A sunset with you

Chapter 14

Taehyung

Usually, I walk faster than this but today I walk extra slow, hoping that she calls out my name with every step I take. Her words hurt me. It hurt me because what she said is fair. She can't let me into her life because she already has someone else but I know that I am better than him in every way. She knows that too but she doesn't want it to be.

I feel a sense of relief wash over me when I hear her voice call out for my name. I spin around to see her running with the greatest effort across the sand towards me. 

"Wait." She stops in front of me and catches her breath before telling me why she wanted me to stop. I wait for her to speak but she doesn't. She just stares at my face, with every second passing by, her eyes filled with tears until they couldn't hold it any longer. I take a step closer and wrap my hands around her, pulling her closer to my chest.

"It's okay Jennie. It's okay to feel everything you feel right now. Let it all out."

"I love him Tae. I do." Damn, that hurts. "I don't know if that is enough. Me loving him. Is it enough for me to have a happy life? I don't feel the spark between him and me anymore. Maybe it's because of work but when I try to make it work between us, he fucks up. And every time I needed him, you showed up instead. When he forgot valentines, you always made me feel loved, even though I just found out it was you all this time. You have always been there for me when I needed you and I am grateful to you for it but Tae, I can't make the same mistake Lily made."

"Do you feel that so-called spark between us," I ask and she pulls her face away from my chest to look up at me. I still hold onto her and look right into her eyes. They are shining with tears but the look in her eyes right now says more than the pain. It shows the spark she is talking about. I know it and so does she. I move my face closer to hers, hoping that she would give in. I have been dreaming of this moment for the longest time and it's just inches away from coming true but I do not rush, giving her enough time to pull herself away from me.

"Tae wait." I stop and pull myself back. "I am someone who is going to get married in a month. Everything is ready for it. It's too late. Even if I don't want to."

"Let's run away," I suggest and she laughs. Trust me even I would have laughed if I were her cause it sounds ridiculous to me too but if that is all we have left to do, I will do it. 

"No. I can't. I am sorry but it's too late Tae. I love you but it's too late. I made my decision. I will marry him and make it work. I will forget you."

"Can you do it? Why did you run after me if it's that easy?"

"I came to tell you thank you. I owe it to you. Thank you Taehyung." Everything turns blurry as my eyes start filling up as well. We are both crying in each other's arms at how helpless we are. I can't force her and she can't leave everything behind now. I am to blame for being a coward all these years. He made his move and he won his prize. I have to accept it. But I can't.

She lets go of me, forcing me to let go of her as well. She walks closer to me and stands on her toes to reach my face as she gently places a kiss on my cheek. 

"Goodbye, Taehyung."

This time, it's final. I can feel it. She walks away.

It's just me now. 

I lost her forever and the least I could do is stay away from her for her sake.

I watch her disappear into the darkness as I whisper "I love you" even though she cannot hear it. Even if she did, it wouldn't change anything.