✓ IF YOU STAY | HEESEUNG

26 - Fitting Room

The next thing Y/N knew, she was standing in Heeseung's living room with his arms around her waist. She sucked in a breath and watched him as he carefully took her measurements for a dress he wanted to make for someone who had the same measurements as her. 

She couldn't help but feel the warmth of his breath on her neck, making her heart race. His fingers traced the contours of her body with precision, and Y/N found herself mesmerized by how he focused on his task. 

"Is this okay?" Heeseung asked, breaking the silence as he looked into her eyes, his hands still resting on her waist. For a moment, Y/N kept looking into his eyes, unable to form words. Then her voice trembled slightly as she replied, "Yeah, it's fine." She watched him as he continued to measure her, her thoughts racing a mile a minute. Her heart was still pounding from how close he was and how it looked like he was actually gently holding her when in fact, he was pouring all his attention into the dress.

"Thank you for letting me do this. I forgot the measurements, and I wanted it to be a surprise," Heeseung admitted with a soft smile as he carefully noted down the measurements he had just taken. "Both of you have such similar proportions, it'll make the fitting process much easier."

"Can I ask who this dress is for?" Y/N finally found her voice, her curiosity getting the better of her. She didn't understand why she felt disappointed, or more specifically, why her heart sank a little when Heeseung mentioned the dress was for a woman he knew. It wasn't like she had expected the dress to be for her, but something about the fact that he had chosen her as a model for someone else made her a little upset. 

"It's for someone special, I guess," He gave her a quick smile before walking behind her, his hands still on her waist, guiding her to turn around slowly. She could feel every inch of his body as he moved around her, the soft touch of his fingers sending shivers down her spine. 

"I hope the dress turns out beautifully for that special person." She muttered, looking away when he paused and tilted his head to look at her. He was so much taller that he had to lean down slightly to meet her gaze.

"Is something wrong? Did I do something to upset you?" He withdrew his hands, the warmth of his skin against the fabric of her dress replaced by a sudden chill. "I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. I just like your dress a lot so I thought that using your measurements as a reference would help me create something beautiful."

"You didn't make me feel uncomfortable, Heeseung. I think I'm just a little bit tired." She had no right to feel disappointed or upset, especially when he was doing something so kind for someone he cared about. 

"Oh, right, I'm sorry I got carried away. You must be tired after a long day." His concern was evident in his eyes and the way he stepped back to give her some space. "You should go and get some rest, Y/N. And... uhm, if you're down, you can visit my store tomorrow? If you don't mind, of course." 

"I'd love to visit your store tomorrow," She replied, her mood brightening at the thought of spending more time with him, even if it was just as friends. "You should sleep too."

"Yes. Minjae is already asleep, and I should probably get some rest as well," Heeseung agreed. "Thank you for understanding, Y/N. Goodnight." With a final warm smile, she made her way back to her apartment. She tossed her clothes aside and climbed into her cozy bed after a refreshing shower. The day's events played through her mind like a movie, and she couldn't help but smile as she thought about both Heeseung and Haejun.

Danbin whimpered softly, perhaps sensing her excitement, and she reached down to stroke his fur. "You think I'm going insane, right? I think so too. I really think I'm going insane."

And yet, the following day, Y/N kept her promise and visited Heeseung's store after work. When she walked in, she was greeted by the sight of beautifully crafted dresses, each more elegant than the last. She didn't expect him to be that well-known but it seemed a lot of women trusted him with their special occasions. "Hello, Miss, do you need any help with finding the perfect dress?" A sales assistant asked as Y/N browsed through the racks.

She smiled politely and declined the offer. "I'm actually here to see Heeseung. He's a friend of mine." Eventually, she was led further inside the shop and to Heeseung's room where all the dresses were created. She hesitantly knocked on the door, hoping that he remembered her visit. She had put on her favorite perfume just before coming, hoping that he would notice and be pleased to see her again.

The door swung open, revealing Heeseung with a measuring tape draped around his neck and a warm smile on his face. His hair was disheveled and he appeared to be in the middle of working on a new design, but he immediately set everything aside when he saw Y/N standing there. "Y/N, you made it."

"I promised I would, didn't I?" She replied, trying to sound casual but failing to hide the hint of nervousness in her voice. Then she chuckled nervously, looking around the room. "I'm amazed by how many dresses you have here. You must be really talented to create all of these." 

Heeseung chuckled modestly, scratching the back of his head. "I do my best. It's a labor of love, really. Making someone feel beautiful on their special day is what keeps me going. Actually, do you mind if you try on one of my latest designs? I think it will suit you."

Y/N's eyes widened in surprise, and she hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure, I'd love to." Heeseung led her over to a rack of beautiful dresses, each more exquisite than the last. He carefully selected one and handed it to her before showing her where the changing room was. And she stepped inside, sliding the dress on when she realized that she couldn't pull the zipper up by herself. "Uhm, Heeseung?"

"Yes? Is anything wrong?" He was waiting for her just outside the room and she bit her lip, wondering if it was a good idea to ask him to come in and have a glimpse of her bare back, but it seemed that was her only option. "Y/N?"

"Uh, yeah, I can't quite reach the zipper," She admitted, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "Can you help me with it?"

"Can I come in?" He asked and when she allowed him to, he slowly opened the door and stepped in. Y/N turned slowly, her heart fluttering nervously. She felt Heeseung's fingers, steady and warm, as they brushed against her back, gently pulling the zipper up. "There you go," He said softly as he finished with the zipper, and when their eyes met in the mirror, Y/N found herself blushing even deeper at how close they were.

"Thank you," She whispered, watching him step back and out of the room before she carefully held the dress and stepped out. And Heeseung's jaw practically dropped when he saw her standing there in the dress. She looked like a vision, and it took his breath away.

"You look... breathtaking," He stammered, his eyes wide with awe and it took Y/N a moment to recover from the surprise of his reaction. Her cheeks flushed with warmth as she took in his words. He got on one knee and started fixing the hem of the dress. His fingers were gentle and precise, and Y/N's heart skipped a beat as she watched him work. "So this fits just right," He said, looking up at her with a charming smile. "You make it even more beautiful."

"Thank you..." By then, Y/N was a bit breathless, her heart racing as Heeseung knelt before her, his fingers working on the dress's hem. "I love the dress."

"If you ever get married," He whispered softly, his eyes locked onto hers, "I hope you'll let me design your wedding dress." The way he gazed at her made her swallow a lump and her heart fluttered. Shit, she was so deeply drawn to him and though she knew it was completely insane to like the single father next door, she could only follow her heart.