Second Chances

Letting go

I want and want you - and one more thing I hurt and hurt but still, just once Even if it wears out and wears out Even if the tears don't dry If only we can go back to the beginning

-Taeyeon (And One, That Winter The Wind Blows OST)

Wooyoung sat at the stairs outside the local post office, rubbing his arms to give him warmth and blowing his nose occasionally. The pea plush and a small cake he bought eariler was placed beside him.

90 minutes before Taeyeon reached his apartment After moments of struggling, Wooyoung managed to pull himself up from his bed and put on a thick jacket. He then gathered his pea plush and dragged himself to the road, hailing a cab to the nearest cake shop. After that, he walked slowly towards the post office. He intended to wait for Taeyeon as she would need to submit her piece through the post office and after she was done, they could celebrate her birthday together. Little did he know...

As the night went by, the temperature became lower and lower. Wooyoung's face was drained of color and he kept shivering. Regardless of his current circumstances, he continued to wait.

A male staff member came out of the post office and went up to Wooyoung. "Excuse me, I saw that you were here in the evening. But what are you still doing here at such late hours?"

Wooyoung got up and bowed. "I'm sorry. Is it okay if I wait just a little while more?"

"Well, you see... It's almost midnight and we'd like to close soon."

"Just a while more. Taeyeon will- I mean, my friend will be here soon. She will definitely be here, even if the deadline is extended."

"Even if you say that... Look!" The staff member pointed to the glass door where the operating hours were written. "It says here that we close at 12am."

As a last resort, Wooyoung got down to his knees and leaned forward, his forehead touching the ground. "Please, I beg of you!"

"Wait a moment! Even if you do this, it's still bothersome for us. Please, get up!" "Just 10 minutes more, please?" Wooyoung looked up and stared at the man with sincere eyes. "Please wait for 10 more minutes! I beg of you!" He leaned back down and his forehead touched the ground once again.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

It was almost midnight on Taeyeon's watch, and she still sat at the stairs of Wooyoung's apartment, waiting for him with the letter in her hands. She opened the envelope and took a look at the letter she remembered writing so clearly. She recalled the butterflies she had in her stomach while she was waiting at the school gate for Wooyoung and the disappointment when he did not show up that day. As she read the letter, Taeyeon got up on her feet and sighed. She decided Wooyoung was not going to come anytime soon and started to walk away.

[To: Youngie

Hi, this is my first time writing such a letter so sorry if I'm awkward or anything! >_< Okay... Don't you think it's funny how we ended up in the same high school together as well? You know, when they announced those who were promoted, I was more worried for you than for myself. When I saw that you did get promoted, I was really overjoyed! Even though what I told you then didn't exactly reflect that right? Hehe.

Towards you, I haven't been able to be completely honest and I can never express myself well. Please forgive me for that. I remember how we first met in primary school. I was assigned to sit next to you by the teacher. We never really talked at first, because you seemed to act cool (haha) but the first time we actually had any sort of interaction was before a Math test, when I was fretting over my lost eraser. You gave me half of yours wordlessly.

Ever since that day, Jang Wooyoung, the one that I call Youngie, became a very important person to me. You've always been by my side and I could say that I'm the person that knows you the best. Though we fought a lot over petty things, a lot of things go through my mind. To me, you will always be an important person. Sometimes I don't say nice things but somehow it just comes out unintentionally. Maybe it's because we've been close for so long so what I truly want to say doesn't come out easily. Whenever I think of the possibility of not being able to talk to you, I haven't and can't explain how painful that is.

But today, I'll say what I really want to say: my true, honest feelings. I'm not sure when it happened, or how my feelings towards you grew, but I'm sure of it.

Youngie, you are someone I love, and have always loved. -Taeyeonnie]

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"I'm sorry, sir. We can't wait anymore. I'm really sorry." The same staff member came out and bowed.

Wooyoung bowed back and walked slowly towards a nearby park and sat on a bench with the pea plush in his arms. He placed it down on his lap. 'I failed again.' Wooyoung thought dejectedly. Many questions appeared in his head. Why didn't Taeyeon come to submit her application? Did he not understand again? What was he doing wrong?

His head was hurting and he was not sure whether it was because of his failure or his cold. He gathered his things and took the pea plush under his arm, before dragging himself home.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time Taeyeon had finished reading the letter, she was on a bridge near the Han River. She sighed. The night was a chilly one, yet the wind blew gently. Taeyeon closed her eyes and felt the wind in her hair. It was relaxing, on a quiet night like this. The only sounds were the occasional roars of car engines from the road a distance away, the leaves rustling in the wind and the gush of water from the river. Taeyeon needed such an ambience to clear her mind.

After a moment, she took the letter she had written, and folded it into an airplane. She stood at the railing bordering the river and gazed into the peaceful waters. Taking a deep breath and holding the folded airplane in her right hand, she pulled her right arm back and threw the airplane towards the waters. She watched as the airplane soared high above the waters before disappearing into the darkness. "This is it. I'm letting this go. I guess we really aren't meant to be." She said to herself, taking a deep breath. She continued to gaze at the calm waters of the Han River, sorting out her thoughts.