It All Started With A Creepy Mail ⚊ Yang Jungwon [#4]

✗ twenty six ✗

⚊ chapter twenty six

I followed Jungwon up the narrow stairwell, each step echoing against the walls as we climbed higher and higher. .

My arms were aching from carrying Ming's cat bag, but I wasn’t about to complain—not when I was this close to seeing the place Jungwon had been talking about, the same place SD had once mentioned.

"Almost there, Lian!" Jungwon called down to me, his voice slightly breathless but cheerful.

He was ahead, effortlessly carrying the bag with the kittens, practically bouncing up the stairs like they were nothing.

"Easy for you to say," I muttered under my breath, though I couldn’t help but smile.

There was something about his energy that was contagious, even if it was making me a little self-conscious about my own stamina.

Still, I pressed on, determined to reach the top.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of steps, we reached the door that led to the rooftop. Jungwon pushed it open with a slight creak, and the moment I stepped outside, the cool night air washed over me, making the climb instantly worth it.

The rooftop was like something out of a dream.

Fairy lights were strung across the space, casting a warm, golden glow that danced in the slight breeze. Potted plants lined the edges, adding touches of green that made the place feel alive, almost like a hidden garden above the city. And then there was the view—spanning the entire cityscape, with the lights of Seoul twinkling below us like stars.

The sky above was clear, a dark canvas dotted with constellations, and it felt like we were standing in a world of our own, suspended between earth and sky.

“Wow,” I breathed out, hardly able to take it all in.

Jungwon smiled as he placed the kittens’ bag down gently and turned to look at me. “Told you it was worth it.”

I nodded, still awestruck. "It’s... beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this."

"It’s my favorite place," he admitted, his voice softer now, as if sharing a secret. "It’s where I come to think, to get away from everything. My grandparents used to love it up here too, which is why I feel connected to them every time I’m here."

That last part struck a chord with me, and I suddenly remembered what SD had said before, about living on a rooftop because it was a special place for his grandparents.

A strange feeling of déjà vu washed over me, but I pushed it aside for now, focusing on the present moment.

Jungwon stepped closer to me, his eyes scanning my face. "You okay? You look like you’re thinking about something."

I shook my head slightly, offering him a smile. "I’m fine. Just... taking it all in."

He smiled back, those dimples of his making another appearance, and I felt my heart do a little flip. There was something so comforting about his presence, like I could just let go and be myself around him, even if everything about this situation was so new to me.

The feelings bubbling up inside were unfamiliar, yet they were so strong, pulling me towards him in a way that both excited and terrified me.

Jungwon motioned towards a small bench tucked under a canopy of lights. "Come on, let’s sit for a bit. I’ll let the kittens out so they can explore too."

We settled on the bench, and I watched as he carefully unzipped the bag, letting the kittens tumble out onto the rooftop. They immediately started exploring, sniffing around and pawing at the plants, while Ming observed them from her own spot beside me.