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COME BACK, BE HERE
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This is falling in love in the cruelest way, 
This is falling for you when you are worlds away.

Wiping his tears away, Taehyung sat up from his bed and pulled on a shirt. He stood there, in front of the broken mirror with that wretched look on his face, fists clenched, looking straight into his empty eyes and cursing the heavens for making his life miserable.

His days are always just like this. Lying on bed all day, eating only if he wants to, rarely even take a bath, and looking at himself at the mirror, blaming himself that she's gone.

She's gone.

She's gone and she's never coming back.

He sees her in every corner of his house where she touched, where they touched.

Everytime he goes out, she's all he ever sees. He sees her in every happy girl. He sees her in every bright colors and dumb jokes. He sees her in the beautiful stars at night or at the city lights that he see through his apartment window. He sees her in the sun, in that flower garden at the park, and in that cute little hamster displayed at the pet shop across the street. He sees her in every single delightful thing on this world.

Because Wendy is just like that. Bright and all smiles. Wonderful, beautiful.

And now she's gone.

"Wan-ah, come back." He mumbled, tears falling once again.

"I miss you so much."

He's dead inside, listening to sad songs and drowning himself in melancholy.

Because Wendy is gone. She is gone forever...

From his life.

FLASHBACK

You said it in a simple way, 
4 AM, the second day, 
How strange that I don't know you at all. 
Stumbled through the long goodbye, 
One last kiss, then catch your flight, 
Right when I was just about to fall

Wendy was packing up her things when Taehyung slid his arms behind her and gave her a tight hug. She chuckled.

"I'm gonna miss you, Wan-ah."

"Shush. I'd only be gone for a few months. Everything will be temporary," she answered and leaned in to his embrace.

"Do you really have to go?"

"Jagi~ we've already talked about this. Work requires me there, but when Seulgi gets better I'll come back home and she'll be the one to continue the work," She explained.

"What if you find someone better?" Taehyung asked pouting.

"Aish. Don't talk rubbish. You're the best boyfriend any girl could ever have, Jagi." Wendy turned around to hug him from the front and leaned her head on his well-toned chest.

"What if you do?"

"Are you doubting me?" Wendy looked up at him.

"No. I'm just...worried," He answered and gave her a peck on the lips.

"Well, you don't have to worry because you're the only man I'll ever love," She flicked his nose lovingly.

END OF FLASHBACK

Today is the day.

Taehyung washed his face and brushed his hair, checking himself out in the mirror if he looks good. He let out a chuckle.

"This is ridiculous."

He grabbed his coat and walked out the door, locking it on the process.

It's been a while since he went out. The sun's warmth felt good on his skin. He looked around him and wondered just how long he locked himself up from the world. His neighbors gave him a pitiful look and he hates it. He continued walking and said the words 'be brave' over and over again like a mantra.

He passed by the park where they used to have picnics and play childish games. Taehyung's lips curved into a small smile, reminiscing all their happy memories.

"Oppa!" the voice startled him and he looked down to see that kid. The kid he and Wendy helped getting her kite which was stuck on the tall tree, the kid they bought ice cream - the kid they treated like their own daughter.

His heart ached.

"Joy, how are you?" Taehyung forced a smile.

"I'm fine, Oppa. Oh, where's Ariel noona?" she asked curiously.

He smiled this time and it was genuine.

'She still calls her Ariel because of her red hair'

He reached down to the little girl and held her shoulders.

"I'm very sorry, but your Ariel noona isn't with me anymore. Her prince charming has found her and they are living happily right now," Taehyung answered Joy with a sad smile.

Joy pouted. "But I thought you were her prince charming!"

He patted her head and ruffled her hair. "Go home now, your mom must be looking for you."

Joy hesitantly complied but still complied nonetheless.

"And don't call her Ariel noona anymore. I heard she has blonde hair now." He added but Joy was already gone.

It was true. Jimin once told him he saw Wendy on the mall with blonde hair and not the red one Taehyung used to loved.

He then stared at the tree across the field where they carved their names together, thinking how lucky the tree was for still standing tall, proud and unbreakable unlike the people who once declared their promises under its mighty shade.

His reverie was cut off when his phone rang.

"Tae, you don't have to go."

"Shut it Jungkook!" Taehyung answered with a bite.

He's so tired of this. He's so tired of being told what to do. His friends are always like that - stopping him from seeing her. He's just there to take a glimpse of her, nothing more. He'll be ready to accept the fact that Wendy's not coming back, or so he tells himself.

"Please don't do anything stupid," Jungkook sighed with a hint of sadness and disappointment in his voice.

Taehyung just hummed in response and ended the call. He looked up the sky and closed his eyes.

"This is it."

He took a few more steps and finally he arrived at his destination.

FLASHBACK

Taxi cabs and busy streets, 
That never bring you back to me, 
I can't help but wish you took me with you...

"But why? I don't understand." Taehyung cannot comprehend what's happening.

'This can't be happening'

"Wan-ah, I thought -"

"I'm sorry Taehyung. I...I guess I just fall out of love. I never wanted this to happen," Wendy answered despondently.

"But we were so happy! You promised me!" He sobbed.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, maybe you just miss me right? Why don't you come home and -"

"I'm hanging up right now. He's here."

No sound haunted him even more than the tone that indicates the call has ended.

And that moment, Kim Taehyung broke.

He was devastated.

END OF FLASHBACK

He opened the huge door that leads inside the church.

I told myself, "Don't get attached," 
But in my mind I play it back, 
Spinning faster than the plane that took you...

And there stood the woman he loved the most...

She looked so beautiful in white...

She wore the smile which made heaven and earth meet. The smile which made men fall in love with her.

The smile he thought would only be for him.

She never looked so vibrant and majestic like the way she does at the very moment.

His heart beat faster and he's falling in love with her over again. He cried...

He cried both happy and sad tears.

He was happy because he get to see her again. After so many years of longing, he saw her again.

He was sad because he could never hold her ever again. After so many years of longing, he saw her again. But this time she wasn't his and he wasn't hers.

And then he saw it. The ring around her finger that fits oh so prefectly.

He was shaking, trembling.

If only he could turn back the time.

His heart shattered into a million pieces the moment Wendy and Sunggyu kissed.

Taehyung fell into his knees, his jaw dropped and his tears cascaded down his cheeks.

There he was kneeling at the entrance watching the tragic scene that was playing in front of him. 

He was devastated. In shock. Crestfallen.

He wasn't ready for it. He was ready that Wendy is getting married to another man, sure. But he wasn't ready to see another man kiss her affectionately. And that hurt him even more. Because Sunggyu is not just 'another man', he is Wendy's husband - the man she loves the most, the man who truly belong with her, the man she chose over him.

Wendy turned around to smile at the people who congratulated them but their eyes never meet. He faded into the background and no one seems to notice he was there. Everybody focused on the lovely couple and nobody acknowledged his presence. And he thinks that was a good thing. He don't want to ruin her most special day. As long as he sees her smile, the smile he so longed to see once again. He wants her to stay like that. Taehyung wiped his tears.

'You idiot,' he scolded himself.

He once again saw the newly-wed couple, in a tight embrace, with the most contented look on their faces. Oh how he wished that was him, how he wished he stopped her from flying to New York that night, her career be damned. If only he did everything to stop her, they could've been together right now. It could've been him waiting for her down the aisle, it could've been him standing with her at the altar. If only, it could've been him. It should've been him!

Taehyung stood up and slowly walked away, but somewhere in his heart he's still hoping that maybe Wendy would see him. Maybe she would call him. Maybe she would talk to him. Maybe, just maybe, if she saw him she'd change her mind and she'd run away with him.

He chuckled at the last absurd thought. Who was he kidding? This wasn't like the movies.

He turned around to look at her one last time.

And this is when the feeling sinks in, 
I don't wanna miss you like this, 
Come back... be here, come back... be here.

 

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fin