cherish | lee heeseung

°˖➴ #𝟮𝟲

Confession

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THE MOON hung low in the sky, casting a silvery sheen over the still waters of the lake. Heeseung and Haneul stood together, leaning against the wooden railing that overlooked the tranquil scene. The night air was crisp and cool, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming flowers nearby.

Haneul turned to Heeseung, her breath forming a small cloud in the chilly air. "It's so peaceful here at night," she whispered, her voice barely louder than a murmur.

"Yeah," Heeseung replied softly, his eyes fixed on the shimmering reflections of stars on the lake's surface. "I always find it calming."

They stood shoulder to shoulder, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the shore. The town lights twinkled in the distance, but here, amidst the quiet serenity of the park, it felt like they were worlds away from the bustling urban life.

"I'm glad you brought me here," Haneul said, breaking the silence. "It's a perfect night."

Heeseung smiled, his gaze shifting to meet hers. "I thought you might like it. Sometimes, being here helps me clear my mind."

Haneul nodded, her expression softening as she took in the peaceful surroundings. "It does the same for me."

They lingered by the railing, enjoying the tranquility of the night. The stars above seemed to multiply, reflecting their quiet wonderment. A slight breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees, adding a gentle rhythm to the night's symphony.

"I could stay here forever," Haneul admitted softly, her eyes tracing the moonlit path on the water.

Heeseung chuckled softly, his breath visible in the chilly air.

As they leaned against the railing, gazing at the serene water, Heeseung turned to Haneul with a thoughtful expression.

"You know," he began softly, "when I first saw you again, I honestly didn't think we'd be able to rekindle our friendship."

Haneul turned to him, her eyebrows knitting in confusion. "Why would you think that?"

Heeseung sighed, his gaze drifting to the rippling water. "I thought you kinda hated me," he admitted. "We lost touch for so long, and I figured you might have moved on or resented me for not staying in contact."

Haneul's eyes widened in surprise. "Hate you? Hee, I never hated you," she said, her voice filled with earnestness. "I was just...unsure of how to reconnect. It felt like so much time had passed."

He nodded slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I guess I was scared. Scared that I'd lost my chance to have you in my life again."

Haneul's expression softened. "I'm glad you took the chance. I've missed you, you know."

Heeseung looked at her, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of his next words. "Me too. More than I realized."

They stood there for a moment, the silence filled with unspoken feelings and a sense of renewed connection. The moonlight bathed them in its gentle light, and for the first time in a long while, they both felt a comforting sense of familiarity and hope.

Heeseung took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly as he continued, "When we reconnected, I carried this title of 'childhood best friend.' But the more time we spent together, the more I realized something."

Haneul looked up at him, curiosity and a hint of apprehension in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Haneul, I don't just want to be your childhood best friend."

wait, wHAT?

Haneul's heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze, her eyes widening in surprise. She waited, holding her breath, as Heeseung took a deep breath.

"I want to be your boyfriend," Heeseung confessed gently, his voice tinged with nervousness yet determination.

Haneul's heart skipped a beat, her emotions swirling. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Before she could respond, Heeseung quickly added, "You don't have to say yes now if you're not comfortable with it yet. But I want to court you, if that's okay with you."

Haneul blinked, her surprise slowly melting into a warm smile. "I... I don't know what to say."

Heeseung stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. "You don't have to say anything right now. Just...think about it. I want to show you how much you mean to me."

Haneul's eyes softened, her heart swelling with a mixture of emotions. "I will. Thank you for being honest with me. I...I appreciate it."

Heeseung smiled, relief washing over him. "Thank you for giving me a chance."

Without thinking, he pulled her into a gentle embrace. Haneul hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around him, finding comfort in his warmth.

As they stood there, holding each other under the moonlit sky, Haneul broke the silence. "I never imagined you'd feel this way," she confessed. "I always thought you saw me as just a friend."

Heeseung pulled back slightly to look at her, his expression earnest. "Haneul, you've always been more than just a friend to me. I was just too scared to admit it, even to myself."

Haneul smiled softly. "I guess I was too. It's funny how life brings us back together when we least expect it."

Heeseung nodded. "It is. And I don't want to waste any more time. I want to be with you, Haneul."

She looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and hope in them. "I want that too, Hee. But let's take it one step at a time."

He smiled, relief washing over him. "Of course. One step at a time."

They stood there for a while longer, enjoying the peaceful night and the feeling of being close to each other. The sound of the water lapping gently against the shore and the rustling of the leaves in the breeze created a perfect backdrop for their newfound connection.

Eventually, Heeseung broke the silence. "So, what do you say we head back to the picnic? I think there's still some strawberry cake left."

Haneul laughed softly. "That sounds perfect."

As they walked back to the blanket, hand in hand, both of them felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for what the future held. They knew it wouldn't always be easy, but they were ready to face it together, step by step.

———

i'm sorry if the confession part seemed very rushed and short 😭