wine drunk | Heeseung x Jay

epilogue // épilogue

• irresistible // irrésistible •
_________

about seven months later.

Jay's 25th birthday passed three weeks ago. it was definitely the best one yet, but his 24th celebration in an airport bar will always hold a special place in his heart.

a lot of stuff has happened and it all passed in such a whirlwind that Jay happily let sweep him away.

firstly, his book sold out and was now a best-seller. in the past few months, he had attended more conferences, talks, interviews, and sponsorship events than he did in all of his years of being an author combined. his third book had surpassed his first one, and Jay's publishing company was so pleased with him that they increased his profit percentage in the business deal they established when he joined the company.

secondly, he and his father were doing great. after spilling all of his baggage to Jake and Layla without holding back, Jay called his father and confronted him about their relationship and what bothered him. he told his father that it was hard to love someone that did not show much love back, and they had a heart to heart. since then, they've made an effort to talk at least once a month and they continue to work through their issues; for Jay's birthday, instead of sending Jay money like he usually does, his father sent him a care package instead: a maroon sweater made of high-quality wool, some new cologne his mother's store had released, a short but sweet card wishing him a 'happy 25th!', and a candle. when Jay had pushed aside the purple tissue paper he felt a flurry of emotions that he hadn't experienced in a long time— the candle was cinnamon-scented. all that was missing was cigarettes and he'd be back under the Eiffel Tower, dancing to saxophone and wishing to never leave. if only it were so easy...

three, possibly the most important role Jay will ever play in his life has arrived – aside from being a husband and maybe (!!) a father. what was this role you might ask? best man. Jake and Layla were set for July to tie the knot and Jay would get to be up at the altar, front and center, watching the magic happen. speaking of magic... Jay is sure that whatever deity or higher power exists above worked some of that because he has managed to get Jungwon to stick around since the coffee shop. two experimental test dates later with the first being a broadway show (does he have artistic taste?) and the second was at a bar (to test the potential of Jungwon deciding to end their relationship with a memorable one night stand). to Jay's surprise and pleasure, Jungwon loved the broadway show and left his apartment at 1 a.m. after some intense rounds of card games with a chaste kiss on the lips and a promise to text when he got home. since then it had been nothing but smooth sailing— so smooth that the two were close to hitting their one year of being together. Jay is absolutely elated.

Jay is currently at a crossroads. something he hadn't been expecting has occurred and he has no idea what to do.

Lee Heeseung.

he and Jay had had small conversations over the past year, but nothing major— little check-ins and Jay wishing the older a happy birthday as well as emailing on holidays like halloween and christmas. in fact, now that Jay looks back, that was the longest email chain that the two had exchanged: with Jay furiously insisting that halloween was superior to christmas and Heeseung strongly resisting his claim.
aside from all this, the two didn't speak much, and making plans to meet again was certainly out of question. the two remained friendly though and had been content with never reconciling.

that all changed today.

before Jay became serious about Jungwon, he would picture countless scenarios of Heeseung and him meeting again. Heeseung would tell him he called off the wedding and Jay would  reply that he never stopped thinking about the older, leading them to fall into each other's arms.