"Ha, they're all really fun."

Seongwoo scoffed as he remembered to only an hour ago. Why couldn't the boys be... less embarrassing?

"I guess so."

Currently, Nam Hyeju and Ong Seongwoo were sitting on a stone bench that overlooked the sea before them. Night had already peaked, the dark skies greeting them with the bright moon and many stars. Seongwoo got to admit that having this small time to be with the girl he hadn't seen for over a year was by sheer luck. He was sure that when he asked his manager if he could go catch up with her for a couple hours, he would decline.

However, he gotten an okay.

As flabbergasted as he was to be allowed, he couldn't have been any happier to be spending a little bit more time with Hyeju.

Before he could even take her away, the rest of Wanna One were quick to introduce themselves to the short-haired lass. It was a lively time, with all the guys wondering who Hyeju was to Seongwoo... even though they all already sensed it. The boys had tease a bit about the two as if it were their duty to do so. In that short time, they felt a little closer to Hyeju as she shyly declined all their assumptions. And before they can attack them anymore, Seongwoo was already pushing Hyeju out of the testosterone toxic room to save her.

"Hyung, she's really cute," Daniel noted when Hyeju was out of earshot. "And honestly, I'm happy for you." The rest of Wanna One chimed in agreement, some even lamely congratulating him for reuniting with the girl. Seongwoo had to roll his eyes. He thought he was the extra one in the group.

"Go catch up with her," Jisung beamed, waving his hand to shoo him off. "Take as much time as you need, we'll cover for you."

And thus, Seongwoo and Hyeju then decided to talk a bit at the bench by the sea. They sat close to one another, to the point that their arms brushed against each other at every slight movement. The lad was itching to grab her hand right now, but he knew that was risky. After all, he had no clue what could've happened the month and a half they lost contact. So much could've changed within the seemingly short period of time.

The thought made his heart ache. He still really liked her.

"So, I guess I should explain what happened in the month or so, hmm?" Hyeju chimed.

Her words caught Seongwoo by surprise, as if she had just read his mind. He glimpsed at her, and saw that she wasn't looking back at him. Her gaze was at the calm waters, avoiding his eyes. With the breeze making her hair sway and the natural moonlight shining on her face, she looked even more beautiful but... solemn.

"An explanation would be nice."

Hyeju's lips perked. "Well, so... how do I even begin?"

"Take your time."

She recollected her thoughts for a good minute. As Seongwoo watched her do so, there were times when she looked ready to cry, her eyes misting over. He wanted to so desperately reach out for her, but again, he knew that she needs to prepare herself. Let's save any further hugging until later.

"It was like, right after we last messaged each other," Hyeju started off. Her hands were balled together on her lap and now her own gaze was downwards as well. "I got an email from my sunbae back from Kosin University, who works at Mongolia Construction Company."

If Seongwoo remembered correctly, that was one of the biggest construction companies in Korea. He had seen their logos around Seoul whenever there was a new building being made and such. He nodded for her to continue.

"And he was telling me about how he wanted to give me an opportunity to intern with them if I sent them some of my work." A smile tugged at her lips. "And as much as I loved studying in Japan, I thought this was the perfect next step."

The frown returned when she finally met his eyes. "And since I was transferring back into Korea, I had my phone changed back to my Korean number with a new phone. But ever since moving back to Korea, it had been one busy day after another and I couldn't help but lose contact with you and all of my other friends in Japan for the whole month. My sunbae got me working with them since the day I came back to discuss my work and we've been working hard on these upcoming projects. That and juggling with school work at Kosin. I always meant to install Line and get back to messaging you to congratulate you for making it to the top 11 but then--"

Seongwoo placed a hand in her shoulder, causing her to stop her rambling. "Hyeju-yah, it's okay. I understand. I've kept you in the dark for a month too, how about we say we're even?"

The lass let out a long sigh, relieved to hear him say that.

"Also, oh my god, this is you working towards your dream. How can I be mad at you for doing that?"

"Haha, well, seeing you work so vigorously towards your dream, I had to pick up the pace with mine." She was teary-eyed again, and this time, she didn't stop herself from letting a tear fall. This time, it was more for the overwhelming joy she felt towards him. "Jesus, I knew you would do it. It hasn't even been a full year since Fantagio accepted you and now you basically won one of the most anticipated survival shows in the nation. I'm so proud of you."

"God, you sound like my mom." The idol couldn't help himself now, he reached over and wiped at her dampened cheeks with his thumbs, gently caressing her in his hands. "Stop that, you're going to make me cry too."

She nodded as she began drying her own eyes. "You must've suffered a lot on that show. I just wished I could've done something to have made it easier."

"Our messages was helpful enough, Hyeju," he beamed at her.

It truly was something spectacular to have met this way.

"So... I do have another question."

Hyeju eyed him suspiciously. Her crying was over, she had successfully calmed down her emotions as they had sat side by side in silence for a small moment. "Which is?"

"Are you..." It felt like a lump in his throat, Seongwoo couldn't seem to finish his sentence. Sure, he knew of Hyeju's situation now, but was she able to fit in some much-deserved romance while they were apart? He would understand.

"Am I?..." She blinked at him.

Why must she act so cute right now?!

Seongwoo felt his cheeks redden the longer he stared at her. He only hoped that the night sky was dark enough to hide the true color of his face. "Are you still... uh..."

"I know we've haven't heard each other's voices for a long time, but don't tell me you forgot how to talk to me."

Ah, the sass. I missed that.

"Are you dating anyone?"

There, I said it.

Hyeju was taken aback. "Dating?" He could see her cheeks flush... which could've meant she saw him blush too. "Ah..." She looked shy once again at the sudden question. "No, I'm not. I... very much have feelings for a certain idol."

A wave of relief washed over Seongwoo.

Their feelings hadn't changed.

Thank goodness.

A smiled carved onto her lips. "And that idol is Hwang Minhyun."

"What?!"

Hyeju let out a boisterous laugh, letting Seongwoo know she was only joking. He bit down on his lip. He can't believe he let her dupe him like that so easily. But really... she can't play with his emotions like that.

Once her laughter died down, she replied, "I will have to admit though, I am a fan of Nu'est. I've told you that before when I found out they were participating in the show."

"I know, I know."

"Minhyun-oppa is very handsome in person. So is everyone else!"

Seongwoo turned to her with a pout etched on his face. "Oppa? Nam Hyeju, you know how long I've waited to hear you call me Seongwoo-oppa face to face?" He let out an exasperated groan. "First you teased me, and now I had to hear you call someone else from my team oppa?"

Without warning, Hyeju clutched at his arm and batted her lashes at him in a very cute manner. "Aww, Seongwoo-oppa, don't be mad! You know I only like you!"

There it was. The final blow.

Nam Hyeju completely stolen his heart.

Ugh. Why was he thinking of Jihoon's jeojang right now? This wasn't the time.

"That was cringey, wasn't it?"

Seongwoo moved to intwine his fingers with hers. He grinned, their hands still fit perfectly together. "It was, but at least it was from you."

After a little longer of just enjoying each other's company, Hyeju suggested that they should go eat. She knew very well how hard Seongwoo was working throughout the day with the music videos.

Hyeju and Seongwoo took a taxi. It didn't take but only 15 minutes to arrive at a place to eat. They were still by the sea, plenty of local restaurants open for people to have dinner in, despite the late hours. Hyeju didn't hesitate to waltzed into the somewhat run-down establishment and sit down at one of the unoccupied tables.

Around, a few people still sat and ate. They all looked happy eating their food, and they seemed close to who looked to be the owners of the shop. These people must be returning customers, just like how Eunhyuk was for the Lucky Cat Ramen back in Tokyo.

Dang, now Seongwoo was craving a bit of their cheesecake.

"Oh." The female waitress didn't look that much older than either of them stopped by their table. She glanced back and forth between the two of them mostly eying Seongwoo, before she piped up, "Hello, welcome. Have you decided what you would like?"

"We'll have the seafood *dak galbi with some cheese-filled tteokbokki," Hyeju. The woman nodded, giving one last glance at Seongwoo, before returning to the kitchen to tell their order to the elderly cooks.

*A/n: Dak Galbi is a stir fry dish and tteokbokki are spicy rice cakes.

Within minutes, the elderly woman shuffled over to their table with a portable gas stove and a pan. The same waitress came back with a basket full of the ingredients needed for the dak galbi, as well as plates, glasses of water, and perilla leaves for them. While the woman left them on their own after that, she still lingered nearby, tending mostly customers at close tables.

The elderly woman then began cooking the dak galbi for the couple, humming a tune as she did so. Seongwoo watched in awe as the food was prepared before his eyes, he was clearly amazed by how the older woman cooked with amazing skill. Once she finished cooking, the chef then bowed at them, telling them to have a good meal before she could leave.

"Aw, hal-meoni, why don't you and hal-abeoji take a rest now? I think we're your last customers for the night," Hyeju told the elderly woman with a kind smile. "Eomma and appa should be done at the fish market now and come home soon."

"Ah, just a little longer, Hyeju-yah, we'll just clean up and then we can rest." She grinned over at Seongwoo, who only let the puzzle pieces be put together in his mind on what was happening. "I hope you two have a good meal. I made it with extra care." The woman then returned back into the kitchen to meet with what he guessed was her husband.

Seongwoo glanced over at Hyeju, who was already preparing some of the dak galbi into the perilla leaf for him. She held it out, nicely wrapped for him to take with an innocent smile on her face.

"Are we in your family's restaurant right now?"

"Possibly."

"Oh my god."

The two ate their meal. It was all delicious, and Seongwoo was very satisfied by the time they were finished. And since they were the last customers to come in for the night, they were the last ones left in the restaurant by the time they were done.

Once the restaurant was empty from other customers, their waitress then trotted back to their table, taking the empty seat right by Hyeju. She held an amused and quite bewildered expression as she stared hard into Seongwoo's face. "I still don't want to believe it, Juju. But... he's right here in our restaurant."

Hyeju gave a roll of her eyes. "Oppa, this is my sister--"

"Ah! Aerin-noona," Seongwoo uttered, bowing his head towards the older girl. "Nice to meet you."

Aerin gasped, glimpsing over at Hyeju with bulging eyes. "Oh my gosh, noona. The boy is handsome, talented, and respectful. Maybe I should fly over to Japan and find myself a man."

"Unnie, first of all, you don't know any Japanese. Secondly, finding a Korean in Japan was as rare as it was. Thirdly and lastly, why must you do this?" Hyeju sighed before taking a sip of her water. "Act normal for once."

"I watched all of Produce 101!" Aerin cut in, not paying any attention to her younger sister. This earned an irritated groan from Hyeju herself. "You were fantastic and I hope for you and Wanna One to have a very successful debut! I'm a very proud Wannable."

Seongwoo beamed back at her, "Thank you for supporting us."

Hands smack down on the table, Aerin lets out yet another gasp. "Wow, your visuals are no joke, Seongwoo. I'm so happy to finally be blessed with them on this miraculous day."

Hyeju was done with her sister. "I think it's about time we go."

"What, whyyy?" Aerin whined. "If you two are dating, then shouldn't I, as your lovable unnie, be able to interrogate him to see if he's the one for you?"

"Does handsome, talented, and respectful not satisfy you?"

"Mmm, all good qualities, but we should dig a little deeper, right?"

Well, this was much better, Seongwoo had thought. He would much rather prefer being interrogated by the fangirling sister rather than his mischievous members making Hyeju flustered.

Right then, two people walked into the restaurant, one man and one woman. Seongwoo didn't have to think long on who those two may be. Without hesitation, he was quick to greet the adults, making Hyeju both surprised and pleased to see.

Ah, he was meeting her family. This was something a couple does. And really, having this kind of personal moment before he could be a full-fledged idol was something special. Something he can keep close to heart.

They greeted Seongwoo with a wonderful warmth too, the same kind of warmth he felt whenever he was around Hyeju back when they were in Tokyo. He was sure this was another kind of fateful meeting, seeing that Wanna One was filming in the very city Hyeju had grown up in.

Suddenly, he could even see a kind of future with all of them in it, along with his family.

Ah, that's too soon a thought, ain't it?

They had spent a whole hour together before Hyeju mentioned that Seongwoo would have to return to his crew. The Nam family all bid goodbyes to Seongwoo with wishes of a successful future. Hyeju's mother even gave him a farewell hug, one full with motherly affection... from Aerin as well (possibly making her dreams come true).

Hyeju and Seongwoo were back outside, this time taking a walk towards the direction of where Wanna One were staying. They held hands along the way, at ease and at peace.

The male decided to break their comfortable silence.

"So... your family kind of referred to me as your boyfriend, or at least the guy you're dating."

Hyeju let out a cough to let out the awkwardness that built up inside her by the mere statement. "Ah, that. Um. Like... I only really mentioned you as the guy I met and dated and liked and all... I don't think they know the difference between past and present tense."

"Hah, I don't know, I really loved the idea that they thought of me like that the whole time," Seongwoo replied, his cocky side clearly showing. "When they watched Produce 101, did they ever point at the screen every time I come on and say oh that's your boyfriend, Hyeju?"

"They noted how much of an oddball you are, that's for sure. Even though I know you, sometimes I question some things you did on that show."

Well, it's probably best to drop that topic there.

"You know, since I just remembered, I'm pretty sure the guys are all of the cake you brought for us," Seongwoo noted, changing subjects out of the blue.

Hearing that, Hyeju giggled, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She could already imagine the rest of Wanna One devouring the cake. No one could ever resist the sweet delicacy. "Well, whenever you have time, you'll definitely have to stop by the bakery I bought it from. Their cakes are the absolute best."

"Ah, what about the cheesecake back at the Lucky Cat?"

"Oh... don't make me choose a favorite, my head might implode."

The two continued on their walk down the cement pathway, just talking about anything that came to mind. Can the moment be any more perfect? The scene was beautiful, the feelings were there, Seongwoo felt like he can do absolutely anything.

After a while, they came to a stop just by the bench they had sat on only a couple hours before. This was their mark to where they have to part, Hyeju wouldn't be allowed anywhere near that area anyway due to YMC's rules. They still had to follow them, after all, for security. Hyeju could respect that.

"I can see you tomorrow, right? Maybe I can get permission from my manager for you to visit us from time to time?" Seongwoo asked.

"Yeah, you can see me tomorrow," Hyeju grinned at him. "Maybe during lunch break and I can maybe escape all of my coworkers to see you, if I do happen to get that permission."

"But that means you have to install Line-- actually, no. Let's do that right now!"

"Or, you know, we can have each other's actual numbers since we are in the same country now."

"That too."

They did exactly that, exchanging their phone numbers and saving it. Hyeju made sure to send a message to check if it had gone through. Once confirming that they now can actually text, Seongwoo then promised that he would message her about the plan tomorrow.

"Ah, we haven't seen each other for over a year, I don't want to leave you just yet," Seongwoo whined.

"Don't be a baby... we know what's going to happen anyway."

It was sudden and really heartbreaking to hear, he knew exactly what she meant.

He was going to become an actual idol a part of the boy group the nation had voted for. There's going to be so many eyes on him and the others, privacy will no longer be existent to them. And that meant this relationship will...

No, he didn't want this kind of fate between them.

If they were going to meet by miraculous chance every time, then this relationship will work out in the end. He knows it.

"This is such a weird thing to ask right after you said that but I'm going to ask anyway."

Hyeju stared at him expectingly. "Okay, ask away."

"Can I kiss you?"

Caught by surprise for probably the hundredth time tonight, the short-haired girl wasn't sure about what to say... so she nodded in response. With an uncontrollable smile, Seongwoo leaned in and pressed his lips upon hers.

Sweet and soft, that's all he could describe her lips against his.

And what was that, a spark? It reminded him of the fireworks they saw together in Disneyland. The day where they had confessed to each other, possibly, on impulse. Spur of the moment.

It may have been weird to fall for some stranger in a matter of days in an unknown place. It was a slimmer chance to actually have those feelings reciprocated and act upon it.

Still very much into one another despite the time and distance.

Nam Hyeju had been Seongwoo's turning point in life. She was his beacon of light and the warmth he needed in the cold life he was leading before. Even though there was the inevitable future ahead for the both of them, they wouldn't have had it any other way. They didn't regret falling for each other.

And if this was real, then they'll be fine.

"Nam Hyeju, I haven't told you this in a long while but I just really like you a lot," Seongwoo murmured in nearly a whisper. "At this point, I know it's going to be hard, but I want this work out. With everything that happened, I'm pretty damn sure that us is right."

"I'm glad we both agree."

A/n: Ending note next~