THE RHYTHM OF US: RYEJI

Chapter 34: Fleeting Moments (not to be forgotten)

Ryujin's POV

The door swung open, and there she was, Yeji, stepping into our apartment. A playful grin adorned her face as I couldn't help but tease, "You love visiting me, huh?"

"Shut up," she retorted, giving me a quick peck, an unfamiliar greeting that brought comfort.

"So, what's our agenda for today?" I inquired.

"A simple movie night? Something we always do," she suggested.

"Don't tell me it's the same romantic drama you used to love?" I teased, a smirk playing on my lips.

"And is there a problem with that?" she challenged.

"Are we going to talk about that math exam I aced too?" I continued the banter.

"We can," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

I swiftly moved to the kitchen, popping corn kernels, mindful of our respective preferences—cheese for her, caramel for me.

This routine, this shared simplicity, was a familiar melody that played between us.

Whether at her house or our apartment, the comfort of each other's presence always made these moments special.

However, there was a new layer to our connection now—I could kiss her, not just on the cheeks but on the lips, and the excitement of it lingered in the air.

She has always been beautiful—someone whose smile makes me smile, someone whose tears break my heart.

My best friend, and though my heart yearned for her touch, I was always afraid and hesitant.

Yet, as she smiles at me right now, I never thought my heart could beat like this. Without overthinking, I leaned in and pulled her close for a kiss. Strength and fearlessness surged through me—a newfound courage I never knew I possessed.

"Tequila, really?" I teased as our lips met again.

"What? It's my favorite," she innocently replied, her eyes gleaming with a playful spark.

I shook my head, a smile lingering on my lips. "Alright, let's watch."

The soft glow of the string lights in our living room created an intimate ambiance. The air was filled with the irresistible scent of freshly popped popcorn, adding to the allure of the moment.

As we settled on the couch, a cozy blanket enveloping us, I couldn't help but admire the way the dim light accentuated the warmth in her eyes.

The movie began, its soft melodies and gentle scenes casting a spell on our surroundings.

Her head rested on my shoulder, and my arm found a comfortable place around her.

Outside, the city lights painted a canvas of their own, providing a backdrop to our little sanctuary. The room echoed with soft laughter, whispered conversations, and the occasional rustle of the blanket.

As the movie progressed, I found myself more captivated by her presence than the unfolding plot.

A gentle shift in the atmosphere brought me back to reality, and I decided to break the silence that had wrapped around us like a comfortable cocoon.

"By the way, have you been practicing?" I inquired, looking into her eyes filled with a curious spark.

"Practicing what?" she asked, her brows furrowing in adorable confusion.

"For the dance competition," I clarified with a playful grin.

"No need," she replied casually, with a hint of confidence in her tone.

"Too cocky; I love it," I chuckled, enjoying the easy banter between us.

"It's been moved to New Year's, so we still have plenty of time to practice," she informed me, her eyes reflecting the excitement of the upcoming event.

"You coming, right?" she asked, her enthusiasm contagious. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of hope and anticipation, making it impossible to resist saying anything but yes.

I retorted with a cocky grin, "Nah, I'll just take the spotlight. What if they don't watch you anymore because they'll be staring at me?"

She chuckled softly, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Yeah, sure, Ryu," she teased as she adjusted herself on my lap.

"This is giving me deja vu," I remarked, a sense of familiarity hanging in the air.

"Weirdly, I feel the same, like we've said these exact words before," she mused, her eyes holding a glint of playful recognition.

But amidst the echoes of the past, today, the words carry a different weight.

My heart, in sync with hers, felt the subtle ache of an impending goodbye, a realization that cast a shadow over the lighthearted banter.

As the doorbell rang, confusion momentarily clouded my expression, but Yeji's sudden rise from the couch drew my attention.

"Our food is here," she announced, her smile brightening the room.

I paused the movie, following her with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. As she expertly arranged the food onto plates, the aroma wafted through the room, creating an atmosphere of comfort and shared intimacy.

"You ordered," I stated, watching her with a fond expression.

"That I did," she replied, her eyes meeting mine with a playful gleam. "What do you say? We eat first, then continue the movie?"

"Good idea," I agreed, "but let's wash our hands first; yours is full of cheese," I teased, playfully nudging her.

She responded by swiftly taking off her watch and heading to the sink, her laughter ringing through the room as she splashed water in my direction. I chuckled, following suit. The simplicity of the moment, the shared laughter, and the easy banter felt like a snapshot of the warmth we had built.

"Alright, enough, let's eat," I suggested after washing up.

As we enjoyed our meal and continued watching movies, the passage of time became evident. The realization that it was already 11 p.m. hung in the air, a reminder that moments like these were both precious and fleeting.

"I hate to say this, but I gotta get going," she whispered.

Feeling the urgency to share my own truth, I took her hand as she stood up, intending to convey the depth of my feelings.

However, a spontaneous pull resulted in her ending up on my lap, facing me.

"I need to tell you something," I admitted, our eyes locking.

Before anything else, I knew I needed to express how I truly felt before facing the reality that I needed to leave.

I need to tell her that I don't just like her, but something more. I need to have something I am sure of with her—something I never thought I would want with someone before this—before loving her.

But the problem is, I don't know how to. I'm a piece of shit who's scared.

"You're making me nervous," she admits, placing her palms on my nape.

"Nah, don't be," I say, drawing her closer, and she quickly reciprocates.

As I hold her, a contemplative pause settles in. How should I begin? How do I simply state that I am leaving and that my parents do not want me to return?

It's not like they expect me to take over the company; my older sister has already taken that responsibility, and I have no intention of challenging her for the position.

But how can I express to her that, despite these circumstances, I still wish to leave and stay with my parents—stay in a place we both know is not here?

"It's not like you're leaving, right?" she whispers, her eyes searching for reassurance as she playfully pinches my cheeks.

I didn't tell her.

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A/N: For those who found the scenes familiar, I actually got some scenes from Chapter 1: Not Your Friends to Lovers.