FORGET-ME-NOT | kth

Chapter 13-Daniel

Maya's POV

The atmosphere was calm, a gentle breeze ruffling the surface of the sea, creating small ripples that shimmered under the sunlight. Despite the serene surroundings, the tension between Taehyung and me was palpable, a thick, invisible barrier neither of us dared to break. Taehyung couldn't even meet my gaze, his eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the horizon.

I had suspected that Taehyung might have some sort of feelings for me, but now, after I mentioned Daniel, his reaction confirmed my doubts. His usual lively demeanor had vanished, replaced by a heavy silence that seemed to stretch on forever. He hadn't uttered a single word since.

We were sitting on a large piece of driftwood, smooth and worn by the elements, offering a surprisingly comfortable seat. It was positioned perfectly to give us an unobstructed view of the sea. The waves lapped gently at the shore, a soothing sound that contrasted sharply with the awkward quiet between us.

A knot of anxiety tightened in my chest. How could I break this unbearable silence? My mind raced, desperately searching for the right words. I knew I had to address the real reason for my visit to this city. I needed to tell Taehyung that I wouldn't be staying, and that I had to leave soon. It was important to be clear, to ensure he understood that there was no possibility of anything more between us.

Even if I was being delusional, it was better to be safe. I didn't want him to catch feelings for me, to harbor any false hope. The last thing I wanted was to hurt him or complicate our friendship.

Taking a deep breath, I finally found the courage to speak. "Taehyung," I began, my voice trembling slightly, "are you okay?" He got startled, his body tensing at my words.

"Yup," he replied curtly, not looking at me. I fell silent again, the awkwardness wrapping around us like a suffocating blanket.

Unexpectedly, Taehyung turned to look at me, and my gaze got stuck on his eyes. There was something intense in his stare, a depth of emotion that made me want to look away, but I couldn't.

"But why were you running away from your husband?" he asked at last. His voice was gentle, but the question carried a weight that made my heart race. At the same time, I felt a surge of relief that he had finally resumed the conversation.

I sighed, my thoughts swirling as I tried to formulate an answer. "I really don't know where to start," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I looked out at the sea, its vastness mirroring the confusion inside me.

Taehyung waited patiently, his eyes never leaving my face. I drew another deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "Daniel and I... we had our issues. It wasn't just one thing, but a series of events that led to us feeling hurt and suffocated."

The words flowed slowly, each one carefully chosen. "He wasn't a bad person, but we weren't good for each other. I realized that the love we once had had turned into something else, something that wasn't healthy for either of us."  

Taehyung listened to me patiently, and although I could sense the confusion in his eyes, the attention and patience he was giving me made me want to clarify everything for him.

"We used to be childhood friends. Our families were really close, so I know him from a very young age. Though we didn't really talk to each other much, we were always around due to our families. We grew up together."

I paused, gathering my thoughts before continuing. "Once we completed our studies and returned to our hometown, I used to see him often during the family get-togethers and some business events. And that's when we started dating"

"And soon our parents got to know about it. They were so supportive that they wanted us to get married quickly. They saw the marketing benefits in that," I explained, a slight bitterness creeping into my tone.