Her Astronaut

✯41✯

"보고 싶었어 내 사랑"

The words out of Jin's mouth rang in Nova's mind loud and clear. Afraid she misheard him, she began to quietly repeat what he said.

bogo sipeosseo nae sarang - I missed you, my love

The world faded away and all she could think about was what he just said to her. It didn't take long for her to accept the fact that she indeed heard him correctly. Now, her brain was frantically trying to understand why he referred her to as 'nae sarang'.

Was this a replacement for 'yeobo'?

Or was there a deeper meaning?

Her thought spiral was interrupted when his soft lips came in contact with hers.

Since their first kiss inside that green room at SoFi many months ago, the two of them had shared many kisses. A different array of kisses with varying intensity. Some were simple displays of affection while others were hot and heavy, a precursor to more intimate physical acts.

This soft, gentle one was going to become one of her most cherished kisses that they shared. It was as if he was reiterating the sentiment that he was trying to convey to her with the simple phrase and new term of endearment.

Was this Jin's special way of saying that he loved her?

Because she certainly felt that way about him.

At that moment, Nova felt a weight lift from her shoulders as she allowed herself to finally recognize and identify her own feelings. Between Gavin's pep talk just moments prior and Jin's comforting presence, she was no longer afraid to admit her own feelings. Her past experiences and past relationship trauma no longer able to hold her back.

She was in love with Kim Seokjin.

After everything she had gone through and overcome, she finally realized that what she felt for this man was genuine. This was not the dopamine-boosting infatuation that she had in her previous relationship. This was the real deal.

Love in its purest form.

All her worries and concerns faded away as his gentle hands cupped her face and thumbs gently caressed her cheek. The nerves coursing through her body earlier in the day began to finally settle as warmth began to spread. She felt calm, confident, and resolute. Any misgivings she had regarding their relationship faded as his soft touch and kisses consumed her mind.

"석진아 사랑해"

It was said barely above a whisper.

She wasn't planning on saying it. It just slipped out. Her heart calling the shots over her brain.

"Nova?" Jin pulled away just enough so he could look her right in the eyes. Nova's heart melted as she saw the hopeful anticipation in his expression.

Her purpose in saying those words was just to share what he meant to her, without anything expected in return. Yet the way he looked at her, his own tears forming, she could no longer ignore the butterflies in her stomach.

"I love you Seokjin, with every ounce of my being. It's you, always has been. Always will be. There is no one else."

When his lips collided with hers this time, it was no longer a gentle touch. This time it was a passionate show of love and adoration, tinged with lust. Everything that he had bottled up and held in since Vegas came alive in that kiss.