Haeun returns from bootcamp

The door clicked open, and there she was—Haeun, standing in the doorway of my apartment, her suitcase trailing behind her. The sight of her, pale skin glowing under the hallway light, her long black hair swept over her shoulder, instantly eased the tension that had been building in me for weeks. She was wearing a simple oversized hoodie and jeans, but she still looked every bit like the star I knew she was becoming.

"Hey," she said softly, her radiant smile making my heart ache.

"Hey," I replied, closing the distance between us in two quick strides. I pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly, like I was afraid she might disappear if I let go. She felt thinner, more fragile than I remembered, and I wondered if the stress of training had taken more out of her than she let on.

She buried her face into my chest, letting out a tired sigh. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," I murmured, brushing her hair gently.

We stayed like that for a moment before she pulled back, her brown eyes meeting mine. "I have so much to tell you," she said, her voice lighter now, a hint of excitement breaking through the exhaustion.

I smiled. "Then come in. We’ve got a whole week to catch up."

That evening, over a simple dinner I’d made—jjamppong, her favorite—Haeun started telling me about the bootcamp. Her words came quickly, tumbling over each other as she recounted the grueling hours of practice, the harsh critiques from trainers, and the pressure of competing against so many talented trainees.

"But," she said, pausing to take a sip of water, "I finally made it to A-Class."

I nearly dropped my fork. "You did? That’s amazing, Haeun!"

She nodded, a small, almost shy smile playing on her lips. "Yeah. I asked for another chance to perform after the final evaluation. It was… tough, but I guess I impressed them enough to move up."

Something in the way she said it felt off—too rehearsed, too vague—but I didn’t press. I was just glad to see her smiling again.

"That’s incredible," I said, reaching across the table to take her hand. "I told you you’d make it. You’ve worked so hard for this."

Her smile widened, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Thanks. It means a lot, hearing that from you."

For the next few days, we fell into a familiar rhythm, like no time had passed. We spent lazy mornings together, lingering over breakfast and watching TV, and took walks around the city in the afternoons. Seoul was alive with spring blossoms, the streets bustling with life.

Haeun kept her hood up and her face partially hidden behind sunglasses whenever we went out, but even then, I caught people sneaking glances at her. It was strange, seeing how her beauty could draw so much attention, even when she wasn’t trying. I felt a mix of pride and unease. She was already becoming someone the world couldn’t ignore.

At night, she was like a woman possessed, fucking me with a **** intensity that left me breathless. I did not complain, of course, happy to feel her body wrapped around mine after such a long absence. I would gaze at her slender figure on top of mine, her pale skin glowing in the dim light, her hair a dark waterfall cascading over her shoulders as she rode me. Her breasts bounced in small circles, her voice a sweet melody of pleasure that filled the room.

But something had changed; I could sense it in the urgency of her touch, in the way she clung to me afterward as if afraid I would vanish into the night. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I didn’t want to ruin the fragile happiness we’d built during this respite.

On our last night together, as we lay in bed, bodies tangled and heart still racing, Haeun broke the comfortable silence.

"I don’t want to go," she murmured.

"I don’t want you to go either," I replied honestly.

But we both knew she had to. Her dreams were waiting, and I couldn’t hold her back, no matter how much I wanted to keep her here with me.

When it was time for her to leave, I helped her carry her suitcase to the car waiting outside. She turned to me before getting in, her smile bright but bittersweet.

"I’ll see you soon," she said, her voice steady, though I could see the tears brimming in her eyes.

"Go be amazing," I told her, my throat tight.

She nodded, then leaned in to kiss me softly, her lips lingering on mine for just a moment longer than usual.

As the car pulled away, I stood there, watching until it disappeared around the corner. The silence felt deafening.

I tried to remind myself that this was just temporary, that she’d be back soon. But as I turned to head back inside, a gnawing sense of unease crept into my chest, like the shadow of something I couldn’t quite see.