I Wished For You [Michaeng]

Chapter 8: To Those Who Tell Their Truth

A/N: Here we're back to the present, enjoy!

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The best place to keep a secret was in plain sight, Momo was proof of that. No one suspected a servant of being anything more than that.

I see through your façade. You're exactly what everyone thinks you are, your majesty.

"You asked to see me?" Momo asked.

"Well, it would be in bad faith not to care about both of my daughters. Are you okay?" the king asked.

"I'm okay, it's lucky the doctor and her assistant found me when they did, or else it would've been much worse."

"That's a relief."

"So, are you really just worried about me?"

"Of course, what kind of person do you think I am?"

"You know exactly what kind of person I think you are. You try to be good, but you will always be burdened by the person standing in front of you. A mistake. I was and always will be just a mistake to you!"

Her vision started to blur as tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

"Is that what you think? I admit I've done things I'm not proud of, but never have I once thought you were a mistake."

"Then why do I have to pretend to be someone I'm not?!"

"I don't want you to have to deal with the consequences of my actions."

"I don't care about the consequences! I just want to tell the truth!"

"I understand."

"Then prove it!"

What was threatening to fall finally did and she ran away. The king tried to yell after her, but his efforts were futile. In her desperate attempt to flee, she accidentally bumped into someone and fell backward.

"Hirai! Are you okay?" a familiar voice rang out.

"No, I'm not," Momo said truthfully.

"Who made you cry?"

"The king."

Tzuyu helped Momo up as she questioned, "The king?"

"I'll tell you soon enough, but for now, can we just go outside? I need a breath of fresh air."

Momo walked outside and Tzuyu followed. Chaeyoung viewed them with an air of confusion but kept quiet. She knew her friend could handle herself.

You had the courage to run away and I had the courage to stay. You became the assistant to the royal doctor and I became a guard. We hadn't seen each other in years and yet somehow, here we were reunited. The same outcome happening twice? Only in my dreams.

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"I can't believe it," Tzuyu said.

"I don't blame you," Momo said.

"The king is a genius."

"That's one way to put it."

"No, just think about it. Managing to keep this a secret for twenty-six years is impressive. Making you a servant was perfect, unsuspecting yet can still be kept a close eye on. The king cares about you in his own way."

"I guess so, in his own sick and twisted way he cares."

"Maybe we can give him the benefit of the doubt at least once? Speaking from someone who used to hate him just as much as you do, it's clear he's trying."

"Just this once, just because you told me to, I will. I value what you have to say, Chou."

"Is that so? I only just met you a few days ago."

"I trusted you enough to tell you my secret."

"Yes, that is true."

"So, have a bit of faith in yourself."

"Easier said than done."

"Of course, isn't everything?"

Tzuyu rarely initiated any sort of physical contact, but here in this moment, it felt right. She tightly embraced Momo and immediately felt the latter's arms on her back.

"Thank you."

The words were barely audible; Momo heard them loud and clear. And that was when she promised herself to do everything in her power to make sure Tzuyu stayed safe. She didn't care that she was hurt and wasn't scared of the possibility of getting hurt again, as long as the girl in her arms was okay. It was rash to decide something like this so soon, but in her heart, she knew Tzuyu was special. The taller girl let go and let out a sigh of relief.

"I hope I made you feel a little more at peace."

"I'm not sure if I will ever find true peace here."

"I share the same sentiment, but at least we have each other."

"That we do, Hirai, that we do."

They walked in a comfortable silence and soon parted ways when Tzuyu decided to stay and make conversation with Chaeyoung.

"So, what was that about? Found your special someone already?" Chaeyoung teased.

Tzuyu flushed at the question before replying, "N-no! We just met a few days ago. She's the princess's friend, Hirai Momo."

"So, nothing is going on between you two?"

"How could you even think that?"

She laughed at the mere insinuation of being in a relationship with Momo.

"I don't know, it seemed like you had something with her."

"I just helped bandage her hand the other day, nothing is going on."

"Maybe in the future, it could be something."

"Only in my dreams."

"Ah, so you do like her."

"So what if I do?"

"I support you Tzuyu, I always have. You deserve to be happy."

"You deserve that too, Chaeyoung."

"If only the same thing could happen twice."

"Oh, you mean..."

"How can I ever truly move on? When I never got closure, when I never got to confess how I felt, that I did love her, even if I didn't really understand what that meant at the time?"

"Did you ever stop to think that she might feel the same?"

"It hurts to."

"That just proves it was real."

"Sometimes I wish it wasn't, then maybe I wouldn't feel like this."

"Love is not perfect, it never was, but let me tell you, if it was really worth it, you'll find it again."

"I wish I was as good at verbalizing things as you."

"When it's right, the words will come."

With that, Chaeyoung was left alone. She didn't mind that though, something was always occupying her mind anyway. With her thoughts, the scenery around her, and the people she talked to, there was never a dull moment. She pulled out her journal from her pocket and opened it to a blank page. It was mostly used for sketching, but also held words she was unable to say aloud. She started drawing what eventually materialized into a scene that induced déjà vu. A figure dancing in the courtyard, someone of elegant grace even just in a rough sketch. A smile people could feel even if it wasn't clearly displayed. The joy in the person's eyes despite only one being seen. Long, straight hair and a dress raised slightly to expose the person's feet as they were in the middle of a twirl. She admired the finished creation and felt herself redden slightly when she realized just who she drew.

The princess. She's confusing, infuriating, beautiful, talented, brave, fierce. I thought I knew what I wanted until...

"Can we talk?" a familiar voice asked.