in love, legally || CHOI YEONJUN

Chapter 12

a/n this is a long chapter so sit back down, grab ur snack, blanket, pillow and HAPPY READINGG!!!

૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡

On the night of the sleepover

Yejin dragged him out of the building, and under the night sky, it finally felt like he could breathe. "To the convenience store," she said grabbing his hoodie cap and turning him to the right. He followed quietly, as she led the way. He was quite hurt by Hyemi's words. The way she had cut him off and said It's my business. The words rang in his mind over and over again.

"She said it was her business," Taehyun mumbled. Yejin stopped and turned back. Tears streaming down his face. Her eyes widened, flustered not knowing what to do. "I don't want her to get hurt again, and this guy is making absurd offers," he choked.

"She's not a high schooler anymore," Yejin took a step forward, patting his arm, "It's okay. Hyemi wanted to stand up for herself this time,"

He sniffled, clumsily wiping the tears with his sleeve. "I felt so distant,"

Without hesitation, she hugged him. Her face crashed into his chest, close enough to hear his frantic heartbeat, and her arms firmly wrapped around him. And he could hear her sniffling now. He pushed her back, to see her eyes full of tears. "Why are you crying?" he asked leaning down to meet her gaze.

"It's just...so...so sad to see you cry like this," her cries only intensified.

Taehyun quickly wiped away her tears, but more came down, and his hands fumbled awkwardly. Her cheeks were red, her eyes puffy, and her lips—he paused. But he couldn't stop his hands from tracing her lips. She looked at him now, her teary eyes glistening under the lamppost.

"Can I try to stop these tears?" he whispered, his eyes still fixed on her lips. She nodded, her breath catching. He leaned in slowly and pressed his lips to hers, both frozen in the moment. They didn't dare to move or even breathe. He waited, giving her enough time to pull back if she ever regretted this. But she didn't budge and he pressed in harder making her stumble back.

Yejin grabbed his shirt and kissed back. Their lips synced, growing urgent with every passing second as Taehyun led them into the alley. His hands slid to the back of her head, as she crashed into the rusty wall. He pulled her closer till there was no space left between them. Her fingers tangled with his hair, tugging roughly as she kissed him back with the same hunger. Each one a silent confession after all these years of yearning and crushing over him.

He slightly grazed her lower lip, seeking permission, and when she parted her lips, he smiled against the kiss. It wasn't just a kiss—it was an escape, a release of all the years they had done holding back from each other.

When they finally pulled apart, they were breathless, their foreheads resting together, the rise and fall of their chests rhythmic now. Yejin caught a haelmoni shaking her head as she passed by the alley. She smiled to herself and then giggled softly. The moment settled in her heart, the warm fuzzy feeling still in her stomach. "I love you" she whispered.

He cupped her cheeks and placed a forehead kiss, "I know," he whispered back.

"You are supposed to say it back Taehyun," she pouted, "I waited all these years for you to love me back. I waited for the right time."

She did wait for the right time. Transferring during their freshman year of high school took a mental toll on herself. But Taehyun had approached her first, making her feel seen in that unknown class. It was no surprise the two had mutual feelings for each other. Then he had gone to the military right after graduating from school, then came his university studies, and now his dad had put him in the front line of the biggest luxury hotel chains in Korea—there was never a perfect time to confess in his life. He had always been so busy and wrapped up in his work and studies, when could he have the time to love?