The truth untold

-seven-

Twice Dorm (Seoul) – January 2016

Faint clattering by her side made Tzuyu wake up, her eyes opening to Jeongyeon placing a tray of her morning coffee, some water and a painkiller. “Good morning, unnie.”

“Good morning,” Jeongyeon said kindly, and she touched her hand to the maknae’s forehead. “Your fever is gone. Are you feeling better?”

Tzuyu nodded and her unnie joined her in bed, pulling her into a hug. “I’m glad!” She ruffled her hair. “Get some more sleep. It’s only 6:30am.”

As Jeongyeon climbed off of her bed, Tzuyu mustered the courage to ask the question that was on the back of her mind. “Taehyung Oppa...did he leave late?”

The question caused a ripple of uncertainty on Jeongyeon’s face, but she quickly replaced it with a smile. “Not exactly. He waited till you fell asleep, talked with us for a few minutes and left.” She handed Tzuyu the water and the pill, and waited until she was done to give her the coffee. “Drink up and get some rest. I’ll bring your breakfast up when it’s ready.” She took the tray and left the room.

Tzuyu let out a sigh and looked outside the window to the gloomy skies and large clouds. The day was beginning to represent how she was feeling deep inside. In her room, on her bed, she was safe, but soon she was going to face everything again. The paper she was given to learn what she needed to say in her apology video sat on her desk, waiting to be read. Her head began to throb again, so she turned on her side and pulled her blanket to her neck. A familiar smell awoke her senses and she took a deep sniff of the pyjama top she was wearing. A blush crept to her cheeks; she smelled like him. She smiled, pulling the fabric to her nose again, and it fascinated her how just the fragrance of a person she deeply cared about made her forget about her worries, even for just a while. He was a distraction; the best distraction she needed to get through this. After his visit, the burden that weighed on her shoulders seemed to have lightened; his repeated words of ‘this will pass’ made her feel so much better.

She thought of the previous night when she slept on his shoulder, and how the combination of his soft singing and the beating of his heart lulled her to sleep. She bit her lower lip, trying to fight back the smile that threatened to show on her face as thoughts of how his hand felt on her back and how he hugged her tightly entered her mind. She was so thankful for him; before he showed up, she wondered if she would even survive the night. She couldn’t wait to see him again; he reminded her of what she was capable of and how far she had come in life; she indeed was strong and she needed show these people who wanted to see her break that nothing they do would bring her down.

With new resolve, she gulped down her coffee and stood up. She needed to get ready to film the video.

.....

MBC, Digital Media City (Seoul) – January 2016

Taehyung wiped his eyes hurriedly so no one would notice his tears. Just a few minutes away from joining MBC’s ‘Infinity Challenge Expo’ stage, he sat in the dressing room back stage, far from his hyungs. He was the first to get his make up done, so he had some time to go through his phone. That was when he came upon the news of Tzuyu’s viral apology video. She looked as though she was held at gun point; her mouth read the words without feeling and her eyes were dead. Those beautiful, doe eyes were dead, and void of any hope. She was trying her best of be brave, but he could see past it; her state of vulnerability was perfectly clear. With no make up, her hair in a mild mess and dressed in just a black sweater, Tzuyu apologised for everything; to satisfy the Chinese people and under the influence of her company, she was almost apologising for being proud to be a Taiwanese.

Taehyung was already in an emotional state since the previous night, and seeing her this way in the video made him feel even worse. He wished he could hug again and make her feel better. But, of course, he was taboo for her; her leader made it quite clear about how bad he was for her.