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Jaehyuk flips through his journal and marks the places he already visited. He traveled across cities, across continents to find him.
Jaehyuk dreams about this soulmate of his since he became fifteen. Memories from his past life came back and a particular person keeps on appearing.
Later on he realized it was his soulmate from his previous life. Just like any other person in the world, he remembers his past life and his soulmate in that past life.
A person's soul has a total of nine lives to live. In the first life, if you're lucky enough, you'll meet your soulmate. For the rest of your nine lives that person would be your soulmate. Some people find them on the second or fourth, some people don't and some people, knowing their soulmate has hurt them, chose to ignore the cycle.
Even though soulmates exist, people still have free will. Jaehyuk is in his eighth life now and yet he chose to find his other half even if it would take him years. He knew that nobody else held his heart but his soulmate. He knew, after seven lifetimes, he's still the one. He traveled back to the places where they met at his previous lifetimes for a clue where to find him in the next. But so far, no luck.
Now he's back to Korea to rest. He's sipping his morning coffee in a random cafe near his new apartment. He was called home for a new job offering and he decided to take it for a year. Then he'll travel again.
He sips the last of his coffee and exits the place not noticing a pair of eyes trailing him.
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"Good morning, I'm Yoon Jaehyuk, your new Marketing Director" Jaehyuk introduces himself.
The company was owned by his friend and he took the position upon special request since the previous head resigned due to old age. Although there are few unpleasant looks from the other members of the team. Maybe because they hoped to get the job themselves.
The meeting finished after an hour, it was just an overview of the current operations right now. Jaehyuk already knew most of it because he studied about this before coming.
"Sir, we have scheduled your meeting later 1pm with the head of the Creative Director" His secretary informs
"Okay, thank you" Jaehyuk leaned on his seat and sighed. Something is about to happen, he feels it. Yet he can't pinpoint what. He shrugged and ignored the feeling.
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"Sir, the Director is waiting for you in the conference room" His secretary notified him.
"He's early" Jaehyuk picks up his things and follows his secretary.
His heart is beating fast and he doesn't know why. He froze in front of the door for a minute.
"Sir? Is there any problem?" His secretary asks
"No, nothing" Jaehyuk fakes a smile.
What shocks him is when the door opens, he sees him. Across the room, sitting at the far end corner of the long table.
His soulmate.
'I finally found you my sun.'
The person he loved for seven lifetimes and now for the eighth. He knew it was him. It's about feelings and instinct.
His soulmate probably felt it because he stopped writing and looked up. Their eyes met and it was as if a spark had ignited. The world around them froze.
"Sir, this is Mr. Hamada, the Creative Director" His secretary interrupts and wakes both of them from the trance.
"H-hi… I mean hello, I'm Yoon Jaehyuk, the new Marketing Head." Jaehyuk stutters and laughs within because fuck his brains froze with him earlier.
"Hello, I'm Hamada Asahi, uhm… have we met?" Asahi asks
'Yes, we did, for seven lifetimes actually.'
“No, we haven't,” Jaehyuk smiles, not leaving Asahi’s eyes.
Asahi, on the other hand, feels like they did. He’ll think about that later, for now they need to get on with this meeting.
The meeting went on smoothly but Asahi felt uneasy because Jaehyuk kept on looking at him. He felt uneasy, yes, but he pouts if Jaehyuk isn't looking, he wants the attention. Their short meeting ends and Jaehyuk bids goodbye. Asahi just sat on his seat, thinking where he saw their new Marketing Director, he's just too familiar.
'What is happening to you, Asahi?' He said to himself and went back to his office.
______________________________________________________
After meeting Asahi, Jaehyuk is sure, his soulmate doesn't remember. Just like the past lifetimes, Asahi's memories always came later. They're both 29 year olds now and just like in the past lifetimes, Jaehyuk waits.
Jaehyuk waits but that doesn't mean he isn't doing something to make Asahi remember. He sends him coffee, his favorite, flowers of his liking and a few gifts. He sends them to Asahi's office anonymously. His secretary knows but he made sure she doesn't spill.
______________________________________________________
Weeks went on like that. Asahi raises his eyebrows every time a gift, a coffee or a bouquet is on his table. Honestly he's baffled because all those things are his favorites. Who in the world knows what he likes, even his childhood friend doesn't know his favorite flower. He kept asking people around but it's as if their lips are tied shut. His head aches a lot from thinking.
And just like any other day, Asahi goes home with many questions in his mind. He picks up his stuff and goes home.
A pack of people are waiting by the elevator again and it's gonna be a riot to get in. The bell dings and the people rush inside and Asahi gets squished at the corner. He thought he'd be squished more but somebody put his arms over Asahi's shoulders to lift the divider to bolster against the pushing individuals. He looked up and froze.
Jaehyuk.
Their eyes met again and Asahi felt the familiarity in his eyes. No one moved, no one blinked. They just stood there looking at each other, feeling the sparks ignite amidst the noisy elevator ride. The place is cramped but Asahi and Jaehyuk's reality is lost within each other's eyes.
Asahi breaks eye contact first and smiles, dimples showing.
"Your dimples are cute" Jaehyuk leans and whispers which causes Asahi to flinch because he can feel Jaehyuk's hot breath. It's making Asahi's brain malfunction.
"Thank you" Asahi replies
"Can I ask you to dinner?" Jaehyuk asks, taking all the opportunity that is presented to him.
"Okay" Asahi smiles again.
"Okay" Jaehyuk smiles too.
______________________________________________________
2nd life
"What if we won't find each other in the next lifetime?" Asahi asks
"We will, I will find you. No matter how long or how far you are. I will not stop until I find you" Jaehyuk cups Asahi's small face and gives him a peck
4th life
"Aren't you tired of me?" Asahi asks
"No. Why would I be tired of you? You're the one who gives me strength every single day" Jaehyuk hugs the small man
5th life
"I'm sorry Sahi-ya, I'm sorry" Jaehyuk mourns for the love that's no longer by his side.
Jaehyuk cries because he wasn't able to save Asahi in this lifetime. His memories came late. Asahi's Hanahaki disease got him first.
He cries on top of Asahi's coffin, apologising for coming too late.
7th life
"I am thankful because in every lifetime you always find me. I love you Jaehyukie." Asahi touches Jaehyuk's cheek.
They're in bed, lying down face to face.
"And I'll love you in all of my lifetimes" Jaehyuk kisses Asahi's forehead and hugs him to sleep
Jaehyuk stretches in his bed. He had dreamed about the past lifetimes with Asahi. He smiles because he finally found him again, he'll shower him with love and affection like what he did in the past.
It's been a month since their first encounter and the only progress Jaehyuk made was inviting Asahi to dinner. After that, nothing has happened. Their schedules don't meet up, in addition to a project the company is having, they're very busy.
Jaehyuk continues to give Asahi the flowers and gifts but the latter haven't figured out who's the sender. Jaehyuk is not an impatient person but knowing Asahi is really popular in both genders in the office, he's got a lot of competition.
One of his competitors is Park Jihoon, the Executive Director. It's been known to the entire company that he's making a move to Asahi but the younger one really has no interest in him.
Though a week ago, he overheard the two talk at the rooftop, Jaehyuk was out for a smoke but he saw the two seriously talking.
"So it's really a no? Sahiya?" Jihoon asks, Jaehyuk perks up at the endearment because he's the only one allowed to call him that.
"I'm sorry" Asahi lowers his head, he's feeling guilty but he has been honest to Jihoon since the beginning. He gave him a chance to take him on dates but the spark is not there. It's as if Asahi was waiting or looking for a particular person, the one who appears in his dreams all the time.
"I understand, I must've pressured you a lot. I'm sorry for that." Jihoon smiles "I hope this won't make us both awkward" He shuffles Asahi's hair and giggles, so does Asahi.
They're close friends as well and Jaehyuk feels jealous because Jihoon has been with Asahi for years in this lifetime before him. Jaehyuk retreats and lets the others have their privacy so he wasn't able to hear the next conversation they had.
"I heard the new marketing director took you to dinner?" Jihoon asks
"Oh, yeah, he did" Asahi doesn't know but he blushed at the memory of how Jaehyuk invited him to dinner.
"You like him" Jihoon smirks seeing how Asahi reacted
"What? No! It was just a friendly dinner" Asahi defends
"It took me technically three months to invite you to a dinner date and that guy just asked you out, out of the blue, on an elevator and you said yes immediately" Jihoon explains and flicks Asahi's forehead
"Aw! That hurts! And how did you know he asked me out in the elevator anyway" Asahi covers his red forehead
"I have my eyes and ears everywhere. Goodluck Asahi, you'll have my support" Jihoon waves goodbye
Asahi was left to ponder. True, very true. He's not the type to say yes to invites, especially to people he just knew or strangers. But he said yes to Jaehyuk immediately.
"I don't know why, but I want to see him again" Asahi whispers to the air.
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Jaehyuk heard from one of his people that Asahi was frustrated because he didn't get a chance to grab One Ok Rock's concert ticket.
So Jaehyuk used all the connections he had and got two VIP tickets for them. The challenge is how to tell Asahi.
He opens his phone and texts the younger.
J: Hi Asahi! Good morning
A: Good morning Director Yoon
J: uhm...are you free this weekend?
A: Yes, I think so, why?
J: So OOR has a concert this Saturday and I have two tickets here, so uhm.. can you accompany me?
A: OH MY GOD! How did you get those tickets? It got sold out in minutes
J: well… anyway, will you come with me?
A: Sure! I'd love to!
J: Okay I'll pick you up at your place
A: No need, let's just see each other at the venue
J: I insist
A: very persistent, well then, whatever suits you. See you then Director Yoon!
J: See you, Asa!
Jaehyuk and Asahi are now in the venue. Asahi is impressed with Jaehyuk's connections because they're seated at the VIP section near the stage. It's a dream come true for him.
Asahi has liked the band since high school. He even dreamed of becoming like them but pursuing a career like that is a gamble for a middle class person like him. So Asahi pursued his first dream, he excelled so much in the field of business and Art that's why now he's a Creative Director. He loved his job and his life.
The concert began and both of them sang the songs. Asahi is amazed how similar their preferences are. He sneaks a glimpse to Jaehyuk who's now singing his heart out and he giggles at the expression the other is making.
"Cute, he's so cute" Asahi says in his mind
Jaehyuk felt Asahi is looking so he reciprocates as he sings the lines:
Wherever you are, I'll always make you smile
Wherever you are, I'm always by your side
Whatever you say, 君を思う気持ち
I promise you "forever" right now
With that, Asahi felt the heat in his face because he felt every word and every emotion of the song directed to him.
Then suddenly memories flashes through his mind, of Jaehyuk looking at him lovingly at a cafe saying
"Mi amoré, Te amo"
The scene shifts to a bedroom, him and Jaehyuk facing each other, smiling, saying words of promise. Finally, he sees them together, now with gray hair, sitting at a bench facing the calm sea.
"I'll find you again, my love. Please wait for me" Jaehyuk says
"And I will wait for you, like how I waited for the past lifetimes. I love you." He replies
He zoomed out and he's back in the concert hall, eyes tearing up, looking at Jaehyuk.
"Asa? Are you okay?" Jaehyuk is alarmed
"Ah, sorry, I got carried away by the song" Asahi wipes his tears and smiles
"Are you sure? We can go home early if you're not feeling well" Jaehyuk asks, voice laced with concern
"Yeah" Asahi assures.
The concert ended and it was an amazing experience for both. The went straight to a place where you can overlook the city lights, with beer cans in their hands.
Yet Asahi can't settle his mind with the images that flashed through his mind earlier. The person in his dreams was Jaehyuk, he's sure about that. He wants to ask him yet he's hesitant, what if Jaehyuk tells him he's crazy.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Jaehyuk breaks Asahi's thinking
"Sorry" Asahi replies
"Sure? The night is still long, I'm all ears" Jaehyuk beams at him
Asahi sighs and smiles.
"Okay, hear me out…"
______________________________________________________
"Do you believe in soulmates?" Asahi begins
"I do" Jaehyuk smiles, he knew where the conversation would go.
"Actually, I didn't believe in that…..at first. Although people around me had their soulmates, I didn't believe that I have one" Asahi pauses 'Until today' He whispers in his mind while looking straight in Jaehyuk's eyes
"I saw my past life back there, mid concert, and I saw… someone, someone I know was there in my memories." Asahi continues "My parents, you see, they're not soulmates but they ended up together. They had a happy life then they had me so these whole soulmate set up really didn't sink in to me"
"So it's… it's new to me when I saw that someone earlier, in my mind. Like a memory, a flashback, in different timelines, in different get up" Asahi explains
Jaehyuk smiles and listens. He lets Asahi process his old memories.
"Why aren't you saying anything? And you're smiling. You probably think I'm weird and crazy….or something" Asahi pouts and Jaehyuk chuckles because honestly he wants to kiss this pretty man in front of him.
"No, no. As I said, I do believe in soulmates. I believe that in our 9 lifetimes, we get to meet the same soulmate over and over again" Jaehyuk replies
"I also believe that even though we were predestined with our soulmates, we still have our own free will." Jaehyuk says "But Asa, for me, my soulmate is going to be the only one in my heart till the end of my 9 lifetimes"
Asahi felt a prick over Jaehyuk's words. What if, yes, maybe Jaehyuk was his soulmate but he's not Jaehyuk's. What if they were not really soulmates in his memories? Maybe they're just friends? Is that even possible? Maybe that "Mi amoré, Te amo" was not meant for him. What if this foreign feeling he's having whenever he's with Jaehyuk is just one sided? What if Jaehyuk is just being friendly?
What if….. he's just assuming things because like what they said, people have the free will to choose whoever they want. What if it's just a hallucination earlier? What if it was just a product of his imagination because he's falling in love with Jaehyuk?
Jaehyuk didn't say who his soulmate was, so maybe it's not Asahi? If it was Asahi, Jaehyuk should've told him now.
Asahi is getting lost in his thoughts.
"Asa? Are you okay?" Jaehyuk snaps his fingers to get Asahi's attention
"Yeah, I'm good" Asahi's mood changed and Jaehyuk felt that Asahi's walls were all back up.
"Sure?" Jaehyuk asks again, he wants to know why Asahi suddenly felt cold
"Uhm, I want to go home? If it's okay?" Asahi avoids Jaehyuk's gaze.
"Okay, I'll take you home" Jaehyuk replies with so many questions in his mind.
______________________________________________________
That was the last time Jaehyuk ever spoke to Asahi. He's been trying to strike a conversation with Asahi whenever they cross paths within the company. He sent him a bunch of messages but none of them were returned.
Something must've happened, something must've triggered Asahi to act this way. He must've said something wrong. Jaehyuk wants to know, he wants to talk to Asahi but he can't even make him stay for five seconds.
'Desperate times calls for desperate measures' Jaehyuk needs to do something
Jaehyuk requested a meeting with the Creative Director, just the two of them with the help of his friend, the CEO. A memo was sent already under the pretense of an error to their final design.
For Asahi to believe the purpose of the meeting, Jaehyuk prepared a presentation, bunch of papers and well, him in a suit.
So he waits.
He came an hour early to prepare his mind because knowing Asahi for how many lifetimes now, that person is not the type of person who openly tells his issues. He's the type to carry the burden alone.
"Good day Director Yoon" Asahi words sounded very civil
"Hello Director Hamada, sit down please" Jaehyuk motions him to sit down.
"I don't understand the purpose of this meeting when in fact we already double checked the design we submitted. It's okay, it's already perfect." Asahi refuses to sit down, he's agitated because this is the first time he was called on for this kind of meeting. He was never called out by anyone in the company about his work and it's making him frustrated.
Jaehyuk chuckles because he really got Asahi's bad side today but whatever happens, he came here with a purpose.
"Can you sit down for a sec? Please I'm not here to fight you" Jaehyuk pleads
"I won't until you explain to me which part of our design got faulty" Asahi crosses his arms.
"Actually, this is not about the design, Asa. This is about you avoiding me. Why are you avoiding me?" Jaehyuk says
"What?!? Just that?? What a complete waste of time" Asahi moves to the door, completely annoyed but Jaehyuk stops him.
"Hey, please, tell me what I did wrong? or did I say something that offended you?" Jaehyuk asks sadly
Asahi stood frozen in his spot when he saw Jaehyuk was seriously sad about his cold treatment. It was never Jaehyuk's fault to be honest. Asahi just doesn't want to fall in deeper when he's not even sure of Jaehyuk's feelings. He's not Jaehyuk's soulmate to begin with.
"Can you…. stop bugging me? If it's not work related just don't approach me or something." Asahi says
"You don't like me hovering around? Does it bother you that much?" Jaehyuk asks
"Yes, it's uncomfortable" Asahi doesn't want to make eye contact, he might break down any moment.
"I see…..Okay" Jaehyuk stands back and makes way.
Asahi knew it was wrong to leave now when he have so many questions he want to ask Jaehyuk. But he's not in the right mood to ask questions, he'll get hurt anyway.
Asahi leaves the room with a heavy heart.
______________________________________________________
Jaehyuk understood that Asahi has not fully regained his memories for the past seven lifetimes. Jaehyuk knows right now Asahi is probably overthinking. Jaehyuk understands that Asahi needed space and time so he gave him that.
So Jaehyuk settles with watching Asahi from afar, admiring his love's ethereal beauty. Jaehyuk still sends him flowers but he toned down with the gifts, he ran out of ideas.
"What's with the long face, Director Yoon?" Jihoon sits beside Jaehyuk on a bench in the rooftop
"Nothing" Jaehyuk answers
"Asahi is nothing?" Jihoon smirks that made Jaehyuk look at him
"What? No, I don't know…. Can you just be quiet? I'm having a moment here" Jaehyuk complains
"I'm nosy, so no I can't shut up and I know you've been avoiding each other like one of you has a viral disease so it irks me what the hell is wrong with the both of you" Jihoon says and Jaehyuk answered him with a sigh
"Asahi's a strong type of person you see, it took me years to court him but nothing happened and when you came…. he suddenly dropped all his defenses" Jihoon explains "I'm jealous, you got him to have dinner with you that easily. So tell me what's your issue"
"He's my soulmate, but he doesn't remember everything yet. I want to talk to him about it but he's been avoiding me and when I got him one time, he said I was bugging him and I'm annoying….so I'm taking a few steps back until he's okay"
“Oh, just a misunderstanding.” Jihoon smirks, “I won’t help you with that, you can solve it on your own.”
“Who said I need your help?” Jaehyuk is annoyed but Jihoon just chuckled
“Just a question. If he’s your soulmate, then in the past lifetimes that you had, how did you make him remember?” Jihoon asks
“I…” Jaehyuk felt a light bulb just turned on in his mind, like he just solved the most difficult puzzle.
“And you're saying you don’t need my help? Sheesh, good luck Director Yoon!” Jihoon noticed his expression brightens after his question, then he bids goodbye to Jaehyuk who's still drowned in his thoughts.
Although Jaehyuk knew how to make Asahi remember, it’s going to be a very very difficult task. He grabbed his hair because now he's stressed. He can't even make Asahi go near him. How will he make him remember?
Suddenly his phone rings with a notification. A memo has been sent to everyone in the company, there's a retreat next weekend. Jaehyuk smiles and celebrates within.
______________________________________________________
The people settle in their own rooms and of course the Directors have different room arrangements, more bigger and luxurious rooms. Activities will begin later 3pm until midnight, a few games then dinner. Tomorrow another series of games and recreational activities but Jaehyuk doesn’t care about that. His mind is on the person next door.
Yes. Asahi’s room is next to his. He’s not impatient but you know that feeling…..that he needs to do something for his soulmate, he misses Asahi so much.
He has a plan, but well, he doesn’t know but it’ll work. He coordinated with the organizers of this event and he prays it’ll work out. He brushes his hair with his hands and decides to socialize with his co-workers. He opens his door the same time Asahi opens his. Their eyes meet but Asahi avoids immediately.
“Asahi! Wait!” Jaehyuk calls but Asahi is too fast as he disappears in the hallway.
“Good Lord, overthinking is not good for people, love” Jaehyuk tells no one
And that’s partly true because Asahi is really blaming himself for saying those mean things to Jaehyuk, saying he’s annoying and such. He’s not annoying, Asahi likes it to be honest. He regretted the moment he walked out the room. But his pride stops him from going back and revoking all the things he said to Jaehyuk.
‘Why am I such a complicated sh*t” Asahi tells himself
He’s standing in front of the coffee maker for his third dose of coffee today. He doesn’t like participating in any of the activities later. He’s just going to get his coffee, go back to the room, rethink his life choices and maybe think of how to patch up with Jaehyuk.
“The coffee is spilling” Asahi jumped from the voice behind him.
"You okay?" Jihoon asks
"Yeah, I'm good" Asahi smiles, wiping the spill from the table
"You should participate in the game later. You don't get scared easily, Treasure hunt at night is made for people like you" Jihoon suggests
"Should I?" Asahi contemplates
"You should" Jihoon smiles "Good luck Sahi" He bids goodbye after that.
______________________________________________________
"Okay! Six teams in the line please" The game moderator announces through the speaker.
Asahi didn't know how he got here but he ended up getting paired with Jaehyuk. The game is a Treasure hunt. There will be 12 stations with challenges each, one station will lead you to the next. This game will be played by six teams with two people per team. The pairings were decided through random selection, the moderators picked the names in a box with all the participant's names. And well, as if the universe is rooting for them, Asahi got paired with Jaehyuk. The latter celebrates within, his bribe worked and winks at the moderator.
Yet the air between them is awkward, no one's talking.
"There will be 2 minute gap per team, we will monitor the time taken by each team and the fastest time to finish the game will win" The moderator says "Please pick a card here to decide the who goes first" He offers a six cards
Jaehyuk let Asahi pick, and they got the last slot. Asahi sighs, he wants to end it immediately and probably ask Jaehyuk to have a conversation with him. To settle things that must be settled
They set off when they got the go signal. The path is lit by a few torches and the participants have flashlights in hand for parts with lesser lights. What's special in this game is that aside from the stations, there will be booby traps along the way. They should be mindful.
Jaehyuk is a scaredy-cat. He jumped when heard an owl hoot, when the breeze brushed through the grass and when a bug flew in front of him. Good thing they passed five stations already.
"Why did you even sign up for this?" Asahi asks annoyingly.
"Because you're here" Jaehyuk replies honestly
Asahi stopped in his tracks. Good thing it's a bit dark now and Jaehyuk can't see him blushing over his statement.
"W-well, I'm here for the prize" Asahi walks fast not noticing the string along the path, when his foot caught the string, a bucket full of water above him poured.
Jaehyuk is faster though, he grabbed Asahi towards him to avoid getting wet but it caused them to outbalance. Jaehyuk fell first and Asahi landed on top of him. Jaehyuk grunted from the impact because his back hit sharp stones.
"Are you okay?" Asahi taps Jaehyuk's shoulders. He looks like he's in pain.
"We can pull out from the game if you're not feeling okay" Asahi is concerned.
"No….. I'm fine. Let's finish this" Jaehyuk forces himself to stand up. His back hurts to be honest but it's not that severe.
They continued walking when Asahi stopped again. He faces Jaehyuk and offers his hands.
Jaehyuk is puzzled about what to do. Was he supposed to hold Asahi's hands?
Asahi knew Jaehyuk was going to malfunction so he grabbed Jaehyuk's hands and intertwined. He just wants to make sure Jaehyuk won't run off if a bug appears again like what happened earlier. He just wants to keep Jaehyuk close.
But then, it started to rain. Big drops of rainfall are pouring. It's a heavy rain and both of them look for a shelter. Jaehyuk sees a small cave and drags Asahi there.
"I hope it'll stop soon" Jaehyuk says, removing his hold and putting a distance between them. He still thinks Asahi is annoyed with him.
"Jaehyuk-ah, can I say something?" Asahi speaks, the older replies with a hum.
"I'm sorry. For saying mean things when I didn't mean it. You're not annoying, it's just…. I'm overthinking things when I shouldn't. I should've told you what I felt instead of avoiding you. I'm sorry" Asahi lowered his head
"I understand. You need time and space. Sorry for hovering too much." Jaehyuk comes closer to the younger and hugs him.
"Thank you for opening up" Jaehyuk whispers "But can I ask something? Do you remember your past?"
"I saw you in my memories, back when we attended the concert. I thought, maybe that I was just hallucinating because I'm having a good time with you. But it turns out it isn't. These were my real memories from the past. I realized that later, after our argument in the conference room." Asahi sank his head in Jaehyuk's shoulder.
"Do you….. want to remember it all?" Jaehyuk asks, he pulls out from the hug and faces Asahi.
"How?" Asahi is puzzled
Jaehyuk leans in and kisses him. Asahi closes his eyes and lets Jaehyuk take the lead. Jaehyuk wraps his arms around the younger. Asahi had a grip on small parts of his memories. He remembers everything, he remembers…... above all where Jaehyuk likes to kiss him, it shows on the moles he has in his entire body. Jaehyuk likes kissing, Asahi likes being kissed.
"You remember now?" Jaehyuk smiles, eyes all focused on his lover.
Asahi nods, he's a bit shy now. Jaehyuk laughs a little because he's so adorable so he kisses his cheeks, his forehead and the tip of his nose. Then he traces Asahi's moles with his fingers, which gets added every lifetime. People say, moles appear where your lover usually kisses you in the past lifetimes. And Asahi's moles are the proof. Jaehyuk has those too.
"These are cute" Jaehyuk points to the moles in Asahi's neck.
And before Asahi could reply, he plants butterfly kisses to those moles which caused Asahi to shiver. He can feel Jaehyuk's warm breath on every kiss and it makes him melt.
"Uhm…….the rain showers have stopped already" Asahi taps lightly on Jaehyuk's shoulder.
Asahi doesn't want to break the mood but the night is getting deeper. The organizers would probably go hysterical if the two Directors went missing.
"W-we should go" Asahi stutters, he's being all shy again. Jaehyuk chuckles because his love is all red and trying to avoid eye contact with him.
"Let's go, mi amore" Jaehyuk intertwined their hands and led them out of the cave.
They continued playing the game until they arrived at the finish line— while holding hands all the way through. Jaehyuk saw Jihoon smile and gave him a thumbs up, he replied with a nod. Others teased them and Asahi got shy again so he hid him in his embrace and bid good night to everyone.
They're now in Asahi's room, after freshening up in each other's room and all. It's like all the years Asahi kept wondering why he feels empty like he's longing for someone and now, here in front of him, is the answer.
Jaehyuk. His love. His soulmate for eight lifetimes now. It's always Jaehyuk who keeps on finding him. It's always Jaehyuk who remembers first and always waits for him. Asahi feels a prick in his heart thinking how tiring it is to wait.
"Jaehyuk-ah, I'm sorry I kept you waiting again" Asahi holds his wine glass, they're on his veranda watching the night sky.
"For you my love, waiting is never an issue to me. For you I would wait even for how long it would take." Jaehyuk reaches for Asahi's hands.
"How come you're not tired of looking for me?" Asahi asks
"Because you're my home, my one and only love and the owner of my heart." Jaehyuk replies, gently massaging Asahi's hands.
"Thank you, for always finding me, for waiting patiently and for loving me still" Asahi replies, looking at his other half lovingly.
"I love you Asahi, even if the universe is going to set us apart. I'll do anything in my power to find you again because you, my pretty dove, is the reason why I wake up every morning. I see you in my past and I still see you in my future. There's no one else but you in my heart." Jaehyuk kisses Asahi's forehead and hugs him.
"I love you Jaehyukie, my sun and the light of my life. I'm not always good with words but I hope my feelings reach you" Asahi hugs back.
"I do my love, I do feel it." Jaehyuk caresses Asahi's hair.
It feels like they're home. They're back in each other's arms like how they did 7 lifetimes back.
And they promised to do the same thing again for the next.
END