Saeyoung has entered the chatroom
ZEN has entered the chatroom
Saeyoung: Has anyone seen Saeran?
Saeyoung: I can't find him anywhere
ZEN: Yeah, I've been trying to look for him too
ZEN: But I guess he's not around?
ZEN: I thought this time around he would stay longer since he had someone with him.
Saeyoung: Wait…
Saeyoung: You don't think…
Saeran has entered the chatroom
Saeyoung: Saeran!
Saeyoung: Where are you?
Saeran: I'm heading home.
Saeran: I came on here to ask you to clean up the centerpieces once the party's over.
Saeran: Have Yoosung or Zen help.
Saeyoung: What?
Saeyoung: Why did you leave so early? ?
ZEN: Is MC with you?
Saeran: ...
ZEN: WHAT?!
ZEN: Be a gentleman and send her home!
ZEN: She shouldn't be with a man at this hour!
Saeyoung: Relax~
Saeyoung: They're adults capable of making their own decisions
Saeyoung: You do have protection, right?
ZEN: She's not going to hurt him?
Saeyoung: That's not the kind of protection I meant...
Saeran: You're disgusting.
Saeran: I'm leaving, we just got to my place.
Saeran: Just do what I told you to.
Saeran has left the chatroom
Pocketing his phone, he let out a deep sigh at the their nonsense. He would have been more upset had he not felt your arm wrapped around his, fingers interlocked with his own. He felt a certain relief in your presence, looking down to see the contented smile on your face.
"Everything okay?" you asked.
"Yeah, just Saeyoung and Zen," he said, a small smile spreading, "they really can be a handful sometimes."
"We don't need to go back?"
"No, they'll be fine," he said, coming to a stop in front of a door, "besides, we're here."
The door looked like any other you had passed in the building, save for the doormat that had a floral print on it. 'Typical florist,' you thought to yourself jokingly. As he unlocked his door, you began to get more curious as to what lies ahead. What could the apartment of a 'typical florist' look like? You imagined it to be draped in house plants, both hanging from several places and assorted through the living space. A colorful and vibrant atmosphere that matched the owner himself.
Though as soon as the door opened and he turned on the lights, there was a lot less greenery than you expected. It had a nice layout, well decorated and neat, but it didn't feel like Saeran's place. It didn't capture just how warm and inviting he truly is. You noticed his gaze fixed on you as you looked around, letting out a small laugh at the tint on his cheeks.
He truly didn't know what to do. He didn't expect you to come home with him, and he wouldn't admit it, but he was nervous. And yet, the place he called home for so long started to feel more like it seeing you there.
"Welcome to my humble abode," he finally said, "please make yourself at home."
"It's really nice," you paused, " though, I have to be honest…I thought you'd have more plants."
"How many did you expect?"
"To be honest, a garden," you teased. He paused for a second smiling before reaching his hand out for you to take.
"Come with me," he said.
"Where are we going?"
"I'm going to show you a garden," he said, leading you towards the window of his apartment to the fire escape. As you two climbed your way up to the roof, you felt your breath catch in your throat as you gazed at the view in front of you.
Under the dim glow of the string lights that hung throughout the space were garden beds lined in aisles almost like the greenhouse in his shop. The abundance of vibrant colors showing even under the dark sky, the moonlight bouncing right off them. Patio furniture decorated carefully around and right in the middle, surrounded by all the greenery, was a bench. You smiled at the thought of him sitting there, probably for hours at a time, and admiring the growing beauty around him.
You found yourself gravitating towards it, taking a seat and looking around once again. This is exactly the space you expected Saeran to have. It was green and lush, but it held so much of his character and you could almost feel it through the flowers. And in a sense, you felt like you had been here before, that it felt so natural to be here and you weren't out of place at all.
Saeran only watched as you stepped into the space. He had people here before, but this was different. Among the flowers, the lights, and the stars, you looked like you fit right in and yet, you looked so much brighter than all of those combined. He was always up here to be away from the world and find solitude, but he never realized how much he longed to share this place until he met you. You looked lost in thought until you met his eyes, one word seeming to come out that he didn't expect.
"How?"
"How what?" he asked, taken aback and unsure of where this was heading.
"How do you take care of so many plants? The shop, the greenhouse, here, how do you find time for yourself?" you asked, seeing him take a deep breath before joining you on the bench.
"Because it was all I knew for a while," he explained, looking off into his garden, "Time to myself was time spent in a garden, so really all I ever have done up until now is take time for myself."
"I have to ask again, and you have to follow up with this long story of yours, but why flowers?"
"When I was young, V gave me a book on flowers. I was so fascinated by what I was seeing that I wanted to learn more," he said, sighing as he reminisced, "He'd let me tend to the garden at his and Rika's church after they took us in and I had always just felt a strong connection to myself and these plants. They were fragile and needed a lot of care, but they were worth the effort because they'd bloom so beautifully."
"What exactly did V and Rika take you in from?" you asked, though you saw the shift in his expression. He seemed tense, hesitant as he thought over his words, stopping himself before starting a sentence. Your hand found his, trying to give a reassuring touch and look to let him know he didn't have to answer if he couldn't. His nerves quickly eased to see how sincere you were, knowing he was safe in your presence.
"Saeyoung and I didn't grow up in a great household," he said, taking in a deep breath before he continued, "There were days when I was locked in or tied down so I wouldn't leave. I wouldn't see sunlight or food for days at a time. Saeyoung was the healthier of us two so he could leave the house when it got bad, and he'd go to the local church where he met V and Rika. He'd take me along when he could, but it was hard when I was always so sick."
"I'm really sorry you had to go through that," was all you could bring yourself to say, meeting his eyes once again to let him know that you meant it. That same comfort he felt with you was coming back almost tenfold, his hand finding yours to hold.
"I mean, I am in a better place now. And I do have V and Rika to thank for that. They really looked after Saeyoung and me after all that happened. They even helped me start up the shop."
"They must really love you two."
"Yeah, they really do," he said. His gaze fell to the ground as he thought about his last interaction with Rika, feeling a bit of guilt at how he left things. Though the hand that gripped his brought him back to this moment, realizing just what he had just opened up about.
And just like that, he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. He had never talked to someone about his past like this, in so much detail, but it felt right. He didn't have that tinge of regret he usually would when telling anyone even a bit of this. But with you, it felt like you needed to know. And your understanding and patient manner about it eased whatever tension he was holding onto for years.
"Alright," he perked up, "Your turn."
"What do you mean?" you laughed, tilting your head at his sudden declaration.
"Well I do recall you saying that I'd get to hear your story in due time," he explained, "and with how much I've told you, I think that time is due now."
The way he turned in his seat to face you, as if giving you his complete attention, made the smile on your face grow. The pad of his thumb running back and forth over your knuckles soothed your nerves. You took a deep breath in, fully aware of the intense gaze that was on you.
"What do you want to know?" you questioned, looking up to meet his eyes.
"Let's start with something simple, you said you moved here recently. Why?"
"Why did I move here?" repeating the question only for him to nod in response.
"Alright, well it's not as deep as you think it would be," you said with a small scoff, "I needed a fresh start, a clean slate. I felt suffocated where I was and I got a tip to move here. I took the first temp job I could find and have been here for a few months now."
"How are you liking it?"
"I mean," you paused, "at first, I felt really lonely. I went to work, did my errands, and went back to my empty apartment in a city I knew no one in. I was starting my life from scratch and I wanted so badly to go back."
"What about now?"
"Now I think I understand why I'm here. It's not an easy transition, but I think I'm getting accustomed to it thanks to you."
"I-I'm glad," he stuttered, the blush on his cheeks growing, "so do you plan on staying then?"
"I don't see a reason to leave yet," you replied, your grin growing with his own.
"I've been meaning to ask, but why did it take you a week to come back to the shop?" he asked, head tilting to the side before he even realized.
"You kept count?"
"Well, yeah, " he replied, though bashfully, "I was really looking forward to seeing you again."
"Well…" you trailed, taking in a deep breath before continuing, "I had replayed what happened a hundred times that day, that by the next, I wondered whether I had built it up. As if maybe I idealized that encounter, so I waited a week. But by the second time, I had that same initial feeling that this was something real. That it wasn't just grasping at straws, but I had found my reason for being here."
His eyes widened at hearing that last bit. With the way you looked at him, he couldn't deny it any longer. The thumping in his chest increased, his breath caught in his throat as he looked at you. You had the warmest, most sincere smile on your face, one that stopped every thought coursing through his mind and looked like it made flowers grow. There was no doubt in his mind now that you two were meant to meet and meant for one another.
"You know," you said, halting his thought, "as close as I've gotten to you tonight, we never finished our dance,"
"You're right, we didn't," he chuckled almost nervously. You got up from your place, startling him a bit until he eyed you. Watching as you tapped away at your phone for a second before setting it down.
The smile on his face widening as he realized the song you were playing, a hand stretched out and inviting him in. There was no hesitation as he took it, pulling you close to him. His hands falling to your hips carefully as yours landed on his shoulders.
Wise men say only fools rush in,
But I can't help falling in love with you
The slow, rhythmic swaying from side to side only made the beating in your chest much more noticeable. And yet, the position you were in felt natural, as if you were always meant to be there. Being in his arms, his welcoming embrace that was warm and soft to the touch.
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin,
If I can't help falling in love with you?
He almost felt like he was in a dream. The soft lighting of the moon and string lights perfectly highlighting the rosy tint on your cheeks. He was almost lost in your eyes, fixed on the deep emotion that they held. It was more than comforting, it soothed every thought and worry he ever had. And he didn't want to look away or blink because if this was a dream, he'd never want to wake up from it.
Like a river flows surely to the sea,
Darling so it goes,
Some things are meant to be
Nothing outside of this moment mattered. Time truly felt at a halt, on pause just for you two. The bustling of the city below was white noise, not a care for what could possibly be going on.
Take my hand, take my whole life too,
For I can't help falling in love with you.
This felt so different from just a few hours ago, when you two were in the same position, same proximity as now. Without the prying eyes of the people he knew or the pressure of a crowd, it felt much more intimate. Especially after spilling so much of himself to you in the time between and how you did the same. He felt a weight off his chest, and with the way you understood him, he felt light.
Like a river flows surely to the sea,
Darling so it goes,
Some things are meant to be
You felt like you were on a cloud, light as a feather with every small step. The look on his face making the butterflies in your stomach flutter with the small smile that felt genuine. His eyes so full of love, devotion to what was in front of him. And you wanted nothing more than to prove that loving gaze you were sure you reflected.
Take my hand, take my whole life too,
For I can't help falling in love with you
The hands that rested on his shoulders moved a little lower, landing on his chest. You hesitantly drew patterns over it as you leaned forward. You both felt your breathing slow down, Saeran leaning forward just bit more until his lips barely brushed yours. He couldn't bring himself to close the gap, as if he was scared that you'd break under his touch.
Though, as soon as you noticed his uncertainty, you took the initiative to finally press your lips to his. He froze at the contact, surprised not only at how boldly you claimed his lips, but at the fact that it was happening. A moment he only dreamed about was playing out in front of him. As the initial shock resided, he relaxed into your touch, melting into the kiss.
His hand found the nape of your neck, deepening it without a second thought. His lips soft and sweeter than you expected, moving against yours in a slow, passionate dance that you never wanted to end. You could feel a small smile threatening to spread as he continued.
For I can't help falling in love with you.
This was it, that perfect moment he was waiting for, in the place he most considered home. The instances that led up to it, every time he was about to lean in but had to stop himself, the times he told himself to just wait all built up to this one moment. One he played out in his head a million times since he met you, and it didn't compare.
And everything about it felt right. You two were in sync with each other, lips perfectly meant for the other. That same spark you felt when you two met reigniting with every little movement until it was a flame that spread a warmth all throughout. You were lightheaded, leaning on him for support because he truly took your breath away.
The soft press of your lips to his was much better than the way he imagined it, and he couldn't get enough. Never has he wanted to be more selfish than right now, while your body was almost flush against his and trying to pull closer. He was inebriated with you, and he didn't want it to end.
Though, the overwhelming need to breathe made you two pull away, panting as you two gazed at each other. His hand still rested on your neck, his thumb rubbing your jawline as a wide grin made it's way to his face.
"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that," he half-whispered, letting out a small chuckle.
"And you don't know how long I've waited for you to do that," you retorted, returning the smile, "but to be fair, I did start that."
"Well I'm just glad it happened," he responded, the hand that rested on your hip moved to the small of your back to pull you closer, "MC, I, um, I think-"
"I think I'm falling in love with you," you said, taking the words right out of his mouth. He could only stare wide-eyed, wondering if he heard right. The words he only thought he'd hear in his wildest dreams were said aloud and by you. You said you were in love first and that, above all things, made him feel so whole.
"I-I'm sorry, that might have been too forwar-"
"I'm in love with you too, MC."
The wide smile that spread on your face made his heart leap, leaning back down to press another kiss to your lips. This time, he took his time to really feel the shape of them, memorizing it as he savored this moment. He never wanted this to end, but he realized you two have been up there a while, pulling away to see the almost drowsy look on your face.
"Do you want to go back in? You must be tired," he said.
"I'm fine, plus it's really nice out here. Do you think we can stay out here for a bit?"
"Of course."
He wasn't sure how long you two sat out there, gazing at the stars as he wrapped his arms around you and talking for hours, but one thought sat prominently on his mind the entire time. His place, for the first time in his life, finally felt like home.