✓ IF YOU STAY | HEESEUNG

32 - Better Reality

"Should we go home?" Haejun approached Y/N who walked back to the main area, a little smile playing on her lips. "It's getting late, and I don't want to keep you out too long."

"Actually, it's fine. Heeseung offered to give me a ride home," Y/N replied, her gaze briefly flickering to Heeseung, who was saying goodbye to his friends. "We live in the same building so it's more convenient. 

But you came here with me. Haejun wanted to say but he nodded, his disappointment well hidden behind a friendly, polite smile. "Ah, I see. Well, in that case, I hope you have a safe ride back." He could feel there was something between the two of them, and although it stung a little, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

"Thank you for driving me here," When she rested her hand on his arm and gave him the smile that always made his heart skip a beat, his disappointment was momentarily eclipsed by the warmth of her touch and that familiar smile. "Let's catch up again, hm? I'd like to spend more time with you."

Haejun's heart skipped a beat at her words, and he nodded eagerly. "Sure, Y/N. I'm always one call away, and I'd love to spend more time with you too." With one final wave, she greeted her friends and walked away with Heeseung by her side. It didn't feel weird or awkward anymore, it just felt right. "It looks like Haejun likes you." His words made her pause and look at him for a moment before she smiled, shrugging it off.

"He likes everyone. He's that kind of person," Y/N replied, her voice light and playful. "Do you like me too?" 

"I do. Since high school." That wasn't the response Y/N was expecting, so when the words slipped out of Heeseung's mouth, she couldn't help but freeze in surprise. Her eyes widened in as she looked at him, searching for any hint that he might be joking, but his expression was sincere and earnest. "I did like you in high school. Haejun was my classmate and we both played basketball back then. I'm disappointed you only noticed him." 

"You liked... me?" She finally managed to speak, standing next to his car while he nodded, a soft smile on his face. "Like as in... like?"

"Yes, Y/N. Like as in... like," Heeseung chuckled warmly, his eyes locking with hers. "But it was a long time ago, now I have a son, and life has taken us down different paths."

"Ah," She nodded, trying not to show her disappointment at the timing of it all. "Life is funny like this, right?"

Heeseung's smile remained gentle as he started the car. "Right. It's funny indeed." With that, he drove Y/N back to their building before they sat in the car for a moment, the engine humming softly in the quiet night. "It's late. We should both get some rest," He said, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

Y/N agreed, although part of her wished the night didn't have to end so soon. "Thank you for tonight, Heeseung. It was... unexpected, but in a good way." It was still too early to understand her feelings fully, but one thing was certain - she liked Heeseung's company and the possibility of what lay ahead.

"I'm glad." He turned off the engine and the two walked into the building and upstairs where their apartments were located. They stood outside their doors, facing each other, the hallway's soft lighting making the moment look like a scene out of a romantic movie. "I hope you have a good night." The way he slightly leaned against his door's frame made him so incredibly hot that all Y/N wanted to do was stand there and talk to him all night.

But instead, she merely smiled and replied, "You too, Heeseung. Oh and thank you for the cookies. I loved them."

Heeseung's eyes locked onto hers for a moment, and it felt like the world had slowed down. "They were burnt a little."

"I still thought they were delicious," Y/N replied with a playful grin. "Goodnight, Heeseung." They both turned to their respective doors and entered their apartments, the quiet of the hallway returning as they closed the doors behind them. But inside her apartment, Y/N had to run back and forth a few steps, her heart pounding in her chest. It wasn't just the cookies that had left a sweet taste in her mouth, but everything that had been happening, with Heeseung's unexpected confession and the way he made it look like he had been carrying those feelings from high school.

Danbi rushed to her and she chuckled, bending down to give Danbi some well-deserved attention. "Did you miss me?" Y/N asked as she affectionately scratched behind Danbi's ears. "There's a lot to process, isn't there?" Then she walked to her room, more like danced all the way to her room, with a smile that seemed to have taken permanent residence on her face.

As she lay in bed, Danbi curled up at the foot of her bed, she pulled out her phone and called Harin to tell her about everything about the school reunion, and when she told her about Heeseung, Harin let out a gasp. "You're joking. Wait, I'm glad that you made up. I couldn't help but feel guilty for what I said. It's not like it's not true, but it just hit me how difficult it must be for him. And now you're telling me he's a senior who used to like you? Damn."

"Yeah, but he said things are different now. He has a child so... it's not like we can pick up where we left off in high school. It's complicated, but I think I want to get to know him better. He's a really great guy, and it's not just because of what happened tonight. There's something about him that I find intriguing."

Harin's voice took on a teasing tone. "So, you're crushing on him now, huh?"

"Well, I do. I can't deny that there's something about him that makes my heart race a little," Y/N admitted, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "But it's not just a crush, Harin. It's more like... curiosity and a desire to understand him better." 

"Call it what you want. He's the guy from your dreams." At that, Y/N rolled her eyes and hugged Danbi who looked like he was judging her with his big, round eyes. 

"I know it sounds bizarre, but he's not just a dream anymore. He's a real person. Maybe my dreams of him were trying to tell me something all along."

"I'm happy you have an interesting love life," Harin said with a grin. "But remember, life doesn't always follow a script, and real people can be wonderfully messy. Just go with the flow, and who knows, this might be the start of something beautiful. Anyways, good night and sweet dreams of Heeseung." Y/N could hear her friend's laughter as she said her goodbyes and hung up the phone.

With a contented smile, Y/N settled back against her pillows, her heart lighter and her mind filled with thoughts of Heeseung. "Why are you looking at me that way?" She glanced down at Danbi, who had settled on the bed beside her, his head tilted quizzically. She chuckled and reached down to scratch behind his ears. "You're not judging me too, are you, Danbi?" The fluffy little dog responded with a wag of his tail and a gentle nuzzle against her hand. Y/N couldn't help but smile. "Maybe you'll get a daddy too- what am I saying? It's way too early to think about that. But one thing's for sure, you'll always be my number one, won't you, Danbi?" 

He responded with a soft, contented sigh, his eyes closing as he settled in beside her. And with her friend beside her, she allowed herself to drift to sleep, the thought of both Heeseung and Heajun lingering in her mind like a sweet, melodic tune.