Moon nights - a summer romance in Seoul

Chapter 37: Ayla

As I asked for a wall to support me
Silently you extended your hand
And became my wallflower

__________________________________

So that happened last night.

I confessed my feelings to Jonghyun after he had confessed his to me.

The only difference was that he had told me the three words I had been tongue-tied over this whole time: I love you.

Trust me; I wanted to tell him, to make him hear the words rather than my body speaking them.

But I simply couldn't. Not yet.

Those three words are heavy, and I never said them before.

Saying them out loud is like removing the shackles of their weight tied around them.

At least, that's how it felt.

We all stayed around the rooftop balcony way after midnight and took a couple of pictures and videos as Jonghyun was testing his new camera. To make the departure in the morning easier, Jonghyun had last minute booked hotel rooms for the guys. And to also save time from going back home after the party.

We all grabbed breakfast in the hotel's restaurant, knowing that Assistant Lee, who would also be flying with us to Istanbul, was coming to pick us up in an hour. Nostalgia hit me when I looked around the buffet. I'd be back to my Turkish cuisine in less than 24 hours. It wasn't that I hated the fact that I was about to return home but the fact that my time in South Korea had helped me so much in ways I wouldn't have predicted or even known I needed. So much had happened.

I held a public speech in front of many vital business people and politicians.

I managed to go to Cafés on my own multiple times.

I was away from my comfort zone, in a foreign country, with a foreign language and different cultural aspects, and I learned it. And in its process, I fell in love with it.

Among them all, I allowed myself to do the most courageous thing I ever did: I fell in love.

Jonghyun looked half asleep while eating his omelette; his eyes were barely open.

"You think you can sleep on the plane?" I asked him.

"I plan on sleeping through the whole journey when it's possible", he replied in his lower morning voice. A shiver ran down my spine.

Dear world, this is just unfair how my body betrays me when I'm around him.

"Tala mastered that ability; you should ask her for advice", I mused and took the last bite of my croissant.

As predicted, an hour later, we were on our way to the Incheon Airport.

Where our story had begun.

The show had become such a success that the budget had also grown for the rest of the month, with each episode being close to having a million views.

A MILLION.

With the generosity of the production team, they got us again business class tickets, so we ended up spending the rest of our waiting time till departure in the business lounge. I don't recall much of it other than avoiding crowds, if I'm being honest.

When we surpassed the café where we met for the first time, I nudged Jonghyun, who was pushing the suitcase trolley in front of him.

"Where our story had begun, huh?"
"Don't say it."
"The History in Us"
"I told you not to say it."