Vice | j.jk ✔️

fourty-five: life goes on

Aira's

Hard to believe it, looking back. I let him go to the states. I forced myself not to run after him before his departure like in the movies. No, our decision was a good one— even if it felt like hell. Though I promised him I'd try to move on from him, it was a promise I was intending to break. Like hell, I was going to forget about everything between us! No, I was going to wait for 15 whole months for him to return to my arms.  I could do that for him. I could do anything for him.

The first two months were the worst. He was my last thought before drifting to sleep and my first thought as I began a new day. Every single day, I yearned to feel his warm touch on my lonely skin. But as the months went by, he became a mere whisper in the back of my head. My life became busier as I landed myself a job and met new people to befriend.

Five months in, I heard from Namjoon. He settled in the U.S under a different name. I wondered if he was with Jungkook but I couldn't get the question out of my throat. I promised him I'd try to visit him someday.

Ten months in, I bumped into Ha-yoon and Byung at the mall.

"Oh? Aira!" Byung exclaimed, dragging his wife toward me. He was holding multiple shopping bags from Victoria's Secret.

"Ah," I smiled politely. "Hi, long time no see."

"No kidding! How have you been? Is Jungkook with you?" he asked with a chuckle, stretching his neck to look for Jungkook.

My heart tugged for a moment as the wound that had been healing reopened by a little. "No, he's um, he's actually in the States right now," I said, pressing on a smile while my eyes became solemn.

Ha-Yoon seemed to get more alert. "You didn't go with him?" she finally spoke.

"No," I answered tersely.

"Oh," she whispered.

"I should get going. It was nice seeing you," I released a breath.

"You too! Let's all meet up when Jungkook comes back." Byung said happily to which I only responded to with a nod.

It was small things like this that brought up old feelings. Inevitable small things like this. The impact of Jungkook hadn't left me yet. I had just buried it away.

15 months later, his return wasn't even on my mind. I stopped keeping track of the days until his return and instead diverted all my focus to my new career and friends. I was finally fully happy for the first time since he left.

He didn't return like he said he would.

4 years later

"That one, that one! Isn't that our bag?" I exclaim, pointing at the red suitcase among all the others at the baggage claim.

"I got it!" he tears through the big crowd of people surrounding the baggage carousel and latches onto the bag.

I cheer, clapping with a smile of pure bliss as he emerges from the crowd with the bag in his hand. He places the bag down on our cart and heaves a sigh. "Jeez, baggage claim felt longer than the actual flight."

I laugh, nodding in agreement. "Tell me about it. We shouldn't have brought so many bags in the first place.."

"Good point." he grins, taking my hand in his as we exit the airport with our cart and breath in the American air.