Saranghaeyo

"Jagiya?" Hearing that simple word from behind stopped her dead in her tracks. Her breath quickened and her words were caught in her throat. That simple word was uttered once more.

"Jagiya." She closed her eyes, took a deep breathe, and turned around. She stood there, in disbelief, and stared at him. He smiled and walked forward until their chests were mer inches apart. He looked down at her as his lips parted way for another gorgeous smile. She managed to smile back as the blood pulsed through her ears. 

Seven months.

It had been seven months since she last saw his smile and soaked in his warmth. She threw her arms around his neck  and buried her face in his chest. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. She took a deep breath and let out a content sigh. She felt safe. After so many months of anger, fear, sadness, resentment, insecurity, and loneliness, she was finally safe again. In his arms she was happy. No matter what struggles would come, if he was by her side she would be able to face them with courage. She had missed him so much, more than she was willing to admit. Because if she admitted this then she would have to deal with the pain of being separated from he happiness. But she didn't need to worry about that now because her happiness was here, if only for a brief time.

                                                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They sat on the couch together and watched a movie, but she was only half watching. His head rested on her chest as he watched the movie and listened to her heartbeat. He was so glad to be back in her arms, but he knew it couldn't last long. She ran her finger through his mop of messy, light pink hair. He closed his eyes, happy to have her playing with his hair like she used to.

                                                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Kiss me." She said almost involuntarily as the movie reached its end. He looked up at her for a moment and shook his head. He didn't deny her because he didn't love her, but because he did. He knew what she meant and what she wanted. He wanted the same thing, with every fiber of his being, but he wanted their only night together to be filled with a different kind of love and passion. 

"Not like that." He told her as he saw the understanding creep into her eyes. She gave him a small smile. He sat up on the couch with his legs opened and motioned for her to sit with him. She sat between his legs and faced him. She took in his facial features as he did the same to her. He rested his hand on her neck and pulled her into a kiss. She closed her eyes as his warm, soft lips met hers. The kiss was not one that was filled with lust, greed, or selfishness. Instead it was soft and gentle as if he knew she would break at any moment. She soaked in his presence: his touch, his taste, his smell. All of these things she missed so much it hurt. Then the thought she had been trying to avoid finally made its way into her mind. This was it. Her only night with him. 

Then he would be gone again.

She broke the kiss and looked at him as hot, salty tears began to sting her eyes. His heart was filled with pain when he saw the expression on her face. He knew that she had finally realized the one thing he had been dreading. It was the thing she dreaded too. She began to cry. She cried for a long time, as he stroked her back, softly kissed her neck, and hummed her favorite song. All the while holding back his own tears. 

Slowly her tears stopped and she was overwhelmed by the toll that it had taken on her. She fought, but eventually she began to drift off to sleep. She heard him whisper her favorite words into her ear only seconds before sleep consumed her.

"Saranghaeyo."

                                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She woke up alone on the couch with his jacket covering her. She quickly sat up and looked around for him, but she knew he was gone. Sorrow gripped her as she felt if her very heart was going to break. She reached for her phone and opened the calendar. There it was. The day that he would return to her and they would never have to be apart again.

August 22nd.

"Five months." She thought to herself. "Only Five more months...." She held his jacket close to her heart and began to cry.