“You mean… you remember it all now?”

“I do,” Sarang smiled as she squeezed her mother’s hands to assure her that everything is okay. “I know you’re still worried, I can see it in your eyes, but don’t be, mom. Now that I got my memory back, I know Chanyeol never cheated on me. It was all a setup by his ex-girlfriend, she even admitted it to me before the accident.”

“Then what about you leaving? Why did he let you stay somewhere else?” her tone was low and worried. The only thing she ever wanted was for her only child, her precious girl, to live happily and be with someone who deserved her and treated her well.

“He didn’t let me… It was just me being stubborn,” Sarang shook her head feeling stupid. “I don’t even know why I left… I was insane, I should have trusted him. We were happy, mom, he makes me the happiest human on earth even when he’s just sitting next to me doing absolutely nothing. I want to be with him,” she smiled, “I really want to spend my whole life with him, and it’s important to me that you approve it too.”

Sarang’s mom sighed with confusion.

“Does he take care of you?”

“A lot,” Sarang couldn’t help but smile, “He’s a good man. He treats me well.”

“He is.”

Both turned their heads to the door where Sarang’s father appeared and joined in. He smiled at Sarang warmly as he sat down next to her.

“You know that I will always support whatever decision you make, right?” he asked.

“Dad,” Sarang wrapped her arms over her father’s shoulders and kissed his cheek, “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, princess,” he kissed the top of her head.

Sarang sighed in relief knowing she had her dad who had always treated her like a princess by her side. She felt secure and protected and warm.

“Mom,” Sarang turned her mom, “Starting next semester, I want to attend classes again. I want to graduate and find a job. I want to be happy again and to do that I need both of you by my side,” she looked at her dad then back at her mom, “And I need Chanyeol by my side too.”

“I don’t hate him… you know that. I was just worried about you.”

“I know,” Sarang leaned in and kissed her mom’s cheek, “I love you, mom. And I don’t want you to worry, I have already explained things to you.”

“I understand,” her mom nodded, a half smile forming on her face. “I know he makes you happy, and I know he loves you. He tried so hard to get you back for god’s sake it stressed me out,” she said, making Sarang laugh, “You’ve got all my support, sweetheart,” she finally said.

Sarang’s smile widened, showing her teeth. She hurried to her mother’s arms and hugged her tight.

“Thank you for everything,” she murmured against her mom’s shirt, “Thank you for always being there for me since I was a little girl. Thank you for the being the best mother in the world.”

Sarang’s parents exchanged looks, their eyes smiling, filled with happiness and love and appreciation.

Her father moved closer and joined the hug refusing to be left out. He kissed his daughter’s forehead then his wife’s, telling them that one is his princess and the other is his queen, and that he will always love and protect them.

***

It was a Saturday night, not late but it was already dark outside and inside the bar Yerim was having another drink after god knows how many. She wasn’t counting but they must have been a lot because her vision was already blurred.

She placed her glass on the counter and turned her head to the side where a guy took a seat next to her. She couldn’t make out his features clearly but he was dark haired and she could tell he smiled at her.

“Hey there,” he said.

“Yixing?” she whispered then she straightened up and turned her whole body to him, not just her head. “Why did you do this?” she asked him directly.

He leaned in closer so they could hear each other.

“What did I do?”

Yerim scoffed, already feeling the tears in the corner of her eyes.

“Why did you find someone else other than me?” she touched his face, “Yixing why did you…” she leaned closer and pressed her lips on his.

But something didn’t feel right, and it didn’t take Yerim too long to realize that this wasn’t Yixing.

“You’re not Yixing,” her brows furrowed as she pulled back although the guy was hungry for more.

“I can be whoever you want,” he said.

Yerim winced, suddenly feeling a sharp headache. She couldn’t breathe, it was like there was no air and she was suffocating.

“Are you okay?” the guy asked, not knowing what to do, “Y-you don’t look well.”

“Excuse me,” Yerim slipped off the chair and dragged her feet through the crowd all the way outside.

The atmosphere was different outside. Thank god the air was no longer heavy, mixed with the smell of smoke and sweat. It was fresh outside which made breathing easier, but only a little.

The tears that were streaming down Yerim’s cheeks turned into loud sobs. She sat down by the side of the parking lot, feeling like her knees couldn’t carry her anymore.

“What about me?” she gasped for air between her loud sobs. She had never felt such pain in her chest before. “What about us?” she hit her fist against her chest hoping it would lessen the pain inside. She couldn’t take it anymore.

She tried to speak normally and sound casual during the days. She tried to be tough and careless. She busied herself with studies and friends. But no matter how much she tried to live normally, at the end of the day when she’s all by herself and everything around her is quiet she couldn’t pretend anymore.

She couldn’t lie to herself. Her memories with Yixing were loud enough to disturb the silence.

“Yerim-ah!”

Yerim’s whole body was shaking. She was cold, drunk, and feeling sick.

She looked up as two arms held her.

“K-Kyungsoo,” her breath came out shaky.

“Yerim-ah…” he looked worried, “What’s wrong?” he asked, helping her sit straighter and removing her hair off her face, “Why are you crying? Did someone try to hurt you?” his tone suddenly got angry and protective as he was ready to go find whoever tried to harass her and then kill him. “Did some son of a try to put a hand on you?”

Yerim shook her head weakly, unable to stop the tears from falling.

“H-he moved on,” her lips trembled, “He doesn’t love me anymore, Kyungsoo-yah.”

A part of Kyungsoo was relieved knowing that no one had tried to harass Yerim but the other part was sad to see her like that.

“Yerim-ah,” wrapped his arms around her, “I’m so sorry about that night… I’m so sorry for being a bastard, I was mad and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you,” he said guiltily, “Please forgive me.”

Yerim shook her head, “You were right,” she cried, “I kept saying parent’s opinion didn’t matter but look at me. I’m a coward. I let my parent’s ruin my relationship with the only person I have ever loved and now I lost him because of that.”

“Maybe you didn’t lose him,” Kyungsoo said, “Have you tried talking to him? Have you tried fixing things?”

“What’s the point of that? I’m sure he already loves her and he no longer thinks about me.”

Kyungsoo glanced down at Yerim’s phone that was resting on the ground next to her legs.

“We’ll see about that,” he said as he grabbed it and typed a few things.

~

It didn’t take more than ten minutes until he showed up with worry all over his face.

Kyungsoo gave Yixing a nod before he whispered to Yerim’s ear, “I’ll go now, but I’ll check on you later.”

Yerim looked up at him with confusion as he smiled and waved then walked away.

Although after calming down a little her face was total blank, her heart skipped a multiple beats when Kyungsoo’s spot was now taken by Yixing.

She looked at him carefully. Maybe she was only imagining, or maybe it was someone else but she keeps seeing Yixing in all the faces she meets.

“You disappeared that day,” he said.

This time Yerim’s heartbeats hammered harshly against her chest. No, she wasn’t imagining, it was his voice, his eyes and lips, his smell, it was him.

It was unmistakably Yixing.

“Didn’t I ask you to wait, Yerim-ah?” his voice was gentle.

She realized now she missed him even more than she though she did. She missed his sweet voice calling her name. She missed his gentle tone.

“What’s the point?” she shrugged miserably, “Weren’t you going to tell me that I’m stupid and that I shouldn’t have went to your place because you already found someone else and you no longer think about me?” she didn’t mean to blame him but her tone was accusing him.

Internally, she was begging him to save her heart. She was begging him to tell her that he only loved her and never someone else. She was hopeful.

“Weren’t you the one who asked me to find someone else?” he asked, “No matter how hard I tried to keep you with me, you still left and you asked me to find another.”

Yerim’s heart was already breaking but now it felt like a sharp knife just twisted in her heart.

She could feel the tears welling in her eyes all over again but she tried to suppress them and force a smile.

“It’s good to know you found someone new,” she looked up at his eyes that were piercing through her. “I hope it makes you happy whenever you hold her hand, or when she leans her head on your shoulder or when you kiss. I hope she loves you better than I did,” her voice cracked.

“Yerim—“ Yixing tried to touch Yerim’s arm but she harshly pushed him away.

“Don’t call my name!” she yelled, startling him because only a moment ago she was wishing him happiness. “Isn’t she now the only one that matters? Do you fight like we used to then make up like we used to?” she hit his chest but he wasn’t affected.

“Yerim-ah,” he tried to hold her again but she pushed him.

“Do you kiss and cuddle for hours like we used to?” she hit his chest again, “Do you talk all night and laugh like crazy at three in the morning like we used to?” her tears were streaming now.

“Stop it.”

“Do you…” she gasped for air, “Do you call her name in bed like you used to call mine?”

“Yerim, you’re drunk,” he held her arms forcefully, “Stop it—“

“Does she make you feel so good? Does she make you happy?” she sobbed, ignoring all his demands, “Do you love her like you loved me?” her voice cracked, “Do—“

“No!” Yixing finally yelled, making her stop. He looked down at her eyes that were desperately looking up at him, filled with tears and sadness. “No I don’t,” he said with a gentler tone before leaning in and slamming his lips against hers.

Yixing held Yerim’s waist and brought her closer to him as their kiss deepened. He missed her soft lips and warm tongue. He missed her so bad.

She held onto his arms for support. The intensity of his kiss made her knees weaker. She could feel his hands on her waist pulling her closer to him and closer is where she wanted to be.

Yixing held her face as he pulled back and searched for her eyes.

“Don’t cry anymore,” he wiped her tears with his thumb, “You know it kills me to see your tears.”

Yerim’s heart could almost explode. The gentleness of his voice whenever he spoke softly to her always made her heart shiver.

“Hmm,” she nodded but in fact the tears were streaming harder now.

“Heyy,” he smiled at her, “Don’t cry,” he planted a soft kiss on her right eye then on the left one, “Come here,” he pulled her to his embrace, burying her face against his chest and gently caressing her long hair.

Yerim inhaled his scent in. It had been months since the last time she felt so calm and secure. It was only now that she could breathe again.

***

Sarang raised a brow at Chanyeol as she folded her arms over her chest. A soft breeze blew her hair but it wasn’t cold. They were standing outside by the car.

Since she was moving back to their apartment, Chanyeol helped her pack all her stuff and bring them back home.

“What?” he asked.

“Yah, Park Chanyeol,” she scoffed with disbelief, “This is the only bag left, and it’s not even a suitcase it’s just a small bag. Why would you ask me to carry it up instead? I thought you were spoiling me,” she puckered her lips.

“Eyy my back hurts from carrying two huge suitcases already,” he frowned, “And I still got one thing to carry.”

“There are no cases left but okay whatever,” she rolled her eyes making Chanyeol laugh.

She watched him with confusion as he squat then stretched his shoulders.

“Here,” he tapped his shoulder.

“Eh…?”

“Put the bag over your shoulders and hop on,” he winked, “I’ll take you up.”

Sarang’s eyes lit up as she nodded excitedly and she couldn’t help but smile widely.

“Ayye now that’s something my sweet precious hubby would do,” she giggled as she folded her arms over Chanyeol’s shoulders then her legs around his torso.

Chanyeol smiled as he started walking without much effort as he held the back of Sarang’s bare thighs to support her body. She was wearing shorts so his hands touched her skin.

He stopped for a moment and looked over his shoulder at her. Her head was tilted as her cheek rested on his shoulder. She looked at him with her puppy eyes, “Why did you stop?” she asked, “Is it too heavy?”

Chanyeol laughed lightly, “You’re as light as a feather,” he assured, then unable to resist her cuteness he reached closer and