secret pain | baekyeon (on-going)

Chapter 28

Good luck on your concert tomorrow, congratulations in advance. Liam is also sending his regards. I love you.

Staring at the words on her phone that was remained unsent, Taeyeon felt a swirl of emotions. This was Baekhyun's big moment - his first solo concert in Seoul - and under different circumstances, she would have been among the first to send him her well-wishes. But since their confrontational exchange, a deafening silence had settled between them, creating a void filled with unresolved tensions.

Suddenly, her manager's voice pulled her from her reverie. "Look, Taeyeon," he began, setting down several bags of groceries on the countertop with a slight thud. "I managed to make arrangements for you for Baekhyun's concert tomorrow. There's a special VVVIP entrance for you, and the staff has been informed that you'll be with a kid."

It wasn't that Taeyeon hadn't tried to secure tickets for herself. But with the concert selling out so quickly, she found herself ticketless. In the back of her mind, she'd hoped that Baekhyun would extend an invitation. But their strained relationship had led to a clear breakdown in communication, and now, the thought of attending the concert filled her with trepidation. But she also knew how much it would mean to Liam.

"I appreciate your effort, oppa," Taeyeon replied, eyes still glued to the unsent message on her phone. "But I'm still weighing my options about attending."

Her manager looked puzzled. "Liam would be thrilled to see his 'Uncle' Baekhyun perform live, wouldn't he?"

She took a deep breath, "I haven't really mentioned the concert to him. Just told him we have plans tomorrow."

The manager paused, studying her face for a moment. "It's your call, Taeyeon. Just let me know if you decide to go. For now, I'll be heading out."

With the manager's departure, Taeyeon was left alone with her thoughts in the quiet of her living room. The soft glow of evening light spilled in through the windows, casting elongated shadows across the floor.

She thought of Liam, of his innocent excitement whenever he spoke of "Uncle Baekhyun". The bond they shared was genuine and pure, untouched by the complications of her relationship with Baekhyun. It was an unfair position to put her son in, she mused, to deprive him of experiences just because she was unable to face her past.

She then thought of Baekhyun. Even though anger and hurt resided in their recent memories, there were also years filled with love, laughter, and shared dreams. Attending his concert would not only be about facing him but also about confronting the choices she made and the consequences they bore.

Taking a deep breath, she finally pressed 'send' on her message. Even if she decided not to attend, Baekhyun deserved to know she still cared.

Minutes turned into hours as she busied herself with house chores, distracting herself from the anticipation of a reply. Liam's joyous laughter echoed in her thoughts, reminding her of the decision she had to make.

By nightfall, with no response from Baekhyun, she decided. She would go to the concert. Not for herself or for Baekhyun, but for Liam. To let him have a night of music and magic, and to show him that even when adults made mistakes, they could still find ways to make things right.

Before going to bed, she gently whispered to herself, "Tomorrow will be a new day." With hope in her heart, she drifted into a restless sleep, uncertain of what the next day would hold.

.

As Liam stepped into the apartment, his eyes sparkled with childlike joy. "Mommy! I missed you so much!" he exclaimed, sprinting towards Taeyeon with outstretched arms, seeking the comforting warmth of his mother's embrace.