Loved Since Forever

Taecyeon - 2 Years Ago

This is the first time Taecyeon is catching up with these people in a little over two years. The last people he saw were Rachel and Kelsey, but Rachel wasn't going to fly in until tomorrow. The trio were together in an impromptu meeting in Japan right before Taecyeon flew back to Korea to join the army. Taecyeon's hands are a little sweaty and he can feel the little flutters of wings in his stomach. Normally he likes to make jokes in a situation like this, however, he doesn't feel that right now is the time to be silly.

Am I overdressed? Ooh, or maybe I'm underdressed.

He thought that anything other than jeans would not fit the aesthetic of Billerica, Massachusetts. Taecyeon straightened out his flannel, which was hitting just right on his large shoulders, and pulled open the entrance to Playoffs. Walking past the bar to the left and listening to the echoes of other patrons made Taecyeon more nervous. His normal, confident behavior seemed to subside, at least until he heard the barreling laugh of Kelsey over the crowds of people. The source of the laughter was coming from the back corner where the pool tables are set up.

The familiar face of Cookie was laughing and smiling as he walked over to Taecyeon. He knew these next few days will be sad and happy, a weird feeling that is unexplainable. Cookie met Taecyeon at the bottom of the landing for a hug. He smelled a little like beer already, Taecyeon figures the group has been at the bar for a little while.

"Taec, my man, damn dude, you look gigantic," he said giving Taec a once over, "The army has been very good to you I see. Damn you look good!"

"Hey Cookie, how's it been? How's Nana doing? Still keeping you in check?" Taecyeon said smiling.

"Don't you know it! She's still got fire in her. Hey, you want a drink? I'm going to get another."

"Yes! Please! A Bud heavy. Thanks, Cook. I'll get the next round," Taec said, scanning the corner for familiar faces.

He saw Kelsey and Mike were facing the corner with their backs to the pool table and the rest of the bar as if sharing secrets with someone in the corner. Kelsey's curly red hair was bouncing with her shoulders as she laughed. She threw her head back and Mike shifted with laughter. They revealed Rachel Park, holding a Budweiser in one hand and a pool cue in the other. Her dimple exposed and shyly laughing at whatever funny thing Mike said. She looked a little uncomfortable.

As if to enter right on cue, a red Budweiser bottle came shooting out to the right of Taecyeon as Cookie re-entered the room.

"You didn't mention that Rachel was going to be here," Taecyeon said to Cookie skeptically.

"I didn't want you to chicken out, man," he replied, "but now's the time. She's single, you look ripped, if only we can do something about your funny looking face."

"You're not wrong, haha!" Taec said with a huge laugh. He looks over at Rachel sitting in the corner. Her eyes shot up to his through the barrier of Mike and Kelsey. She went back to the conversation briefly as Mike was talking, he's always talking, before she looked back at Taecyeon.

"Stop staring you freak! She's not an artifact," Cookie said as they start walking over to where the group is huddled. "Hey guys, look who I found lurking in the shadows."

"Hey everyone, how are you guys doing?" Taec greeted the group, starting with a huge hug to Kelsey. "Hey Kels, looking really good! It's been a while."

Mike was over to Taecyeon's right and when they made eye-contact, Mike went in for a hug. He's honestly holding it in better than anyone else would have. "I'm so sorry about your dad, buddy. We are here for you, whatever you need."

"Thanks, man, that really means a lot."

Rachel stood up from her bar stool in the corner, still with the beer and the pool cue, and gave Taec a small half hug. Understandable since her hands are full. He low-key wishes he could have gotten the real deal, but still.

I shouldn't be greedy, Taecyeon thought.

There haven't been that many times since he has gotten to hug Rachel recently. You can tell that he grew up in America since he has an outgoing personality to the point where physical touch is his love language. Taecyeon noticed that, as she hugged him, she still wears the Burberry Classic perfume. She has been wearing the same perfume since high school. He thought about all the time that he has missed opportunities and how he had to make moves this long weekend.

"Hey Rach, where are you staying?" Taecyeon asked, knowing that she always stays at the DoubleTree.

"At the DoubleTree, in Bedford," she replied, "How about you, Taec?"

Please say my name more... Taecyeon thought.

"Also the DoubleTree. Maybe we can carpool back later. You didn't drive, did you?"

"No, I took an Uber. That would be great, thanks so much," she said with a big smile.

It pays off being brave.

He could have sworn Rachel gave him some eyeballs when they first made eye contact. He feels like his heart would explode. If the army taught him anything. It's that progress, no matter how small, is still progress.

So, she may or may not have checked him out, and we will carpool back to the hotel together.

Now his hands are really, really sweaty.

Rachel stood up and leaned the pool stick against the pool table. She reached her hand into ther pocket and took out the quarters for the pool ball release. Taecyeon went over to the rack of unused cues and grabbed the extra tall pool cue.

"8-Ball?" he asked her.

"That's a great choice," she replied encouragingly.

She put her hand in a fist to start rock, paper, scissors to see who will go first. Some things never change.

"GA-WI, BA-WI, BO!" the duo said at the same time.

Scissors. I win this round.

Rach is half-Korean from her dad's side, and he made sure that she can speak Korean at a young age. That was probably another reason why Taecyeon was so attracted to her, even from the beginning. It is hard moving from Korea to an area where there are few Asians and even fewer Koreans. They bonded over maintaining their Korean roots, and often spoke Korean together.

Taecyeon wonders how Mike felt when they would do that, especially when Mike and Rachel were dating. The three of them played tenor sax for the Jazz band, and Rachel would sit right in between the two boys. However, Taecyeon and Rachel both had a special connection that Mike just wouldn't understand.

"Ga-wi, Ba-wi, Bo!" they say again.

Rock. I win. Again.

"I am the champion, as always!" Taecyeon flirted with a little bow.

"Your break, Prince Taec," she giggled with an exaggerated curtsey.

Rachel took the triangle off the balls and then took a sip of her beer, not breaking eye contact.

Why did she have to wear such a low cut top? Taecyeon thought.

It fit her a little too well. Taec had to concentrate on not staring at her breasts. Rachel does look stunning. She has always been on the taller side at 172 cm, but it fits her athletic figure perfectly. Taec wonders if she's still running. She opted for a pair of jeans and black boots, a silk strappy, loose-fitting black tank top, and a black cardigan. Casual, yet professional. Taec thinks that he needs to take a cold shower when he gets back to the room. He doesn't know how he's going to last through the night.