Jade and Joshua were once the quintessential high school sweethearts, their young love blooming in the hallways of their school, filled with laughter and shared dreams. However, an unforeseen event shattered their once unbreakable bond, sending them...
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A gentle hand shook Jiwon awake, accompanied by a voice as sweet as honey, calling out, "Wake up, Jade. We have to get ready for supper," Jiwon smiled dreamily, still trapped in the comforting embrace of sleep, but made no move to rise. "Oh, come on, Jiwon! It's time to wake up now," the voice encouraged again, its tone light and playful. "I don't want to," she mumbled, her words muffled by the pillow.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms encircle her, lifting her gently from the bed. "Jiwon, we're going to be late for dinner," the voice chimed again, a hint of urgency threading through its warmth. Still half-asleep, Jiwon nestled her head into the crook of the person's neck, breathing deeply, savouring the comforting scent that enveloped her. "You smell good," she mumbled sleepily. "Do I, now?" came a soft chuckle that sent a delightful shiver through her.
Gradually, Jiwon shifted, pulling away slightly to open her eyes. The overhead lamps cast a warm glow, and it took a moment for her vision to clear. As she blinked, she noticed the sky outside had deepened into shades of indigo, signalling that dusk was approaching.
Turning her focus to the person in front of her, she felt a jolt of surprise shoot through her. With a small gasp, she pulled away from Joshua's grasp, confusion etched on her face. "Are you finally awake, sleeping beauty?" he teased, his eyes narrowing into playful crescents. The embarrassment started settling over Jiwon.
Joshua's expression was incredibly endearing, yet she opted for a frown as she huffed a few stray strands of hair out of her face. "What are you doing here, Hong?" she demanded, trying to sound more annoyed than she felt. "Nothing much," he replied nonchalantly, rising from the bed. "I just came to wake you up for dinner. It's a formal affair, and we need to get ready."
Jiwon nodded, somewhat uncertain, and brought the fabric of her silk pyjamas close to her nose, inhaling the familiar scent of cologne that lingered in the air. The realisation hit her like a wave: "You slept beside me?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Dressed in simple black silk pyjamas, he exuded a casual elegance that made Jiwon annoyed. The fact that he had slept beside her felt both comforting and strange, reminiscent of a time when things were simpler between them.
"There wasn't another spare room, so yeah, I did," Joshua answered casually as he moved toward the walk-in closet. He looked effortlessly handsome, his tousled hair adding a charm that was almost unfair.
With a sigh of frustration, Jiwon slipped her feet into her cosy slippers and stepped out into the hallway. The sounds of laughter and conversation wafted up from downstairs, beckoning her. She quickened her pace, eager to join the others.
As she entered the living area, she spotted Jayoung and Eric lounging on the couch, engaged in animated conversation. Jayoung nestled comfortably in Eric's embrace, who had a protective arm wrapped around her shoulders. A wave of nostalgia washed over Jiwon, reminding her of the times when Joshua used to hold her like that—when they would whisper sweet nothings to each other without a care in the world. But that was then; now, life had shifted and Joshua wasn't the person whom Jiwon had once admired.
