After Dusk || Im Changkyun

55. The One

Chapter Fifty Five

At first you had thought to yourself, "Twenty three days? Pft, that's not all that bad".
It was bad.
You'd taken for granted how much time Changkyun and you had truly spent with each other, even when you both were busy. Yes, the influx of work was keeping you company and distracting you from the loneliness but it's not like he could simply just leave your mind.
He practically owned the place. He roamed free there.
Shownu and June were on their honeymoon and everyone else suddenly seemed to be caught up with work as well, so your limited free time was spent cooped up in your shared apartment with the dog that kind of hated you.
You hated to say it but for the first time in a while, life was pretty boring.
Changkyun called you any hour he could, if not sending a spam of texts your way just to make sure you knew he was alive and vice versa. At this point, you didn't even know where he was. For all you knew, he could be on a plane heading to a remote island somewhere in the Indian Ocean. It seemed that every time you heard from him, he was in a different country. One day he was in Hong Kong, and the next he was in Amsterdam, and then a few days after he was in New York City. You didn't know how he was still alive but whenever you saw his face on your phone screen, he still wore a smile.
Changkyun would call you whenever he was somewhere beautiful, if not, taking a selfie in front of something beautiful and telling you that he'd bring you wherever he was because you'd love it. You still didn't understand why he was country hopping like he was escaping the mafia but from the what you'd understood of the late nights he'd use to explain, it was a mix of movie filming and brand deals. You'd known that he'd had some very extravagant brand deals but to look at the hotels and landmarks he was at made you really understand it.
It sounded impossible but you really underestimated how rich he was, as well as his famous he was.
You didn't know where he was right now but you really hoped he was asleep. Despite his bright smile, you could see the darkening bags under his eyes. You honestly couldn't imagine.
It had already been two weeks with him gone and with your one year anniversary coming up, you couldn't help but have bittersweet feelings towards it. You shouldn't feel so pressed about spending it alone but it was a milestone. Even if you were both busy, you'd like to know that he was at least in the same country as you. He'd probably be thousands of miles away.
You laid your head on the wall, watching as all the cast members swarmed to their sets, directors and camera crew frantically making sure that everything they were doing was perfect. You hadn't been called to do anything so you were sitting on a plastic chair and doing everything in your power to not fall asleep, trying your best to focus on all the noise. There was no way you could fall asleep when it was so loud. The short white pleated skirt they'd thrown you in was making you more anxious than when the guys were over at the apartment. You tried your best not to move, pressing your hands into your thighs to make sure that the stupid piece of fabric wasn't going to betray you. It was far too hot for the black long sleeved fitted shirt they'd given you, and if you strayed too far from that fan you'd surely die from a heat stroke.
You mindlessly stared at the spotlights that were being shone all around the dimmed set. You had zero clue what exactly was being filmed and who exactly was participating but you were sitting to the side, just staring. It had been so long since you'd been on a set, it took you a few days to adjust to actually being in a filming schedule but you'd figured it out again. You didn't think you were ever going to get used to being in a big production like this.
You felt a tap on your shoulder.
You jumped at the touch, almost falling off your chair at it. You looked up to see a very confused Younghoon, who was holding his hands out ready to catch you. You slapped a hand over your heart, waiting for it to slow and for you to catch your breath before finally speaking to him.
"Sorry. You caught me off guard." You apologized, adding a small laugh to make you seem more at ease. Younghoon shook his head, awkwardly tugging at his light oak brown hair. Despite working with each other for more than a few months, you still found yourself awkward in situations where you weren't around people. Mostly because you probably concerned him. He never said anything verbally about it though. He was far too polite.
"I was just going to tell you that your phone is ringing. It's been ringing for a while." He mentioned, pointing at your phone which was about to buzz off the vanity you'd placed it on. You grabbed it quicker than you should've, trying your best to hide the grin that was threatening to fill your face as soon as you saw who was calling you.
You know you said you hoped Changkyun was asleep but you were definitely not going to refute if he was calling you himself.
You looked back at Younghoon, holding the phone face down to your chest, quickly scanning the area before asking,
"How much time do you think we have? You think I'll be able to take this without having a crew member chase me down?"
He pressed a finger to his cheek, tapping his foot and thinking to himself before nodding. You were so happy he nodded.
"I think we have a few minutes before we both have a scene to film. You'll make it. There's an empty room down the hall and to your left if you need to take it in privacy." He pointed to the door you were both right by and then sticking his finger out and in the general direction.
"I'd found it while I was roaming but I don't mind sharing my secret space with you."
You shared a laugh with Younghoon, springing to your feet before heading in the direction, not forgetting to thank him first. You made sure the phone was still ringing before booking it down as fast as you could, trying to locate the room, almost falling as you swerved to the left of the hallway.
Changkyun hadn't called you in a few days. He'd been so busy that he didn't have time for it, just a few messages that were exchanged at unholy hours for the both of you. Eventually, you found the room with the door slightly cracked open. You peeked inside, banging your head on the edge of it in the process but walking in, locking the door and answering the video call. Thank the heavens, it was air conditioned.
You pressed one of your hands to the part of your forehead that you'd slammed and held the phone up to your face. The Wi-Fi was slow and uncooperative for a few seconds and you were aggressively tapping your phone with your thumb until it finally began loading.
Low and behold, Changkyun's grinning face popped onto your phone screen.
"Good morning, Eggo~" He sang, seeming to be in an ultra good mood, instantly putting a smile on your face.
"Or is it the afternoon?" He corrected himself, to which you nodded, still pressing your hand to your forehead and waiting for the sting to fade.
"It's three in the afternoon. Almost four." You walked further back into the room, cautious of anyone hearing you if you stood too close to the door.
"Why are you holding your hand there? Did you get hurt?" Changkyun asked worriedly, bringing his face closer to the screen, his nose, corner of his lips, part of his bangs, and left eye in full view. You couldn't help but giggle at that, taking a quick picture which elicited a whine from him. He must've seen the notification. Probably would've been impossible to miss with a face so close to the screen.
"I bumped into the door while finding this room. The set's really crowded, you know, Kyun?" You explained, leaning your head back on the white painted walls, realizing that you were in a prop storage room. There were metals racks surrounding the entire area, stacked with miscellaneous objects like guns, and candles, and fake flowers.
"Did I call you at a bad time? I'll call you back later."
"No, no, no, no, no!" You removed your hand from your little injury and waved it frantically in front of the screen.
"I really want to see you right now. I don't care if I get in trouble."
Changkyun couldn't help but break out into a sweet smile. The corners of his eyes were creasing and his nose was scrunched in that way that never failed to make your heart scream.
For such an intimidating guy, he sure was adorable. Really adorable.
He rested his head on his arm which was resting on a table, and you tried to get a good look at his surroundings but his gaze distracted you instead.
"You're so cute when you miss me." He breathed out, his thumb unconsciously rubbing the ring on his pinky while he admired you through a screen. Seeing his face shine under the bright sunlight was driving you crazy. You hoped he couldn't see that you were very tightly clutching onto your speeding heart.
"I miss you like crazy too. It's not even funny. I can barely think straight." Changkyun complained, dropping his head onto the table, muffling his voice as he spoke. You were more bummed that you couldn't see his face. Two weeks without having him next to you and you were taking every tiny Changkyun scrap you could get.
You didn't know you could get that desperate. Was this what true love did to people? Made it so hard to be apart for even short periods of time?
"I'm sorry I couldn't call for a while. My schedules have been really hectic but seeing you gives me energy." He said into his arm that he was lying on, finally lifting his head up to reveal his face, even getting up off whatever he was sitting on.
"Now, guess where I am, Eggo?" Changkyun chuckled, spinning himself around, making it harder for you to comprehend his surroundings. You sighed, slouching down the wall, turning away from the camera and staring at one of the metal shelves.
"Are you at home waiting for me to get back?" You asked quietly, slightly pouting before turning back. You watched Changkyun's expression drop, the look in his eyes becoming less giddy and more pitiful. Regretful.
"Baby, you know I can't."
"I know, but I seriously wish you could." You sighed again, sinking down even more down the wall. He brought his face closer to the screen again, but close enough where you could see his entire face. You were lazily holding yours, barley bothering you make sure that yours was showing.
"Just one more week, love." He smiled hopefully, trying to lift both of your spirits. He was just as sad as you were. You could tell. He was using the nicknames to cheer you both up.
"One more week and you'll have me all to yourself." Changkyun assured, holding his pinky up to the screen. You did the same, laughing together, his audio occasionally cutting out because one of your internet connections must suck. You wondered if it was the same for him.
"You still haven't guessed where I am." He repeated, seeming very insistent on you knowing where he was. He was sitting on a table a few moments ago. Did that count?
"I have no clue. Show me, Kyun." You gave in to him, letting him take a few steps back, his camera pointed to the ground. The brick ground. Colorful buildings.
It felt so familiar.
When he lifted his camera back up, revealing the small building squished in the middle of other taller colorful ones, with flowers adorned on the awning and peaceful chatting echoing through the hollow alleys you could tell where he was.
He was at Renz's cafe.
"You're in Milan?" You asked, suddenly feeling a rush of energy shoot through you as soon as you laid eyes on the nostalgic place. Changkyun nodded, placing his phone against the window to show the exact booth where you both had sat that eventful night.
"It's not all that busy right now but I refuse to sit there without you, and Leo ditched me so I'm eating eggs and a latte on my own." He panned the camera down to his food which looked beyond delicious. You were practically already salivating at the few seconds you'd seen of it. It must be pretty early in the morning there. Six about?
"Have you eaten yet? Or do I need to call Saera?" Changkyun furrowed his eyebrows, looking like he was anticipating an answer that he didn't want but you nodded your head.
"I had breakfast with Ollie." You giggled, being rather entertained remembering it.
"I sat down next to him and ate toast and fruit while he had his own food."
"Lunch?" He shot straight after, to which you awkwardly stopped speaking, trying not to wear a guilty expression on your face but he already knew. Changkyun huffed, looking straight back into the camera again.
"It's late, Eggo. I know time is tight for you but you have to eat something."
You nodded, expecting his little lecture before assuring him that you'd eat a big dinner and even text a picture of it. He seemed satisfied with your response.
"I wish I could have you here right now. We became an item in there." He directed the camera back at the window and you couldn't help but agree. Honestly, you  both could be in the Arctic Circle for all you cared. You were just getting lonely.
"How long are you going to be in Milan?"
"Until the day before our one year. We'll be flying to Los Angeles."
"Los Angeles?" You exclaimed rather loudly, your eyes widening at his words. Los Angeles from Milan?
"Kyun, have you even been sleeping?" You asked worriedly, seriously concerned for his health. How would he even begin to get used to all those switches in time? He must be going insane.
"I slept a bit on the plane, and then we landed at two. I woke up twenty minutes ago."
So, not at all. Not in the slightest.
"Get some sleep when you can. I'm worried about you." You cooed, doing another quick examine of his face. You didn't know if you were overthinking but he looked about dead inside. You mean, he always did but it was different. You didn't even know how he'd been functioning with practically no sleep for so long. Changkyun shook his head, giving you two thumbs ups through the screen in assurance.
"That's why I love you. But I'm okay. I don't have much long before I'm back and then I can sleep for the whole day."
You were giving him that look. The look that screamed "seriously?" and it just happened to be the last look you'd give him before a notification swiped down from the top of your phone screen.