SKYFALL ↠ Haechan ✔

VI

CHAPTER VI: Talk & Think

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An orange colour mixed with a hint of pink sunset was the view of the evening from the big mansion. Areum had just finished her daily run when she noticed 2 black Porches and a black van parked near the fountain infront of the entrance.

Areum immediately had an idea of who those cars belong to and prayed it's not who she thinks it is. She starts contemplating whether she should go in her house now or leave.

Just as she was about to leave, the door opened revealing her dad in the black suit he's always in.

"You're back. Go shower and get changed. We're going to eat dinner at a restaurant with Hyunmin and his son to talk about the wedding. They're inside right now waiting for you" Minwoo said

"Appa, please just listen to me for once. I really don't want to marry him" Areum begged

Her reply made Minwoo mad and he immediately shut the big door, preventing their guests to hear what he's about to say. In a swift move, he took a step towards Areum and grabbed her right arm, pulling her closer to him.

"You are marrying him and that's it. I want you to apologise to them for what happened the other day. Stop embarrassing me or else you're done for. Now, go shower and get dressed" Minwoo threatened his daughter with a stern tone

Minwoo walked into the mansion and slammed the door on her face. Areum was left there with teary eyes, feeling helpless. A tear dropped from her eyes and she sighed in defeat.

-

As she was putting on her makeup, Yoona came into her room

"Areum, they're downstairs waiting for you" Yoona said giving her an apologetic look

"I know" Areum looked at Yoona from her vanity mirror and Areum smiled "Don't give me that look, it's just a talk about the wedding and plus marrying someone isn't so bad.. right?"

"Yeah it's not bad but this is your ex boyfriend we're talking about!" Yoona exclaimed and Areum sighed

"There's nothing I can do about it now"

-

As Areum walked down the stairs, she braced herself to meet the person she hated the most. When she finally made her way to the living room, she bowed down to Hyunmin, greeting him

"I'm done, Appa" She said to her dad "Great! We should get going to the restaurant for dinner" Minwoo said and Hyunmin agreed

"Areum can follow in Haechan's car. The both of us have a lot to talk about" Hyunmin and Minwoo both laughed and walked to the door

"Hey Areum, you.. look great" Haechan started softly. Areum gave him a glare and started walking to the car

As the car's engine hummed softly, Haechan's gaze remained fixed on the passing cityscape, his voice tinged with earnestness as he turned to Areum beside him.

"Areum, there's something I need to say. I know I messed up in the past, and I truly regret the things that I did to you"

Areum's fingers absently traced the edge of her seat, her expression guarded as she met his gaze. "Haechan, it's not that simple. What happened between us... it's not something I can just forgive and forget"

He sighed, a mixture of remorse and determination evident in his eyes. "I get it, Areum. I'm not asking you to erase the past. I just want you to know that I'm genuinely sorry for hurting you"

She looked away, her voice distant "Apologies don't change what happened, Haechan. And they certainly don't erase the pain"

His brow furrowed, his fingers gripping the steering wheel slightly tighter. "I understand that, Areum. But people change. I've changed. I've spent a lot of time reflecting on my actions, and I want to make amends"

Areum's gaze remained unyielding, her tone resolute. "I've moved on, Haechan. I've found my own path, my own happiness. I don't need you to validate that"

Haechan's shoulders slumped, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "I'm not trying to intrude on your life, Areum. With our wedding coming up, I just thought that... maybe we could find a way to at least be civil with each other"

She turned back to him, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. "We don't need to be friends, Haechan. And being civil doesn't change what you did. It doesn't erase the hurt. I've found my peace without you and now that you're back, everything is going upside down"

The remainder of the car ride fell into a heavy silence, the unspoken tension lingering between them. Haechan's attempt at reconciliation had met a wall of resistance, a painful reminder that the scars of the past were not easily mended.

As they pulled up to the restaurant, he offered a solemn nod, understanding that some wounds ran too deep to heal, no matter how sincere the apology is.

The rest of the night was spent with wedding talks. Wedding venues and guest lists. Everything that made Areum felt more annoyed on this alliance.

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