this is how we fall || kim sunwoo

eleven

A few days later comes your picnic date as promised, though it isn’t so much a picnic when it turns into apple picking. Sunwoo picks you up at your apartment, something that had Hyunjae warning you about needing to actually jump from a moving car. Even after you go downstairs, you’re almost sure you see Hyunjae peering from your seventh-floor balcony. And knowing him, he’s probably got the binoculars out too, watching your every move.

The drive takes a while with the busy traffic of the city around you, but time flies when you find yourself relaxing into your seat. And when Sunwoo asks about your roommate, you’re ready—you tell him about all Hyunjae’s stupid antics. From avoiding baking because he didn’t know to use oven mitts when taking things out of the oven, to setting an eight-hour timer every night in place of an alarm. There was also a time when Jacob had unknowingly poured salt into Hyunjae’s coffee instead of sugar, and being the considerate boyfriend he is, Hyunjae drank it without so much as a grimace.

And Sunwoo laughs at your stories like they’re the funniest thing. The way he turns to you at each red light, if only to briefly smile and stare while ignoring the cars honking impatiently behind you when the light turns green. He takes you in like he’s committing each moment to memory.

It continues when you get to the orchard—you get through half of your first bushel when you catch him staring at you. Staring as you reach up to grab another apple, staring as you add it to your collection.

“What?”

A nonchalant shrug. “Just appreciating the view.”

“So tell me,” you glance at him up and down, “what’s supposed to happen here? What did you see?”

“Hmm, we picked two bushels of apples.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah,” he confirms enthusiastically. “And they got quite heavy to carry.”

“Oh.”

“Were you expecting something more? Hmm?” There’s a smirk on Sunwoo’s face when he leans in a little closer. So close that you have your lips parted and eyes nearly shut, anticipating the feel of his soft lips on yours. But then he pulls back, an apple in his hand. “Found a good one right behind your head over there.”

You roll your eyes, turning to leave so he doesn’t see the embarrassment on your cheeks.

“Hey, I’m kidding. But if you wanted me to kiss you that badly, you should’ve just said so.” He stops you from leaving, and this time he traps you with hands on the branches on either side of you. “I’m all yours.”

Then he finally closes the distance. You’d expected it to be like the last time, for hands to wander and for lips to consume you. But his lips are barely there like a gentle breath against yours, as sweet as the taste of apples lingering between you. It’s almost achingly slow the way he kisses you so tenderly, lighter than you thought possible. Hands reach up to caress your jaw as if any more pressure would break this fragile moment, and then your senses are overwhelmed by sweetness. The sweetness of apples, the sweetness of Sunwoo’s lips and the warmth of his mouth, and the sweetness of the sun against your skin and breeze in your hair and voices floating over from a world away.

When you pull apart, you suddenly remember something. The reason why you’d thought the second scene was a market date—the faint taste of apples in that scene had reminded you of the cider at the market. But maybe the answer wasn’t the market at all but rather an orchard. And maybe it was this particular moment.

Your heart races a little faster at the thought that it really could’ve been it. You really could be Sunwoo’s lover from the visions.

“Oh, watch out,” he steps aside, pulling you with him to avoid a bee flying by.

“Hey—I thought you said no bees?”

That gets you a laugh as Sunwoo takes your hand and tugs you along. “Maybe it’s good that it interrupted us.”

And you simply smile, brushing off your thoughts and letting yourself enjoy the moment.