PROLOGUE

“Love was cruel,

as I stood proud;

he showed me you

and I was bowed.

He deftly dealt

his swiftest blow –

I fell further than,

I was meant to go.

And he ashamed,

of what he’d caused,

knew from then,

that I was yours.

That he, an echo

and you, the sound –

I loved you more

than love allowed.’”

I closed the book and turned to the person lying beside me – Baekhyun. He had his eyes closed but his mouth’s turned up into a faint smile. He had asked me to read him some stories to sleep. I decided to choose one of the books I definitely loved most. A compilation of wonderful words forged into poetries – Lullabies by Lang Leav.

“Still not asleep yet?” I asked him, my voice hushed into a whisper.

He shook his head.

“Just one more, please,” he breathed, slowly drifting off to sleep.

I ruffled his hair lightly and opened the book again.

I smiled to myself.

Of all the poetries inside this book, I thought, I really had to open the page that belongs to you.

I cleared my throat as I shifted into a more comfortable position.

“Acceptance,” I began, reading the title first.

“That’s a sad-sounding title, don’t you think?” Baekhyun whispered.

I flicked his nose.

“The title isn’t the basis of how beautiful a poetry is, Mister,” I scolded mildly.

“Hmm,” he moaned, smiling.

I turned my attention back to the book.

Here we go.

“’There are things I miss

that I shouldn’t,

and things I don’t

that I should.”

I felt my throat tighten as I finished reading the first stanza.

It took me a few minutes to continue but Baekhyun waited beside me patiently.

“’Sometimes we want

what we couldn’t,

sometimes we love

who we could.’”

Why do I feel like this poem's solely made for you?

I placed the book carefully on my lap and turned to him, waiting for his response.

His chest rises and falls, his breathing even.

He’s already dozed off.

I guess your reaction could wait for later, I almost told him.

I reached out to hold his hand.

His is a bit larger than mine.

I locked my fingers into his.

I smiled.

They still fit perfectly.

Baekhyun moaned as his hand tightened on mine, giving me a gentle squeeze.

I felt my heart sank.

If only we could stay like this forever, the thought crossed my mind. No need to worry about anything... No need to hide... No need to fear...

I stared at him, drinking him all in – his eyes, nose, lips, the softness of his skin… all the picturesque features of his face…

How could this guy possibly belong to me?

My chest tightened as I leaned in to give him a kiss on the forehead.

A tear fell from my eye, hitting him square on his cheek.

I pressed my hand on it lightly, wiping the wetness away.

The words were out even before I had the chance to stop them.

“Why do I always feel like I’m about to lose you, Baek?”

***

ALL CREDITS GOES TO YinYan OF BERCEUSE GRAPHICS FOR THE WONDERFUL POSTER!

THANK YOU FOR YET ANOTHER GREAT WORK!

FIGHTING!