Me After You | Choi Seungcheol

11. Home

In the days that followed, Seungcheol and Haeun struggled with the logistics of coordinating their schedules while trying to stay connected. Not only was there a significant time difference separating them, his schedule was completely taken up by the work commitments that made this trip necessary in the first place.

As her day was winding down, his was just beginning, leaving them with no option other than to exchange a few text messages, sharing tidbits of their day and checking in on each other.

Rising from another restless night, Seungcheol sat up and rubbed his eyes before reaching for his phone on the nightstand. He squinted at the screen, trying to adjust to the sudden clarity, and felt a surge of warmth when Haeun's name flashed across it, quickly unlocking his phone so he could read her message.

Good morning! I meant to call but didn't want to wake you. Seems like we missed each other again, huh? Anyway, I hope you're doing okay. I'm fine here. Please take good care of yourself. Have a good day, Seungcheol!

The smile tugging at the corners of his mouth instantly faded as he thought about the day ahead and a sense of dread took over him instead. Despite the momentary happiness her message brought, what he really wanted was to see her and hear her voice. It was maddening to know that Haeun was just a call away yet entirely out of reach.

He typed a response, his fingers moving rapidly over the screen.

Good morning (and good evening to you, I guess)... I've been busy with meetings, but I'm alright and I promise I'm taking care of myself. I'm sure you're doing fine, but I want to know more. I'll try calling you later, okay? Have a good rest of the day, Haeun. Ps- I'm almost halfway through the book you gave me.

He hit send and leaned back against the headboard, letting out a heavy sigh. It was odd. He had never had a hard time with these trips before; the hectic rhythm of meetings and negotiations usually swept him up and before he knew it, it was time to go home. But this time, he constantly felt like something was missing and that feeling settled in his chest, heavy and persistent. Each day felt like a never ending cycle, his work commitments pulling him into a whirlwind of obligations that left him completely drained.

Seungcheol had a demanding job and it wasn't as if this also didn't happen in Seoul, but the crucial difference was that he got to go home to a certain someone at the end of the day.

***

"Ugh, I don't know which one to choose!" Haeun huffed tiredly as she came out of the dressing room at Yujin's boutique for the nth time.

With Aeri and Joshua's nuptials just a few weeks away, Haeun was in search of a dress fit for a beachside wedding.

"To be fair, you look amazing in all of them. My next collection, you're totally going to model for me!" Yujin praised while snapping a few pictures using Haeun's phone.

"In your dreams," Haeun snorted in response, her eyes narrowing when she stopped to observe her friend, who was typing away on HER phone with a sly smile. "Yujin, what are you doing...?"

Looking up from the screen, Yujin grinned mischievously. "You see, whenever I can't decide on this type of thing, I ask for Hannie's opinion," she explained, mentioning her husband. "So I sent the pictures I took of you to Seungcheol. That way he can help you choose!"

"Yujin!" Haeun glared at her incredulously, "Why would you do that?!? Oh my god!"

She hurried to grab the phone to delete the pictures before Seungcheol saw them, her heart stopping when the device in her hand vibrated, signaling the delivery of a new message. Sighing in defeat, she took a peek at the screen, and what she read next almost made her trip and fall on her face.