Her Astronaut

✯Final✯

Six Weeks Later

The sound of the electric hair clippers almost caused a visceral reaction from Nova. She had to turn her head and close her eyes as the stylist brought the tool near Jin's hair. She let out a shaky breath while desperately trying not to cry.

It was just a haircut, Nova internally reminded herself.

Jin had been slowly trimming his hair shorter ever since the promotions for The Astronaut finished. Taking his fluffy long hair and reducing the length little by little over the course of the past month.

Those efforts done by him to try and soften the blow did not make this moment any easier for Nova.

Her entire body slowly began to fill with dread as she felt bile rise in the back of her throat.

Needing a distraction, Nova began to remind herself of all the time that she and Jin were able to spend together since the end of September. With the exception of her brief return to the States to deal with the rogue investor, she had been practically attached to the hip with her idol boyfriend ever since his mom called to inform her of his throat infection months prior.

Unfortunately, this caused her to spiral. The memories of the past almost 2.5 months that they had spent together had not made her feel grateful but instead greedy. She got a taste of what it was like to be by his side day in and day out. 

She wanted more.

Nova wasn't ready to give that up yet.

Call her selfish, but why did the Blue House have to take away the most precious piece of her heart?

With her hands clenched and eyes still shut, she did the one thing that would help calm her nerves. Empty her mind as she took deep breaths. It worked, somewhat, but it didn't stop the churning in her stomach.

It was a soft hand holding onto her wrist that brought Nova back to reality for the time being.

"Yeobo, are you okay?" Jin reached over from where he was sitting, his eyes full of loving concern.

It took Nova a moment to realize that the stylist and the other staff had stepped out of the room. The two of them were left alone, given a moment of privacy.

The shining star and her astronaut.

Grabbing her waist, Jin gently pulled Nova towards him until she was sitting on his lap. Nova held onto the salon cape in front of his chest as his hands rested on her hips.

"What's wrong nae sarang? You seem like you want to either bolt out of here or collapse on the floor."

"I ... I ... I can... I can't do this Jin," she struggled to get the words out.

Biting her lip she tried desperately to hold back the tears. Nova promised herself that she would not fall apart today. Jin was leaving in less than 36 hours and the last thing he needed was to worry about her mental health.

"I'm not ready for you to leave. I thought I would be, but I'm not. Fuck, my heart isn't ready to let you go."

His hand moved from her hip to her face. As his thumb began to gently caress her cheek, she melted into his touch. Jin gazed at her lovingly but laced with resolute determination.

"Nova, please don't take this the wrong way, but I'm ready. I have put this off for two years. It's my time to fulfill this obligation and duty to my country."

His words stopped her dead in her tracks. Knowing he probably had something on his heart that he needed to share, she looked at him intently while silently nodding for him to continue.