what was once so lovely. | jaeyong

the end.

[this chapter will be inspired/copied from the movie: Sweet & Sour; don't call the cops]

<2 years later>
<10:20pm>
<present>

He can still remember it like it was yesterday. It was them at the front of the house that started it all, ambiance weighing them down like an anchor. It was a surreal moment, unreal to the touch and the eyes of the beholder. Jaehyun can still see Taeyong inches away from the car, packing his belongings.

As they were about to leave, there was a bit of hope in him that Taeyong would still look back before leaving, symbolizing that he still cared. But alas, not even a single glance was spared and he watched as someone he held dear to his heart drifts away like the winter season.

It had been two years since Taeyong had disappeared once more from Jaehyun's life. Winter had come around and littered its glacial winds throughout the town. Jaehyun was busy at the office yet again. He was exhausted, tired to the bone. He could barely open his eyes to type on his computer and his nth coffee had lost its effect.

Jaehyun and alongside a minuscule amount of employees have been left behind to slave away the hours just to make a living. However, Jaehyun was already living comfortably, with Wooseok's entertainment career flourishing and his higher position in the marketing firm, life already seemed to be fireworks and flowers. Jaehyun was not working to earn more money, but it was to distract himself from remembering Taeyong.

Although, it felt like a crime to even think of something disgraceful as he was already wedded to Wooseok. The man that had always been with him through ups and downs, through the darkest days of his life. During the past months, Jaehyun had been distant. He was constantly early for work, and late to return, with dark under eyes and an exhausted body.

Jaehyun never had enough time for Wooseok, and when he did have the time, it had no spark. The magic that had once been exploding in the night sky every time had deteriorated, melted like the snow. As Jaehyun was about to call it a day, he pulled out his wallet. With the leather item, came an old letter that was folded for a prolonged period.

Jaehyun opened it and began to read its contents. It was Taeyong's letter from the time of his departure from when they were still younger. Despite reading it for the millionth time of the year, it never failed to bring a smile to Jaehyun. As he kept reading it, those familiar words of "under the sun" and "flowers blooming" kept ringing in his ears. Those were the words that Taeyong had said from the time before he left for good.

He had spent months in trying to locate where Taeyong could be, and yet he could not find any road that could lead to him.

"What do you mean, Taeyong-ah? You could be anywhere," Jaehyun sighed.

As Jaehyun stretched on his office chair, groaning softly at the relief of his tightened muscles being relaxed. With the shut of his tired eyes, his phone had vibrated at the notification of a text message.

Swiftly, Jaehyun had taken the device out of his pocket and found that Wooseok had messaged him. Wooseok was wondering what time will Jaehyun come home since it was a holiday month and he wanted to spend some time with his husband.

After being married for two years, Jaehyun still felt foreign with being labeled as married or as a husband. It felt unnatural. Nonetheless, he drove back home with his signature tired eyes. His body is incapable of pulling off any energetic actions as of the moment.

Upon arrival to their humble abode, Wooseok was dressed in a warm, cream-colored attire, luxuriously festive and winter-appropriate. Wooseok remained jovial as if their marriage was at its peak. Where in fact, deep inside them both, they knew their marriage was at the brink of sinking to the bottom of the ocean and swimming with the fishes of the Mariana Trench.