Daehyun

Fall:

  I never realized Youngjae was gone until we came back to school after winter break. I thought he hated me or his dad did something to him, so that’s why he stopped visiting. But I learned that he moved somewhere else.

  When I arrived at school without my mask for the first time, people were staring but didn’t approach me. They were either afraid or just plain shocked to see this new me. When I spoke, they would freeze. Some people would actually talk back to me like Zelo, but there are a few who would just stay in the sidelines.

  Girls came up to me more than usual, giving me gifts and sending letters to me. I didn’t care because the only person on my mind was Youngjae, but he’s gone. He was gone from my so unexpectedly. I don’t understand why he left without a word and adding to that, he left after we kissed. Should I have said those three words? But that would change him from leaving, or will it? It doesn’t matter now because he’s gone, but I regret not telling him. What if he never returns?

  Now that I’m a senior, I should be worried about my studies like my aunt said, but I can’t stop thinking about him. Every night, I wonder where he would be. I didn’t even get a chance to give him my cell phone number. We have no way of contacting. If only I could speak or see him once more, then I’ll never let him slip away. He was the first person that didn’t leave me no matter how many times I pushed him away. But why, why when I let him into my life, he’s gone?

  “Hey, Daehyun!” It was Zelo.

  “Hey, Zelo,” I greet gloomily. Ever since I spoke to Youngjae, I did vocal lessons to help with my voice. After all, I’m waiting for Youngjae so I can sing a song I made just for him when he does come back.

  “Are you excited that you’re finally a senior?” He wraps his arms around me.

  I grin. “And you’re a sophomore! You’re growing up.”

  He chuckles. “Yeah! I still have two more years until I graduate! Can you believe how old I’m getting? Well, then again, you’re much older than me.”

  I shake my head and roll my eyes. “You’re strange.”

  “Anyways, did you check what room you’re in?”

  “I’ll check later. It’s not like we’ll be in the same classroom, so why are you asking?”

  He purse his lips. “I think you’re in for a good surprise.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He drags me to the board where they post up our homeroom. Zelo pushes through the crowd while holding onto my tightly. When we finally reach the board, he points to the bottom of the list and my heart stops.

  Yoo Youngjae

  He’s here. He’s back. Yoo Youngjae is back! “Wh-”

  Zelo grins. “Ah, you know that day at the park last winter? Well, I saw you with Youngjae and I knew that you had feelings for him. It’s quite obvious since you don’t usually talk to people. When I saw you singing to him, I knew you cared so much about him, but when you found out he was gone, there was like a gray cloud around you. Aren’t you happy he’s back?”

  “I am.” I couldn’t help but smile inside, but what if he changed? What if there was someone else on his mind now? After all, it’s been almost over a year since we last saw each other. I frown at the thought and shove through the crowd. I stop when there were no longer people pushing and shoving me and stare at the ground. For first time, I cry as I think about Youngjae. He left me so suddenly and just thinking about him being with someone hurts me so much. I really hope Youngjae is still the same happy-go-lucky person that I love.

  “Daehyun.”

  I look up and there he was, standing all by himself while his eyes met mine.

  I smile at him. “Youngjae.”

♦♦♦

Youngjae

Fall:

  The day I left, I just couldn’t bring myself to get in the car. I wanted to tell Daehyun I was leaving but my mom wanted us to leave as soon as possible. I looked at Daehyun’s house, to mine, and finally to my dad. Did he really love my mom or not? I mean, if he was able to stay with her when he found out about the affair, does that mean he still had feelings for her.

  I never realized my dad would cry until now.

  I felt a pang of regret but obviously my mom didn’t see him. For the first time my dad was crying. No matter how many times he yelled and beat me, he was still my dad. He was still the one who took care of me when I was child despite the fact that I could be someone else child.

  Without a word, I entered the car. I couldn’t look at my dad anymore. I just could bear seeing him cry. Am I too sensitive? Why should I be sorry for a guy like him? As the car drove away, I watch as we got farther and farther from the place I grew up and the place where I have experienced various emotions.

  As I lived with my aunt, I couldn’t stop thinking about Daehyun and how I just left him like that. I didn’t say a proper goodbye and now I think he hates me for it. I think he hates me for leaving him without a word. I couldn’t even concentrate on my studies. I was forced to get a private tutor as my mom noticed my grades were dropping.

  Of course no one in my school knew about my past. I did get a few friends here and there, but they weren’t like Daehyun. Daehyun was special to me and no one could replace him. I want to hear his voice once more.

  When the month of the DNA test came, we returned to the town I lived in, but I didn’t visit Daehyun. I didn’t want to see him and disappear again. I don’t even know if I’ll be back in town since it seemed that my mom was enjoying her days with my aunt. I wanted to return, not because I felt sorry for my dad living alone, but because I wanted to be with Daehyun again.

  As we were waiting for the results, I had a talk with my dad. Since we were in a public place, he didn’t yell at me. In fact, we had a mature conversation.

  “I’m sorry, Youngjae,” he started.

  I don’t know why, but I couldn’t forgive him just yet. After all, he was treating me badly for years. It wouldn’t be easy to forgive him so easily. I took one good look at him and noticed how his eyes were bloodshot and he hasn’t shaved his beard. Did he really love my mom that much?

  “You probably don’t believe my apology.”

  I still don’t say anything.

  He continues. “But, what I did was for your own good.”

  For my own good? Did he actually think yelling and screaming was the right way to go?

 “I didn’t want you to be like Daehyun’s father.”

  So he’s blaming Daehyun’s dad for all this. “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your apology,” I simply state.

  My dad gives me a hurt expression, but I’m unmoved. “I wouldn’t be like Daehyun’s dad even if you didn’t discipline me the way you did. I’m not like that. I’m smarter than that. What I can’t forgive you most about is the fact that when you thought I wasn’t your child, you treated me differently.”

  He would’ve said more, but I cut him off by standing up. “I’m going to get fresh air. This smell is killing me.” I stepped out for a moment and looked up at the sky. I wondered what Daehyun’s doing now. He’s probably at school right now. I should be but my appointment was today. Plus, I don’t think they would mind me being gone for a day.

  When I came back, they told us the results.

  Now that it’s a new school year, and my mom’s head has been cleared, she decided to go back to my dad. I don’t know what’s going on in her mind, but she told me she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Is that was true love really is? No matter how many times you’re hurt by this one person, you couldn’t help but go back to him? I hope that’s what Daehyun will do.

  Back at home, everything was quieter than normal. I guess the talk I had with my dad caused him to calm down. I can still feel a bit of tension, but he doesn’t yell at me anymore. Is it strange to say that I miss his yelling? The silence is scarier because then, I don’t know what he’s thinking in his mind and what if he bursts all of a sudden? What then? I guess the good this is, things are back to normal, but my mind is still troubled.

  Right now I’m walking around campus, searching for the board to see what class I would be in. Funny how I was only gone for nearly a year and I already forgot where everything was! When I finally find so many people surrounding a board, I run up but stop as I see Daehyun standing there, head down. I notice him wiping his face and I know he’s crying.

  “Daehyun,” I call out and stand near him. I clutch my bag strap tightly. Why is he crying?

  He looks up and immediately wipes his tears away. “Youngjae.”

  It hurts me to see him like this. Maybe I shouldn’t have left. “What’s wrong?”

  Daehyun bites his lips. “I missed you.”

  I feel my heart skip a beat. This time, I didn’t cry. Over the time I stayed with my aunt, I grew stronger, but now it seems like someone else had the opposite effect. I grab Daehyun’s arm and take him into a tight embrace.

  He buries his head into my shoulder as his body shook while he was crying. “I missed you so much. Why did you leave so suddenly? I thought you hated me.”

  “I’m sorry, Daehyun,” I whisper, “I won’t leave you ever again. That’s a promise.” I let him go and smile brightly at him. I kissed his lips and feel that familiar soft touch against mine.

  When I let him go, I was surprised to hear him say, “I love you, Youngjae.”

  A pain shot in my heart. Oh, how badly I wanted to say those words to him again and hear it from his mouth. I open mine, but nothing comes out. I close them and just smile. I love you, too, Daehyun.

  His eyes grow wide and I couldn’t help but kiss him again.

  I can never find the words to say the truth that could hurt us both. No matter what, I'll never let you go. I just love you so much that it hurts to think of us being blood related. I can’t let you go, not after what we’ve been through. I won’t let you slip away from me, ever.

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*Author's note:

  Did you enjoy it? I hope so and please don't kill me! >.< To tell you the truth, I was going to make this a one-shot like the others, but then it ended up being a short story. I'm actually glad this is how it turned out because I enjoyed writing this since I am a hardcore DaeJae shipper! Well, please support my other stories if you like/get a chance. If you don't, that's fine, but I'll tell you this: you're going to miss some of my stories! Lol~ Ehh, I would say this was the most successful story I have ever made. I mean, to me I think this had a better plot than my others. Muah! Love you all for reading this. I couldn't have done this without at least a few supporters.