19 || h.hj

34: sincere and honest feelings

"Since I don't want to waste any of our times, I'll just get right to the point: do you two plan on breaking up soon?" Her mother asked.

"Mother!" Seoyun slammed her hands on the table, that was the first time Hyunjin had ever heard her voice be so loud.

"Keep your voice down, child," her mother glared at her before turning her focus to Hyunjin. "Let me repeat myself for the last time, do you two plan on breaking up?"

"This isn't the type of questions that should be asked during a dinner, mother," Seoyun reached for Hyunjin's hand then responded to her mother in a more composed way.

"It's a question that has to be asked," her mother said.

"Mother," Seoyun said softly, pleadingly, and desperately.

"No ma'am, I have no plans on breaking up with your daughter," Hyunjin squeezed her hand while he answered confidently. "I love her."

There was a silence between the three of them. As soon as Hyunjin said that he loved her, she immediately forgot about her mother's presence and just replayed his words over and over again in her head. He loves her. Hyunjin loves her.

"Am I supposed to be reassured by that?" Her mother broke the silence. "Even people who have fallen deeply in love can end up apart, dear. How am I supposed to know that the distance between you two won't jeopardize my daughter's education?"

"It won't, mother, that I can assure you," Seoyun said. "Nothing has or ever will take my focus away from the company."

"Well, Hyunjin dear, can you promise me that too?" She turned to Hyunjin.

"Yes ma'am," he said.

"Well then, let's not spoil the food with this atmosphere and get on with dinner. I've asked what I wanted so I'm finished with my questions," her mother smiled innocently.

The rest of the dinner continued as if the whole conversation never existed. The topic was never addressed again for the rest of the dinner, but the absolute reason why the conversation no longer held as much importance was the fact that Hyunjin has professed his love for Seoyun. It was a bigger shock than when her mother brought up the idea of breaking up, and the main difference was the fact that they had thought about the option of breaking up already but not loving each other.

To them, loving each other was far scarier than breaking up. Because if they loved each other, the thought of leaving would hurt more than they expected, and the last thing either wanted to do was hurt each other.

After her mother and Haeun had left, Seoyun and Hyunjin were left to take care of the aftermath of the dinner. They wondered which to talk about first: the fact that her mother had basically told them to break up or the fact that Hyunjin loved her and she hasn't said anything about it?

"Do you want to go outside with me for a bit? Just to get some air," Seoyun asked. Hyunjin didn't answer but let his body follow her lead outside to the swings.

"What are you thinking about?" Hyunjin asked.

"The fact that you love me," she looked up to him with a shy blush.

"I didn't think you would bring that up," he said.

"Hyunjin, the last thing I want is to force yourself to love me because of what my mother said. I know that you wanted to defend me back there and I'm thankful," she said in a more quiet tone than usual.

"I didn't say it expecting an answer in return. To me, it just felt like something I've been wanting to say and what your mother said was the tipping point for it all to spill out. My feelings for you are sincere and honest, I love you," Hyunjin explained.

"Hyunjin," she whispered then stretched her hand to reach him. "I-," she started, trying to find the right string of words.

"Seoyun, don't force yourself to say it," he held her hand gently while looking at the stars. "It's getting late, I'll walk you back home."

The walk back was silent, she held onto his arm tight and thought about how she should tell him that she felt the same way. She knew she was hurting him by delaying to tell him sooner rather than later, but she wanted him to know that she, too, was sincere and honest for her feelings for him.

"I don't think I should come inside so this is how far I can leave you," Hyunjin said. She kept her head low and her grip on him tight, in her mind there was absolutely no perfect way to tell him.

"-Love you," she mumbled.

"Did you say something?" He held her chin softly and pulled her face to look at him directly. He didn't expect her to have such a flustered look, it was something he had never seen her express. Her eyes were glossy as if she was about to burst into tears at any moment, her cheeks and ears warm and pink, and her eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"I love you," she said confidently. "I know saying it now makes it seem like I don't really mean it, but I do, I know that I love you. I have never been so sure about anything else in my life before other than this, I love you," she held him by his collar. "I love you Hyunjin."

"If you say it too much it might lose its meaning," he laughed then pulled her into a hug.

"Shut up, I hate you," she punched his chest lightly.

"Do you hate me or do you love me, pick one," he cupped her cheeks and made her look at him.

"Both, some days I hate you and some days I don't, today I especially don't," she answered.

"I love you too," he leaned down to kiss her.

It was pecking at first then it soon became hungrier kisses till her tongue was inside his mouth and they were trying their best to get inside without breaking anything. The maids were already gone for the night after they had cleaned up everything, the large house was quiet enough for their panting to echo as they made their way inside.

"Hyunjin, baby," she pulled his face off her neck to make him face her while she sat on top of him.

"What is it?" He asked while desperately trying to attach himself on her again but he obediently listened because for some reason he would always grow weak at her little nicknames for him.

"How long do you plan on staying?" She asked while kissing his jaw and neck softly.

"Until I'm satisfied," he leaned his head back to release a shaky breath while his grip

"Let's see how long you can last," she whispered then palmed him softly, Hyunjin quick to moan at her sudden actions.

Hyunjin grunted and moaned with each touch while his hands held her waist against him and his lips attached themselves on hers roughly. It wasn't long till Seoyun pulled herself away from him with a savage look in her eyes, "I want you, but if you tell me to stop I will because I'm not sure I can control myself any longer," she said while trying her best to not push him down and strip him while he was still underneath her.

"Just shut up and kiss me harder." And with nothing else to stop them, they continued for the rest of the night.