jiseok had never known how much you meant to him until you were gone. it was only supposed to be a few days—a business trip, a meeting with some clients—but once you stepped out the door, everything felt different. at first, he tried to go about his usual routine, keeping himself busy with work and trying to keep up appearances, but the house felt far too quiet without you. the warmth you brought, the soft hum of your presence—it was missing, and it left him feeling unsettled.

his attempts to distract himself quickly faded as he found his mind wandering back to you. he couldn’t stop thinking about whether you were eating well, whether you were feeling okay, or if you were getting enough rest. he texted you every hour, his messages ranging from simple “i miss you” to more frantic “are you safe? please call when you can.” the moment he saw your name pop up on his phone, he’d drop everything, running to answer as if his life depended on it. every call, every message, every little moment of connection made him feel like he could breathe again.

but as the days stretched on, his anxiety began to spiral. he found himself pacing the house, the quiet echo of his footsteps almost deafening. he started sleeping on your side of the bed, hoping the scent of your perfume would bring him some comfort. meals were left half-eaten, his focus shattered as he repeatedly checked the time, counting down the hours until you would finally come home. nothing seemed right without you there, and he couldn’t bring himself to relax.

when you finally returned, exhausted from the trip, jiseok didn’t even give you a moment to settle in. he rushed to you, pulling you into his arms as if he hadn’t seen you in years. "i thought i was going crazy without you," he murmured into your hair, his voice thick with relief. he didn’t want to let go, his hands lingering on your waist as if he couldn’t bear the thought of you slipping away again. "don’t ever leave me like that again. i’m not okay without you."