what was once so lovely. | jaeyong

the eleventh.

<6:47pm>
<present>

Similarly, as to how the snowflakes would cascade delicately onto the ground, time was no different; it was passing yet no one seemed to notice. It had been weeks after that fatal near kiss. Taeyong still kept thinking about it every single day, wishing that it would have just happened but then, another half of him said otherwise.

Taeyong and Jaehyun still kept in touch, with each day passing with a simple text of greetings or whereabouts of their days. It, however, was agonizing knowing the fact that those whereabouts were about Jaehyun and Wooseok having the time of their lives.

Taeyong could not do anything but sigh at the mere dream of becoming Jaehyun's sweetheart once more - sightseeing the sunsets, ice creams by the benches, bicycle rides in the middle of the night.  He wished dearly to the stars that it was him that Jaehyun was talking about, endless blabbing about his beauty, his grace, his success, his ambitions, his silly antics, his everything.

As he continued to stack the remaining bags of chips on the shelf, Taeyong walked around the convenience store to check if anything was out of its place. Recently, Taeyong found a small job to help him spend his time in a productive manner rather than wallowing in his feelings, refusing to believe that Jaehyun was more infatuated with someone other than him.

It was also for him to not rely on his father's monthly allowances. He wanted to be independent for once and seeing that Johnny was forming his own life in his very own eyes.

His fingers grazed over the shelves in boredom. Luckily, his shift was almost up. He removed his work vest and continued to gather his belongings on the counter. He waited for the other worker to arrive before he left.

The door chimed open, revealing a young lad bathing in the sounds that played in his earpiece. Mark made his way to Taeyong as he tapped on everything he passed by as if they were drums.

Taeyong smiled at Mark before telling him that he will be taking his leave.

As he strode his way down the path walk, Taeyong extended his arms to bask in the tranquil ambiance. The sunset aglow, warming his pale skin with its golden beam. He heard distant cars passing by and the sound of the leaves crunching about by the winds, it was all perfect.

Just as he was about to take a step on the dried-up leaf beneath him, he heard a familiar laughter flow through the wind, alerting him immediately.

He looked to his side, and he saw Jaehyun and Wooseok. They were both on a bicycle, a new one at that. They were enjoying each other's company as they, too, felt the golden glow and the freezing winds nipping at their flawless skin.

Somehow seeing how Wooseok held onto Jaehyun's waist tightly reminded him of himself. It felt like he was watching himself from a different angle.

Taeyong stood there as he eyed them, fleeing away from his vision by the second until they were finally out of sight. He felt the sudden urge to follow them, curious about their relations.

His feet dragged him farther from his intended destination and went to find where Jaehyun and Wooseok were headed.

As he ran faster, his cheeks had turned roseate from the frigid winds furiously pinching at it, his breath nearing its end as he was never a fit person, and finally, his legs were close to collapsing on him.

After nearing the verge of passing out, Taeyong reached Jaehyun. He instantaneously his behind another building, peeking to check on the couple. He watched as Jaehyun enter the ice cream parlor and Wooseok dragging the bicycle with him to the rear bench that offered them a magnificent view of the river and sunset.