Chapter Text
“I hope it’ll snow sooner this year.”
Hyunwoo’s brain short circuits.
“Haein-ah…you even took my ring back,” he points out. “Your first love shouldn’t come true, or it’ll really complicate things.” He spreads his hands, feeling a bit crazy. She’s joking, right? It’s her weird sense of humor again.
She admires her left hand–where his ring rests—in the sun. How can she casually mention another man and still look at his ring?!
“Are you listening?” he asks, following after her. “Haein-ah!” He runs a few paces, and catches up to her.
“You're teasing me, aren't you?” he asks. “All that nonsense about your first love…”
“I’m not. I’m serious,” she says, smug. She’s smug?! “I really mean it.”
Oh, he’s going crazy.
He remembers the comments back when they were dating in secret, before their department found out. How guys would mention her when discussing their co-workers, how hard it was not to stake a claim. He wasn't a jealous man, but he had to sit back and watch every man stare at her across the office, and he thinks he may have gone a little crazy. It's all coming back now.
“Do you like seeing me jealous, is that it?” he asks. “Because I’m already jealous of every man who does as little as breathe near you. You know you don't need to—”
She giggles then, out loud, and Hyunwoo catches her wrist and brings her closer in one move. Her lips part with a gasp.
He doesn’t know what to say that won’t sound pathetic, and he’s fairly sure she’s joking about her first love anyway, so instead of talking, he does . He takes a step closer to her, and looks at her lips, telegraphing his intent. It doesn’t seem needed, because she’s doing the same to him.
They've been living together for weeks now, seeing more of each other in his crowded family house than they ever did the last few years living alone. They've been sharing a twin sized bed for the past few nights, ever since he found her crying after learning of the surgery. Hyunwoo is finally used to touching her again, to reaching for her hand, kissing her hair, and holding her in his arms. And yet...they haven't kissed since they were last in Germany.
It's time they change that.
They're standing so close he can feel her breath on his lips. She gazes up at him, looking like a deer in the headlights, and it amazes him, that he can still have this effect on her. He leans down, and her eyes slip close. He admires her for only a second. He won't make her wait.
Their lips meet in the middle, and Hyunwoo swears it feels like the whole world straightens out. His tie isn't tight anymore, the weather is suddenly perfect, his favorite baseball he lost as a kid will be waiting for him at his desk at home. And all because the woman he loves is right here in his arms, kissing him back.
He pulls away after a moment, mindful of prying eyes in this small community, but he keeps her close, his arms around her waist.
"Was that because you're jealous?" Haein asks, her voice barely more than a whisper.
He shakes his head. "No, it's because you're beautiful."
She rolls her eyes, like he knew she would, but she doesn't move away. He wants to be this close to her, all the time. He wants the space to hold her, and kiss her, and perhaps do more... But they have to head back to the house soon, and get through dinner with his family before getting to be alone again. It's not enough. The answer is so clear then.
"Haein-ah, when we return to Seoul…would you move in with me?