About an hour into their culinary adventure, the sudden ring of Jaekyeon's phone interrupted their rhythm. "I will be right back; my phone is ringing," he said, stepping away from the kitchen. He walked into the hall, picked up his phone from the table, and noticed the caller ID was his manager, Kim.
"Hello," Jaekyeon answered, trying to mask the hint of sadness in his voice.
"Hello, Jaekyeon," the manager, Kim, responded. "I called to let you know I'll be picking you up tomorrow at 10:00 a.m."
"Oh, okay," Jaekyeon replied, feeling a weight settle in his chest.
"Are you okay? Do you have a fever or something?" his manager, Kim, probed, noticing the change in Jaekyeon's tone.
"No, no, I'm fine. I'll be ready on time," Jaekyeon reassured him.
"Good. Just remember, we have a meeting with the CEO of the company tomorrow. Be prepared," the managerKim reminded him.
"Okay, Hyun, can I ask you something?" Jaekyeon hesitated.
"Of course! What is it?" the manager, Kim, replied, supportive as ever.
"How much longer is my contract with the company?" Jaekyeon asked, the concern lacing his words.
"What's with the sudden question?" the manager, Kim, inquired, sensing something unusual.
"I just need to know," Jaekyeon pressed, hoping to receive clarity.
"The contract is for seven years. You've been here for four, so you have three years pending. Why are you asking about this now?" his manager, Kim, explained, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"Nothing, Hyun. I'm just asking. Okay, bye then; see you tomorrow," Jaekyeon said, brushing off the conversation.
"Okay, bye then," his manager, Kim, replied, a hint of worry still lingering in his voice.
After hanging up, Jaekyeon returned to the kitchen, feeling an unsettling mix of emotions. Nila, curious about the conversation, looked up. "Is everything alright?" she asked, noticing the furrow in his brow.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Jaekyeon replied, though he wasn't sure he believed his own words. As they continued cooking, the chatter resumed between them, but in the back of Jaekyeon's mind, thoughts of the meeting and his contract loomed heavily.
Little did he know that this upcoming meeting could change everything, and as the evening progressed, he found himself torn between duty and desire, between the comforts of the present and the uncertainties of the future.
They had just finished a simple meal of comforting food, the kind that made you feel at home. Laughter and stories flowed easily between them, a balm against the stresses of the day. Nila shared tales from work, her voice animated as she described the latest challenges she faced. Jaekyeon listened intently, nodding as he appreciated her resilience.
Once the plates were cleared and the last sips of water lingered on their lips, Jaekyeon's expression shifted. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen, a shadow falling over his usually bright demeanour. With a deep breath, he called out to Nila. "Hey, baby, I want to say something."
Nila looked up, curiosity mingling with concern. "What happened?"
He hesitated, responded. "Are you going back to the industries?" Nila asked, her intuition kicking in.
Jaekyeon sighed. "Yeah... how did you know that?"
Nila leaned forward, concern etched on her face. "I could see it in your eyes. Your expression changed after that call. It was like… I don't know why there was sadness when you talked about going back to Busan."
Tears threatened to spill as Jaekyeon spoke again. "Tomorrow morning, baby. I don't know what I'm feeling." His voice cracked, and a few tears escaped, trailing down his cheeks.
Nila's heart ached at the sight. She wanted to reach out, to comfort him. "Hey, it's okay," she said gently, trying to lighten the mood despite her own sadness. "You can come back when you're free. Why are you crying like a little kid? You're a grown-up kid!" A chuckle escaped her lips, a playful tease to mask her own heartache.
Jaekyeon looked at her, searching for reassurance. "You're making fun of me. You don't care that I'm leaving?" His voice was a mix of vulnerability and pain.
Nila quickly shook her head, her smile fading a little. "Of course I care! You're just going to the next city, not to another country, right?" She laughed lightly, but the sound was tinged with sadness.
Jaekyeon wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "So what? I'll miss you," he whispered, burying his face in her hair.
As they held each other, the weight of the impending goodbye settled between them. Nila pressed her forehead against his, feeling the warmth of his body contrasting with the cold of uncertainty that lay ahead. They both knew that no matter the distance, the connection they shared could withstand the miles.
"Just promise to call me when you can," Nila said softly, her voice cracking with emotion.
"I promise," Jaekyeon whispered, not knowing if those words could truly bridge the gap that distance would create.
In that shared moment of sadness, amidst the laughter and teasing, they realised that love was complicated. It was filled with joy and heartache, and every time they found laughter within the tears, they held onto each other a little tighter, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Jaekyeon wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead, feeling the world fade away for just a moment. She felt warmth radiate through her, a comforting reminder of how much he cared for her. "Can I sleep here today?" he asked, his voice soft, almost like a whisper, as he looked at her with those irresistible puppy eyes that always made her heart flutter.
At first, she wore a look of hesitation, shaking her head slightly. But then her lips curled into a smile, and she replied, "Yep." His expression transformed instantly, radiating pure joy. He couldn't help himself; he pulled her closer once more before planting another kiss on her lips. The warmth of his embrace enveloped her, and she laughed lightly, playfully gasping, "Jaekyeon, I can't breathe!"
"Oh, sorry! I'm just so excited!" he chuckled, loosening his grip, though the smile never left his face.Glancing at the clock, she realised how late it had gotten. "Do you have clothes after your shower? It's already 10:00 PM. You want to get ready in the morning to go right, Concern filled her voice.
"Ah, I'll grab my clothes," he said, his brow furrowing in thought. "I also need to leave some things here. If I keep running back and forth every time, it's going to be a hassle."
He leaned in and planted one last kiss on her lips, a sweet promise of his return. "Thank you for reminding me," he added, his voice warm with affection. With that, he bolted towards the door, filled with a youthful energy that made her smile. He started to go grab his shoes and open the door "Will be right back, baby ", he said and rushed out to his house.