Incheon

          The ride had taken two hours and dawn set in. He reached the camp accompanied by the sender, and was brought into his dormitory. It was completely empty, replaced by nothing else. Leeteuk dropped his bag and noticed how the other rooms had been packed away too. He was confused with the few, or even any sign of his regiments. A hand fell on his shoulders and he turned to see his Godfather behind him. The old man smiled and shook his head at the former.

“You don’t deserve this life, I am giving you your freedom, son. Your family, and Taeyeon needs you.” Leeteuk furrowed his eyebrows and took off his hat. He tried to muster a smile, and register the words of the General.

“Sir.” How much more he had owed to him, there was no way he’d be released. He feels his eyes water at the mere thought.

“Please Jung Su. There are no more questions; you will be resigned and as usual return to your family.” A tear fell from his eyes, as his Godfather hugged him. He froze in place and closed his eyes, feeling General Lee’s formidable embrace. The older man recalled how he had given orders that brought death to people, suddenly feeling gratitious to have Leeteuk standing before him.

“Thank you,” he hears him say.  All resistance ceased and he took in his words. After so long, he was given his freedom. Leeteuk could finally return to his parents. To Taeyeon.

Leeteuk’s Villa

Jeonju, South Korea

          She had stayed in his villa, waiting for him on his bed. As if she could feel him near her, she woke up and sat there expectantly. Leeteuk opened the door to his home, searching for her. He reached his room and found her on her bed. He stood on his knees reaching for her face and noticed she had her eyes closed. Taeyeon unbiddenly teared and caressed the contours of his face. “I’m back, and I’ll stay,” he told her softly. She opened her eyes and sees him crying, his eyes looking brighter than ever. Taeyeon nodded and that evening, with his uniform still intact, he stayed in the room with her, letting her soft hands lull him off.

All she cared about was the firm reality of his breaths on her chest, the concreteness of him slipping into slumber as she sang to him. She did not want to extend herself in any direction but his.

“I just feel like laying here with you forever. The way you hold me, like this,” she confessed. “Taeyeon...” he looked at her blissfully, his brown eyes dilating into her own. “I can’t stay away from you anymore. We have connected in a way I never felt was possible with anyone else.”

“I know, sweetheart. You always remembered me.” He touches her cheek and she leaned towards his soft palms. “You linger, despite all, you were always a part of me. I only needed to find it.”

He whispers,“And you did. You found me.”

Taeyeon touches his hands that were on her cheek, placed them on her lap as her eyes traced his features. “Look at you, how did I miss such a face?”

“Shh, no. It was not your fault. I was the one unwilling to expose myself to you in full view.” She shakes her head, “Are you embarrassed of me?”

“Dear no. Never. I was just,” he hesistated. “I believed that I didn’t deserve you.”

“You are my dream. You complete me, Leeteuk.” She assured him.

And that was all he needed, for her to feel something for him. He was thankful too. He feels his heartbeat race and watched her eyes close. He imagines that she must be seeing more, seeing even beyond the stars in the night sky.

          The next morning, Taeyeon had woken up earlier and sees him resting his head onto her shoulder, his chest heaving slowly. She sat up and laid his head on her, saying in a tender voice, “Tell me everything, I’m afraid I’ll forget again.”

“What is there to tell?” he said softly, face buried on her lap.

She looked at his eyes for so long and he held her face seeing her downcast, “What is wrong, dear?”

“I can’t forget the day they told me you had died. They told me you were gone and you are never coming back, I’ll never see you.” He enveloped her in his arms and she gripped tightly against his skin. They sat there for a long time. She remembers the lonely nights and the fateful day at the church and now she sees him looking over her.

He ran his hands through her hair and remembered an upcoming event, the following night. “Would you watch me during the Pass Out Parade?”

“I think it would be amazing,” she answered groggily before falling into a deep sleep.

Lee Residences

Seoul, South Korea

          Taeyeon arrived at the Pass Out Parade, meeting with Dong Wook and General Lee but have yet to catch sight of her man. It had taken a tour before she sees him standing with the elders, humbled by their compliments. She saw Leeteuk in his uniform, clad with his cap completely ensigned as a full-grown soldier. He appeared handsomely to greet before her, taking her hands and gave them a tender kiss. Taeyeon wore a simple cream dress, her hair loosely falling behind her and smiled lovingly at him.

“You look so beautiful,” he whispered. How blessed he feels with her beside him. She gripped his hand tighter and closes her eyes as her head fell on his shoulder. This was the man who fought through a battle, and also his own battle for their love. They sat amongst the participants of the war, the estimable soldiers including Leeteuk, each receiving their honorable discharge.

The way Dong Wook saw them made his heart soften. He knew his brother was soft-spoken amongst the elders and himself but with Taeyeon he was different. There had been so many ways he seen the way their faces lit up with one another. He sees the way she had looked at him, the firm reality of why she wanted her sight. Leeteuk treats her so respectfully and after all these years hasn’t confessed his feelings. Neither did she but she knew. They both knew.

         After being handed his badge and greeting everyone else, Leeteuk came over to Taeyeon’s side. They went out to the pavilion, where he finally supressed himself and took off his hat. He placed his coat over her small frame and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His eyes linger towards her longer than they should. Gently, he placed his arms on her waist and closed the contact between their bodies. Taeyeon’s breath was caught as she looked into his eyes and locked her hands behind his nape. Her fingers graze along his hairline, admiring how shorter his hair was. His eyes were soft and he went on to brush her cheeks, smiling slowly as he ran through her features. Leeteuk took her hands that was on his neck and placed them directly above his heart. Taeyeon felt them thumping aloud as of hers. However his next move was unexpected as he slowly closed the gap between their faces, eyes locked onto hers and merely inches away from her lips as he whispered.

“I love you, Kim Taeyeon.” It had taken a heartbeat for her to process his words, and now she couldn’t breathe. It was like she was drowning - drowning in air but like how a drowning person craves for it, she craves for him. She saw the tears stood in his eyes, making that confession after so long. “Leeteuk.” She smiled. “I do. I am in love with you. I always have been but I just never had the courage to confess, Tae-“ she placed a finger on his lips. “I’ve always felt it. I honestly love you too, Leeteuk. With all my heart and soul. I’m yours,” she said quietly.

A tear slid down his cheek, as he slowly placed his lips upon her forehead, eyes, cheeks and finally her lips, as she tenderly replied, feeling his smiles in between them. A woman’s heart is in her lips, how she had longed for him to seal the promise of forever. His heart leapt as the warmth of her hands in his felt perfect. They broke off as Leeteuk muttered, looking into her eyes, now tearing because of complete happiness, “I am sorry that I took so long.”

Taeyeon kissed him again, deeper this time to reassure him that it never mattered to her how long he took, she had only cared about nothing but him. “Don’t be sorry about anything Leeteuk.” The shapeless passing years had become the shape of their lips. She hugged him.“I loved you for so long. It was only you that I needed. I will always and only love you. I still do. I’ll always do.” He was completely amazed at how this woman could touch his heart. She wanted to tell him what she felt was real, that it is real.  He looked at the beauty beside him and wiped the tears that trickled down her cheeks. She slowly smiled and fixed the creases on his uniform.

“Aww, look I made your uniform have tear stains...” Taeyeon pouted. Leeteuk chuckled showing his left dimple as he held her hands back into the main hall. Despite everyone watching them, she stole a peck on his cheeks, making him blush.