✓ IF YOU STAY | HEESEUNG

43 - Like In The Movies

A month had passed and Y/N's bond with Heeseung and Minjae had deepened. They spent weekends together, exploring the neighborhood, visiting parks, and creating memories as a makeshift family.

"I'm going on a date with Heeseung tonight," Y/N muttered, only for Harin to widen her eyes as if she just heard the juiciest gossip. "We should have gone out for dinner before I broke my foot but yeah. Plus, Minjae was sick for a few days and we couldn't leave him alone. But tonight is the night, and I'm excited."

"You really sound like a mother." Harin's words made her smile and shrug while she stood in front of the mirror, trying on the black dress Heeseung had made for her. "But damn, Y/N, this dress is stunning. Heeseung makes good dresses I might just ask him to make my wedding dress someday." Y/N chuckled at that, the thought of Heeseung making her wedding dress crossing her mind. If the universe really wanted the two of them together and if they indeed ended up getting married, the idea of Heeseung crafting her wedding dress felt like a beautiful and sentimental touch.

"Do I look okay? Should I change the heels or just stick with these?" Y/N asked, holding up two pairs of shoes before her friend nodded. "And my hair? Is it better up or down?"

Harin scanned her friend from head to toe and nodded approvingly. "Girl, you look gorgeous. The dress, the heels, and your hair—everything is just right."

"Thanks, Harin. I just want tonight to be special." She smiled, looking at the mirror one last time before stepping out of her room. 

Harin winked. "Oh, it will be. Now, go out there and enjoy your date with Mr. Dressmaker Extraordinaire." She was going to take a nap in Y/N's apartment since it was close to the hospital she worked at and she had a night shift later. She waved goodbye at Y/N who took a deep breath and stepped out of the apartment. Heeseung was stepping out of his apartment too and when his gaze landed on Y/N, she could swear his eyes widened in admiration. She couldn't help but blush under his gaze. He wore a suit and did his hair so perfectly it made him look like he just stepped out of a magazine cover.

"Wow," He breathed, as if she was the most beautiful woman on earth. As if she was everything he ever dreamed of. Y/N felt a flutter in her chest, and she couldn't help but return his smile. "You look beautiful. So... beautiful." 

"Thank you. You look good too, Mr. Dressmaker Extraordinaire." Heeseung frowned at the name before he broke into a confused laugh. 

"Mr. Dressmaker Extraordinaire? Where did that come from?"

"Well, Harin suggested it," Y/N chuckled. "She's convinced you should make her wedding dress someday. I have no idea when her boyfriend is going to propose or when she's getting married, but it seems she has high expectations for you."

He took a step closer, his hand reaching out to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I only have one person in mind for wedding dresses, and that's you." Y/N's heart didn't just skip a beat, it somersaulted with joy at his words. The way his eyes sparkled and the way he looked at her as if she held the entire universe in her eyes wrapped her in a warmth she couldn't comprehend. "Someday, when the time is right, I want to design the most beautiful dress for the most beautiful bride."

"You're making me blush," Y/N admitted, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue. "You're really too good with words."

"I can't help it. When I look at you, words just flow." Heeseung grinned, his gaze never leaving hers. "Now come on, I have something for you." She let him hold her hand and guide her out of the building and to his car before he pulled out a bouquet of flowers from the passenger's seat. "These are for you. I heard the other day that you like orchids. Not the purple or the pink ones. You like the blue ones."

Her eyes slightly widened in surprise before they softened and she took the bouquet from his hands, staring at the way the blue appeared under the streetlights. The fact that he remembered such a small detail, the color of her favorite flowers, made her heart flutter even more. "Heeseung, they're so beautiful..." She could cry. She really could. "But where did you find them? They're not common, and I rarely see blue orchids."

"I may or may not have searched the entire city for them." He smiled like a child who just uncovered a secret. "But it was totally worth it to see that smile on your face." 

This man was too good to be true. He was the kind of man who existed in the pages of romance novels, yet here he was, in the flesh, making her feel like the luckiest person alive. "I feel like I don't deserve this. You're just so incredibly thoughtful, Heeseung. I've never met someone who pays attention to the little things like you do and sometimes I just don't know how to express how grateful I am."

Heeseung reached over, gently cupping her face with his hands. "No, Y/N, I think I'm the one who doesn't deserve you. The way you care for Minjae like he's your own son, the way you understand what I'm trying to say without needing to hear me say it, and the way you know exactly what I need even before I realize it. You don't see these little things that make my heart flutter and send me into this overwhelming happiness. And the fact that out of all the people in the world, you chose me, makes me wonder if I did something right in my past life to deserve you."

Her eyes softened, and she leaned into his touch. "Maybe we both did something right in our past lives, and now we're getting a chance to make things right in this one. Because I feel the same. It's like you've filled spaces in my heart that I didn't even know were empty."

"I like the sound of that. Come on, it's time for our dinner date. I've been looking forward to trying this place for a while." Everything was going well. She loved the place he reserved and she loved the food and everything that followed. 

"Haejun," The name slipped from her tongue and the way their eyes locked made her heart drop. She didn't want him to see her with Heeseung. Not now. Not like this. He stood there, looking like he just walked out of a painting, his dark eyes searching hers with both surprise and hurt. The moment she stood up, he turned around and walked away but she still went after him. Surely Heeseung would understand, right? She couldn't just let Haejun vanish without at least trying to offer an explanation. "Haejun, wait!"

She could catch up to him a few steps away. But when he paused, he didn't turn to face her. "It's a surprise to see you here, Y/N." She could tell by the tightness in his voice that he was trying to keep his emotions in check. "I didn't think you and Heeseung were that close. I mean, I could see it in your eyes when you looked at him the other day but I wanted to believe it was just a passing glance, not something more. Now, I don't know what to think."

"Haejun, I just... I didn't know I liked him that much but I realized it's more than just liking. But I care about you and I want to-"

"I don't think I can hear this right now. Maybe some other time." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Have a good night, Y/N." He continued walking away, leaving Y/N standing there with a heavy heart. She wanted to chase after him, to explain everything and make sure he understood, but she knew he needed time. She knew that she was only going to hurt him more, and Jesus, it made her feel like an absolute wreck.

Real life was different than in the movies. Real life had messy endings, complicated feelings, and unanswered questions. But it sure as hell could make you cry.