same ground ✩ l.hs

二十二

" Leaving again. "

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Heeseung saw a pair of heels in front of him and looked up meeting her dark brown orbs. And he couldn't deny that she looked even more beautiful under the bright moonlight.

" It's alright I just got here not too long. " He assured the girl even though he had been waiting for her for a while, and it didn't matter to him. As long as he's waiting for her, then he's willing to. " The moon is beautiful, isn't it? " He asked randomly and he eventually earned a nod from her.

You're more important than all my I love you.

He watched her sit on the swing next to him, both silent yet with different thoughts. He was wondering where to start, while she was anticipating his next words. But at one point, they were both expecting the same thing.

" Aera... " He said softly, his voice trailing off.

It caught the girl off guard as to why he was suddenly calling her first name but shrugged it off letting him finish his words.

" How have you been? " He asked, looking into her sparkling eyes that now showed confusion because of his question. It was indeed a curious question, considering they saw each other almost every day at the company. But Heeseung knew deep down that there was a different meaning behind his words and a different answer he wanted from her.

Aera stared at his dark brown orbs trying to find a hint of his face because knowing Heeseung, this wasn't just a mere question just knowing how obvious the answer was.

He was asking how she had been since they were no longer together... and if there was someone else now.

Finally getting what he meant, she looked away and found a stray orange cat sitting on the slide licking itself. She smiled softly before answering, " To be honest, ever since I moved here, I find myself often revisiting the past. " She responded, swinging herself a little bit. " I don't know why, but I see my high school and college days more vividly in this place. "

Heeseung smiled warmly along with his gaze on her. His gaze at her seemed soft and filled with care as if she was a blessing.

Aera immediately averted her gaze from him when she noticed how he looked at her as if they were back to how they used to be. The way he spoke and looked at her made it feel like they were back in the past.

Truth be told, she couldn't deny that she wanted it to happen again.

Heeseung chuckled softly fighting the urge to pat her head at this moment because of how adorable she was. He trailed, " During our high school and college days, we were almost always together. So, do you remember me? "

She hated to admit it but in every corner of the place, his voice and face were there. The words he said and the things he did, From the beginning, he was the only one on her mind every time she left the house.

She nodded with her head low, not wanting him to see her face. She didn't want to admit it to anyone especially him but look at her now, He was the first one to know.

" Every day, you're almost impossible to erase from my thoughts. I used to think you'd be a distraction to my studies, but that never happened. Now that we're apart, I find myself remembering you even more. "

Aera answered with a small pout which resulted in the ravenette letting out a chuckle because of her behavior.

He spotted the orange cat on the slide as well, smiling softly before beginning, " Maybe there's traffic so I can't even move forward. I badly want to graduate but I feel like I'm going to be a repeater because of you. "

Heeseung breathed in before taking a good look at her face which has a frown on her but also a playful smile. " I've loved you for so long. " He said pouring his emotions along with his words.

" And I will love you for a long time. " Heeseung mumbled before standing up In front of her. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of how he had valued and loved this woman and if he was given a chance to have three wishes, no doubt he would wish for her three times.

Aera must've noticed how he was acting and immediately stood up as well, Heeseung backed away giving her space as he caught her unusual reaction. " I-I'm taking my leave, Mr. Lee. Excuse me. "

He was taken aback when she said she wanted to leave right away, blaming it on how he acted unexpectedly which might have given her discomfort.

Heeseung watched her pass by him. Walking step by step away toward where he knew that there would never be one more time, another chance, and another opportunity for them to fix the damage they never did in the first place.  

He was suddenly reminded of the day they broke up because of the same thing; fighting for their love, pleadings, guilt, pain, and hope. She left him with a broken heart.

His heart began to race and ran to chase after her because this time he wouldn't just watch her walk away from him. This time he wouldn't just let things be, and this time, he wouldn't let her go.

As I said, I will love you for a long time as well.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

let's gaur