Un-Beam My Heart!

50. One Good Reason...

                                   "I didn't believe it was you..."

                                    Tee's eyelids fluttered unsteadily. He fidgeted his fingers at the hem of his shirt and had his gaze fixed on the ocean stubbornly. From his peripheral vision, Tee could see Tae heaving a sigh and drawing patterns on the sand with his index finger, while having his eyes on the sea as well. They were sitting at the shore, facing the sea with a comfortable distance between them. Both had remained quiet for a long time, until Tae decided to break the silence.

                                   "Six years... huh... close to eight years now, right?", Tae began in a steady voice, "I woke up with a lot of dreams and desires that morning. It was an important day of my life. My first work assignment from my father and I was confident that I was going to sign off that deal successfully that evening. I had imagined my father introducing me proudly to the world, that his only son had succeeded in getting the most profitable business deal signed off within the span of a month. How proud and happy a parent would feel!!", Tae smiled to himself, "And... and... I believed that I had got my baby for myself that day... my Beam...", Tae whispered in a dreamy tone.

                                    Tee flinched at the name. Among all the identities he had had in the past, Tee considered Beam as the most dark one. Out of all the crimes he had committed, conning Tae was his most unforgivable offence. A lot many people would call him an unrepentant sinner, as he showed no remorse or regret for what he did to Tae. He had never apologized to Tae. He had never been nice or respectful towards Tae. In spite of being the one with all the flaws, he had never once tried to make it up to Tae. And yet, at the end of the day, it was Tae who had flew across the continents to come for someone as worthless as him.

                                       "I felt bad... upset like a kid who was denied his favorite candy, because I couldn't see you first thing in the morning after we had gotten together. Then I worried about your health. I felt guilty that I had been insensitive enough to sleep peacefully, while you would have suffered in pain. I scolded myself for not taking care of you that morning and letting you go for work", Tae paused and clicked his tongue, "Tsk... That's what I thought... that you had woken up early and left me behind at the hotel room to go for work"

                                         Tee averted his gaze from the ocean and looked down at the sand near his feet. Tears gathered in his eyes, as the painful memories of the past rushed to his mind. He remembered that morning vividly. He remembered every second of his ruthless betrayal. He could never forget the sleeping face of Tae, which he had treasured in his memory before leaving the room.

                                         "I wanted to see you so bad. I wanted to drag you back to the room, so that I could pamper you and care for you. I had so much to tell you... like, how much I loved you, what kind of dreams I had for us.... I wanted to assure you that you had me henceforth, and you need not work in five different places without proper food and rest. I wanted to promise you that I would never let you feel lonely, and with me you need not fear anything or anyone, because I was going to be with you forever.... forever...", Tae smiled sadly, poking the sand mindlessly with his index finger.

                                       "I tried your number several times, but you didn't answer. So, I didn't have much choice than to wait for the day to end, so I could meet you at our usual spot. I was so thrilled to meet you that night. I was looking forward to celebrate with you after I successfully sign off the deal in Phuket", Tae chuckled bitterly, "But... when I was about to leave the hotel room for the meeting, I found out that...."