Lia wrapped her arms around Y/N in a comforting hug. "You'll make the decision when the time is right. I'll support you either way. I'd love to have you and your mother back here, but you have to do what's best for you." Releasing her, Lia grabbed her purse and keys from the coffee table. "Alright. I have to go pick up Jina and take her to soccer practice. Call if you need anything else or think of something we forgot."

"I will."

"Are you sure you don't want to come over for dinner tonight?"

Y/N waved her cousin off. "Yeah, but thanks anyway. I'll grab something at the hotel, then stop at the supermarket and pick up some food on my way here tomorrow. At least the refrigerator is clean now." It'd been the first thing they'd worked on when Lia had arrived earlier. 

Thank God the electric bills were on auto-pay, so it hadn't been too disgusting to throw out everything in the freezer and fridge that'd been there for at least two months before scrubbing the interior.

She'd flown into Busan yesterday, picked up the SUV she'd rented, and driven to the hotel not far from her aunt's house. While Emily had kept her home clean, it'd been two months since anyone had been in it. Y/N had decided to wait until she and Lia could take a quick inventory of what they needed and give everything a good scrubbing before she moved in for the next few weeks. In addition to the kitchen, they'd cleaned both bathrooms earlier.

"Ugh. You won't figure this out tonight," Y/N said aloud.

Making sure she had the list Lia had given her, she gathered her purse and the keys to the rented Toyota. Two hours later, the rear of the SUV was stocked with storage totes and bags filled with everything she needed. Arriving at the hotel, she pulled up to the valet parking, thankful she didn't have to empty the vehicle since they had a secure lot for their guests.

When a uniformed young man opened the door, she climbed out. "Is there a quiet place within walking distance where I can get noodles or something?"

The hotel had an excellent restaurant, but it was pricey. Thirty-five dollars for a bowl of bibimbap or a plate of bulgogi seemed excessive, especially since she wanted something quick and easy.

Busan had grown tremendously since she'd lived there, and most of the town didn't seem familiar to her anymore. Many new malls, shopping centers, office buildings, housing developments, and condo complexes had been added.  Her old high school was in the same place, but another building had been added, doubling its size. There were still a few businesses she recognized from long ago, but those were few and far between.

The valet pointed toward the end of the street. "Stay on this side and go past the traffic light. Another half block down, there's a great place called J' Grill. The food is awesome, and it shouldn't be too crowded since it's Tuesday."

"Thank you." She tipped him when he handed her a claim stub.

Glancing down at her T-shirt and jeans, Y/N frowned when she saw how dirty they'd gotten throughout the day. Smudges of dust and grime were too noticeable for her to be out in public, so she headed into the hotel and took the elevator to her room.

Thirty minutes later, she was scrubbed clean after a refreshing shower and dressed in a pair of high-waisted, light blue denim shorts and a flowy white blouse with delicate lace details around the neckline. She paired this with a casual yet stylish pair of white sneakers. A light application of blush, eyeliner, and lip gloss enhanced her facial features. Her hair was still damp but styled into soft waves that fell loosely over her shoulders. It was thick, so she usually let it air dry for a while before using a blow dryer, but tonight, she opted for a natural, effortless look.

It was a beautiful mid-spring evening, with a temperature of sixty-eight degrees according to a weather app on her phone, so the walk from the hotel was enjoyable, and it didn't take long to arrive at her destination. It sat between a hair salon and a small bookstore. A hunter-green awning complemented the pub's rich dark wood exterior. Above that, an image of a cat playing a fiddle and the establishment's name was carved into a large, decorative wooden sign. The place was inviting, and had she just come across it, she probably would've chosen to eat there even without the valet's recommendation.

Glancing upward at the rest of the building, she noticed what appeared to be four floors of apartments. It was in a nice area and not too far from the train station, and she briefly wondered what the downtown rents were in Haeundae nowadays. The main streets had been updated over the years, and attractive lampposts, flower beds, and trees now lined the outer edges of the sidewalks. Older buildings had been replaced by newer ones, or their facades had gotten facelifts. It wouldn't be a hardship to live there again if she decided to move back.

Opening the door, she strode in and found the restaurant's interior was just as pleasant—cozy and welcoming. The valet had been right. It was quiet, although a few customers were scattered among several tables while others were sitting at the long, elaborate bar that seemed to be made from the same wood used for the front facade.

Not wanting to sit alone at a table, Y/N took a stool at the bar, leaving several empty ones between herself and two older men watching a sports channel on a TV above the shelves filled with liquor bottles. At the far end, a lone bartender had his back to her as he prepared drinks for a waiting server. Beyond that was the entrance to the kitchen and a hallway that probably led to the bathrooms. 

Opposite the bar were two openings to another room, one at the front of the restaurant and the other at the back. She peeked through the closest one, and the room appeared to be another dining area. It was probably used for parties or overflow on busy nights.

A small bar menu was propped up in a holder in front of the seat next to her, and she snatched it, hoping to find something that sounded good enough to order. However, she was so famished that she would eat practically anything. She'd had breakfast around 8:30 a.m. before heading over to Aunt Emily's and nothing since, except a few bottles of water and a granola bar she'd brought with her.

While she was perusing the menu, a coaster slid across the bar and landed in front of her.

 A deep, rumbling voice said, "Hi, welcome to J's Grill. Can I get you something to drink?"

Her gaze lifted, and her jaw nearly hit the floor as she prayed her mind was playing tricks on her.

Holy shit! No, it can't be. Please, no.

But it was. She'd recognize that handsome yet devilish face anywhere, even after all these years.

 Jeon Jungkook.

Fuck!

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Wahh long ass chapter jazz......next will be up if this chapter hits 10+ updates