The Beginnings of Forever

Road Trip

When Seri woke up the following day, she immediately checked to see that yesterday was not a dream. The weight of his arm on her, his steady breathing she feels coming from his chest, and his scent, are enough proof that he is indeed beside her. She slowly looked up to his face, making sure she doesn't wake him. Satisfied, she snuggled closer to him, willing herself to go back to sleep. She just closed her eyes to attempt going back to sleep, when she remembered that she has to call her eomma. She has a feeling that her eomma is constantly worried about her, because the latter kept asking her to provide updates. Seri did not want her to get worried. So as much as she wanted to stay in Jeong Hyeok's arms, she decided to get up and call her mother.

She slowly removed his arm that enveloped her. She picked up her robe at the nearby chair and looked at his sleeping form before making her way to the balcony.

"Seri-ya I was wondering when you'd call. How are you doing? What's on the agenda for the day?"

"Eomma...I found him. I found Jeong Hyeok."

"Really?!"

Seri told her mother everything that happened the day before, and that they're taking a trip for a few days. Her eomma told her that she is happy for her and that she doesn't need to give her updates anymore because she is sure that Jeong Hyeok will look after her. She told her to enjoy her trip and that they will catch up once she is back.

As she wrapped up her conversation with her eomma, she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her waist, and a kiss being placed on her temple. She mouthed good morning to him, which he responded to by tightening his embrace. Not wanting to disturb her conversation with her mother further, he mouthed breakfast to her and left, but not without giving her temple another kiss, which made Seri grin.

Jeong Hyeok was busy filling Seri's plate with food when Seri sat across from him and sipped her coffee. She gave him her signature eye smile because even after more than two years, Jeong Hyeok still remembered how she takes her coffee. Jeong Hyeok smiled back at her, displaying his dimples. With breakfast served, he decided to tell Seri what happened in the last two years.

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Pyongyang, North Korea

2 and a Half Years Ago

After the tearful parting with Seri at the border and nearly being murdered, all Jeong Hyeok wanted to do was rest in his room. So after assuring his eomma that he is okay, he made a beeline for the stairs. However, when his father entered the house, he told Jeong Hyeok to he told Jeong Hyeok to meet him in the study as soon as he finished talking to his eomma.

His father was sitting on the middle chair when he walked in. He gestured for him to sit.

"I know that you need some time to rest, but this cannot wait. I have arranged for your discharge in the military. You will come back to the village this week and hand over your post to the new captain. Before you leave for the village, I need you to confirm with the university that you attended in Switzerland that they received all the paper work and that you are able to resume your program as soon as possible."

"You want me to leave the country?"

"Yes. The secret operations that your brother discovered cost him his life. You've uncovered that, and more. I am afraid that the attempt today to have you killed won't be the last. And your eomeoni will not be able to accept it if we lose another son."

"But how about you and eomeoni?"

"Do not worry about us. We have some time. I can keep our enemies at bay but we have to act fast. Do you understand?"