Present....
James had arrived early, but now the extra time he'd planned was working against him. He needed to drive back to Gangwon-do, and every passing minute made the thought of facing traffic even worse. His leg bounced impatiently under the table, and his fingers tapped a restless rhythm against the edge of his coffee cup. The cozy atmosphere of the café near Incheon Airport, with its warm lighting and soft music, did nothing to ease his growing frustration.
He checked his watch again—ten minutes late. Every time the door swung open, his eyes darted toward it, hoping it was the person with Euan's luggage. But each time, he was disappointed. With a sigh, James slumped back into his chair, muttering to himself, "This shouldn't be taking so long."
Just as he distracted himself with his phone to pass the time, he heard the familiar sound of wheels rolling over the café floor. He didn't look up right away, but a pair of white sneakers stopped in front of him, pulling him from his thoughts. He glanced up slowly.
"You?" he and the man standing before him exclaimed simultaneously, surprise flashing across both their faces.
Kyle rolled his eyes, his irritation evident. "Out of all people, it had to be you?" he muttered, crossing his arms. He had already known it was James the moment he entered the café, as James was the only one with luggage beside him, and he recognized it. James had also given a description of what he was wearing when they communicated via the airport personnel.
James shot up from his seat, folding his arms with a look of barely restrained annoyance. "What did you just say? And you're late."
Kyle put his hands up in surrender, forcing a smile. "Alright, cool it. I know I'm late. Sorry, but let me explain," he said, sliding into the chair across from James, motioning for him to sit down as well.
With a dramatic eyeroll, James dropped back into his seat, huffing like he was throwing a silent tantrum. "This better be good."
Kyle leaned forward, hands folded on the table, a hint of amusement in his eyes even as he attempted an apology. "Look, it's my fault this time, okay? But there were… obstacles on the way."
James scoffed, crossing his arms tighter. "Every time something goes wrong, it's somehow my fault, isn't it? Is that what you're trying to say?"
Kyle chuckled, running a hand over his face as if trying to contain his amusement. "You young people—always so stubborn, so dramatic."
James shot him a sharp glare but remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Seriously," Kyle added, a smirk sneaking through, "you're hard-headed."
"Enough," James snapped, his patience wearing thin. "If you have nothing useful to say, let's just swap the luggage and be done."
They exchanged bags, both double-checking their contents to avoid another mix-up. Satisfied, James stood abruptly, gripping his luggage. "Alright, it's done. I'm leaving."
But instead of looking annoyed, Kyle's gaze followed him with curiosity, as if he found James' fiery demeanor amusing. He grabbed his own luggage and followed after him. "Hey, wait up!"
James spun around, his irritation flaring. "Don't follow me."
"Why the rush? Let's talk for a bit," Kyle said, easily keeping up with his long strides.
"I'm busy," James shot back, quickening his pace.
Kyle let out a soft sigh, then called out, "Wait!"
James stopped abruptly, turning to face him with an exasperated look. "What now?" he growled, clearly annoyed.
Kyle's lips curved into a mischievous smile as he stepped closer, toward James. "Aren't you hungry? It's almost lunchtime," he said, the playful glint in his eyes impossible to ignore.
James blinked in surprise, his brow furrowing. "Are you serious? Why would I eat lunch with you?"
Kyle didn't back down, his smirk deepening. "Woah, is there something wrong with eating lunch with me?"
James raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. "What kind of ridiculous game are you playing? I don't have time for this."
Kyle took a step closer, his gaze locking onto James's with a challenge in his eyes. His voice dropped to a playful whisper. "You can either give me your number, or you can have lunch with me. Your choice."
James' jaw clenched, and he rolled his eyes dramatically. "You're ridiculous if you think I'm choosing either of those."
Just as James reached again for his luggage, Kyle swiftly snatched it out of his hands with a triumphant grin. "Hey!" James lunged after him but missed, his frustration mounting. "Are you crazy? We're not even close to being on this level, and you're old enough for this kind of stuff!"
Kyle chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Oh, come on, James. It's just lunch. Why are you so worked up? I won't do anything to you."
"If you're that hungry, call Tobi. Why are you bothering me so much?" James snapped, snatching at the luggage again, but failing to get it. He stamped his foot in frustration, then crossed his arms over his chest, huffing as he started walking away. "Let's go before I kill you," he muttered, his voice heavy with exasperation.
Kyle's grin widened, satisfaction radiating from him. He wasn't hiding his victory at all. "Good," he said with a soft, almost angelic smile, fully aware that he'd get James' number eventually, no matter how hard James tried to resist.
James muttered under his breath, "You're crazy," then extended his hand toward Kyle. "Now, give me back my luggage."
Kyle shook his head, gripping the suitcase playfully. "Nope. I'll carry it for you. Just keep walking."
James sighed dramatically, shaking his head in disbelief.
***
After an awkward lunch that left James feeling tense and uncomfortable, they finally headed toward the parking lot. James needed to return to the airport, where his car was parked, having hitched a ride with Kyle to the restaurant. As they approached Kyle's car, the air was thick with the weight of unspoken words. Just as they were about to get in, a sudden, loud screech of a tire blowout shattered the quiet. One of the parked cars in the lot had its tire explode, the harsh sound echoing against the concrete walls.
Kyle barely reacted. With a casual shrug, he slid into the driver's seat, his mind already on the drive ahead. But when he glanced over, he noticed something was wrong. James hadn't moved. He was still standing on the other side of the car, his hand gripping the door handle, his body frozen in place.
"James?" Kyle called out, his voice sharp with concern, but there was no answer.
Then, he saw it. James was trembling, his chest rising and falling in short, uneven breaths. His face had drained of color, and panic was clearly etched across his features. Without a second thought, Kyle hurried to James.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Kyle asked gently, crouching down slightly to meet James at eye level. His voice was soft, but laced with concern. James didn't respond, his hand clutching at his collar like he was trying to steady his breathing. His eyes were wide and unfocused, lost in something only he could see.
Kyle's expression softened as he recognized the signs of a panic attack. He had seen this before, and the training he'd received over the years as a doctor kicked in. Without wasting time, he gently guided James into the passenger seat. "Come on, just breathe. I've got you," Kyle murmured, keeping his voice calm, and leaving the door open to let in some air.
Once James was seated, Kyle slid into the driver's seat, but instead of starting the car, he turned to face James. He opened his door wider to let in more fresh air, then leaned over and placed a steadying hand on James' shoulder. "Just focus on your breathing, okay? In through your nose, out through your mouth. You're safe."
James' breaths were still shallow and uneven, but Kyle remained unflinching, keeping his hand steady on James' shoulder. He reached into the glove compartment, pulling out a small first-aid kit—something he always kept on hand. Quickly, he retrieved a small packet of smelling salts and waved it gently under James' nose.
"Take it easy," Kyle murmured, his voice soft and soothing. "Just focus on me. You're going to be fine."
James flinched at the sharp scent, his body tensing, but slowly, his breathing began to even out. His grip on his collar loosened, and a faint color started to return to his face. Kyle continued speaking in a low, reassuring tone. "That's it. You're doing great. Just keep breathing."
James blinked, his gaze slowly shifting from the blurry distance to Kyle's steady face. His body was still tense, but the panic that had overtaken him seemed to be fading.
"You alright now?" Kyle asked softly, his hand still resting on James' shoulder, grounding him.
James nodded weakly, though he didn't say anything right away. He just sat there, focusing on the simple act of breathing, trying to push the lingering fear from his mind.
Kyle gave him a reassuring smile. "You scared me there for a second," he teased lightly, his voice playful in an effort to ease the tension. His eyes softened with concern, but he still wanted to make James smile.
James finally spoke, his voice low and shaky. "It's the noise. The tire... reminded me of something."
Kyle's heart softened, knowing the story of how James was shot on the cliff. The sound had obviously triggered James's anxiety, but he didn't press him for details. Kyle understood that James had been through something difficult and wasn't going to push him to relive it. "I get it," he said gently. "You don't have to explain."
Without warning, James leaned forward and pulled Kyle into a tight hug. "Thank you," he whispered weakly. Kyle froze for a moment, surprised by the sudden gesture, but quickly wrapped his arms around James in return. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he felt the tension in James's body start to melt away.
"Take your time, James," Kyle murmured gently. "Just breathe, okay? Let yourself relax until you feel better."
The story doesn't end here...
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