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If You

Halfway

Emily waited as Lisa silently read her proposal, her eyes widening with each line. “You want to apply for permanent international assignment?” she asked disbelievingly.

“You've been asking how you can help me, and this is how,” Emily replied. “I want you to transfer me to Seoul.”

Lisa shook her head. “That would be a major pay cut,” she said, “not to mention the work would be much harder. You'd have to learn to write in Korean, and maybe even get training as a translator. Even with all of that, I can't guarantee steady projects.”

Emily nodded. “I understand. How soon can you push my application through?”

Lisa tossed the application aside. “This is risky, Emily,” she said pointedly, “and I know why you're doing it. Are you sure he's worth it?”

“I'm sure.”

Lisa sighed loudly. “I'll do what I can,” she muttered, “but I'd be sorry to see you go. You're one of my best writers, and a good person.” She stood up and offered Emily her hand. “I wish you luck in Seoul,” she said.

Emily shook her hand warmly. “Thank you,” she whispered. Lisa blinked rapidly and sniffed. “It'll take about two weeks to process the paperwork,” she said, handing her folder back. “I'll email you the forms you need to sign.”

Emily nodded. “I'll start packing,” she replied. “Thank you again, Lisa.”

She left Lisa's office and anticipation began to grow in her mind. Youngbae's right, she thought, taking the elevator down to the lobby. I'm not going to let this opportunity slip away again.

Her mind was so busy with planning that she hardly noticed getting a cab back to her apartment building. I should call Jiyong. No, I should go see him. What will I say? I should wear something nice. Oh, this is really happening!

The cab pulled up to the building and she paid the fare before getting out. It was mid-afternoon, but the sky was grey and a sharp wind blew constantly.

“Emily!” a voice called. She turned and saw Jiyong standing by the door to her building.“Jiyong?” she said incredulously. “Have you been out here this whole time?”

Jiyong shook his head. “Only a few minutes,” he said, though his teeth were chattering. Emily quickly buzzed them in and they hurried into the chilly lobby. “Why didn't you wait in your car?” she asked, tugging her scarf free.

“I took a cab,” he said. He threw his hood back and snow scattered everywhere. “I have something to tell you.”

“Me too,” Emily said. “I was about to come see you.”

“Let me go first?” he asked.

Emily nodded, holding the folder behind her back.

“Look, all those times I asked you to stay with me, I didn't appreciate what I was asking you to sacrifice,” he said. “You've got a family, a career, an entire life that you've worked hard to build for yourself. I can't expect you to just go along with whatever I'm doing. It's not fair, and it's not right.”

Emily's heart sank. Is he breaking up with me this time? she wondered.

He pulled a folder from inside his coat and handed it to her. “Open it,” he murmured.

Emily cracked it open slowly, as if it might explode in her face. It only contained a few sheets of paper and she scanned them rapidly. “What is this, some kind of contract?” she wondered, looking up at him. “Jiyong, what did you do?”

“Just read it,” he insisted. She looked back at the paper, trying to recall her limited knowledge of Korean characters. “The undersigned is… no, will take on more… contracts with the companies listed below thirty months from this date.” She flipped to the next page. “The undersigned will… not tour internationally for three years after his military enlistment ends.” Her breath caught in her throat and she looked at him again. “What does that mean?”

“It means that I won't be gone as much,” he replied. “It means I'll be working and performing in the States more. We'd still have to live in Seoul mostly, but we could spend a lot of time here.”

“But… but what about BIGBANG?” she stammered. “What about your music? I don't want you to give that up.”

“But I'm not,” he said with a smile. “BIGBANG'S not going to officially reunite for a few years, and I can make music anywhere.” He paused, as if he were considering his next words carefully. “I meant what I said last night,” he said finally. “Anything I do is worthless without you, Emily, and I'd gladly trade this in if it meant being with you. I know I'm still asking a lot, but… would you consider meeting me halfway?”

Emily couldn't speak past the lump in her throat, so she just closed his folder and handed him hers. Jiyong read the first page, then looked up at her. “This… this is what you wanted to tell me?” he said thickly. Emily nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Welcome to halfway,” she managed.

Jiyong grinned and Emily didn't know whether to embrace him or just keeping smiling and crying like an idiot. “You know,” she said, “you never actually asked me, back in Seoul.”

Jiyong frowned. “Didn't I?”

Emily shook her head and he immediately dropped to one knee. “Emily Carter, will you marry me?” he asked.

“Yes!” she shouted, startling the two old ladies checking their mailboxes. Jiyong got up and kissed her and the ladies whooped loudly. “Congratulations, dear!” one of them called.

Jiyong pulled back suddenly. “What is it?” Emily asked.

He pulled a studded silver band off his forefinger and held it up. “It's not Cartier, but-”

“It's perfect,” she said, more tears falling. She held out her hand and Jiyong slid the ring onto her finger, then he picked her up and swung her around, both of them laughing and crying breathlessly. There was a shout from outside and they looked out the window to see the other guys jumping up and down like hyper kangaroos, yelling and high fiving each other. Emily opened the door and they all spilled in, red faced and puffing hard. “You did it? You're back together?” Daesung asked.

“Even better,” Emily said, holding up her hand. They let out a roar of excitement and wrapped the two of them in a giant group hug. No one said anything, all of them too overcome with happiness to form words. Emily managed to find Jiyong's hand and she grasped it tightly. Why didn't we do this sooner? she wondered.


******


Emily hung up the phone just as Seungri came out into the hallway. “Did you call your family?” he asked, nodding at the phone.

“Yeah,” she said happily. “Everyone's thrilled, but Dad didn't sound very surprised.”

“That's probably because Jiyong asked for his permission while you were visiting them,” Seungri said offhandedly. Emily's jaw dropped. “Are you serious?” she whispered. “That's how long he's wanted to…?”

“Are you kidding? Jiyong's wanted to get married for a long time,” Seungri said. “Once he fell for you, it was a no brainer for him.”

Emily shook her head. “I've been really oblivious, haven't I?”

“Well, someone did try to stab you,” Seungri reminded her. “Have you set a date yet?”

“No, but it needs to be soon,” she replied. “Jiyong’s enlistment starts in the fall and we want to have everything in order before then.”

“Are you okay with that?” Seungri asked concernedly. “With the enlistment, I mean.”

“I'm not saying I agree with it,” she said, “but that's the way it is and I've made my peace with it as best I can.”

Jiyong came out of the room, phone in hand. “I just called my mom,” he said, closing the door behind him.

“Isn't it the middle of the night right now?” Emily asked.

“I was so excited I forgot,” he confessed. “Mom's ecstatic, by the way. She wants to talk to you.”

Emily took the phone and stepped away from the guys. “Hi Han Bi, it's Emily,” she said.

“My future daughter!” Han Bi shouted. “Oh, I have prayed for this day since Jiyong was born, but when I met you I prayed even harder. And now my prayers have been answered! Congratulations, my dear!”

“Thank you,” Emily said, blushing.

“You must come and visit me. We have so much to talk about!”

“I will,” Emily promised. “I'll be back in Seoul in a few weeks.”

“A wife for my son! I shall be up all night with happiness!”

“Get some rest, Han Bi. I'll talk to you soon.”

The call ended and Emily rejoined the guys. “She's almost as excited as Mandie,” she said, handing the phone back to Jiyong.

“Will you get married in Seoul?” Seungri asked.

Emily bit her lip. “I'd love to, but my family-”

“Let me fly them over,” Jiyong offered. “They can spend a few weeks in the city before the wedding, meet Dami and my parents, all of it.”

“Really?” Emily asked excitedly. “You would do that?”

“Anything you want,” Jiyong promised. “Anything.”

Emily squealed and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you!” she said blissfully. Jiyong embraced her tightly and kissed her cheek.

“Get a room!” Daesung yelled, coming down the hallway with Youngbae.

“Have you decided what you want to do?” Youngbae asked, punching him in the arm. Emily looked at Jiyong, then shook her head. “It doesn't matter,” she said softly. “I'd marry you right now, in this hallway.”

“If you hurry, you'll have just enough time before our plane leaves,” Youngbae said, checking his watch. Emily groaned. “I forgot you were leaving today,” she said.

“I know, but it's not for very long,” Jiyong reminded her. “In a few weeks you'll be on a plane and I'll be waiting for you by the gate.”

“Sounds like a PR headache for Sagowa,” she commented. The guys laughed and Jiyong touched his forehead to hers. “I love you,” he murmured.

“I love you too,” she said, kissing him.


******


“Engaged?!” Seunghyun shouted.

“Yeah,” Jiyong said, looking out the window of the plane. “It happened this morning. I didn't even have a ring.” The phone crackled, then calmed again. “Remind me why you're calling so late?”

“I can't tell you,” Seunghyun reminded him. “Just be glad I was able to call at all. You wouldn't believe how strict it is here.”

Jiyong grimaced. “I hate the idea of leaving Emily like that,” he said quietly. “We'll only be married for a few months before I have to go.”

“At least you've got a girl,” Seunghyun said glumly. “All I've got is you morons.”

Jiyong chuckled. “We love you too, Seunghyun,” he said. “I just wish you could be at the wedding.”

“Me too, but hey, I'm just glad there's a wedding at all. You deserve to be happy, Jiyong. I couldn't be more thrilled for both of you. Give my love to Emily, will you?”

“I will,” Jiyong said. “Call me whenever you can, buddy. We miss you.”

Jiyong hung up and stared out the window at the sunset. At this height the entire sky was a blaze of red and orange, the sun reflecting off the clouds that covered the earth below.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Youngbae asked, sitting in the seat across from him.

“A week ago I was so depressed I thought it would kill me,” Jiyong said, “but today I'm so happy I could burst. Love's weird, isn't it?”

Youngbae nodded. “It really is.”

Notes

Comments

Please please please continue this. I've read it three times now and it just makes me fall in love every time. It is a wonderful story. Also, please put it on AO3, its a very friendly community for writers.

Maliciouspixie5 Maliciouspixie5
11/13/19

@Maliciouspixie5
Thank you!

Oh I just love this. Beautiful story.

@k pop lover
Haha thanks, I'll try!

please update more often. caus ei reallyl ike this story

k pop lover k pop lover
8/29/18