Archive of Our Own ^beta

Suddenly waking up from his sleep, his first instinct was to reach towards his side, wanting to feel the presence of his woman. But he was surprised when he felt the opposite -- an empty bed. Looking towards the window, the sun was still sleeping -- clearly, the day has not started yet. It was confirmed when he took a look at the time on his phone -- 1: 45 AM. So it was quite unusual for him to wake up alone, and, soon realizing, to the smell of... 

Something he does not recognize.

It was the sweet aroma of a sort of pastry -- that he was sure of. But there was a burning smell that followed it too.

He got up, wanting to check out what was going on.

"Yeaji-ah? Why are you up?"

Yeaji was in the kitchen, wearing an apron, mixing something in a bowl. 

"And what are you making?" He adds.

He was greeted by an excited Yeaji, smiling from ear to ear.

"Cookies. Granola cookies. For the staff."

But this turned into her oh-I-need-to-focus face shortly afterwards.  "But I can't seem to get it right."

He saw that there was a burnt batch on the table.

"You should be sleeping. Don't you have filming this afternoon?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"So you're baking?"

"Yes." She replied as if it were the most normal thing to do.

He chuckled. "Then allow me to be the taste tester."

"Aren't you tired?" She asks as she continues to mix the batter.

He smiles. "Always and never."

"What does that even mean?" Yeaji asks, confused and clearly preoccupied with other things.

"I'm always tired... but never of you." He says, walking towards her and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh God." She laughs. As always, cheesy Soohyun seemed to get her attention.

"Made you laugh though." He says, as he decides to sit on the kitchen counter.

"Alright. Just a few mins more 'til the 2nd batch is done." She smiles. She always appreciated his company.

"How many batches are there?"

"5."

"Yah. Yeaji-ah where does sleep come in then? It's not easy to shoot when you're--"

"Yah." She doesn't let him finish as she puts the bowl down, walks towards him, and settles her hands on the counter, cornering him.

"Stop." First kiss.

"Nagging." Second kiss.

"So early in the morning." Last kiss.

"Arasseo?" She gives her sly smile as she teasingly brushes his cheek.

"I'll sleep when I feel sleepy." She adds.

Soo Hyun hops down from the kitchen counter and pulls her close, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"If I keep nagging, will you keep kissing me? Hmm?" 

 He pulls her tighter. Two can play at that game.  "You know, I know another way to make you feel sleepy." He flashes his cheeky smile.

"Yah." She laughs, playfully pushing him away.

He doesn't loosen up.

"What, hmm?" He teases, not allowing her eyes to escape his.

Her giggles then fade into a small smile, and her voice becomes calmer. 

"Soohyun-ah." She says.

"Hmm?"

"Be honest with me."

"Always."

"Does it ever tire you out?"

"What does?"

He hears her take a breath. "All the noise? Being with me?" 

"Is that what this is about?"

"I don't know. Maybe? I try not to think about it."

And now he understood -- she has always been keeping a strong front so far, always saying that she's okay, she can handle it. And he admired her for it.

But they couldn't deny, things have been blowing out of proportion, which she definitely  didn't deserve. And being in the industry that they were in, it was difficult not to care.

Truth be told, he was concerned when she decided to agree to a new project immediately, but he promised himself that he would never be the one to hold her back from doing what she wants, and more importantly, what she has the right to do. Instead, he decided that he would be her support system, in whatever form she needed -- cheerleader,  pillow, shock absorber, coffeemaker, body guard, which ultimately boils down to his main and favorite role, boyfriend.

It looked like she needed him at this moment, and he was very much happy to be her person.

He fixes the strands of hair falling on her face. 

"Being with you, no. Definitely not. All the noise? yes." 

Showing an assuring smile, it takes a few seconds before he continues.

"It breaks my heart how evil people can be and not being able to do anything about it.  But I'd hate it more though... if I wasn't by your side."

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm. You know it's true." He says as he leads her towards the couch in the living room.

He takes a seat and tells her to lie down, so she lays her head on his lap.

He then starts to caress her hair.

She feels the smile in his words when he says, "I heard you can fall asleep easily when someone caresses your hair."

She silently chuckles, appreciating the gesture and getting the reference. But she just continues to stare at his face, finally allowing herself to hear her thoughts.

It's true how the outside world seemed to be getting to her, but Soohyun remained to be the calm in her storm.

She was grateful, so grateful. Yet she could not help but question whether she deserved to have such a partner, or if he deserved to be involved in her own problems.

Soo Hyun continues to speak, interrupting the thoughts in her head. "I remember you asking me that before-- what would happen if you can't handle the noise while we're together. What did I say?"

"You remember that?"

"Of course."

"You said that you'd help me drown the noise." She replied, giving him a small smile.

This noise... it had already happened before. And while it allowed her to be stronger, it was a place that she did not want to go back to. So it still remained to be one of her fears -- losing herself in the industry that could easily paint people so falsely, so mercilessly. It was one thing to handle one's own problems, but to make other people suffer with her was also a different story...  and obviously, the last thing she wanted to happen.  With new articles popping out almost everyday, she knew it was a risk being with her. If she was getting tired, maybe he was too?

But hearing him bring back that little moment they had -- she was amazed that he still remembered everything they talked about on that day because she had almost forgotten about it.

"God I remember being so nervous that day." Soo Hyun continues. I was supposed to wait 'til after filming, but I liked you so much I couldn't help it. I had to tell you right away. So you would know."

"Hmm. Any regrets?" She playfully asks, but also hoping to hear his thoughts.

"Never." He replied almost immediately, knowing that this was an important question to answer.

"Yeaji-ah,  remember when I told you I loved you?" He suddenly asks.

"Yes. In the car, right? A few days into the relationship." She teases.

 "Yes. " He nods, laughing. "So we've established it -- that I tend to say what I truly feel, even when it's risky timing."

She nods.

"You see, I knew it early on... that I loved you. But now... it's clear. "

"What is?"

He smiles as he looks at her. "That I will never not love you."

A  small pout forms on her face.

They share a few seconds of comfortable silence, just allowing themselves to feel the magic of the moment, eyes expressing what words could not capture.

She starts to hold his arm in an embrace. 

"Soo Hyun-ah." Was all she could respond at that moment.

"It's true." He calmly smiles. "So you can bake until the wee hours of the morning. Or choose to lock yourself at home for weeks. Or escape to a place where no one knows your name and even shift careers from acting to baking, I really won't mind. I'll be right here, by your side." He kisses her forehead.

"You see... people can say what they want and be at their loudest, and I'll be with you, tasting your cookies and holding your hand, until it's only my voice you hear."

"Wow. Jinjja?" She giggles at the silliness of it, fully knowing he was 100% serious.

"Always. Until you get sick of it." He playfully insists.

"Never." She whispers with a smile. "I love your voice."

He smiles too.

"Now sleep. Don't fight it."

"But the cookies..."

"I'll take care of it."

She is overwhelmed with emotions, but also suddenly feels the exhaustion kick in as Soohyun continues to caress her hair.

"Soohyun-ah." She sleepily says.

"Hmm?"

"I love you." She utters in her sweet and soft, but sleepy voice.

He chuckles.

"I know." He responds, watching her close her eyes and drift away.

-

She woke up in her bed, it was little past noon. Immediately going outside to see the aftermath of Soohyun's impromptu baking session, she saw 3 batches of granola cookies on the kitchen counter, and a sleeping Soohyun on the living room couch.

Checking on the cookies, a lot of them were slightly burnt, but it tasted a lot better than it looked, so she was very happy, added by the fact that it was made by her favorite person.

She walked over towards Soohyun, knelt down, and kissed his forehead, which had awoken him.

"Good morning, my personal baker." She said, carefully caressing his cheek.

"Hey." He says with morning voice, pulling her close and giving her a peck on the lips. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, thanks to you."

"I'm glad." He smiles.

"You can go back to sleep, I'm gonna make us brunch."

Yeaji wanted to make pancakes, chicken, and soup. But realizing how much time it took her to make the pancakes, and that cooking more food would take even more time, not even having the assurance if it would come out good, or at the very least, edible, she decided to order the chicken and kimchi jjigae instead.

Talking over brunch, it seemed that Soohyun had a newfound interest with granola.

"Yeaji-ah. That cookie recipe you have is sooo good. Who knew granola was that yummy? Did you know?" Sooyun excitedly asks.

"My sister recommended that I try it. Well, you tried it for me." She laughs.

"Thank your sister for me. I'm amazed that it's quite healthy too. I got so curious about the other kinds, I might go check in the grocery later." He says, now knowing what was going to keep him busy in the next days.

"Oh wow, well I'm happy to hear you actually enjoyed baking the cookies."

"Of course I did." He smiles.

After eating and cleaning up, Soo hyun helped Yeaji in packing the cookies -- some were placed in boxes, while others were individually wrapped. All in all, they had prepared 70 pieces of [presentable] cookies so they were both impressed, and quite tired, when everything was done.

Afterwards, Yeaji had to prepare as Mr. Ryu was on his way to pick her up.

When she came out of her bedroom changed, and bringing her work bag, Soo hyun helped her gather her other things so that she would be ready to go.

Once everything was prepared and they were just waiting for the car, he asked, "Ready for filming?" 

"A bit." Yeaji answers, going towards him for a hug.

Soohyun readily welcomes her embrace. "Tired?"

"Not anymore."

"Of me?"

She looks at him, giving a small laugh. "Never." She whispers.

"See you afterwards, okay?" He says, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Always." She smiles. 

While they would have wanted more time with each other, this had become a routine for them -- just really spending their free time alongside each other, asleep or awake, resting, doing some work, or apparently, baking. Somehow, they had made it work.

Being in the industry they were in, it was definitely not unusual to have so much noise around them. But being in each other's presence had become enough of a safe haven for them to find rest. And Soohyun was happy to be there when Yeaji needed him, just as her voice, embrace, and overall presence had never failed to bring him the calm, comfort, and clarity he needed.

Once Yeaji had left, Soohyun went back inside and noticed 1 box of granola cookies left on the dining table. He wondered if Yeaji had accidentally left this batch so he started to reach out for his phone to contact her. But as he went closer, he saw a small sticky note on the box.

He noticed the familiar writing and felt butterflies as he read the text:

I will never not love you too.

And with that, he knew, no storm could destroy this calm. He would make sure of it.