Work Text:
Un-jeong stares at the sky, ignoring the jovial atmosphere that surrounds him.
“Happy New Year, Haesong!!!”
Fireworks burst above Haesong. Utter excitement greets the city. Yet he continues to stare, waiting with a baited breath.
She’s coming. I know she is.
Yet she doesn’t appear. Ro-bin and Gyeong-hun are beside him, waiting with him. Gyeong-hun sneaks a glance at them. Face shifting into doubt. Un-jeong already knows.
That’s the problem with being with them for a few weeks. He already knows their thoughts. He knows what Gyeong-hun thinks but he doesn’t want to acknowledge it.
Because if he does…
He grimaces. Chae-ni will return and he will be here, catching her, making sure that she won't fall. He’ll make sure she’s safe.
Five minutes turn into ten. Ten turns into twenty. Twenty then becomes an hour.
Gyeong-hun leaves before any of them. “I have to be with my family. They need me.” He stood, reluctant. He glances between the two before nodding, showing a slight smile. “Let me know right away if she comes back.”
Ro-bin nods first, ignoring the implication. His face, tear-stricken. He’s too worried to notice what was said. “Okay,” he responds.
Gyeong-hun nods once more before peeking at Un-jeong. It didn’t brush past him that the oddball didn’t answer. He wants to provide words of encouragement, optimism even, but the words fails to sprout.
He decides to leave.
Ro-bin becomes the second to leave, but this is due to Un-jeong. Ro-bin was becoming more and more apprehensive, doubtful. His optimism began to dwindle as an hour shifted into two.
Un-jeong notices. He always does. “Y’know,” he starts. Ro-bin freezes. Un-jeong decides to choose his next words carefully. “You should get some sleep. I can keep watch. I will call you when she returns.”
Ro-bin whips his head. Tears stream freshly dried but still apparent. “But—“
Un-jeong doesn’t let him finish. In fact, he doesn’t allow him to say another word. He wants to keep a brave front. Because if he allows Ro-bin to talk, he will notice his facade. Un-jeong was becoming doubtful.
It’s already past midnight and the new year is settling in, yet, she still hasn’t returned.
Un-jeong starts to wonder if the fire killed her. That was if she didn’t have the child of eternity’s heart.
Un-jeong offers a slight smile. He repeats himself, ignoring the clawing of his throat. “ Get some sleep. I’ll make sure you’ll be the first she greets.”
Ro-bin eyes him, eyebrows knitting together. It’s like he knows. He knows the inner turmoil that’s plaguing him.
If he knows, he doesn’t say. He only exhales, slows and steady like he’s trying to keep up a brave front too.
“Okay,” he says, after a beat.
Un-jeong nods. Silence encases them, heavy enough for him to feel distant from everything around him.
Ro-bin shifts, hesitating a moment longer. His lips open, as if more words should be exchanged but he decides against it. He turns and Un-jeong watches him disappear in the crowd.
The silence feels louder.
He glances at the midnight sky. Come back. They need you. He thinks. Then adds, I need you.
Yet nothing changes.
Time begins to blur but Unjeong stands firm, anchoring into place.
Because if he succumbs then all hope is lost. So he waits, ignoring how he’s drowning, how his nights becomes heavier, how his apartment is not filled with the girl who turned his life upside down (even more so than usual).
“Aren’t you glad to see me, Master?”
He stares, breath heaving. His eyes land on her hair, dark strands threaded with faded red. Her hair tangled, uneven, like it attempted to survive the three weeks he spent waiting. It is unbelievable that she’s here. All those long days, looking at the sky, day and night, desperately waiting for the girl who clings by his side.
He nods slightly. “You’re a little late, you know.”
Chae-ni smiles and his heart stutters. She prances towards him, arms flailing at her sides before she does a twirl. It's as if she’s proving to him she’s real. He inhales sharply. “It took me awhile to get good at being a stowaway.”
She hops, briefly stopping herself from coming closer. She continues, deciding to give him a slight tease. “Why? You missed me, didn’t you?”
Yes. He almost says it immediately. “Uh,” he breathes, “it was a relief not having such a clingy girl hanging around.” He’s lying but he would never admit that.
She pouts before deciding to run to him.
He stops her before she can get any closer, holding out his hand as she struggles against the pressure. “Stay back.”
She flails her arms, attempting to break free from his telekinesis. “Hey, you try not washing yourself for three weeks. I bet you’d smell worse than I do.”
He pauses at the words. Three weeks. Three long, exhausting weeks where he would look at the sky, hoping for her return. He knew she would return to him; it was just a matter of when.
And so the thought of even attending her funeral….
That would mean accepting it. That it was final. Because he knew if he attended, it would mean believing that she’s gone.
“Go shower and I’ll see you later.” He says, before finally dropping his hand. He pivots his body, hoping for her to catch his promise, and starts to walk.
He hears her footsteps. She runs after him and wraps her arms around his waist.
He freezes. Chae-ni tightens her hold. “This won’t go away, even after you shower,” She declares. She grins before snuggling into his back, mirth escaping her, “oh yeah. It’ll last all week.”
Un-jeong smiles, lowering his head. He loves her. “Seriously, I don’t even like you, Eun Chae-ni.”
She grins, snuggling deeper. Eyes closed and blissfully, she mutters, “Yeah right.”
He lets himself have this moment. The memories resurfacing of his agonizing wait for her return, staring at the endless sky. The nights at his apartment where night no longer felt like night anymore. His body relaxes at her touch, warmth creeping in. His suffering finally comes to an end.
She’s here.
He smiles. He’s finally home.
fin