GATEWAY 🝔 LEE JENO

🝔 2.10

Taking deep breaths through his mouth, Jeno prepared himself beforehand. "Hi Ga-eun" freezing he felt his eyes dilating. Dropping his hand back down he shook his head vigorously. "No that sounds too forced" pursing his lips he shut his eyes trying again. "Heya Ga-eun - Urgh" he gagged, fake vomiting at how cheerful he sounded.

Clicking his tongue he slapped his cheek trying to set his mind straight. "Calm down, relax, ok. Ok, calm down, relax, ok."

Plastering on a smile he cleared his throat about to knock on her door. However, he was unable to when the door swung open leaving his hand resting mid air.

Flinching slightly his sight fell onto Ga-eun standing in front of him astonished as he was. "H-hi!" he squeaked out in a high pitched tone, his voice slightly cracking. Screwing his eyes tight he cursed himself.

Fuck! - he was deciding whether to run away or just bury himself in a grave.

"This scene feels awfully familiar" she spoke out softly, spotting his hand hovering in the air. "Huh?" furrowing his brows he tilted his head not understanding. Shaking her head, Ga-eun opened the door wider, letting him in.

Peeking over to Ga-eun he found the girl staring right at him. Sitting on the bed with her legs cross she knitted her brows noticing how he just stood still in middle of the room. Pursing his lips he didn't speak a word. He didn't know what to say nor what to do. He just avoided her eye contact. The memory of them in the forest just before he left invaded his mind once again like a rotating boomerang not leaving. He was slightly scared that once he looks back at her his heart will shatter into fragments. Remembering how she doesn't reciprocate the same feelings as he does.

Suddenly his train of thoughts halted in movement as soon as he felt a warm hand being rested on his forehead. Breath hitching, Jeno gulped down his throat. His Adams apple bobbing at the movement, his wavering orbs flickered down to the shorter figure standing in front of him. Ga-eun's face was tilted up to his taller height. Only a few inches separated them and it was not helping Jeno's thundering heart.

"Are you ok?" she questioned in a soft tone, worry settling in her dusky orbs. "I-i'm fine" he quietly spoke out. Nodding lightly, she retreated her hand away not availing her sight. Ga-eun's shoulders slumped down, "You weren't responding to me" she commented, wiping the sweat across his temple away with the edge of her sleeve. 

The small action, barely anything yet it sent his heart to pound at an inhuman rate. Frozen unable to move, his chest clenched tight. Biting his inner cheek he averting his sight off her by shutting his eyes tightly close.

Stop Jeno! She doesn't like you . . stop-

"Jeno" she called out meekly automatically making him look back at her. He was welcomed by a pair of big doe eyes staring up at him involuntarily making his heart melt and soften immensely.

He couldn't think straight. He knew that his feelings for her did not disappear. But the fact that she hadn't been around him made him think that maybe they might have faded away the slightest. However, he was wrong. They seemed to have grown even more due to her not being in his presence. He wanted to hold her in his arms.

He was deprived of her, her warm words and touch. He missed her entirely. Taking a deep breath he gave a small nod indicating that he was listening. Not gazing away from her, he felt allured into her beauty. "You're acting differently Jeno. I know it's been a long time but . . ." gulping she bit her bottom lip making him furrow his brows in confusion. "What is it?" he softly asked unconsciously, taking a step closer to her. "Are you mad?" she asked hesitantly, she sounded hurt.

Scrunching up his features he couldn't understand what she was on about. "Because of what happened that night in the forest. I was rude and the argument we had" she nervously twiddled with the sleeve of her shirt. Instantly Jeno's features fall apart. 

He wasn't mad. How could he be? Especially towards the girl he wholeheartedly loves. "Not at all" he breathed out, immediately lifting off a small smile from her.

She may not be showing it but Ga-eun was over the moon to be standing right in front of Jeno. She felt overjoyed. Though only one year had passed it felt like a decade. It hurt so much waiting and waiting. During the past year she felt an emptiness grow inside her heart. No matter how many times she tried it never healed nor filled up. Like a missing puzzle piece went missing, and it was no other than Jeno.

She tried to hold back. She tried to refrain from overstepping the boundaries but her fingers itched in wanting to grab hold of his. She doesn't even know if Jeno still likes her or not. He could have moved on.

Tapping her foot on the ground constantly to control herself, she shut her pounding heart away but unable to hold on any longer she sent a gasp to fall out his lips when her arms wrapped around his torso pulling him into a warm embrace.

Breath stuck at the back of his throat, Jeno froze in spot with his eyes large as saucers. He could feel her hair tickling his chin, her cheek rested on his chest. "I missed you, you know" she delicately whispered. Her words were muffled by her face being pressed against his built chest.

Slowly relaxing his muscles, a wide grin raised off stretching far from ear to ear. Without a thought, he pulled the girl closer, cocooning her small body against his large arms.

Delicately he rested his chin on top of her head caressing her raven hair. None of them spoke, they just stayed quiet taking in each other's presence. They wanted to make up for the whole year they were away from each other. Tightening their hold against one other he felt Ga-eun balling his shirt material into her tiny fist.

His heart was thundering fast and hard. He wanted to stay like that forever, scared that if he lets her go then she would disappear into thin air. Scared that maybe he's imagining everything yet again. That's why he rather feel her touch then see her visually. The familiarity of her calmed him down especially the same scent of her jasmine shampoo that he loves.

He was sure that Ga-eun could sense his racing heartbeat but he didn't care. He doesn't care if Ga-eun is aware that he still likes her. To be honest, he wanted her to know. He hoped that he still has a chance to get her. It saddened him that she once rejected him, but he didn't want to give up on winning her heart.

He wants to be with her. Unfortunately the poor boy was oblivious of her true feelings 

Clueless that she also feels the same way