Chapter Text
Fanfiction
Chapter 1: Reunited
Ri Jeong Hyeok & Yoon Seri continued to meet once every year at Swiss. However, at 3rd year, Ri Jeong Hyeok managed to lengthen his stay up to 3 months at a time, which sent Yoon Seri over the moon. He managed to do this due to his accomplishment as National Pianist and him being selected as non-permanent orchestra member in his old university. Yoon Seri was thinking to expand her business to Europe, because staying out of Seoul for 3 months at a time would do no good to Seri’s Choice.
Slowly, their time together had shifted from “vacation-mode” into “business as usual”. In the house they purchased together, there were more traces of 2 people actually living in the house instead of just passing through. Most of the time, coffee was brewing at the specialized coffee maker that had passed Ri Jeong Hyeok strict inspection; pantry overflow with fresh produce and pastry, and even hamper of laundry that sometimes met their past due since both Ri Jeong Hyeok and Yoon Seri spend most of their time outside the house.
Though it was basically their dream come true, to say things were easy all the time would be a lie. Despite desperately loving each other, they were still 2 individuals with different personalities. Yoon Seri was loud, blunt and stubborn to a fault. Ri Jeong Hyeok was reserved, strict and stubborn to a fault. Yoon Seri hardly ever did any of the house chores, which leaves Ri Jeong Hyeok frustrated over her incapability to wash her dirty dishes or simple task of cooking rice. Meanwhile, Yoon Seri couldn't comprehend why don’t they just hire a housekeeper to do the house chores; they could afford it and it would give them an opportunity to really enjoy their time together.
Finally, after much explanation and pitches, Ri Jeong Hyeok agreed to hire a temporary maid to handle basic house chores such as laundry and cleaning; Yoon Seri was really nothing but a businesswoman! However, he insisted on doing all the cooking and that dishes chores should be split between them. According to him, it was an essential life skill everyone must be able to do; Seoul heiress & CEO included, to live a healthy life. Disgruntled, Yoon Seri agreed but only under circumstances that Ri Jeong Hyeok exclusively made the coffee in the house. Even capsule coffee tasted better when he was the one making it.
Biting the inside of his cheek to hide his smile, Ri Jeong Hyeok agreed with the condition that Yoon Seri do the dishes right away, and not let it sit in the sink for 2 days. She accused him of taking advantage of the situation and rambling about how he should be “more city and less village” now he’s part of Yoon clan. Couldn't help himself over how cute he thinks Yoon Seri was rambling alone like that, he wrapped his strong arms around Yoon Seri svelte body and kissed her temple. Yoon Seri is startled, but tried to hide her smile by pouting. But after Ri Jeong Hyeok started to kiss her lips tenderly, and then more, all thought about why they were arguing lost in her head. And soon his kisses started to get more insistent, and soon her lips are not the only thing keeping his lips busy.
Intimacy is also something they have to adapt too. In the beginning of their relationship, their physical contacts were usually the result of situation (fishing boat!) or desperation over each other. But now, that most of the life-threatening situations are no longer present, they have to adapt to intimacy as part of their life. During their stay in Swiss together, the first year was the most awkward. Ri Jeong Hyeok as a visiting mentor on Yoon Foundation for Classical Music, was provided with his own hotel room where the festival was held. However, not wanting to waste any precious time without Yoon Seri, he opted to stay at Yoon Seri room instead; which is the master suite of the hotel. They have to be discreet about it though, because Ri Jeong Hyeok is a visiting citizen from DPRK on official events; so, they can’t never be too careful.
Most of the day, during their first year in Swiss, they spent time separately. Because Ri Jeong Hyeok had an obligation to set up his mentee for the festival and many paper works. But during the night, he forgoes all social events required from him with the excuse of not feeling well and wanted to finish his composition.
Their first night together was the most awkward one. After having dinner in the seclusion of Yoon Seri private dining room in her suite, they move their conversation to the living room area on her bedroom. Over wine, Ri Jeong Hyeok told her everything about his life during their three years apart. The first 6 months were the hardest, he said, since the jarring of their separation was still too raw in his heart. The fact he still lived in the house they shared together was not helping at all.
Everything in his house reminded him of her; from his bed where he had put her to sleep when she was drunk from clam-soju, to the tomato plant she gave him, and even inconsequential thing like the coffee mug she prefer to have her coffee in to her towel that she left hanging in the bathroom after last using it. In those first six month, he was solely struggling to cope with the longing and loneliness he felt without her by his side. The days were never a problem, for he was busy with his troops and other matters, but the nights were where he felt the most desperate. He, who usually had no issue sleeping everywhere (and in whatever position, she quips), had trouble sleeping up to a point he collected as many of her clothes left in the house and slept with one of them in his clutch. To this confession, Yoon Seri put her wine glass on the table and kissed him until he almost forgot everything he intended to say next.
The first 6 months were also the hardest, because he had no idea how they could meet each other again and his conscious effort to keep low profile as suggested by his father. And then during his weekly visit to his parents house, he heard news about Seo Dan who held a concert in Russia and how she was able to travel there. It gave him ideas, and also hope, to start pursuing his old dream of becoming professional pianist and also his new dream to reunite with Yoon Seri. The process was not easy, and required a lot of strings to be pulled to get him out of the military into the National Orchestra.
His talents made it easier, and his father's influence definitely helped too. But still, it took him more than a year after their separation to resign from the military and got accepted at National Orchestra as backup pianist. He trained day and night to build his reputation and gained primary position in the orchestra, and then he heard the news about Yoon Foundation offering scholarship for talented classical musicians. He told Yoon Seri he almost cried the first time hearing the news, because he knew instantly that that was her effort trying to reach him. The saddest fact was because he couldn’t act on the news right away. He knew subtlety is the key in this matter, and he resolved in playing the long game to ensure his family and Yoon Seri safety. His only hope, he told her sadly, was that she was willing to wait for him during this long winding game.
The rest of the time was spent filling in each other about their life during their time apart. Ri Jeong Hyeok was thrilled to hear that Yoon Seri now lead a much healthier life. She ate more frequently, and she spent almost every weekend going out with her mother or sister-in-law DHJ, or with her employee during her free time. Her business went even stronger than before, now that she was also requested by her father to sit at Commissioner Board of Queens Group. Her father requested her to look over the company, but decided it’s better for their familial relation with her oldest brother that she do so in discreet manner; to which she agreed wholeheartedly.
Though she would never admit it out loud, what Se Hyeong did to her hurt her deeply. While she understood there was no love lost between them, she never actually thought her brother could plan for her death just for the sake of position and wealth. This knowledge brought her slightly closer to Se Joon, who though clumsy and short-witted, never actually wanted bad things to happen to her. And his wife, DHJ also proved to be a sweet and pleasant companion now that she knows she won’t endanger her husband position.
And that’s how she told Ri Jeong Hyeok about her family situation; how she practically ran her family business empire and how she spent her days in close relationship with her mother and employee. But her nights were another story. She still struggled to sleep without her sleeping pills. His recording helped immensely, but on nights when she missed him so desperately, she confessed on topping up her sleeping pills stock. But things get better after her sister in law invite her for a yoga session. Yoon Seri heard that yoga was good for people with mental health issues, but always feel sceptical. But after a session or two, she noticed she rest and sleep better after an intense workout; and soon she made it a point to do yoga every other day. To this news, he told her how proud he was of her and kissed the tip of her nose tenderly.
But she couldn’t help confessing to him her hopelessness after setting up the foundation, yet heard nothing about news from North Korea. She confessed being at wits end after 2nd year going to Swiss and searching for news about him, but always came home empty handed. Her third year, the year they met, she actually thought to abandon the hope and stop coming to Swiss. Because she just couldn’t handle coming home disappointed to her empty house anymore.
“Thank goodness you were there to save me, Ri Jeong Hyeok-ssi” she told him with a reverent smile, “As always”
Hearing that, Ri Jeong Hyeok couldn’t help but pull her into a vice-grip hug and vow to himself he would do anything in his power to never be separated again. And then they looked at each other, and both couldn’t help themselves but to kiss each other, tenderly. It was soft, at first, each took their time trying to convey how they love and miss each other during their time apart. But then, after their third time breaking their kiss to take a breath and look at each other, they realized something is changing. The situation now really sinked in, that they were safe in Swiss, where no soldiers or intelligence personnel would burst into their room and take them apart; that they were in a darkened hotel room when no one but the two of them spent the night. That they loved each other and very much wanted, and needed, to show each other just how much.
Ri Jeong Hyeok was the first to break the trance,saying it’s already late and how tired she must be after the long flight and suggested for them to retreat for the night.
“Are you going to sleep in your room, Jeong Hyeok-ssi?” she asked with a small frown on her forehead.
He looked at her for a long time, then asked her in soft voice “Do you mind if I don’t?” while giving sweet caress to her cheek.
“I will be mad if you do” she told him pointedly, then turned her head and kissed the palm of his hands on her cheek. He then told her that his room is on another level of the hotel, so she could go ahead change her clothes and refresh while he went and take his stuff for the night. She told him to don’t bother and just bring his suitcase instead.
“You won’t spend much time there anywhere, might as well save time and bring your suitcase here” she told him while shrugging, feigning indifference. But her coy & small smile told him otherwise. To which he only chuckled, and told her to go ahead settle down for the night.
When preparing to go to bed that night, Seri’s mind wandered to the possibilities that night might bring. She won’t deny that she was a grown up, experienced woman, and she has her needs. She was sure Jeong Hyeok also has his needs as a grown up man, and she knows enough how their closeness have had affected him physically (his subtle squirm and cough was enough to tell her how affected he was with their embrace or kiss). But she doubted that he would actually act on those feelings tonight.
Both of them came to Swiss that year with no firm knowledge that they would meet each other, let alone would spend the night together. And while Seri had lived her life in the South where things are more liberal, she doubted his life in the North would be the same. Her time living among the North villagers was enough to let her know that their values were similar to those in the South during the 50s. Gender roles and what was expected from society was so traditional, and though she knew Jeong Hyeok used to live in PyongYang where things should be more progressed and even had lived abroad for quite some time, she doubted he was that progressed.
Her musing was ended when she heard the door open, and Jeong Hyeok called out to her. Already cleaned up and in her night chemise, Seri went out from the bathroom and found Jeong Hyeok still in his suit from the night but with suitcase and his work bag filled to the brim. He stood still looking at her, cheek slightly red.
“What, what’s wrong Jeong Hyeok-ssi?” she misinterpreted when he didn’t say anything to her, “Do you find any trouble?”
This seemed to shake him and he muttered, “Nothing” then he proceeded to put his bag and rolled his suitcase to the bathroom. She looked at him nervously, and then he said, “Aren’t you going to be cold sleeping with that?” before going into the bathroom.
Only then she realized that her night chemise, while nothing scandalous to her standard, was much more revealing than what Jeong Hyeok had seen her in. It was pale blue silk, with a spaghetti strap, the hem stopped at her mid thigh and ended with soft white lace. She also wore her matching silk robe, but didn’t tied it completely, leaving most of her front exposed. She felt her cheek reddened.
While waiting for Jeong Hyeok at the bathroom and didn’t know what to do, she picked up her wine glass and topped it off with leftover from their dinner. Absently, she went to the porch and went outside. It was May, so the night was still a bit chilly but she didn’t mind. The view was spectacular, city lights and faraway mountain view blend in so perfectly she couldn’t believe it was real. Then, she thought, the situation she was in was also surreal.
Never in her wildest dream would she stand here on the balcony of her hotel room at Swiss, in her nightgown, while Jeong Hyeok took his time in the bathroom before going to bed together. After a while, she felt rustling behind her. But before she had time to turn over, she felt Jeong Hyeok arms encircling her waist from behind and his warm breath on her cheek.
“Aren’t you cold, Seri-ah?” he asked him in a low, soft voice.
“Nah”, she shook her head, “ I kinda like it chilly. The view is always better in colder weather”
“Yeah” he said, “The view is never better”
She felt warmth on her whole body, but doubted it was because of the wine she was sipping. Mostly it was due to the man holding her tightly from behind, and proceed to plant soft kisses on her hair, then her ear, and the side of her neck.
They didn’t say anything, but his hold on her was getting tighter as his lips started to wander below her neckbone. She gripped her wine glass on the stem tighter, while her other hand moved to caress his hair. They continued this slow dance together until she felt her grip on the glass wine was too weak then she turned around to put her glass on a nearby chair.
Then she felt too shy to look at his face, choosing to stare at his chest instead and focusing to read the wording in his worn-out t-shirt.
“Was this your university?” she asked, tracing the faded letter on his t shirt.
“Yes” he answered.
“Were you there for a long time?” she asked him, still avoiding looking at his eyes.
“Quite a bit” he shrugged, “I studied there until I got my master in Music Performance”
“I see” she mumbled.
“Seri-ah” he said softly, gripping her chin softly and tilt her head so she had no option but to look at him, “Are you alright?”
She looked at his eyes, and recognized how wistful his eyes were. She gulped, and felt something in her twisted, but not uncomfortably.
“I don’t know” she admitted, then paused, considering her next word, “I guess I’m just nervous”
“Nervous of me?” he asked, a slight frown forming between his eyebrows.
“No, never you” she answered quickly, worried he would take different meaning from her demeanor, “It’s us, here, together, I guess, that makes me nervous”
He looked at her intently, then sighed when she looked down and not wanting to look at him again.
"Seri-ah" he started gently, "We don't have to do anything tonight. Or any other night if that's what's comfortable for you. We can go slow or fast, as long as it's something that you want"
"But what about you?" She asked, "Don't you..I mean..want to?"
"Of course I do..I want to..at some nights it's the only thing that can keep me sane..the thought of us together" he said softly, and Seri never felt her cheek so hot before.
"But..having you here, safe and healthy by my side is more than enough for me" he gently nudged her chin so she look at him, "I will kiss you, and hold you and only that if that's what you want"
"It's not like that..I..I want to.." she said timidly, "Be that way with you..but I just..I don't know.." she sighed, “It shouldn’t be like this. It’s not like we’re teenagers right? We’re adults, in love, and haven’t met each other for a long time..it should have been be easy”
“Well, when have things ever been easy with us?” he teased her.
Seri looked at him as if he had sprouted additional ears on his head. “Who are you and what have you done to the callous Ri Jeong Hyeok that I know?” she mumbled, “How can you be so casual about this?”
“Because, Seri-ah, I learned the hard way to appreciate every little thing about you that I can have. Every memory, evey memento of you, I devoured with gratitude” he smiled contently, “So, it’s easy for me to be happy even just to see you in person, so everything else will be like a bonus to me”
Seri sighed and looked at him exasperatedly.
“I’ve told you before and I’ll say it again. I can’t believe you never date other woman before, Ri Jeong Hyeok-ssi” she grumbled, “ You’re too smooth”
He laughed and pulled her into his arms. She also smiled and rested her head on his chest. He smelled just as she remembered. Clean, and warm, with a note of musk that was just so natural to him. Unlike any other man she ever dated in Seoul; who was always well-lotioned, well-groomed, with fragrances she was barely able to keep track.
“Let’s go inside” he told her once they separated, “It’s getting late”.