Time After Time | Wenrene

Round 'n Round

"We go..." Wendy stopped mid-sentence to find the right words to say to the older woman. "We're gonna go back to that cycle we always seem to get stuck in."

"I don't..." Wendy interrupted.

"I.. can't go back into that cycle with you." Her chest felt heavy, an unknown weight appearing with the sole purpose of crushing her lungs.

"But.. I've changed. I've.. reflected. I- we can do it this time. Together. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here for good. For you." Irene reached out to hold Wendy's hand and give it a squeeze.

Wendy retracted her hand and apologized, "I'm sorry, Irene, but I- I just can't." Her last word turned to a whisper as she stared into the older woman's eyes. Before she does anything she'll most likely regret, Wendy gathered her things and walked out of the building.

"I- I have to go."

"W-wait!!" Irene went after her, but she was too late. Wendy had already gotten into Joy's car, leaving Irene by the side of the road, her expression seeming to turn into sadness.

Inside the car, Wendy barely heard a word from the two who had waited for her. "I can't believe she was the artist of that gallery," Seulgi looked at Joy, breaking the silence.

Joy noticed and followed along, "Yeah.. yeah, definitely uh took us by surprise."

Hearing their small talk filling the silence in the air but lost in her own mind, Wendy starts rewinding the past hour or so.

Her focus was solely on the woman standing a few feet in front of her, Irene.

She was stunned, the woman that's been constantly on and off her mind finally materialized right before her at an unexpected place. She didn't know what to say or do, she just stood there looking at Irene, trying to look for an ounce of emotion or two outside of the usual stoic smile she holds in public. Wendy has only seen a look of anger that had resulted in a multitude of arguments, and vulnerability from the woman once, leading to the biggest fight that had torn them apart. The fight that had started the cycle they were at now.

The two women by her side were glaring at Irene, while trying to usher her out of the exhibit. Seulgi didn't know all of it but she had known enough to agree with Joy that the current interaction wasn't right.

Wendy wasn't ready.

"We need to go, now," Joy emphasizes, grabbing Wendy's arm and trying to lead her out of the building.

Seulgi steps in front of Irene and tells her not to follow them, "Just wait for a text from her. Don't go looking for her if she doesn't text, Irene. Please."

Wendy stopped in her tracks, "No."

Joy just looks at her as if she was out of her mind. "Let me.. talk to her."

"Bu-" Joy tries to retaliate but Wendy cuts her off, "I'll tell her. It's.. time for me to face her. Avoiding her is only gonna lead me back to.. this. Just like before."

Joy looked at Wendy, concern written all over her face.

"Please, Joy. I need to do this. You guys can wait for me outside of the café next to this place." Wendy's eyes looked determined as she did feel determined, but she was still as nervous as ever.

Joy sighed, "Ok."

Wendy smiled at her and reached for her friend's hand in reassurance. She lets go and walks towards Seulgi and Irene.

"Let's uhm go to the café next door," Wendy's eyes were wandering from the floor to Irene's shoulder afraid of eye contact. Irene nods and follows Wendy out of the building with the two friends right behind them. They stopped in front of Joy's car as Irene and Wendy walked a little way further into the café.