Falling for Mr. Yoo

Chapter 23 : A Heartbeat Away From Reality

Winter shot up in bed, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her heart pounding violently against her chest. Her body was drenched in sweat, and tears still clung to her eyelashes. The room was dark and still, save for the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the curtains.

Her mind raced, the images from her nightmare still so vivid, so painfully real. Jimin… the accident… the hospital… his lifeless body. She could still hear the nurse’s voice in her head, telling her that he was gone, that he had died at 1:32 AM. The crushing grief she had felt in her dream was so overwhelming that she could hardly breathe.

But then… she realized.

It was just a dream.

Jimin wasn’t gone. He was still alive.

Her eyes scanned the room frantically, searching for him, needing to see him, to touch him, to make sure he was still there. Her heart was racing as panic clawed at her chest.

“Jimin?” she whispered, her voice shaky and desperate. “Jimin?”

And then, as if her prayers had been answered, she heard the soft rustling of sheets beside her. She turned her head, and there he was, lying peacefully next to her, his chest rising and falling steadily with each breath.

Relief crashed over Winter like a tidal wave, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes again—this time, not from pain or fear, but from the sheer gratitude that he was still here, that he was still breathing, still alive.

She reached out with trembling hands, gently brushing her fingers against his arm. His skin was warm under her touch, and the steady rhythm of his breathing soothed the terror that still lingered in her chest.

Jimin stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open as he sensed her movement. He turned his head toward her, his gaze soft and full of sleepy confusion. “Winter…? What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low and husky from sleep.

Winter let out a shaky breath, her hand immediately reaching up to cup his face, needing to feel the warmth of his skin, to reassure herself that this was real.

“You’re… you’re here,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “You’re alive.”

Jimin blinked, still groggy, but now fully awake as he saw the tears in her eyes. He reached out to gently wipe them away, his thumb brushing tenderly against her cheek. “Of course I’m here,” he murmured, his brows furrowing in concern. “Did you have a bad dream?”

Winter nodded, her throat tight as she struggled to hold back more tears. “It was awful, Jimin. You… you were in an accident, and you…” Her voice cracked as she choked on the words. “You died. I lost you.”

Jimin’s expression softened, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her close. “Hey, it’s okay,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “It was just a dream. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Winter clung to him, her face buried in his chest as the warmth of his embrace grounded her in the present, slowly pulling her away from the nightmare that had felt so real. She could hear the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear, a sound that filled her with a deep sense of comfort and relief.

“I’m here,” Jimin repeated softly, his voice a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. “I’m right here with you, Winter.”

As she held onto him, the terror from the dream began to fade, replaced by the overwhelming gratitude that she still had him by her side. He was alive. They were together. That was all that mattered.

“I love you,” Winter whispered, her voice still shaky but filled with raw emotion.

Jimin smiled softly, his fingers gently running through her hair. “I love you too,” he replied, his voice tender. “And I’m not going anywhere, okay? You don’t have to worry about losing me.”

Winter nodded against his chest, finally allowing herself to relax in his arms. The nightmare had shaken her to her core, but now, in the safety of Jimin’s embrace, she felt like she could breathe again.

They lay there together in the quiet of their bedroom, Winter’s heart slowly calming as Jimin held her close. His warmth, his presence, the gentle rise and fall of his chest—it was all a reminder that this was real, and the nightmare was not.

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The Morning After

The next morning, Winter awoke to the soft rays of sunlight streaming through the curtains. Jimin was still asleep beside her, his face peaceful and relaxed in the early morning light.

She watched him for a moment, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. Last night’s dream had shaken her, but it had also reminded her of just how precious their time together was. Life was fragile, unpredictable, and she never wanted to take a single moment with Jimin for granted.

Leaning over, she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, whispering a silent promise to herself that she would cherish every second with him, no matter what the future held.

Jimin stirred slightly, a sleepy smile tugging at his lips as he slowly woke up. “Morning,” he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.

“Morning,” Winter replied, her smile warm and full of love.

Jimin reached for her, pulling her into his arms once more. “Feeling better?”

Winter nodded, snuggling into his embrace. “Yeah,” she whispered, her heart full. “I’m just… really grateful that you’re here.”

Jimin kissed her forehead, holding her close. “I’ll always be here, Winter. Always.”

TBC .