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🔞 slight mention of mature themes

Jeno once again glanced at the group tables away from theirs. He still could not believe that she's back. That his ex-girlfriend, Yu Jimin, or should he say Karina, had returned.

Karina was Jeno's first love. They were both so in love that their break-up was an utter shock to all their friends. As much as it hurt for the both of them, it was a mutual decision. Karina was set to debut as an idol and achieve her childhood dream. But along with the sweet taste of success came the bitter exchange; she had to let go of Jeno as dating was absolutely prohibited for rookies.

Karina initially suggested that she and Jeno secretly date, despite Jeno's disapproval since it could potentially harm her starting career, but it did not last long when they were eventually caught by her manager. It wasn't safe for them to date as she had a fair number of sasaengs, especially that she had just started, so for the sake of Karina's dreams, they decided to cut it off completely. Both figured out that staying as friends wasn't going to do them any good, especially when they still had their feelings for each other intact.

Karina remained in Seoul while Jeno went back to their hometown. Despite their mutual agreement and the distance, he didn't stop supporting Karina. He bought every single item and album the singer had released and went to every concert she had. To him, it felt like he was pining for the woman all over again, but it didn't matter to him. He knew the love he had for her would never go away, so he continued to embrace it wholeheartedly.

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He couldn't believe he was seeing Karina back in their hometown, in the very restaurant he was dining at. He felt his heart flip with joy but was nervous, too. He wanted to approach her like his friends suggested, but he just couldn't find the courage to do so. So he stayed glued to his seat and watched her from afar, eating and chatting happily with her group members.

"You know, Jeno, at this point, you'd make a hole out of Karina's head by the amount of staring you're doing." Jaemin teased him.

Jeno's other friends snickered at it, and he could only roll his eyes. At that, he continued eating his noodles.

"Why won't you just go and say hi?" suggested Donghyuck. "I still can't believe you used to date THE Karina."

Jeno rolled his eyes again before he shrugged. It's been years. I just can't go and do it."

"Why not?" Jaemin asked.

"Won't it be awkward? I mean, it's been years since we lost contact. It would be weird to suddenly appear in front of her and say hi."

"I don't think so. I'm pretty sure she would want to meet you, too." The smile on Jaemin's face seemed a bit reassuring, but Jeno didn't even understand why.

He just ignored it and stole another glance at the woman, only to be disappointed to know she had already left. He sighed and focused back on his food, but he had already lost the appetite to finish it.

Jeno went straight home after their dinner. He had just finished taking a shower when his doorbell rang. He wasn't expecting any visitors, so he hesitated to open it. But when he was sure the person was not leaving, he ended up doing so, only to be taken completely by surprise by the person standing behind his door.

"Jimin?" His greeting sounded more like a question.

The said idol smiled and gave an awkward wave. "Hi?"

Jeno couldn't even believe his own eyes. The most famous idol of the popular Korean girl group, now, was standing right outside his doorstep. The woman he loved and still love all these years was right here, in front of him.