because i remember | jjk

alt. ending

jieun sat on the floor behind the counter after the last customer left and rested her eyes.

it had been a long day. jaebum and soyeon had gotten off work early and the bakery was left in the hands of jieun for the rest of the night.

she sat there and enjoyed the silence of the bakery. the only sound she heard was the pitter patter of the rain outside.

she loved it.

she felt herself losing consciousness as she fell into the clutches of sleep. she hadn't gotten any sleep in the past few days due to work and school.

she found herself thinking less and less about jungkook. maybe she had already accepted that they were never meant to be in her head, but something in her heart held on tightly to the last strand of hope that maybe they were.

◇ ◇ ◇ 

she woke up feeling a blanket of warmth around her body. she was still situated on the floor, leaning against the back of the counter, but there was a thick black jacket around her body that held her favorite scent.

"oh, you're awake."

jieun's tired eyes perked up at the voice.

"do you know how dangerous it is to fall asleep in here in the middle of the night? especially with the doors unlocked?" he scolded. he walked over to her and crouched down to her height with a cup of hot chocolate in his hands.

"i'm sorry," she said, taking the offering from him. "thank you for taking care of me. i would've gotten in a lot of trouble if it wasn't for you." she took a sip of the hot liquid, careful not to burn her tongue.

"no problem." he sat next to her, a little closer than what would be considered normal. he situated his elbows on his knees as he took a sip of his iced americano. "tired?"

she nodded.

"don't overexert yourself too much." another sip. "you work really hard."

jieun remained silent, not knowing how to respond.

they sat there in an awkward-- but strangely comfortable-- silence. the only sounds heard were the sounds of their breathing and the sound of their coffee sips.

"um," jieun said, after she finished her beverage. "do you need a ride home? it's late. i could drive you if you walked here."

he didn't respond. jieun gathered her courage to look at him, but soon her cheeks flushed and she quickly looked back down.

he was already staring at her.

jieun squirmed in her position under the jacket, but froze when she felt his cold fingers tilt her head up.

he ran his finger softly across her lips, and she sat there in shock as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"why do you feel so familiar?" he mumbled to himself, but jieun heard it.

"why does my heart ache whenever i see you?" he put down his drink and cupped her face with both his hands, wiping the tears that now fell out of her eyes.

"why do you keep coming into my dreams and running away? are you scared of me?" he sobbed. she let out a tear filled breath and shook her head.

"i'd never be scared of you." she whispered.

he rested his forehead on hers. "i'm so sorry," he sobbed. "i'm so, so sorry." his tears formed a puddle on the small area of floor in between them. jieun wiped his tear away with her sleeve.

"why are you sorry?" she asked.

he pulled his face a few inches away from hers before leaning in again and connecting their tear stained lips in a passionate kiss.

jieun's tears glided down her cheeks as she smiled into the kiss. her hands made their way around his neck as he carried her and situated her on his lap.

she pulled away first and buried her head in his shoulder and cried. "jungkookie..." she sobbed.

"i'm sorry," he said, wrapping his arms tightly around her back.

"i'm sorry for making you wait so long, eunnie."