And smile blossoming once again on her pretty pink lips, matching her sparkling lovely eyes.

 

Still in her pink fluffy bathrobe, Joohyun was in front of the vanity patting moisturizer on her face after drying her long dark brown hair when she heard the opening and closing of the front door.

 

“Yeobo? I’m home!”

 

Joohyun stopped in the middle of her beauty regimen. Did she just hear what she thought she heard? Unable to trust her ears because that could just be her imagination conceived from missing her husband a little too much, she immediately darted out of the bedroom and to the front door. What she saw froze her on the spot. Because her tall, handsome husband was at the door. “Yifan?” She croaked. She’s not having hallucination, was she?

 

Yifan’s weight was shifted to the luggage his holding unto and he was toeing off his loafers to put in the shoe rack. When he looked up, his lips curled to a familiar grin that Joohyun missed so much. "Hi, baby! I'm back."

 

Joohyun was then sure that nothing was a pigment of her imagination because everything was real. And the next thing she knew she carelessly threw herself at him. Oof! Yifan was caught off guard and air was knocked out of his system but he was quick to recover and able to maintain his balance.

 

Joohyun clung to him like a baby koala. Her legs perched on his hips with his hands on the back of her thighs to secure her in place. Her arms looped around his neck while her face was nuzzling the junction between his shoulder and neck, hugging him like her very life depended on it. She basked in his tight hold; in the beating of his heart next to hers; in the familiar scent of his cologne and aftershave. Her vision was blurred from unshed tears, overwhelmed from taking everything of him.

 

"You're here." Joohyun sniffed to hold back the tears, inhaling more of him in the process. Bad idea. She was now very much intoxicated with Yifan invading her every senses. "I’ve missed you."  so so much.

 

Yifan chuckled. "Hm, I can tell." The phone calls and skype-ing did not compare to having Yifan with her now. And mind you, the 17-hour difference between Seoul and Vancouver was no joke. It was hard for them to get around that major constraint, especially at first.

 

"You're supposed to say I’ve missed you too." She mumbled against his skin, chiding him.

 

"Yeah?" Yifan just laughed, obviously teasing her.

 

She blinked away the tears pooling at her eyes before half-heartedly latching off her face from his neck, placed both her palms atop each shoulder before she squinted at him. "Didn't you?"

 

He chuckled heartedly before fixing his gaze at her. And they say the eyes were the window to the soul because she could tell he longed for her as much as she did. She happily linked her arms around her neck again to meet him halfway as Yifan was leaning in to capture . The first contact was a gentle caress, lips moving pleasantly and unhurried, careful to savor every lingering touch. It made her sigh blissfully against his mouth because the kiss was toe-curling sweet, it felt like falling in love with him all over again. How she managed to survived without it for months, was beyond her. And just when Joohyun thought she was melting against him, Yifan angled his head to finally deepen the kiss with fervor that was nothing like the prior kiss. This time, Joohyun felt like she was on fire with the way Yifan was kissing her with so much hunger and urgency you’d think he was trying to imprint his lips on her skin. His mouth left burning sensation on its wake as it trailed from her lips to her jaw to her neck and back to her lips again. It was the type of kiss that would usually make Joohyun’s knees weak and feel lightheaded. Good thing, Yifan’s already holding her. When they finally pulled back, both were heavily panting, foreheads pressed together. One’s inhale was the other’s exhale and Joohyun had her eyes closed, still feeling the ghost of his lips against hers. Yifan rubbed their noses. “I’ve missed you too, Mrs. Wu. More than you'll ever know."

 

Joohyun reveled on those words, and tucked them inside her heart. She wished the time to stretch on and willed the moment to last a little longer, preferably forever. Tears were starting to gather in her eyes again and she refused to open them, afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold back her tears.

 

It was a lost cause because before she knew it, Yifan was already wiping a trail down her cheek, “Hey, don’t cry.” and somehow managed to support her in one arm. She opened her eyes to see Yifan’s giving her a smile. Tenderness radiated not only from his thumb her cheek but also from the look on Yifan’s face.

 

Joohyun’s heartbeat thundered in her chest just looking at the loving gaze Yifan was directing at her. How did she get so lucky to be the receiving end of such affection? She ran her fingers through his hair. "Are you really here now?"

 

"Yes." Yifan leaned in again to kiss each of her eyelids, one hand soothing her back, and to catch her lips for another heated kiss. And you wouldn’t hear Joohyun complain. Both were grinning ear to ear when they momentarily surfaced to relieve their lungs from lack of air.

 

The phone rang and neither paid attention to it. Joohyun yelped because she was now sliding down Yifan’s hips but before her meets the floor, he was able to catch her with the use of both his arms again. Yifan let out a rather audible, Oof!

 

The call went to voicemail after a couple of rings. “Just checking on you, sweetie. Was your phone turned off?” It was Joohyun’s mom. “Anyways, you’re still coming over for dinner, right? See you!”

 

She squawked at him. "Hey, I'm not heavy." Her thighs now rested on his waist, legs swaying back and forth, like a kid.

 

"I didn't say you are, sweetheart." He said with a hint of teasing but she would let it slide for now.  Yifan was also quick to switch topic. “So, we are expected at your parents’?”

 

“Actually, yes. I am – was – supposed to have dinner with them. We can just go tomorrow. Together.” Deciding then and there to cancel with her parents assuming how tired was after his flight from Canada. She finally set her feet on the floor, freeing Yifan of her weight. "I thought your vacation would start next weekend?" She gently cupped his face between her two hands but before Yifan could explain his appearance a week earlier, Joohyun cut him by kissing him again. “Doesn’t matter. You’re here now.” Both giggled into the kiss, enveloped in their happy bubble, blissfully contented being in each other’s arms.

 

“I really don’t mind going over to your parents’ for dinner. I’m not that tired. I slept during the flight.” Yifan said to her, even giving her a convincing smile after they untangled from each other in order to drag his suitcase to the living room. “Hey there, buddy. Missed me?” He was cuddling Tofu in his arms now. Apparently, the cat was there on the floor the whole time, waiting to be noticed. The cat purred as Yifan smoothened its fur. ”Missed you too.”

 

“You’ve been on the plane for almost a day. My parents would understand if we cancel on them.” Joohyun eyed Yifan, wondering why he’s being difficult about it. She was practically giving him a free pass and he was turning it down.

 

“Aw. Your eomma has definitely missed me.” Yifan said to Tofu and as if agreeing the cat purred. Her jaw dropped, unbelieving she was being ganged up on.

 

“Was that your way subtle way of saying I’m a nag?” Joohyun had her left eyebrow raised.

 

Yifan chuckled, neither confirming nor denying it. “I will be fine. We can go.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

Yifan nodded, placing Tofu on top of the carpet. “Should we go now?” Nodding at the clock to confirm with her the time.

 

It’s only 3pm and her parent’s place was a good 20-min ride from their condo. “It’s still a little early. I am not expected until six.”

 

“But you were already preparing to go out.” He frowned.

 

“That’s because I didn’t know you’ll come home a week early. I was thinking of dropping by the bookstore first.”

 

With Joohyun’s hand tightly clasped on his one hand and his luggage on the other, Yifan padded the way to their bedroom. He sat down on the bed, pulling her on his lap. Yifan was quiet, just hugging her and occasionally nipping her skin he could reach. Joohyun mentally scolded herself because she was only noticing his eyes were bloodshot red and the dark patch of skin under his eyes. His face was even thinner than usual. Worry immediately painted her face and she kissed his cheek. He most likely overworked himself again, Joohyun thought. 

“Do you want me to fix you a snack?”

 

“Nah. I’m good. But thank you.” He smiled at her before letting out a small yawn. “I have to unpack first.”

 

“I can do that.” Joohyun stood up. “Go take a nap.”

 

Yifan let out another yawn, this time a bigger one. “Maybe I will.” Yifan wasn’t letting go of her hands. “Join me?” He pleaded, using his best imitation of puppy eyes. It was a pitiful sight with the way he was slouching and his eyes dropping.

 

She caved in, nodding at him, “But after I take away all of these.” Mentioning his suitcase. “I thought you slept in the plane, you look like you’re ready to pass out.” She tried not to use a scolding tone because he just had a long flight but his haggard look did not settle on her quite well.

 

Yifan gave a nervous chuckle, mumbling I was not able to sleep the whole way, I was excited to see you and not quite meeting her eyes but rubbing his thumbs along her knuckles. What she was about to say died in when he stood up to plant a chaste kiss between her eyebrows, successfully smoothening the frown she unknowingly had there. “I just look more tired than I actually am.” And he added in a hug for good measure.  Subtitled: Don’t worry, I’m all good.

 

 

Joohyun went through his things. There wasn’t much. Most of his things were still in Seoul anyway. But there was a pair of Michael Kors shoes and it was the very pair she’d been eyeing. She was about to asked him who did he bribe to know which pair to buy her only to find out that Yifan’s all passed out on their bed, very deep in sleep. Yifan looked so peaceful. Her heart tightened at the sight. Taking in his noticeable thinner form, she had to bite her lip before she’d demand him to just stay here in Seoul, with her. And not leave again.

 

Yifan’s a Reliability Engineer in a semicon company. He used to be based in Yeouido before he was offered a promotion he couldn’t pass. The only catch was it was in the Vancouver branch.

 

After sorting his things and now his luggage was tucked on top of the closet, she slowly sat on their bed beside her husband. Joohyun swept his fringe off his eyes. He was on his stomach and only has on a wife beater but still on his jeans. She lightly traced his tattoo of Borneo scorpion on his upper arm.

 

She remembered the first time she met Yifan back in college through their friends Yoona and Luhan. Joohyun was a freshman at Dongguk University when she met a pretty bubbly lady in the same department as her named Im Yoona, who’d turn out to be one of her closest friends ever. Back then, Yoona was already in a relationship with a Chinese doe-eyed sophomore in Yonsei University named Lu Han, who coincidentally was Yifan’s friend.

 

It was during Lu Han’s birthday party that they were introduced and that they did not hit right off was an understatement. With Yifan’s tall frame, practically towering everyone else and not-so-friendly aura not to mention the couple of ear piercings plus tattoos, Joohyun wasn’t too keen on getting all chummy with him. Joohyun was by no means judgmental but Yifan barely talked to her that night, save for a few curt replies and very passive facial expression, and those did not really scream I-wanna-be-friends-with-you to her. (But when they started dating, she learned that Yifan back then, did not have a good grasp of the language hence the minimal conversation and Yifan was frustrated because he did want to make a good impression on her but didn’t know how thus the face Yifan sported thru that night. He knew he made a bad impression on her thus he didn’t even attempt to get her number from Lu Han. Joohyun laughed so hard, so much for first impression. He felt mildly offended that she laguhed but most especially relieved that they were able to finally clear that out of the way.)

 

After that initial encounter, a year passed before she saw him again. By that time, Yifan was prepared for the battle, with full gear on and loaded with ammo. After they parted, her mobile number was saved on his contacts and his number was saved on hers under the name “Yifan chinggu”. That was the start of their friendship that gradually blossomed into something so much more.

 

Back in high school, her friends had always she’ll end up with being an old maid or if she’ll ever end up getting married, she’d be a politician’s wife. These ridiculous predictions all came from saying that she looks up to Ban Kimoon. Her friends mistook the UN Secretary General as her ideal guy when all she meant was she admired said diplomat. Mr. Ban did his best at everything and that’s what Joohyun idolized about him. His perseverance and determination to be the best he can be and not settle for anything less made Joohyun do the same with her life. She did not bother to correct her friends.

 

So it came as a huge surprise to them when she started going out with Yifan on her senior year in the university. By then, she was past his daunting presence and his usual stoic face. They became closer after a year from their first meeting. She learned that behind his face, he’s actually a softy who collects plushie toys. Who would cry over hearing his mom on the phone and has a penchant for designer clothes. And a really gummy smile.

 

What her friends failed to see was there were several similarities Yifan had with her life-mentor, despite having no semblance on physical aspect. They were both hard-working and unafraid to broaden their wings and explore the horizons. Yes, the path they took might not be ideal at first and were burdened with much trial but that did not deter them to overcome those predicaments.

 

Yifan was only ten years old then when he and her mom migrated from China to Canada. Joohyun could only imagine him struggling to cope up in the foreign land barely understanding and speaking the language at such a young age. But the fact he managed it, made Joohyun beam with pride. Then for college, he transferred to Seoul, and yet it’s another culture he had to learn and assimilate in, and this time without any assistance from a family member.

 

In hindsight, there seemed no common denominator between her “ideal” and “real” guy but there were some underlying traits they had very similar.

 

 

Joohyun sighed before picking up her mobile to make a call. It rang three times before someone answered from the other line.

 

 

 

 

 

---

a/n: it wasn’t so dead after all. funny that. every time I try, a wrench would be thrown at my seokris feels. so much for my happy ending.

 

Image is not mine. Credit to the owner.

 

Thank you to everyone who read, subscribed, commented and upvoted. ~~