Since the Day We Met

Twenty

HongJoong's POV

Being on tour has been challenging, as I deeply miss Jennifer and Harper. I long for the days when I could kiss my fiancée goodnight and good morning. I miss arriving home to an enthusiastic Harper, eager to show me the new Korean words and school drawings she's accomplished. Everything feels incomplete without them. While the tour has been incredible and sharing this experience with my ATEEZ members has confirmed that this is the life I'm meant to live, it only fulfills half of me when I'm away from my girls.The night before the concert in Seoul, I find myself unable to sleep as the weight of dusk finds its way into our shared hotel room. My fellow members are all asleep, exhausted from the long day of rehearsals and fan meetings. 

I lay awake, clutching my phone, sifting through photos of Jennifer and Harper. The memories of the life we have built together come rushing forward as nostalgia sweeps over me. I close my eyes, envisioning Jennifer's laughter and Harper's curiosity.My mind wanders back to a sunny afternoon spent in Busan when Harper first met my bandmates. She had been so shy around them at first, hiding behind Jennifer and peeking out bashfully with her big, doe-like eyes. Yet it didn't take long for her to warm up to the other members, especially Wooyoung and Yeosang who were quick to play games and strike up conversation with the little girl. That day has always held an irreplaceable place in my heart.As midnight creeps closer, I send a quick text to Jennifer telling her how much I miss her and Harper. 

In return, she sends me a photo of the two of them tucked under a cozy blanket fort they've constructed together in the living room. The image softens my heart as I study their beaming smiles and know that they miss me just as much.Desperate for relief from the silence pressing against me, I slip on my headphones. In search of solace in music like countless times before, I lose myself in a playlist dedicated specially to songs that remind me of Jennifer and Harper.

 Ballads filled with devotion and lyrics that evoke connection fill my ears.As each song plays through, my hand drifts instinctively toward my sketchbook that lies on the bedside table. Anxiety courses through my veins at having once again set it aside during these whirlwind weeks on tour. The sketchbook holds more than just illustrations. It's an irreplaceable archive of our love, a visual diary I've continued to maintain from the inception of our relationship.I reach for my pencils and pens, determined to channel these emotions that threaten to overflow, into tangible mementos for Jennifer and Harper.  

I began writing, the lyrics flowed so easily for me. My pencil glides across the page as words turn into sketches. I draw Jennifer and Harper sitting in their blanket fort, immersed in laughter and love. I add details such as the textures of the pillows beneath them, the soft glow of fairy lights, and our dog curled up at their feet. A tender smile finds its way onto my lips as I capture a simple yet precious moment between my two favorite people.Lost in the familiar embrace of creativity, time loses its meaning. It feels like minutes have passed when I suddenly realize that hours have gone by. 

The night sky outside our hotel window gradually transitions to dawn's early light, signaling that a new day has arrived. This is the day of our concert in Seoul – our final performance before a much-needed break.Forcing myself to set aside my sketchbook, I quietly tiptoe around the room, gathering my belongings for today's schedule. As I finish getting dressed, I glance over at my slumbering bandmates and feel a pang of gratitude for their unwavering support through these trying times on tour. They have made this journey bearable even on days when homesickness threatens to swallow me whole.Breakfast is served in our hotel suite while everyone slowly wakes up and prepares for another day living our dreams on stage. Conversations focus on our anticipation for tonight's concert – the electric energy in Seoul that seems to hang in the air, electrifying our shared dreams and passionate ambitions. 

Despite the exhaustion lingering from yesterday's rehearsals and fan meetings, a sense of excitement reigns over us all.However, I can't help but feel bittersweet knowing that after tonight's performance, we'll be free to visit our homes and families again but only for a short while before we return to practice sessions and planning for future events. My phone buzzes with a good luck message from Jennifer which does little to abate the conflicting emotions within me – a mixture of homesickness and the love for my passion.Time flies at an inexplicable pace with preparations for the concert. As soon as I take my place on stage to perform soundcheck, the devoted cheers of our fans resonate through the stadium, warming my heart and fueling my drive to deliver an unforgettable performance tonight.

The The concert in Seoul was a rollercoaster of emotions. The audience's energy was palpable as they sang along to our music, waving their lightsticks in sync with each other, creating a sea of twinkling lights that left me in awe. And as we performed our final song, my eyes couldn't help but sweep the stadium and lock onto the sea of faces – passionate fans who have been our foundation, heartwarming friends who have supported us since pre-debut, and finally, to my utmost surprise, Jennifer and Harper standing amidst the crowd.Jennifer catches my gaze and waves, her eyes sparkling with pride while Harper flashes her toothy grin as she clutches a small banner bearing our group's name. Inside I'm a storm of emotions - joy at seeing them here and surprise at their unexpected presence - but externally, I adopt a smile filled with grateful tears as I sing with my newfound strength.

The last chorus soars throughout the stadium as we wrap up our performance. My heart swells with overwhelming gratification.. This incredible journey wouldn't have been possible without my ATEEZ members beside me and my loving family rooting for me every step of the way.As our concert comes to an end and we take turns expressing heartfelt words of gratitude towards fans and one another, I am able to candidly share how much missing Jennifer and Harper had weighed on me during the tour. The audience erupts into applause when I mention that they're among them tonight.Finally, we make our way backstage. My whole body feels exhausted yet exhilarated after pouring out every ounce of energy over this concert. In the quiet confines of the green room where congratulatory cheers from the staff rain down upon us, anticipation bubbles inside me as I eagerly wait to reunite with Jennifer and Harper.

Moments later, they enter the room accompanied by security staff. Harper wastes no time running towards me, launching herself into my arms as she excitedly babbles about how amazing the concert was. Jennifer approaches me with grace, her eyes moist and filled with unspoken love. Our lips meet in a tender kiss laced with longing – a sensation I had yearned for throughout our time apart.

We retreat to a corner of the room wrangled by staff and celebrate our mini-reunion with intimate whispers and shared laughter. As Harper animatedly recounts her favorite moments of the performance, I can't help but soak in the pride that radiates from both Jennifer and myself. Our time is fleeting, but we make the most of it. We exchange stories and experiences that unfolded during our separation. Jennifer tells me all about her job promotion and how well Harper is doing in school, while I recount the shenanigans embarked upon with my fellow ATEEZ members during the tour.

Eventually, as the adrenaline of our reunion begins to ebb, I usher Jennifer and Harper through winding hallways towards a temporary lounge that had been prepared for us. There, we further delve into conversations laced with love, humor, and admiration. Each word that escapes our lips emphasizes how much we've missed each other's presence and how strong the bond between us remains. As fatigue sets in due to the emotional weight carried on this glorious night, Harper cuddles against Jennifer on a plush couch—her excitement now replaced by quiet exhaustion. These precious moments shared among us continue to build as I attentively listen to Harper's sleepy voice share her dreams and aspirations while my fingers dance through her soft hair.

The night seems to travel at warped speed as its hours combine into a tangled cosmic mess, blurring the passage of time. Before we know it, dawn begins to peer through drawn curtains and graze our weary faces. With heavy hearts, I announce it's time for me to escort them back to their temporary lodgings before day breaks entirely. Despite attempts made at feigning strength, none of us can suppress the tears that erupt at parting ways once again.

As I hug Harper close for what feels like an eternity, my chest fills with bittersweet comfort found in knowing that both she and Jennifer are proud of everything I have managed to accomplish during this tour.

"Promise me you'll come back soon, Daddy," little Harper whispers into my ear while we embrace each other tightly.

"Nothing could keep me away for too long, sweetheart," I assure her between tearful sniffs. Her resolve in these words helps replenish the strength sapped by nightly performances. My little girl's faith in me fuels me to do my best.