high flying love ¦ lee jeno

ch ; 27

·⁀ ༄.°✈ ₊⭒˚｡⋆ 27 ·⁀ ༄.°✈ ₊⭒˚｡⋆
One Step, Not Much

The weight of clothes and clutter pressed down on Yura as she hunched over her living room floor. It was Monday evening, and Jeju loomed large on her calendar, a four-day trip for Kyubin's 27th birthday. Doubts gnawed at her.

The promise, made a year ago, to celebrate each other's 27th birthdays before their break-up, now felt like a burden. Especially since Kyubin was the one celebrating, and with a new girlfriend in tow.

The specter of self-consciousness loomed large. Seven months had passed since the break-up, yet Kyubin's apparent ability to move on so quickly fueled a quiet insecurity within Yura.

Had she been that easily replaceable? Every past relationship, every flirtation that fizzled out, whispered the same cruel truth. Six years with Kyubin, and all it took was one chapter to close the book on her.

A notification chimed on her phone, cutting through the tangled mess of her thoughts. It was Jeno, a message followed by a smiling emoji: "Helloooo, are you home? I'm downstairs."

A soft chuckle escaped Yura's lips as she picked herself up, maneuvering around the clothes scattered like fallen leaves on a windy day. Her studio apartment, tucked above her cafe, was a haven personalized by her.

Unlocking the worn door, she descended the stairs and emerged onto the street. She spotted Jeno leaning casually against the wall, his attention captured by his phone.

He looked up as she tapped his shoulder, his face breaking into a warm smile. "Hi," he greeted, his voice laced with a hint of playful surprise.

"Hi! What are you doing here so late?" Yura replied, a touch of amusement in her voice.

"Just wanted to see you," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "Is that weird?"

Yura's laughter, a melody he was quickly becoming addicted to, filled the night air. "Maybe a little," she conceded. "But the cafe's closed."

"Well, maybe we could just hang out at your place?" he suggested hopefully, his eyes twinkling.

Yura's smile faltered. Images of her messy apartment, clothes strewn everywhere, flickered in her mind. "Uh...my place is a bit… busy," she mumbled, scratching her temple self-consciously.

Jeno's brow furrowed in confusion. "Busy?" he echoed, chuckling. "What do you mean busy?"

"It's… well, I'm packing," Yura admitted sheepishly. "For a trip."

Jeno's smile dimmed slightly. He'd been looking forward to spending his two-week break with her, but a trip clearly meant other plans. "Oh? Where are you going?" he asked, a subtle note of disappointment tinging his voice.

"Jeju-do," Yura replied.

"Jeju?" Jeno echoed, surprise lacing his voice. "For what?"

Yura's smile faltered again. It was time to explain, to navigate this unexpected hurdle in their newfound connection. With a sigh, she gestured towards the door. "I guess we can talk inside. It's a bit chilly standing out here."

Jeno readily followed her up the creaky stairs, his mind already swirling with questions about this sudden trip. Yura unlocked it, peeking inside first for any particularly embarrassing remnants of her packing frenzy. Satisfied, she gestured him in. "Sorry, it's a bit cramped," she apologized, stepping aside to let him enter. "Watch your head for the…"