Downfall || Seongjoong

- sixty-four -

Hongjoong || Seonghwa 

As we neared the hotel, I found it increasingly difficult to contain my excitement. Every few seconds, I'd lean forward in my seat, peering out the window and asking Min, "Are we close yet? Have we arrived?" My impatience grew with each passing moment, urging Min to go faster, even though he was already driving within the speed limit.

I scanned every street sign and building, reading every panel in the hope of spotting the XXX Hotel. My heart raced with anticipation, the mere thought of seeing Hongjoong again filling me with joy. It had only been a day since we last saw each other, but the longing I felt made it seem much longer.

"Min, are we there yet?" I asked again, unable to sit still.

Min chuckled, glancing at me briefly before returning his focus to the road. "Almost there, Hwa. Just a couple more minutes."

I nodded eagerly, tapping my fingers on my knees as I stared out the window. The city passed by in a blur, the buildings becoming taller and more densely packed as we approached the hotel district. Finally, I spotted the sign for the XXX Hotel, and I couldn't contain my excitement any longer.

"We're here!" I exclaimed, pointing at the sign.

Min pulled into the hotel driveway, and I practically leaped out of the car before it came to a complete stop. Ignoring Min's amused chuckle, I rushed inside, my heart pounding with anticipation. The receptionist greeted me warmly as I asked for Hongjoong's room number, and with a smile, she directed me to the elevator.

The ride up felt like an eternity, each floor passing by too slowly for my liking. Finally, I reached Hongjoong's floor and practically sprinted down the hallway to his room. I knocked eagerly on the door, my heart racing as I waited for him to open it.

Seconds ticked by like hours as I waited, the anticipation almost unbearable. Then, I heard movement from inside, and the door swung open swiftly. There stood Hongjoong, his eyes widening in surprise and joy as he took in my appearance. Without a word, he lunged forward and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Hwa!" Hongjoong exclaimed, his voice filled with relief and happiness. He held me tightly, his arms wrapped around me securely as if to assure himself that I was really there.

I couldn't help but laugh, feeling a rush of elation as Hongjoong twirled us around in a joyful embrace. We spun together, both of us laughing uncontrollably, our smiles the widest they had been in days. The worries and stresses of the past trials melted away in that moment of pure happiness.

"Hwa, I missed you so much," Hongjoong whispered, his voice filled with emotion.

"I missed you too, Hongjoong," I replied softly, my heart swelling with love and gratitude.

For a brief moment, we forgot about everything else—the trials, the reporters, the uncertainties. It was just us, together in each other's arms, celebrating our reunion.

After a while, a gentle clearing of the throat reminded us of Min's presence. I turned to him with a smile, still holding Hongjoong's hand tightly.

"Right, this is Min," I introduced warmly, gesturing to him. "He was my father's assistant, but he's also the reason I managed to make it out of jail with no charges."

Hongjoong nodded, gratitude and curiosity evident in his expression as he shook Min's hand. "Thank you, Min," he said sincerely. "I'm Hongjoong, and I can't express how grateful I am for what you did for Hwa."

Min nodded humbly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I'm just glad everything worked out. You two take care now."

With that, Min excused himself, leaving Hongjoong and me alone in the hallway. We exchanged a look of relief and happiness, silently acknowledging the tumultuous journey we had been through and the strength of our love that had prevailed.