Finally Home (KPOP Fan Fiction)

14.

I saw my kids to sleep once the authorities have arrived and took Erec away. To be frank, there wasn't much to say. My emotions were conflicted, and my mind was in a jumble. So many more people were here that I missed dearly, but tonight wasn't the night for me to rejoice having them back, and Baekhyun surely didn't let that go unnoticed. I sat on the staircase with my elbows on my knees as he escorted the others out, telling them something among the lines of that he'll call them when the situation is calmer. After he closed the door, he turned around and looked up at me with worried eyes. No words passed between us as he walked towards and up the stairs until he reached me, leaning down and grabbing my hand. I let him pull me up and he wrapped an arm around me, and helped walk me up the stairs. It was then that I noticed my knees were weak and if he weren't here with me now, I'm not sure how'd I'd be. If he didn't appear earlier, I'm not sure what would have happened to my children, let alone myself. I've never seen Erec that...outraged. The thought of his hands harming me and my children caused tears to brim my eyes, but I blinked my eyes harshly.

Baekhyun let me inside my room, and supported me in silence to my bed. I sat on the edge of it with him in front of me, now in a crouched position. My eyes went from his face to our conjoined hands, his thumb massaging my hand comfortingly. Both of us were silent, but it was a comfortable silence. I felt something wet and hot trail down my cheeks and land on my thighs, and it took a moment for me to realize I started to cry once again tonight.

"I'm sorry," Baekhyun whispered, hesitantly standing up and removed his grasp on my hand, only to cup both my cheeks and wipe away my tears. "I came too late-"

"It's not your fault," my voice was hoarse and came out barely above a whisper. "I was too careless."

Baekhyun shook his head. "Careless or not, his actions are...unforgivable...but I have no excuses..." he lowered his head. I looked up at him through my tears and slowly put my hands over his. "Dara?"

"Stop blaming yourself, Baekhyun," I murmured. "Please, just stop."

"I can't, and I never will," we both knew we're not talking about what happened with Erec earlier. We're both talking about us, and us deciding it's best to be apart. It was too painful being together, and it was too painful being apart. "I hurt you, and now I-I was too late to stop you getting hurt again." He took a sharp breath. "You don't deserve this pain, Dara."

"And you don't deserve to feel years upon years of guilt," my voice got a little stronger. "I'm already...used to this."

I could feel Baekhyun tense underneath my hands and he started to tremble. "You should never be used to pain, Dara. Never. Ever. Not from me, or that man who dared lay a hand on you and Haru."

"Baekhyun, please—"

"Dara, will you please listen to my story?" There was strain in his voice, and pain flooded his tone. In the darkness of the moonlit room, I caught the desperation in his voice. "The story I wanted to tell you so badly...all these years. My reason for hurting you. My reason for almost killing Daehyun and injuring you. Everything. Everything before you left our lives before."

I was rendered speechless. It never crossed my mind there were reasons. A long silence stretched between us and he let out a sigh. Baekhyun softly shook off one of my hands to smooth back my hair that fell over my face and run his fingers through my hair. "Please?"