8 Years [ENGV]

#26

JISOO

It was already nighttime, and Haeji was sound asleep. Haein and I were soaking in the bathtub, enjoying the last quiet moments of our week together.

Earlier, when we arrived, I had felt so exhausted, my body so heavy, that I fell asleep the moment I lay down on the bed. I woke up to Haein whispering in my ear, telling me to get up and eat.

He had ordered room service, but there was so much food, it looked like a feast for a family of five. When I approached the table, I noticed it was a mix of everything — there were breakfast items and lunch dishes all together.

I made a face when I saw Haeji's plate: rice, black beans, and a waffle with whipped cream. It looked awful, and a wave of nausea hit me, but I held my breath and scanned the table for something my stomach would actually accept.

I spotted a bowl of fruit — strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple. My mouth watered instantly, and I pulled it toward me.

"Fruit?" Haein asked, frowning.

I just nodded, still scanning the table.

"Are there any grapes?"

"There were..." He glanced sideways at Haeji, who grinned and shrugged. "But they were devoured by a little monster who loves grapes."

She giggled softly.

"Sorry." She said softly. I just smiled and ran my fingers through her hair.

"I don't want to go..." I murmured sadly, leaning against his shoulder, wrapped in his embrace in the warm water, reminiscing about all the good moments we had that week. I sighed when he pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

"And I don't want you to leave either. I wish I could have spent more time with you while you were here."

"It's our job." I turned my head to look at him. "But we'll make it work, won't we?" I asked, the insecurity weighing heavily in my chest.

But he nodded, his smile full of confidence.

"Yes... When I finish everything I have to do, I'll take a break. We need a vacation."

"I can't wait." I reached up, gently brushing his ear. "I'm reviewing some scripts. Pre-production starts in a few weeks." I sighed, feeling a bit down.

"I have to start filming another drama too, but they're still looking for the lead actress. If we time it right, we'll finish at the same time and can have some family time. Another trip. How about we take Haeji to Japan?" I smiled excitedly. Haein leaned in, placing a soft kiss on my lips. "You could be my co-star."

I kept stroking his ear, smiling. Then I rested my head on his shoulder again.

"Too bad... I'll be acting alongside your friend, Lee Jong Suk."

"He's cool, nice, and fun. You two will get along well." He gently tilted my chin up and kissed me again.

♡

We returned to Korea, just Haeji and me, on a commercial flight — peaceful and uneventful. By the time we arrived, it was nighttime in Korea, so we got ready for bed.

That night, Haeji slept beside me. I loved feeling her so close — my nights felt calmer, and my dreams seemed lighter. There was a comfort in knowing that when I woke up, she would be right there beside me. Every little kick I received as she shifted in her sleep was a reminder that she was real and that our lives were slowly moving toward feeling whole. My fear of losing her was fading, disappearing little by little.