CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: "Slow Awakening"

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Seonghwa POV:

San and I had taken the moment of rare opportunity to practice sparring against one another, one where I felt to be a great form of both distraction and improvement. However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of shame at the last encounter shared with the blue-haired male. Deep down I felt the urge to apologize, to accept my faults and wrongdoings against him. The physical burden of being away from him only magnified the shame, as it was clear that the more I see him, the more the bond was forming stronger between us without haste.

San, sensing my unfocused mind, took the chance to playfully pinned me down onto the rubber mat with a proud smirk. "Finally, I get one on you!"

Chuckling, I nodded in agreement and defeat. "Consider it a lucky chance, asshole."

Holding a hand to help me up, we both granted each other smiles before the sound of Hyunjin's voice broke through the arena. "Hwa, I had another vision..."

The air within the arena stilled as the tension of the words laid its claim onto the floor. Considering how close in between the last vision to this one came, one could only think about the possible impact of the inevitable.

Glancing at San, I sighed. "Looks like I'll be visiting someone sooner than I thought, and I need to take Hyunjin with me this time."

"Makes sense...next time, it's my turn again." San sadly smiled before disappearing into the wind, leaving just the two of us left in the barren arena.

Hyunjin spoke up calmly. "I don't think it's the right time for me to meet your.....potential partner as of yet, Hwa. Things are still very much unclear regarding the circumstances of the situation."

"All the more reason for you to come. Besides...I have my own reasoning as to why I need to see him."

•••

Following Hyunjin's choice to arrive without a car to Hongjoong's place, it was after midnight when we stood outside the male's apartment door in patient wait.

"Wooyoung told me that he let the kid know about our arrival, but he didn't seem too pleased by the sudden notice..." Hyunjin whistled. "What the hell did you do to piss him off that bad?"

Sighing, I shook my head. "It doesn't matter what I did. What matters now is my atonement for my wrongdoings towards him, as well as regaining his trust."

Hyunjin tilted his head in curiosity as he noticed Hongjoong's car entering the lot first before turning his head to me. "...and you think having me here is going to help you with your groveling regarding this human?"

"Take it as a blessing that I chose Wooyoung to be his bodyguard and not you...considering that you begged me to switch it last minute anyways."

"Point made..."

The two of us watched as the vehicle settled into the parking space, my mind reeling with different thoughts about how to express my apologies to the male of my current desire. It was clear how much I longed for him in such a short period of time, my body physically reacting in blooming adrenaline at just the mere sight of him again. Based on a little insight of Hyunjin's vision, tonight was important in more ways than ever regarding the future between us.

I just need to be prepared for the possibility of rejection...

Hongjoong and Wooyoung stepped out the car and began to make their way towards us. Choosing to meet him halfway, I began my stride to the blue-haired male with a soft smile on my face. Only a few inches apart from one another, the two of us stared at each other for a moment before we both unintentionally spoke in unison.

"I'm sorry."

"I apologize."

I could hear Hyunjin standing behind me chuckled while Wooyoung rolled his eyes. "Well isn't this a sight to see...."

"I freaking told you, a damn Korean drama with these two." Wooyoung teased, making his way over to Hyunjin with a smile. "I'm surprised you left Felix to come along."

"It was orders, obviously. Besides, I had another....premonition..." Hyunjin muttered quietly.

Holding my hand up to silence the two, my eyes never left the gaze of Hongjoong's as I spoke firmly in command. "I need to talk to Hongjoong first before we get into all of that...please leave us."

The two males nodded obediently and in a flash, they both disappeared into the night. Hongjoong's eyes grew wide as he glanced over my shoulder in surprise. "W-Where did they go? San didn't do that last time...?"

"Please, that's normal..." I smiled, placing a hand onto his cheek tenderly as I stepped closer. To my surprise, the male leaned into my touch almost immediately, causing the tension in my body to leave briefly as I whispered. "Hongjoong...I apologize for my outburst...it's been on my mind ever since and I couldn't bear to not tell you how sorry I am..."

"I think we both feel the need to apologize...." He spoke softly with a sad smile, "I shouldn't have sent you away like that...you were just trying to protect me..."

"I still shouldn't have said it like that, that was beyond insensitive and that's my fault."

Chuckling, Hongjoong shook his head. "Are we really going back and forth about who is more sorry than the other? I think that's silly."

"As long as you let me win, then fine." I smiled, resting my forehead against his own. "I missed you..."

"I don't believe you. Wooyoung told me that you're their 'master', so that means you are extremely busy...way too busy to miss me." The male teased.

No matter what, I'll always make time for you...

"Never..."

Part of me wanted to negate that comment, but I chose not to. There was still too much he didn't know about me, and the time for explaining wasn't now. However, I knew that he had a hold on me like no other, one where I could not see myself without him in my life anymore. It was only a matter of time, both literally and figuratively, to see if I could either have him for this temporary lifetime... or for eternity.

Before he could respond, I pulled his face gently toward my own as I pressed a tender kiss onto his lips, one where I poured all my emotions into: apologies, longing, patience. I wanted him to know not only how regretful I was, but also how much he meant to me.
There was hesitation in response at first, but before I pulled away, I could feel the welcoming press of his lips back against my own from the male.

In that moment, something broke inside my chest, a feeling where words could barely encapsulate the immense pressure flowing through my veins.

He's mine..

Pulling away for a second, I watched as his eyes fluttered open as he whispered. "...is this normal...? This feeling...I don't know what this is..."

Smiling, I pressed a kiss onto his forehead. "It's alright...tell me what you're feeling."

"It's...like a wave of warmth filled me. I haven't felt anything like this before..."

"It's love, Hongjoong. The feeling is called love." I whispered, a pang of guilt instantly hitting me as I cradled his cheek closer to me, "...how has someone like you never experienced such a thing? That's almost blasphemy in my eyes."

Hongjoong closed his eyes as he chuckled, but this time I could hear the sound laced with bitterness. "Someone like me grew up in a world where love came with consequences and conditions."

"Well, that will not be the case with me...I give you my word and my life."

The male's eyes grew wide as he looked up at me, a faint nervous whisper escaping his lips. "...Seonghwa..."

"Shhh," I smiled, pressing another gentle kiss to silence him, "I mean it...my life is yours."

Before he could press any further, both Hyunjin and Wooyoung reappeared behind me as I pulled away with a playful eye roll. "I take it you two were watching?"

Wooyoung sniffled, brushing away a fake tear. "I couldn't help it, that whole thing was just beautiful."

"As much as I'd like to not interrupt you, things need to start progressing further now," Hyunjin spoke up, focusing his next words carefully towards the blue-haired male with a smirk.

"Welcome to the family Hongjoong...we have a lot to discuss."