Every second of it hurt.

But against her better judgment, Taeyeon kept repeating and re-watching the video of the Naruto run in Elbi, where she spotted Seulgi running and laughing along with Joohyun.

It wrecked her. This used to be the two of them - their younger selves, hand-in-hand, running in wild abandon at freedom park, belting Taeyeon's voice notes in mirth. 

As her tears fell one-by-one, smudging the screen of her tablet where she watched, she reminded herself, this must be done. This is what's right for the three of them.

But goddamit. It still hurt like hell.

She wasn't even aware that she was sobbing already until she heard a voice ask - 

"Anak, may problema ba?"

It was her father.

She immediately wiped her tears. "Wala po," she answered dismissively.

"Okay," her father said quietly. But he then asked - "Kamusta kayo ni Seulgi?"

Taeyeon then lost it.

Her body shook as she cried, releasing the pain which she's bottled up for months.

She felt a comforting hand touched her shoulder.

"Natanong ko anak kasi this is probably the longest time na umuuwi ka dito sa bahay. Naalala ko nung nag-aaral ka pa sa Makiling, mabibilang ko lang sa daliri 'yung weekends na umuuwi ka dito. Nung nag-kolehiyo ka, hindi ka na halos umuwi."

Taeyeon knew why. She detested going home only to see her father either introducing another random woman to her or crying over another para