✓ IF YOU STAY | HEESEUNG

41 - First Kisses & Encounters

The next day, Y/N found herself standing in front of Heeseung's apartment. Well, more like awkwardly shuffling her crutches in front of his door. She didn't know what to expect from Heeseung after he had left her apartment the night before when Haejun came to visit. When the door opened, she sucked in a breath and raised her head to meet Heeseung's gaze.

"Good morning." She hesitantly smiled while trying to steady herself on her crutches. He didn't reply, he just crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe, staring at her with both curiosity and caution. "Uhm, is it okay if I come in?"

Heeseung uncrossed his arms and stepped aside, allowing her to enter before she wobbled inside. But before she knew it, he slipped his arm under her legs and swept her up in his arms. Y/N gasped, surprised by his sudden action, and found herself being carried to the couch. Then he gently set her down on the couch and rested his hands on his hips. "I thought you might need a little help. Don't want you to strain yourself with those crutches." 

Y/N could tell he was upset, not necessarily with her, but with what happened. "Did Minjae go to the daycare?" Her attempt at small talk was met by a faint nod from Heeseung, and his gaze remained fixed on her. She couldn't blame him for his silence. "Are you upset about what happened yesterday? Because you're not even looking at me."

"I'm not." He let out a sigh and finally turned his gaze to meet hers. "I'm not-"

"I know you are." She insisted gently. "I know you're probably uncomfortable with Haejun but he's been my friend for a long time. Yes, I didn't expect him to visit but I couldn't tell him to leave, right? I couldn't just hurt his feelings like that."

"I know you see him as a friend, but he likes you. Even back in high school, he had feelings for you. And I just didn't like the way he came into your apartment last night like that. I kind of wanted to have that privilege only for myself... to be able to take care of you," Heeseung admitted, his voice softening as he kneeled down in front of her. "How's your foot?"

"You're only asking about my foot now?" The way he lowered his head made him look vulnerable, and Y/N couldn't help but reach out and gently tilt his chin up with her hand. "It's better. I took some pain medication and slept well. Don't worry." That earned a soft smile from Heseung who was tracing the heart on her cast with their initials. 

"I want to take it easy with you, Y/N. I want us to spend time together, get to know each other before we're officially together. But I also can't help but wish for together to happen soon. So soon. I think I want to be able to call you mine and hold your hand. Maybe even kiss you without feeling like I'm crossing some line."

Y/N knew her heart belonged to Heeseung. She knew that no matter how much she cared for Haejun as a friend, her feelings for Heeseung ran deeper and stronger. "You don't have to wait. I do want to be yours." She reached out and placed her hand gently on Heeseung's cheek, her thumb caressing his skin, but the way his gaze lingered on her lips was too much to resist. She leaned in slowly, giving him all the time in the world to pull away if he wanted, but Heeseung's lips met hers in the most beautiful way someone could imagine.

Smiling through the kiss, she wrapped her arms around Heeseung's neck, pulling him even closer. And after what felt like an eternity of kissing, they finally broke apart, both breathless and flushed with desire. "Y/N..." He breathed, brushing a strand of hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear. "My high school dream just came true, and it's even better than I ever imagined."

"Your high school dream was to kiss me?" The way her eyes slightly widened and she broke into the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen was the most heartwarming sight for Heeseung.

"It was more about being with you, but yes, kissing you was definitely part of it." Would you look at that? Lee Heeseung smiled like he had just won the lottery. And maybe in that moment he had. 

"You're not going to work?" The living room was filled with pieces of fabric and sewing materials. Unfinished dresses and patterns were scattered on the coffee table and it seemed he was going to work from home again. 

"No, I'll just work here. It appears I have someone to take care of, you know?" Heeseung chuckled, his fingers tracing the cast on her leg. "I'm all yours for a few days."

"Just a few days?" 

Heeseung grinned and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Well, if I have my way, it might be a bit longer than that. But you'll eventually have to share me with the rest of the world. Did you have breakfast? I can make you something. What do you feel like having?"

Y/N leaned back on the couch, a content smile on her face. "I'd love some pancakes and a cup of strong coffee. I haven't had coffee in forever, and I really miss it." Forever was definitely one or two days and both of them knew it. But the way they laughed and teased each other about it made it feel like a lifetime. "Can you do me a favor?" 

And a few minutes later, Heeseung was back with her laptop and notebook in hand while Danbi walked inside the apartment, looking around for his friend who was still in daycare. "Here. Do you need anything else?" He helped her get comfortable on the couch and she shook her head. "Okay. I'll work on a few sketches while you work. If you need anything, just let me know."

The sun was streaming through the window while the two spent the morning together, each one working on their respective projects. Though Heeseung kept stealing occasional glances at Y/N while she focused on her screen, little wrinkles of concentration forming on her forehead. Her cup of coffee rested on her lap while Danbi curled next to her, seemingly disappointed that his friend was nowhere to be seen. 

It almost felt like a perfect domestic scene, and Heeseung allowed himself to think they were one little family, a family that had found its way to each other in an unexpected twist of fate. couldn't help but smile as he worked on his sewing projects, occasionally peeking over at Y/N and wondering that maybe this was the life he had been waiting for all along.

But Y/N's phone started ringing and he watched her talk on the phone with a big smile on her face. "Grandma is here." She said when she hung up and tried to stand up before he rushed to help her. "She's outside." And so the two of them walked out to the front of the apartment building, Heeseung supporting Y/N on her crutches. Y/N's grandmother was waiting outside the apartment and upon seeing her granddaughter in crutches, she rushed forward with concern etched on her face.

"My dear," Her eyes softened. "Are you alright? Do you feel better?"

"Yes. It's nothing, really. Heeseung has been taking great care of me." She replied, a warm smile on her face, but her grandmother frowned, seemingly taken off guard by the somewhat familiar name. But when Heeseung stepped forward to greet her, her eyes widened in... fear? Or maybe surprise? It felt as if she had seen a ghost and Y/N could only watch in confusion and concern as her grandmother seemed to be struggling with her emotions.