It had been weeks since you and Ji-yong had more than a few scattered conversations. Between his tour schedule, rehearsals, and interviews, he barely had time to breathe — let alone spend hours texting like you used to. You understood, of course. That was part of loving someone who belonged to the world. Still, the quiet days made you miss him more than you cared to admit.

So when your phone buzzed that morning, and his name lit up the screen, your heart did a little flip. Jiyong: “Day off today. Thought I’d say hi before you forget what I look like.”

You smiled at your screen. “You’re impossible,” you typed back.

Before you could send another teasing reply, your phone pinged again. This time, it was a picture — him, shirtless, with a shimmering lake in the background and building on the opposite shore. His hair was wet, his skin catching the sunlight. Jiyong: “Put on your swimsuit. Go to that lake near your place. We can feel close.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hide your smile. It was silly, but you went along with it. You put your swimsuit on, you tossed a towel and some other things in a bag and your grabbed your keys, and drove out to the lake.

When you arrived, it was quiet. Just the sound of water lapping gently at the shore. No one else around. Definitely no Ji-yong.

You walked toward the dock, looking out at the water, muttering under your breath, “Nice one, Ji-yong. Make me look like an idiot in a swimsuit all alone…”

Then, without warning, strong hands grabbed your waist. You barely had time to yelp before you were tipped forward — splash! The cold lake swallowed you whole.

You surfaced, sputtering and pushing your wet hair out of your face, ready to yell… only to see him standing there at the edge of the dock, grinning like a troublemaker, a bouquet of wildflowers held behind his back.

“You’re insane!” you shouted, but you were laughing despite yourself.

He crouched down, pulling the flowers from behind him and holding them out toward you. “I know,” he said with that familiar smirk. “But you love me for it.”