YOU, ME, & SHE • |KTH AU| •

twenty-eight

A loud ringing starts in my ears as my thoughts turn to static. I open my mouth but no words come out, not that I know what to say anyway. My arms hang limply at my sides and my feet feel frozen to the floor.

I've turned to stone. All I can do is stand here as Hyejin cries out with joy, closing in on a still stupefied Taehyung and throwing her arms around him.

"I'm going to be a grandmother! You kids sure don't waste any time - wait until I tell all my friends, they won't believe it!"

"Oh, Mom..." Iseul says with a laugh, eyes twinkling with amusement as she glances at her brother. "Should've seen it coming, huh?" She whispers, turning to me and I paste on an passable grin of my own. "Yep." I really should've.

After several minutes of just standing around and blinking back tears, I finally manage to sneak away to my room.

Slamming the door behind me, I sink down onto the floor and let the tears fall.

It's over.

She's tied him to her forever, I've lost him for good. They'll be a family, and I'll be left on the outside looking in, alone with my shattered heart.

Everything I've done and said to be where I am right now has been for nothing.

My love for him means nothing.

_______________________________________

I sit on the barstool, staring blankly into my whiskey glass as I swirl the melted ice and amber liquid inside.
The music is loud but all the chatter fades to a dull blur around me. I take another swig, wincing as it burns down my throat.

The alcohol is starting to dull the ragged edges a bit but does nothing to fill the hollow ache in my chest. And all I want is an escape, a numbness, an oblivion from this pain - if only for a night.

People come and go all around me, chatting and laughing loudly with their friends. When was the last time I felt that carefree? Oh, right - earlier today at home, in the pool. Mere minutes before my world came crushing down.

The calm, composed expression I've schooled starts to crack, and I let the tears come, not caring who sees.

Through my tear-blurred vision, I notice a shadow fall over the bar as someone takes the empty stool next to me. I glance up reluctantly to see this guy.

He's tall, dark and handsome with intense eyes that pin me in place, never leaving mine even as he orders his drink.

When he speaks, his voice is low and sultry. "A beautiful woman drinking alone usually means a man has wronged her. I'd be happy to provide better company, if you'll allow it..." He leans in, the scent of his cologne entrancing. "I'm Kangdae, by the way. Come home with me, darling. One night to forget the past..."

I scan his handsome face. Can he really give me the solace I'm desperately searching for..?

"What do you say, beautiful?" He murmurs, reaching out and resting a hand on my bare thigh.

I dunno... Maybe it'll make me feel alive again, if only momentarily...

Just as I'm opening my mouth to reply, a blur of motion strikes out of the corner of my eye.

Kangdae topples from his stool with a grunt as someone shoves him hard, sending him crashing to the floor.

I whip around in shock to find Taehyung staring daggers down at him.

Anger and confusion boil up inside me. What the hell is he doing here??

"How dare you," He grinds out, pointing a finger at Kangdae. "How dare you lay your filthy hand on her!"