Since the Day We Met

Eleven

Jennifer's POV

As I sat on my apartment balcony in New York City, sipping my coffee, an overwhelming sense of unease washed over me. The thought of leaving HongJoong behind in Korea truly shattered my heart. I could have taken him up on his offer to move there with Harper and start afresh, but the mere idea seemed ludicrous - we had only been together for a week. The notion of upending my life, as well as Harper's, for someone I barely knew was nothing short of madness.Yes, I was head over heels for him. After admiring him from afar for three years as an Ateez fan, the connection we shared was undeniably intense – and our physical chemistry was unparalleled. However, making such a drastic change based on idol infatuation or phenomenal passion alone did not justify my actions. I had already experienced tremendous turmoil with Harper's father - never again would I uproot our lives without irrefutable, unwavering love as the foundation.

With determination, I pondered my choices when my phone suddenly rang. Hongjoong's name appeared on the screen – it was 6 am here, so it had to be around 7 pm where he was. Hesitantly, I wondered if I had the strength to speak with him now. We hadn't talked since my departure, and my heart ached, uncertain if it could bear shedding any more tears today.

Gingerly, I reached for the phone, mustering all the courage within me. To let Hongjoong know I cared but remain firm in my decision was a challenge I had to face. Slowly, I swiped to answer the call, and his familiar voice filled my ears.

"Hey, Jennifer..." HongJoong's voice was tentative. The silence that followed was deafening as we both searched for the right words.

"Hi, Hongjoong," I managed to reply. "How are you holding up?"

"I've been better, as you can probably guess," he said with a small chuckle.

"But enough about me, how was your flight? How's Harper?"

"Our flight was alright, and Harper's doing well – she's been asking about you." A pang of sadness hit me as I recalled how attached she had grown to him in such a short time.

"That's sweet." He paused for a moment before continuing.

"Listen, Jennifer, I just wanted you to know that I understand why you had to go back. You need stability for you and your daughter; it's essential. Just know that... if there's anything I can do to help, or if you ever need someone to talk to... please don't hesitate."I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat.

"Thank you, Hongjoong. That means a lot."We made small talk for a few more moments, but it felt like we were skirting around our deeper feelings. As much as we tried to keep it light, our conversation remained tinged with melancholy.

"I-I need to discuss something with you. It's important," he said gently, "And it's something I should have told you before you left here." I felt dear well up in me again, causing my heart to clench inside my chest.

"Okay," I answered nervously, before my phone beeped and saw he was wanting to switch to facetime.

I hesitated for a moment before accepting the FaceTime request, seeing Hongjoong's face appear on my screen. His eyes were red-rimmed and tired, but he still managed a small, genuine smile when he saw me.

"Hey," he said softly, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"What I need to tell you is... difficult for me to say, but I think it's important for you to know."I felt my anxiety rise as I waited for him to continue. What could be so important that he had kept it from me until now? I braced myself and nodded for him to go on.

"Well," he began, fidgeting slightly with his hands. "When we first met, I knew there was something special between us. I never believed in love at first sight or anything like that, but... there was just something about you that drew me in."A mix of emotions swirled within me – affection and gratitude for his sincerity, mixed with sadness at the reminder of our impossible situation."