Y/N stepped inside, still stunned, her heart pounding.
She closed the door slowly behind her, like she was trying to process what just happened outside.
And then—
Ping!
A message.
From him.
She opened it.
And nearly dropped her phone.
> Kim Bum 🐾:
"That expression… that blush… I'll keep it in mind, for the day you actually share that bed with me." 😏
Her jaw dropped.
"Yeh… yeh kya tha?! (What...what is this?!)He wasn't this bold here!"
She quickly typed back, furiously hitting the screen:
> Y/N:
Mr. Kim Bum, where is Mr. Actor?!
The one who doesn't know how to flirt or tease?
The soft-spoken one who just smiled and nodded politely?! WHERE IS HE?! 😤
She hit send, glaring at the phone.
Meanwhile…
36,000 feet above the ground, in a quiet business class seat —
Kim Bum chuckled as he read her reply, shaking his head slowly.
He bit his lower lip, trying to contain the grin that took over his face.
He was soft-spoken.
He was polite.
But with her?
He was something else.
And he loved it.
Because he meant every word.
This wasn't just teasing.
Back in her home, her mom walked past and said gently,
"Y/N, beta — start preparing your bag too. One month will fly fast. You'll have to leave soon."
She looked up. "Ammi… it's still a whole month. No hurry."
Just then, Ping!
Another message.
From him again.
> Kim Bum 🐾:
"One month? That's 30 days, 720 hours, 43,200 minutes of me missing you. Hurry up." 🕰️❤️
She stared at the screen.
Eyes went wide.
"Yeh… yeh cheating hai!" (this...this is cheating)she said, placing the phone dramatically on the table.
She held her heart. "Should I really think again about staying with him in Korea?! Yeh tu aise lag raha hai jese main uske ghar mein hi rahoon gi!"
Ping!
She jumped.
Another message.
She opened it — cautiously now.
> Kim Bum 🐾:
"Yes, you'll stay with me. I already told you I'm preparing the bed, remember?" 😉
She gasped.
Looked around.
Behind her.
Was he here?!
"No… no way. Did he just… read my mind?" she whispered, scanning the room.
The windows.
The hall.
No one.
He wasn't here.
But her heart was pounding like he was.
Meanwhile, on the flight —
Kim Bum rested his head back against the seat, smiling to himself like a fool.
Imagining her reaction.
Imagining her in his apartment.
Making tea in his kitchen.
Putting her books on his shelves.
Falling asleep on the couch beside him.
What would it feel like if she actually agreed to be his wife someday?
Just the thought made his chest warm.
Made him smile like a child.
Ping!
A message from her.
He opened it quickly.
> Y/N:
"You better stop this teasing, Mr. Actor. It's dangerous for your self-control… and mine too. 😳"
He covered his mouth.
His ears turned bright pink.
And then he whispered to himself,
"…This girl is going to kill me… and I'll die smiling."
His manager beside him glanced over.
"Hyung? Are you okay?"
Kim Bum just smiled, looking out the window.
Voice soft.
"No. I'm not okay. I think I'm falling for someone who doesn't even know it yet."
He didn't confess.
Not yet.
But the feeling was stronger than ever.
And the countdown had already begun.
One month.
[Seoul – Kim Bum's Apartment]
The door creaked open.
He stepped inside quietly, dragging his suitcase behind him with one hand. His cap low, jacket slightly wrinkled, and expression?
Tired.
But not from the flight.
From the goodbye.
He clicked the door shut behind him, kicked off his shoes, and let the silence of his apartment wash over him.
Home.
Back in Korea.
Back to everything waiting for him.
He placed the suitcase near the wall, dropped his bag on the table, and then finally…
Sank into the couch with a deep sigh.
The cushions swallowed him up.
His head tilted back.
Eyes closed.
"…It's too quiet," he muttered under his breath.
No soft voice calling out random Urdu phrases beside him.
No footsteps pacing from room to room looking for socks.
No loud gasps from the girl who somehow always managed to spill her tea… and then scold him for "jinxing it."
Just silence.
[Day 2 – Seoul, Late Morning]
Kim Bum was in the backseat of a black van, eyes closed, head resting against the window as the car cruised toward his drama script reading.
Phone in his hand.
Stylist was fixing his hair. Assistant was reading out the day's tasks.
He wasn't listening.
Because—
Ping!
His eyes flew open.
He lifted the phone and unlocked it.
Instagram.
A story from @yourname_yn
Posted 1 minute ago.
He tapped.
Black background. White text.
> "30 days left until I return to ruin Mr. Actor's peace 😌🎉"
#littlefoxReturns #BraceYourselfBum
There was a cute fox pic
He choked on a laugh.
Stylists looked at him through the mirror. "Everything okay, oppa?"
He nodded innocently.
Too innocently.
His thumb hovered over the "Send Message" option… then changed his mind.
Instead, he posted his own story.
@k.kbeom_official
Black screen.
Caption only.
> "Counting down till my peace gets stolen by a little fox 🙃"
#29DaysOfDanger #YouStartedThis
Y/N, sitting in her room in Pakistan, nearly choked on her tea.
She messaged immediately:
> Y/N 🦊: Don't act like you're scared. You LITERALLY said "I already prepared the bed." 😡🫣
He replied immediately:
> Kim Bum 🐾: I prepared the bed. Not my sanity. It's too late for that.
She stared at her screen.
Heart? Punching the walls of her chest.
She was about to reply when—
Ping!
Another story from him.
Photo this time.
Him sitting on a chair, surrounded by scripts.
Messy hair. Tired face.
Caption:
> "1st day back. 6 hours of work done. 14 more to go.
Also me: checking phone every 10 minutes like a maniac. 😵💫
#ProfessionalButWhipped"
Y/N screamed into her pillow.
Her mom knocked.
"Y/N, beta? Are you okay?!"
"Y—Yeah, Ammi! I just… remembered I forgot to… breathe."
Kim Bum, somewhere in Seoul, saw the "Seen" mark on his story… and the lack of response.
He smirked.
And whispered to himself,
"She's speechless. Finally."