[Day 7 – Seoul, 11:17 PM]
The countdown had long disappeared from her stories now.
But the teasing? Oh, that was very much alive.
Every day — some new joke.
Every night — some playful war of emojis, photos, or words.
He still hadn't confessed.
Still called her "little fox."
Still only followed one person.
@yourname_yn.
---
Today, she was in class when her phone buzzed.
> 📞 Kim Bum 🐾 calling…
She peeked at it under the desk and bit her lip.
"Sir, can I be excused—uh—someone's dying—of—boredom!" she mumbled and left the room.
When she picked up, he casually said,
> "You looked too focused. I had to fix that."
"Are you serious?! I'm literally in class!"
"You left though," he smirked.
"I win."
"Ughhhh!" she groaned and hung up.
He burst out laughing, staring at his screen like a lovesick fool.
---
Later that day, between script readings, he messaged her.
> Kim Bum 🐾: "Done annoying you. For now. How's your day?"
> Y/N 🦊: "Busy. But someone's nonsense calls made it better. 😊"
He stared at the message.
Smiled.
Heart? Gone.
He put his phone down.
Picked it up again after 10 minutes.
She hadn't messaged again.
So what did he do?
Opened her profile.
Scrolled a little.
Okay—scrolled a lot.
Which he knew was dangerous, because…
Flashback:
The day he followed her account?
His phone crashed.
His notifications exploded.
The fan war Rang's stans nearly broke the Internet.
But now he was careful.
Silent observer.
And yes—he understood Urdu now.
Not fluently, but enough to get the jokes.
Enough to know when she was teasing him.
---
Tonight, he clicked on one of her videos.
The old Lee Rang one.
The one that she edited.
Scenes of him — from Tale of the Nine Tailed.
His softest, saddest moments.
His eyes. His pain. His smirk.
And behind it… that Hindi song she added.
> "Mana tu dheera sa
Nindon ka dhaaga sa
Bandhan hai khwabon ko tera..."
His fingers paused.
He listened.
He watched.
Again.
And again.
> "Ma rang sharbaton ka
Tu meetha ghat ka paani…"
That line?
Hit differently.
---
So he posted.
Instagram Story.
Black background.
Video snippet from the reel.
A moment of Rang looking up in the rain.
Caption:
> "Some people enter your life like dreams… but feel more real than anything else."
🦊
#NotJustAReel
#YouKnowIt
---
Y/N saw it.
And just sat there.
Blanket over her head.
Pillow in her lap.
Staring.
Reading it once.
Twice.
Fifteen times.
He didn't tag her.
Didn't send it directly.
But he knew she'd see.
And she did.
---
Her heart whispered:
> "Don't fall harder."
Her soul whispered back:
> "Too late."
---
And in Seoul…
Kim Bum?
Still hadn't confessed.
But tonight, he looked at her story, smiled, and whispered,
> "Come faster, little fox. I'm tired of pretending I don't miss you."
[A Few Days Later – Afternoon, Seoul]
His phone buzzed again.
But this time… not from her.
It was a number saved as: "Appa 🕊️ Pakistan"
He sat up instantly and took a deep breath before answering.
"Annyeonghaseyo," he said respectfully.
"Assalamualaikum, Appa-nim."
A warm laugh came from the other side.
"No need for all that nervousness, Bum-ahh. How are you, son?"
Kim Bum smiled softly.
It felt… nice. Safe. Familiar.
"Comfortable, actually. Missing her, yes… but I'm good, sir."
"Hm. Missing her, huh?" her dad teased gently.
Kim Bum let out a soft laugh.
"Every second. But don't worry — I'm being patient."
Her father chuckled.
"That's good. And I'm trusting you to take care of her when she comes there. I know you will. You've earned my trust, Bum-ahh."
The words froze him.
He'd heard so many things in his life.
Praise for acting. Respect for his discipline. Compliments for his looks.
But this?
Trust. From her father.
He bowed even though they were on the phone.
"Thank you… truly. I'll take care of her with my whole heart."
There was a pause.
Then her father said — casually, yet with that Appa detective tone:
"So, when are you planning to confess?"
Kim Bum blinked.
Then burst out laughing.
"Appa-nim, you're faster than her friends!"
Her dad grinned through the call. "I'm her father. I always know."
Kim Bum chuckled, eyes soft now.
"I'm waiting for the right moment. When she's here. When I can tell her… looking right into her eyes."
"Good," her father said. "She deserves that. You both do."
He nodded, heart warm.
Just then — in the background — he heard a familiar voice:
> "Ami Jan mujhe nahi pehnna kaanta!"
His eyes widened.
It was her.
> "Y/N, pehn lo. Function mein jana hai. Achha lag raha hai!" her mother's voice replied patiently.
> "Uff… kyu jaana hai…(uff...why we have to go)" she sighed like a 5-year-old.
He grinned. She didn't know he could hear her.
"…Should I call her?" he whispered with a smile.
Her dad laughed, "Yes, yes — call her. You should see how she's looking."
Kim Bum sat up straighter, already reaching for the call button like an excited child.
"Okay… I'm calling."
---
[Call: Incoming – Little Fox 🦊]
She picked up after a few rings.
Her voice was airy.
She was walking… and he heard her move toward a mirror.
"Oh? Mr. Actor, how are you?" she asked with a grin.
He… forgot how to breathe.
There she was. In her traditional dress. Earrings. Light makeup.
Hair curled. Eyes big. Face glowing.
He literally whispered, stunned—
"Little fox… this is so unfair."
"Huh?" she laughed.
"You're looking too good. And I'm not there to see it."
She giggled, playing with her earring.
"Ohhh? Then should I only dress up like this when I come there?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Or," she continued playfully, "should I help your love of life get ready like this instead?"
He was silent for a second.
Then without thinking — honestly, almost on instinct — he said:
> "You already are my love of life."
Her eyes widened.
Smile faded into shock.
Cheeks bloomed red.
She opened her mouth…
He realised what he just said.
Eyes wide. Panic setting in.
"I—uh—I mean—what I meant was—uh—"
"Y/N! We're getting late!" her mother called from outside.
She blinked. Still red.
Still stunned.
"Oh—coming, Ami!" she called out, eyes still locked on the screen.
He rubbed his forehead.
About to speak.
But she softly said—
"…I'll call you after the function, okay?"
And before he could fix or fumble…
The call ended.
---
[Back in Seoul – 7:32 PM]
He put the phone down.
Heart thundering.
Whispered to himself—
"…You idiot."
But then he smiled.
Because maybe, just maybe…
She'd heard the truth in his voice.
And maybe now…
She wouldn't be able to un-hear it.
[The Day Before – 11:37 PM, Seoul]
He lay on the couch, phone on his chest, the room quiet except for the faint hum of the air purifier.
They'd talked every single day since that accidental confession.
But not once did she bring it up.
Not a joke, not a question… not even a teasing "So… love of life, hmm?"
Nothing.
At first, he thought she might've forgotten.
Then he realized—
She hadn't forgotten.
She was… protecting him.
She must've noticed the panic in his voice that day.
And instead of teasing him or demanding answers, she did something even more surprising:
She let it go.
Let him breathe.
Let him process it in his own time.
And Kim Bum was grateful.
Deeply.
But now—now he didn't want to hide anymore.
He looked around at the small apartment he'd turned upside down in excitement.
An extra pair of soft slippers near the entrance.
A small basket of her favorite snacks on the kitchen counter.
A warm, neutral hoodie folded neatly on the bed in case she felt cold.
And on the table…
A soft pink file.
With every little plan he'd made to make her feel safe, welcome, and… home.
He smiled.
Tomorrow.
He was finally going to see his little fox again.
After an entire month.
After that rushed goodbye in Karachi.
After the quiet heartbreak of missing her every single day.
After falling for her… just a bit more than he expected.
His phone buzzed.
[Message from: Little Fox 🦊💌]
> "As you asked (over and over again 😅) here are my flight details, Mr. Actor."
> "Landing in Seoul at 5:20 PM tomorrow. Don't be late or I'll sue you for emotional damage 😌"
> "And YES. Wear a mask and cap. If anyone recognizes you, you're buying me chocolate for life."
> "Okay bye. I'm packing my skincare. I feel like I'll need it in Seoul's AC again 😭"
Kim Bum laughed so suddenly, he startled himself.
Then he texted back—
> "Yes, ma'am. Mask, cap, and emotional damage bill noted."
> "And don't worry. I'll be there… before the plane even lands."
> "Come safely, little fox. I've missed you so much."
He hesitated.
Then quickly hit send before he could overthink it.
He didn't need to confess again.
Not yet.
But he wanted her to know…
She'd been missed. Fiercely.
---
[The Next Morning – Karachi]
Y/N stood by the mirror, zipping up her hand-carry with half a sleepy face and half excitement.
Her phone buzzed again with a heart emoji from him.
She smiled softly.
She hadn't brought up the "love of life" moment because… well, what if he regretted it?
What if it had slipped out by accident?
But the way he talked to her every day since…
The way he remembered small things.
The way he texted good morning before she even woke up.
The way he asked about her sleep, her meals, her health…
He may not have said it again.
But she'd heard him.
And her heart had been holding onto that whisper for days.
Tomorrow… he'll be right in front of her.
And maybe then—just maybe—she'll get to see that look in his eyes again.
The one that told her she wasn't dreaming.
That maybe she was… someone's "love of life" after all.