Since the Day We Met

Twelve

Hong Joong's POV

The release of the new Ateez album had been a resounding success, surpassing even our expectations. It soared to the number one spot in the country, just behind Stray Kids at number two. Not only that, but it also made its way onto various Billboard charts across the globe, comfortably sitting in the top 5 and top 10. This achievement was truly a dream come true for all of us. It should have been a moment of pure celebration, a time to revel in our accomplishments. 

However, amidst all the excitement and triumph, my heart couldn't help but be consumed by thoughts of Jennifer and our relationship. I remember the day when I confessed my love to her. She reciprocated those feelings, and a spark of hope ignited within me. Yet, despite our deep affection for one another, the cruel reality of our physical separation persisted. Thousands of miles separated us, making it agonizingly difficult to truly connect. 

It had been nearly a week since we last spoke on the phone, and in its absence, our conversations had been reduced to mere snippets of random texts and intermittent photo updates of Harper, Jennifer's precious daughter, singing and dancing to our new album. It was astonishing how deeply I had grown attached to Harper. I found myself missing her presence more than anything else. 

She had become an integral part of my life, making it even more challenging to endure the distance between her mother and me. Every passing day without being able to hold them both in my arms felt like an eternity. The success of our album was bittersweet, as my longing for Jennifer and Harper overshadowed every triumph and accolade. The next day, our hectic schedule continued as we prepared for a series of interviews and performances to promote the album.

 It was a blur of repetitive questions, bright lights, and flashes from cameras that ultimately did little to soothe my ever-growing restlessness. I knew I had to focus on my work and be grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but my mind always found its way back to Jennifer and Harper. Every time I looked down at our text messages, I felt a pang of guilt for not being able to spend more time with them, even if it was only through virtual means. As we wrapped up our final interview of the day, my phone buzzed in my pocket – a rare occurrence during this period. Excitement coursed through me as I checked my notifications, only to find a message from Jennifer that read: 

"I have some good news!"

"Good news?!" I thought to myself. It was the first bit of hope that had come through in days, piercing through the gloom and allowing a sliver of light into my heart. Eagerly, I typed back a response, asking what it was about, all while trying to maintain composure amidst my fellow bandmates. Their eyes followed me curiously as I clutched onto my phone, waiting for her reply with bated breath.

Jennifer's response came through within moments: "I got a job opportunity in Seoul! It would allow me to move there for at least a year. What do you think?"My heart raced at the prospect of finally closing the distance between us and living in the same city. But buried beneath that initial excitement was an underlying concern; it wouldn't just be Jennifer's life uprooting but Harper's as well. As much as I wanted them here with me, would this decision be the best one for their lives? Would their happiness overshadow the mounting obstacles ahead?

Taking a moment to process the information, I responded as calmly as I could: "I think it's a fantastic opportunity, but make sure you carefully consider what is best for both you and Harper. I don't want you to make a life-changing decision based purely on our relationship. Whatever your decision, know that our love for each other will remain strong."

Hours passed as I awaited her response, each minute feeling heavier than the last. Despite my inner turmoil, I managed to go about our day, fulfilling my duties as the leader of Ateez during a live performance. The energy of the crowd and my dedication to our fans allowed me to momentarily take my mind off the intense decision that now hung over Jennifer and me.