[✔] Forever with You - Taegyu

7. (fin)

A week later:

Once again he was adjusting back to his mundane schedule without Taehyun, typing away on his laptop while at work.

He sighed, leaning back on his chair and sipped his coffee. Everything around him seemed so dull and lacked color. Emptying his cup, he got up from his place to get a refill.

His mind wandered off thinking about what Taehyun would have been doing at that moment. He thought about what he'd said last before leaving; it was almost sundown. Deciding that he'd just finish the rest of the work tomorrow, he walked back into the balcony to look up at the sky; splashes of reds, oranges, and purple painted it beautiful. He watched as the colors were slowly swallowed up by the darkness of the night. The sudden ringing from his phone startled him.

That was the night Taehyun became one with the stars.

--

"This can't be!" The dark-haired male struggled in the arms of another male who was trying to hold him back from doing anything stupid.

The other boy; comparatively younger, looked at the two of them with tears threatening to fall from his own eyes. He stood next to Mrs. Kang who seemed just as broken as the struggling male but remained calm.

In one corner of the room, stood Yeonjun who had his hands folded in front of him, cap clasped in his hand. He'd first visited his mother then after making sure she had someone to take care of her, then came over to Taehyun and Beomgyu's house.

Soobin had called Beomgyu earlier to make sure he was okay; the anxiety from losing one friend even if Yeonjun had asked him not to as a military personnel.

Right from when Beomgyu heard Soobin's desperate voice, he knew there was something wrong. A pit formed in his stomach as the group entered his house with heads hung low.

Amidst it all, Officer Choi Yeonjun had the unfortunate responsibility to convey the news officially.

"I have been asked to inform you that your husband, Lieutenant Kang Taehyun has been reported dead in Ddong-gu, Daegu, South Korea at 2:14 am and 19th November 20xx. An unexpected encounter on the previous day with an avalanche that was reportedly set off by the enemies when they were traveling back to the boot camp had left three people injured including your husband. Unfortunately, he took the blow too hard. On the behalf of the Secretary of Defense, I extend to you and your family my deepest sympathy for your great loss."

Beomgyu did not take the news well.

The ring on his finger shook as he registered what the man had just said. It felt as if a heavy rock had been placed on his chest and his stomach formed an endless pit. Beomgyu wanted to throw up.

There was no way this was real. There was no way this was happening.

Maybe his senses were playing tricks on him; Soobin, Kai, Mrs. Kang, and Yeonjun were just a piece of his imagination. Maybe living alone for a long time had taken a toll on his mental health and now he was seeing things.

He pinched himself trying to wake himself up. Yet they all remained there staring at him with sorry expressions and eyes full of pity. He hated it. He needed to wake up. So he began pinching himself harder, twisting the skin until it turned red and sore. Soobin had to intervene.

Their hearts broke at the sight of the poor boy's plight, feeling helpless.

"Let's get you home. Soobin hyung will take care of the things here." Kai said to Mrs. Kang who'd begun shaking, crying silent tears at the loss of her son. The younger male looked at the officer who gave him a small nod.