Why love isn't always easy? ♥️ SUNGJOY

18 - Career

(Sungjae's POV)

The night air was crisp as I made my way to the Han River, my breath visible in the coolness. It had been too long since i've seen Joy. With Red Velvet's first solo concert, she'd been swamped with preparations, rehearsals, and the pressure that came with such a monumental event. But I understood it all too well, the way the world demands every piece of you when you're in the spotlight.

As I approached the meeting spot, i saw her standing by the water, the city lights dancing on the surface behind her. She looked a little tired, but there was still that spark in her eyes that always made my heart skip a beat. The moment she saw me, her face lit up, and i felt warmth spread through.

"Hey, Sooyoung," i called softly, reaching her in a few strides and pulling her into a hug. It felt like coming home. "I missed you."

She sighed against my chest, her arms wrapping around me just as tightly. "I missed you too, oppa. It's been way too long."

we started walking along the river, our footsteps in sync, the noise of the city fading into the background. i found himself glancing at her every so often, just to make sure she was really there. It felt surreal, being together after so much time apart.

"How was the concert?" i asked, genuinely curious. i had caught a few clips online, seen her shining on stage like she always did, but i wanted to hear it from her.

Joy smiled, though i could see the weariness in her eyes. "It was... intense. Amazing, but so exhausting. I didn't realize how much it would take out of me, you know? But seeing the fans, hearing them cheer for us—it was all worth it."

i nodded, fully understanding the mixture of pride and fatigue in her voice. "I get it. The adrenaline of performing can be a lot, but it's always worth it in the end. I'm really proud of you, Sooyoung. I wish I could've been there."

"I know you would've been if you could," she replied, squeezing my hand. The gesture was small but reassuring. "But you're busy too, and I get that. We're both trying to make it work."

Her words lingered in my mind as we walked in silence for a few minutes. i had been trying so hard to balance everything—to be there for her while also managing my own responsibilities. But it wasn't easy.

"It's hard sometimes," i admitted, the words coming out before i could stop it. i didn't want to burden her with my worries, but the truth was, it weighed on me. "Balancing everything. I want to be there for you more, but there's always something coming up."

Joy stopped and turned to face me, her expression gentle. "I know it's hard, but we're doing our best, right? We've made it this far. I'm not going anywhere, oppa."

Her words were like a balm to my anxious thoughts. She always knew what to say to ease my worries. "I know. I just... sometimes I worry about the future. About us. How we'll keep managing all of this."

She took my hands again, her touch grounding me. "We'll figure it out. We always do. And it's not just about getting through the busy times, it's about these moments too—the quiet ones, where it's just us."

i looked at her, my heart swelling with love. "You're right. These moments are what make it all worth it."

we continued their walk, talking about lighter things—funny stories from their schedules, the antics of their group members. i found my laughing more easily, the tension from earlier conversations melting away. Joy had a way of making everything feel lighter, brighter.

Eventually, we found a bench by the river and sat down, side by side. The city was alive with lights, but out here, it felt like we were in their own little bubble, away from everything and everyone.

"Do you ever think about where we'll be in a few years?" Joy asked, her head resting on my shoulder. Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant.

"All the time," i replied without hesitation. i'd thought about it more than i cared to admit. "I see us still together, happy. Maybe things will be less hectic by then, but even if they're not, I think we'll be okay. As long as we have moments like this."

Joy smiled against my shoulder, her contentment evident. "Yeah. I like that."

we stayed like that for a long time, just sitting in comfortable silence, watching the lights dance on the river. In that moment, i knew that no matter how busy our lives got, no matter the challenges we faced, we would always find our way back to each other. And that was enough.

As we sat there by the river, the cool breeze brushing past us, I couldn't help but think back to how far we'd come. Everything felt so natural between us now, but it wasn't always that way. A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of my lips as I remembered our earliest days together.

"You know, Sooyoung," I began, breaking the comfortable silence, "I was just thinking about how much of a baby you were when we first met on We Got Married."

She lifted her head from my shoulder, raising an eyebrow at me. "Me? A baby? You've got it wrong, oppa. You were the one who didn't even know how to hold my hand properly."

I laughed, shaking my head at the memory. "Okay, maybe I was a bit awkward at first, but you were just as shy! Remember how you couldn't even look at me straight in the eyes during our first meeting?"

She let out a small giggle, a light blush spreading across her cheeks as she leaned back against me. "Well, can you blame me? You were BTOB's Sungjae, and I was just this rookie idol trying to keep it together."

I gave her a playful nudge with my shoulder. "And now look at you—'Sexy Dynamite' trending worldwide! Who would've thought that shy girl from We Got Married would turn into the queen of confidence?"

Joy rolled her eyes, but I could see she was trying to hide a smile. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Not a chance," I teased, grinning widely. "I'm going to remind you every time you try to act all shy and innocent. Because deep down, I know the truth—you've always had that fire in you, Sooyoung. It just took some time for you to let it out."

She sighed dramatically, but I could tell she was enjoying the banter. "Fine, maybe you're right. But you know what, oppa? You weren't as cool as you pretended to be either. Remember how you used to stutter whenever I got too close? You were just as much of a baby as I was!"

I groaned in mock embarrassment, covering my face with one hand. "Okay, okay, I admit it. I was nervous! I mean, have you seen yourself? You were stunning even back then. It's hard to keep your cool when you're paired with someone like you."

Joy burst into laughter, the sound filling the quiet night around us. "I can't believe how nervous we both were. We really were just babies back then, huh?"

"Yeah," I agreed, my voice softening as I thought about those early days. "But you know, I wouldn't change a thing. All those awkward moments, the teasing, the blushing—it's what brought us here. It's what made us... us."

She looked up at me, her eyes twinkling with affection. "I wouldn't change a thing either. We've grown so much together, and I'm glad we had those moments. They're what make us stronger now."

We fell into another comfortable silence, both of us lost in our thoughts. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride—pride in how far we'd come, and in the fact that despite everything, we were still here, together. We'd faced challenges, been through ups and downs, but those early days on We Got Married had laid the foundation for something real, something lasting.

"Sooyoung," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm really glad it was you."

She smiled, her hand finding mine and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Me too, Sungjae. I'm glad it was you."

And with that, we sat there by the river, our hands intertwined, reminiscing about our past and looking forward to the future, knowing that no matter what, we would always have each other.