Three months passed. It goes like a flash. The city's atmosphere feels a little different and taking his way back into Hybe building, Heeseung felt surreal and strange but not uncertain. 
His hiatus shook everyone around him, including himself. It goes in a way where he suddenly felt barren and worthless, hence, the pause. 
His role as Enhypen's ace is vital and unfortunately the group was also put on a sudden break. The second time around and he held responsible again, Bang Si Hyuk almost lost it. Heeseung couldn't believe he made the Hybe founder flipped out, almost breaking and begging for him not to withdraw from his renowned group.
He did not, obviously. He just needs an interval, a space between holding on or moving on, on fighting or surrendering, keep trying or forget everything. Three months passed, Heeseung can't still figure it out.
"You almost killed me. Don't ever do that again." Bang PD uttered after a deep, heavy sigh.
"You still got six headaches to deal with, probably more." Heeseung coldly laughed.
"Don't remind me. Seems like those six chaotic rascals are pretty good at keeping secrets. I wonder who's next? And what's next." the founder pulled a chaff.
"I'm not gonna jinx it." Heeseung pulled his arms up in the air. "But the guys are pretty serious with work. If there's something going on I can surely sense it."
"You can't be so sure." Bang PD-nim gave a fast shrug. "But snyway, your three month hiatus didn't come much doubted. We halted Enhypen's overseas activities and your appearances as a group. You played a crucial role in your team, and all of you have vitals roles as well. You're like a domino effect, one fall and you lost all. Your supporters believed the group's hiatus is because of Jake's minor accident or just you guys taking a break, making another album, putting another explosive covers. Good thing is, we got so many stuff to upload on your social media platforms and with the help of your trusted fandoms, your fans didn't perceived anything unusual, they thought you're all just chillin'. That's the essence of all the videos, dance practices, reality shows the company is giving you. You might think it don't make sense, but we're saving it for rainy days."
Heeseung stood silent as Bang PD's words lingered in four corners of the room and thrown at him with great force. He was so lucky to find the best company, giving him lots and lots of chances after creating countless mess. 
"Thank you for giving me another chance, Bang PD-nim. I'm so sorry for all the troubles. I let my feelings drove me away--"
"I didn't call you "ace" for nothing, Hee. And I want to apologize too, to you and to Choi Aerin."
Heeseung was caught in surprise. Bang Si Hyuk is the kind of a person that's implacable, the man with an iron fist, but looking at the Hybe's CEO express regret, Heeseung was put on pause for seconds, trying to process the truthfulness of his words.
"I came to realize, none of this will happen if not for my rigid rules. I admit, I was harsh. You are still human after all."
Heeseung was unable to think of anything to say. He can't put it all together. They reached the end. It's already done. They cannot fix what's broken anymore. But why is he hearing it now?
"I know I modified your rules on dating before you went to LA thinking you'll try to patch things up with Choi Aerin. Never did I thought it will again break you two. The mistake goes down in the past, it goes down on me. I made it all, even your hiatus, I caused it too. I attempted to leave her in ruins, just to keep you for myself. I'm sorry, Hee. Yes, I'm selfish. But I'm a CEO and that's how I do business."
"Bang PD-nim--" Heeseung couldn't get his words out. He was surprised and confused and so unsure how to react.
"It's alright. Whatever you're trying to do now, I won't meddle anymore. As long as you do your work, we got no problem with that. This don't go only for you, it's for the whole group. I'm just being fair. My apologies again, Hee." 
He never thought silence can be unnerving. Heeseung was at loss for words while standing stoic in front on Bang PD-nim.
"Anyway, carry on, Hee. Those prying heads are so eager to meet you, too." the founder amusely chuckled while glancing at the door.
"Hyung!!!" Jungwon jumped inside and was fast to give him a tight embrace.
"We missed you, Heeseung-ssi!" Jake exclaimed and tried to gave him smack.
 "Stop it, you disgusting prat." Heeseung laughed while pulling his face out.
"Heeseung Hyung." Sunoo stepped in to give another hug. "I thought you're not coming back anymore." he was close to sobbing.
"W-Wait. You three are squeezing me--"
"It's nice to see you again, man." Jay pats his back all of the sudden.
"Jay." Heeseung greeted back as he groans. "Can you get these three away from me? Please--"
"Nah, I think I need to join in." Jay engaged in the take up.
A full blast, popping sound that came out of nowhere, covered the air. Everyone sprung in surprise as Ni-Ki and Sunghoon, jumping like little kids, bulged out a party popper and made everyone covered in confetti.
"Woah! That was cool!" Ni-Ki exclaimed.
"We popped it! At last!" Sunghoon was never been so ecstatic.
"Welcome back, Heeseung Hyung!" they all greeted him collectively and enthusiastically. 
Heeseung heart was full, eventhough stamped by six solid bodies, he managed to let out a titter. He never knew they would miss him that much. Bang PD-nim was right. one fall and everything will loose it's stall.
"Ah, look at these tumultuous freaks." Yuki softly muttered after seeing a moving sight. "Alright, that's enough! Everyone to the practice room, now!" 
Everyone groans in dismay. They disengaged from the clasp but still in disarray. Yuki shook his head watching the disorganization.
"I understand you missed Hee so much but we can't waste time. See this?" Yuki sprung his hand up in the air with bunch of papers in it. "This your schedule for the half of the month., without breaks, and no pause this time. So, get you lazy butts in the practice room and start grinding now." he sternly ordered.
Taken aback and scratching their heads, they leaped into the breach. Yuki stopped Heeseung before coming out the door.
"By the way, Hee, you need to do a solo practice after your group's rehearsal. You were chosen as the new artist of the month by Studio Choom. You are seriously flooded. I'm sorry but you have to work double time."
Heeseung nooded fast, quickly agreed. "Sure. No problem with that, Yuki."
"And an interview. Ah yes, it's going to be tomorrow. Room 204."
"An interview?" he swung back to meet Yuki's glance.
"Yes. That's what it says in here. Come on, Hee. Don't tell me you're still allergic to interviews."
"Who's the journalist?" he asked again.
Yuki chuckled, wagging his head in disbelief. "You're not thinking or wishing it's her, right?
Heeseung shook his head quickly. "No. Why would she?"
Why would she? She already put an end to all of it. But there are days he imagined what if they tried? What if she didn't succumb to her fears and let their love decide? How great would it be defeating all the odds. 
"And another thing, we already listened to your demo. What the hell, you just unleashed your writing prowess, Hee! That was awesome! We were blown away! Bang PD wanted to add it as a special track in your comeback."
"Thanks. It just came out so suddenly while I'm taking the flight back home from LA--" he stopped and don't want to say another word.
"No wonder it's amassed with yearning emotions. But it sounds good." Yuki chuckled. "Carry on, Hee. You're doing well. I know you'll do great even more."
Perhaps the closure is the way to rediscover who he actually is. He's doing well as an artist. He failed as a lover. He's trying to move in a new sphere, alone, following the challenges his future may bring. But his love for her remains. It is still hers to keep.
So even though he travel onward alone, and in time perhaps with another, his love for her will stay high above his heart. Selfish it may sound but Choi Aerin goes out to be his infinite love, no one else comes close, not one, no further.
Finding his alone time after a tiring day, his voice suddenly lingered across the corners of the building's premises. Highway 1009 is a song originally intended for their avid fans, Engenes. He wasn't quite sure what happened to him in the day of a dreaded plane ride, in the middle of his desolation.
He changed the lyrics of the song, only intended to someone who took his heart away and broke it in an unexpected way.
~ I don't wanna go home tonight. Tell my mom I'm gonna be quite alright. I want you to come home tonight. Cause my friends will never know my battle ~
~I called you when it's Friday night. And I don't think they cared that's why. I think I gotta go my own life. Think I gotta go my own life ~
~ And we're living for our golden hours. And we're passing our highlights. Is it okay? Just what can I take? ~
~ So I know but, give me your hands just a little bit more cause I'm about to cry. Still yearning here, waiting right here, existing over there ~
~Give me your hands just a little bit more cause I'm about to cry. Still yearning here, waiting right here, cause there's no home without you ~
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He hates interviews. Heeseung began to hate it when some journalist are taking advantage of their power. He felt uncomfortable with the intense scrutiny that comes with being an idol.
Being right there on the same chair where he used to sit the very first time he had his encounter with Choi Aerin, Heeseung was covered by wide array of emotions and he wants to call off the session. 
He glanced at the clock in Room 204. They're suppose to start already three minutes earlier and how ridiculous for him to wait for the journalist when it's goes the other way around. Heeseung inpatiently pulled his phone out to reach Yuki's number.
"Please cancel the interview." he immediately muttered.
"Why are always crabby with interviews? I can't. She's heading up now." Yuki straightly answered.
Heeseung groans and tossed himself on the chair. He couldn't help the displeasure. His vexation about interviews will continue until hell freezes over. He draw the deepest breath to calm his grubby system just as he heard the soft tick of the door. Back turned against it, Heeseung heaved another sigh.
"You're three minutes late."
A seconds of pause and a voice he never thought he'll hear once more.
"I took the stairs. I'm sorry. I know, I'm such a slow poke."
Heeseung's body immediately tensed up, mind's froze he couldn't process the things he had heard. Taken aback, it's something he didn't know coming and he was thunderstruck by the idea running inside his head. He is always prepared for any situation but was in disbelief being caught off guard by a such a simple, mundane greeting.
He was covered by tension hearing her voice, so near and mellow, races his heart to 160 beats per minute. Taking the slow turn to finally meet her, it's odd, but it keeps him in suspense for what will happen next. 
"Hi." Aerin uttered the moment their eyes finally met. 
How is suppose to pretend he don't want to see her when she's standing there looking so lovely with her shy grins taking his breath away? He saw her again and how she quickly put sunshine and added back the colors everywhere. Those bright eyes is enough to spin his world back into it's center line. 
"H-Hi." he stammered unprecedentedly.
"I know you dislikes slow pokes as much as you despised being interviewed but I--" Aerin paused seeing such breathtaking visual, it never fails. All the while the butterflies in her stomach she thought were already dead, flew again.
"I-I'm sorry it took me three months to get here--"
"You're just in time--"
There's a moment between a glance, coming near and that anticipated kiss. Their worlds stopped for the briefest of times. The anticipation hangs up on the air, so intense. There's a mysterious force pulling them closer. A moment, so perfect, they never knew, that's when it's came to end, their faces are just inches away from each other. Eyes locked, both mystified.
"Hi. I'm Choi Aerin of Starlight Magazine. Can I have you interviewed, Lee Heeseung-ssi?" she asked, voice strained she couldn't believe.
"Yeah--" he breathlessly muttered, hand's shaking as he cupped her face. "Any time after this--"
And then he finally kissed her, with his longing lips, with his beating heart, with everything he couldn't tell her before.
Who would truly thought you wouldn't die when you kissed? They did. For a while, under a spell, the breath and life just went away, no day and night, just their lips - starvingly, pressing against each other.
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