off limits ✧ zb1 applyfic

✧ one hundred and fifteen

After summer, came fall, and its cool breezes and wilting leaves, its grey clouds and its dead trees. Hao had never once felt a season reflect so perfectly his inner state, cold and desolate without the love of his life by his side. He spent it alone, closed in on himself, the only warmth he could find a cup of scalding coffee, but it never came close to Haewon's warmth.

Then, came winter, even colder, yet somehow calmer. Its holidays and its contagious cheer, filling every day with something new, had managed to reach Hao's heart. With all of his friends, and his returned sister, he allowed himself to smile again. Christmas, even through the small screen of a phone, was much more enjoyable with Haewon.

Spring brought its soft warmth not only over the thawing snow, but also around Hao's heart. Energized by a new wave of resolve, and the pages of the calendar peeling slowly, he powered through the month, his eyes never once leaving his goal: to see Haewon again.

When summer finally rolled around again, all Hao could think about was the day he'd been awaiting so impatiently. He dodged every invitation, every fun event — because what could be fun, without Haewon? Her return was just around the corner, and it was all that occupied his mind.

Hao had been tasked by Haewon's family with picking her up at the airport, with the excuse that the time of her arrival would be too late for them. He knew it was just a pretext to let him have that moment alone with her, because they knew better than anyone just how painful the wait had been. He hadn’t protested, had taken this opportunity gratefully, and when the day finally came, he hopped in the first taxi he could find.

Airports weren't such an unfamiliar sight for Hao. Having the rest of his family in China, he'd often made the trip back and forth, if only to spend holidays with them. But since Haewon had left, they'd taken on another role. An enemy, at first, the very thing that had taken his love away. Now, they felt like a blessing, ready to give her back. By the end of this summer, he would come to hate them again, but for now, there was no other place he would rather be. Even with the bustling crowd and the loud noises of luggage against the ground and the loud, strident announcements.

He'd glanced at his watch about five times in the last minute, his foot tapping against the tile. Her flight should have arrived fifteen minutes ago, but she was nowhere to be seen. From the large windows over his head, Hao could see the sky, blue and dark and filled with timid stars hiding behind smog. If her flight was any later, her parents would already be asleep before he could drop her off at her house.

Just when he was about to make his way to a worker and ask them about the delay, a face caught his attention. He thought he'd imagined it in his impatience, as it faded back into the crowd, but his heart started racing a mile a minute. It knew. His heart, sightless and trapped in his ribcage, seemed to know Haewon was here. On the tip of his toes, he scanned the crowd, desperate to find her again, to see her emerge from the sea of people, finally.

And emerge, she did. The crowd parted just long enough for her entire form to reveal itself, and her eyes immediately landed on him, as if magnetically attracted. Now, faced with the very thing he'd awaited for so long, Hao found his feet firmly rooted in the ground. He was frozen in place as Haewon ran towards him, her suitcase following behind her.

Once she reached him, she let go of her baggage, and jumped into his arms. It took him a few seconds to come back down to Earth, to realize that he really, actually had her in his embrace. His throat tied into a knot, he wrapped his arms around her, shyly at first, then so tight their bodies might fuse together.

"Hao," she murmured against him, one hand coming to tangle itself in the strands of his hair.

"Wonie," he replied, like a breathless whisper.