In A Parallel Universe- 2CHAN, NOREN, DOTAE, XIAODERY, DOIL, YUMARK

episode 3: paubaya [doyoung, taeyong]

dotae ; paubaya (give up)

❝ if we were strong enough, will our story have a happy ending? ❞

<----->

Taeyong has been getting unlucky with love lately. He's been using the dumb dating app some of his friends recommended to him and, he does get dates and meet-ups from people he liked there. Mostly, they were men. He was found very attractive by many but he was the one being left out.

His first date was Johnny, a Korean but grew up in America. They had a good chemistry. The guy was very talkative and fun to be with. Taeyong appreciated his company, to be honest. He liked the man, but unfortunately, both of them weren't feeling it. Taeyong thought he was better to be a guy friend rather being his boyfriend, or a longtime partner.

His second date was Yuta, a Japanese who moved to Korea recently. Though he wasn't fluent in Korean yet, Taeyong thought he was a very sweet person. The Japanese learned Korean from Taeyong and they did enjoy being together. Taeyong thought he could be a potential lover but Yuta saw him as a friend. It was pain but, it is what it is.

His third date was the most memorable one. Jaehyun was a man who he really thought would be his longtime partner, and Jaehyun thought the same. They spent several dates together for months and they actually enjoyed every one of them. Taeyong really did fall in love, but things went downhill when Jaehyun left him. The man was gone and Taeyong doesn't know where he is right now.

Jaehyun was his worst heartbreak.

Because of that, Taeyong never used the app again. Right now, he's been constantly working and focusing on self-care. He cried his ass off for days so this time, he'll take a rest from dating. It has been two years since his last heartbreak. He's been doing well and happier, in a sense. He was proud of himself.

"Good work today, Taeyong-hyung," Mark, his co-worker, said as he grabbed his stuff on his chair.

Taeyong nodded and smiled at him, "Thank you. You did too. How is Donghyuck, by the way?"

"Well, he's been busy with his thesis lately."

Both of them walked out of their cubicles and into the elevator.

"How about you? Been busy with anyone lately, hyung?" the younger asked.

The older hummed before shaking his head, "I'm too lazy."

"Well, like what everyone says, someone will come by."

"We'll see. I might not be able to show interest though," Taeyong said.

"You might eat your words, hyung," Mark chuckled as they got off the elevator and walked out of the building.

"Mark, I swear--"

"Bye, hyung! Good night! See you tomorrow! Call me when you reached home!"

Taeyong just sighed as he watched Mark go. He walked towards the bus stop and waited for one. It took a few minutes before a bus stopped infront of him. He walked in and took a vacant seat beside the window. He got comfortable and watched the buildings pass by. This was his usual routine ever since Jaehyun stopped picking him up at the office.