off limits ✧ zb1 applyfic

✧ thirty five

Endings were difficult. Jiyeon could still remember when, as a child, her favorite cartoon show had abruptly ended, leaving her without her favorite source of entertainment and cute dogs. She remembered the emptiness she'd felt, the day she graduated high school, as she had to jump into an entirely new world she knew nothing about. And when her relationship with Jiwoong had ended on a bitter note, Jiyeon had cried herself to sleep that night, unable to reconcile with the thought that tomorrow would be different, and the sweet feelings she'd come to cherish had vanished in an instant.

It was without surprise, that determining the ending of her novel wouldn't be any easier. She was currently finished up the outline of Leap in Destiny, her very first attempt at writing a novel; needless to say, she'd found herself stuck on the very last scene. It was the classic airport chase scene, except it was taking place in an old timey train station, so not really the classic airport chase scene at all. The two star crossed lovers were to reunite, and have a beautiful conclusion to their story, but Jiyeon wasn't quite sure how to go about it. After all, she wasn't very experienced when it came to happy endings in love.

Whenever she found herself struggling with writing decisions, Jiyeon always called either Hyunjin or Hiroto. By now, they were experts of Leap in Destiny, and had helped her brainstorm many plot points. But right now, the both of them were in class, and Jiyeon needed immediate imput. She couldn't put it off any longer.

The next person who knew anything about Leap in Destiny was, unfortunately, Jiwoong. She'd just started writing the outline when they'd gotten together, and when he'd found out she liked to write, he'd begged her to tell him more about it. Jiyeon still remembered the long evenings on the phone, telling him all about those characters she'd created, and the love they shared, thinking she was living the same sort of fantasy. He definitely knew enough about the story to help her with this decision. But wouldn't it be embarrassing, calling him just for that?

Eventually, after much ruminating, Jiyeon decided that any amount of embarrassment was better than trying to solve this problem alone. She ignored her inner voice as she dialed his number, hoping he would pick up.

And pick up he did, only a second after the call went through. Was he just waiting in front of his phone?

"Hello, Jiyeon?" he asked, his voice sounding a bit frantic. "Are you okay? Do you need something? Is there anything I can help with?"

Bombarded with questions, Jiyeon found it hard to speak for a second. "Woah there, calm down. I'm alright, what are you so worried about?"

Though it seemed he'd moved his face away from the phone, Jiyeon still heard him sigh. "Sorry, I thought something had happened. You just... Never call me."

She blinked. Yes, that was true. Ever since they'd reconciliated, she'd stuck to solely texting. Long phone conversations were a bit too reminiscent of their past together, and hearing his voice was always a jab in the heart. Still, there was no reason for him to get so overly worried about a phone call from her...

"Well, anyway," she attempted to brush it off, disconcerted, "I just wanted your opinion on something. Concerning Leap in Destiny. If you remember it," she quickly added, her stomach twisting. She'd told him all about it, but there was no guarantee he'd actually listened.

He hummed gently. "Ah, yes, I do. Go on, then."

Jiyeon took a deep breath. "Okay, so the male lead is about to chase the female lead into the train station before she leaves the country. Then he spots her in the crowd, and that's where I'm stuck." She twirled a pen between her fingers, leaning back in her chair. "Should he run to her and kiss her, then they can have a conversation about what they feel for each other? Or should they talk first, and only then share a romantic kiss to close the story? I'm not sure what would have more impact..."