♫ : hot & cold - kai, seulgi, jeno, karina

Jake leaned back in his seat, his headphones blurring out any other noises in the airplane. His fingers tapped absentmindedly against the armrest and his thoughts were nowhere near the movie playing on the small screen in front of him.

It had been years, fifteen to be exact, since he'd last been to South Korea. He still remembered the warmth of its summers and the smell of tteokbokki floating through the alleyways.

But that was a lifetime ago. He was nine at that time, chasing after soccer balls and begging his mom for extra slices of watermelon. Now, twenty-four, the idea of returning felt unreal.

And still, here he was, on a ten-hour flight to the country he once called home.

The news came suddenly, just two weeks ago, when his boss at the design firm informed him about an exciting but lengthy business trip. The South Korean branch had been requesting additional support for months, and Jake's name had been at the top of the list.

At first, he wasn't sure if he wanted to go. Sure, it was an incredible opportunity, but leaving his life in Australia, even temporarily, felt daunting.

Jake's parents were thrilled when they heard about the trip. "It's a great opportunity for you," his mom said. "And it's been so long since you've been back."

The conversation quickly turned to logistics. His dad, ever practical, had already started making arrangements. "You'll need a place to stay," he'd pointed out, scrolling through his phone. "I think Mr. Choi, one of our old friends, has an apartment for rent near your office."

A week later, it was settled. The apartment was furnished just before Jake's flight, ready for him to move in the moment he arrived. Jake didn't think much of it at first, too caught up packing and preparing for work.

It wasn't until his mom casually mentioned it over a family dinner a few days after that the detail clicked into place.

"Oh, and isn't that the same building where she lives?"

Jake froze, his chopsticks halfway to his mouth.

"What?"

"You remember, don't you?" his mom said, her tone light. "She has her own place now. Cute little loft apartment. Her mom mentioned it a while ago. I think it's right next door to where you'll be staying."

Jake didn't respond, but his heart thudded in his chest.

Next door.

The flight to South Korea was long and boring. Jake spent most of it with his headphones in, letting music distract him from his thoughts. He told himself he wasn't nervous.

This was just a business trip, and the apartment situation was just a coincidence. There was nothing to be nervous about.

Still, when the plane touched down at Incheon Airport, his stomach was in literal knots.

He stepped out into the cold winter air and the temperature hit him like a wall. It wasn't the mild and breezy winters of Australia, it was bone-chilling. The kind of cold that pierces through layers of clothing and settles into your skin.

Jake tightened the scarf around his neck, trying not to shiver as he dragged his suitcase toward the taxi stand.

The drive to the apartment was quiet, and Jake stared out the window, watching the cityscape blur past. It was the same but different.

The neon signs were bright, the streets crowded, and the buildings tall. But every now and then, a familiar detail would catch his eye - a store he swore he'd been to as a kid, or a street name that sounded too familiar to be a coincidence.

By the time Jake arrived at the apartment, he was exhausted. After unpacking just enough to get by for the night, Jake's stomach growled loudly, reminding him he hadn't eaten since the airplane meal hours ago.

A convenience store run sounded like the easiest option.

The store was only a short walk from the apartment complex. Jake shoved his hands deep into his pockets as he walked, the cold biting at his nose.

Inside, the warmth hit him immediately. It was small but packed with everything Jake needed. Instant noodles, a prepackaged kimbap roll, and a bottle of water. He wasn't picky, just tired and hungry.

Jake ate quickly at one of the small tables by the window. Outside, the city was full of life, but it somehow felt peaceful. The world here moved at a different pace than the one he was used to.

He finished his meal, tossing the trash into the bin before heading back to the apartment.

The elevator was on the verge of closing when he spotted a narrow sliver of light disappearing behind the metal doors.

"Hold the door, please!" he called out.

The doors paused, and Jake stepped inside quickly, grateful to escape the cold. He looked up to thank the person who had held it for him...

And then, he froze.

There she was.

It was her.

She was standing in the corner, her gaze flickering up to meet his as the soft yellow light of the elevator illuminated her face.

Jake felt the breath leave his lungs.

She was more beautiful than he could ever have imagined.

Her hair framed her face perfectly, and her eyes, the same ones he remembered from all those photos... They were quiet, warm. Stunning. And in her hands, there was a bag of what seemed like steamed dumplings.

Jake knew, in that moment, that he was done for.

So, so done. So fucking in love.