𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚. yeonji

𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐧

trigger warning: mention of violence

-.--.-..-.-...-

Chand clenched his hands as he felt enraged hearing Kali's story of what really happened that night.

He was furious, partly of the guy who took advantage of his girl, but mainly of himself.

He couldn't help but blame himself for not being able to protect Kali. Had he known that she was being harassed by that asshole, he would've already done so much worse than just one punch.

Heck, he'd pay anything for the time to rewind just so he could beat that bastard to a pulp and send him to his own grave a little earlier.

He could feel the regret washing over his whole being when he remembered the unfiltered harsh words he had directed to his ex. There was no way to undo it.

Noticing Chand's tensed and enraged figure, Kali cautiously took a hold of his hand.

The warm feeling coming from the contact brought Chand's attention to their connecting hands. He looked at her, his eyes softening as he does.

He could see the slight watering of Kali's eyes as she tries to stop herself from crying.

"I'm okay," Kali smiled at him, her small hand giving a slight squeeze. Her face looked calm and peaceful yet a storm seemed to be brewing in her eyes indicating the opposite of what her facial features were exuding.

And Chand knew.

He can always tell. He and Kali had been together for so long that he can always read her like an open book with no pages left unread.

And so he asked, "Are you really?"

Kali didn't know why but that question alone felt like a bundled up explosives hitting on a brimming dam. And just like how water flows heavily out from a huge hole, Kali's tears flowed and ran on her cheeks without any signs of stopping.

Even if it had already happened months ago, the effect that the incident brought to her was still there. Kali was traumatized by it.

Chand, on the other hand, felt his heart becoming heavy while seeing her breaking down in front of him. He always couldn't bear to see Kali cry, not that it always happens. But he never liked it whenever Kali's upset.

So he only did what he had always done, even in the past—and that is to engulf her in a hug.

For the first time after that incident, Kali allowed herself to become vulnerable in front of someone, in front of Chand.

And Kali thought that it was okay, because it was Chand.