I Still Love You

3.

Third POV
They parted themselves from each other's embrace as soon as they heard some commotion happening outside. They looked at each other in confusion and went to look at the intruders in the Lee house. There stood eleven people making themselves comfortable and chatting with Aunty Lee. After seeing his friends, Jisoo smiled and went towards them. But Dokyeom was hesitant to go, he doesn't know how they will react after seeing after almost five years. His imagination scared him after seeing Jisoo's reaction after he saw him. " I won't be able to endure eleven slaps at one go!" he thought to himself. Fear was clearly visible on his face and as a result the option of sneaking away appealed to him more than anything. He was just about to go towards the stairs but got halted in his steps after Jisoo addressed him. He turned towards him and felt all the thirteen eyes on him. He smiled awkwardly at them and went towards their direction with hesitant steps.

Every friend of his was in trance as they saw a ghost. They were feeling so many emotions that they couldn't decipher. They didn't know how to react, they were shocked, angry, happy and what not but anger was much more as compared to other ones. " Where the hell you were for the past five years you bastard?" was the first which was thrown towards Dokyeom as soon as he came near them. He expected this question but he never really knew how to answer it. He was glad that he didn't have to answer that question in particular as many more questions were thrown at him one by one. He understood their confusion and anger but he was getting irritated by obnoxious loud voices, they were not giving him a chance to speak. Being fed up with their behaviour DOKYEOM shouted "SHUT UP GUYS! AT LEAST LET ME SPEAK FOR GOD'S SAKE." There was pin drop silence in the hall, no one dared to speak not because they were afraid, they wanted answers for their questions which were swirling around in their head for the last five years.

" I know I have hurt you all a lot by my sudden disappearance and I'm really really sorry for that. I just didn't know how to face you all and inform you about my departure. It was so difficult for me to leave and I knew if I saw all your faces then it would be more difficult and I couldn't afford to do that because it was very important for me to leave. Once again I'm really sorry guys." Dokyeom muttered with guilt. He fucking knows that whatever reason he was giving was a lie and it added more guilt to his chest. He just can't tell them the truth, he has decided that the truth will never be revealed to anyone and it will go with him in his grave.

Everyone was quiet, after a long suffocating silence a sigh was heard from seungcheol and as the eldest he tried to understand the situation and said " We understand Dokyeom-ah, but you should know that your actions have deeply hurt every person here. At every point of time each and everyone thought that it was their fault you were unable to tell us about you going to states. We started questioning our long term friendship." Dokyeom just looked down in shame and it pained him to realise how his selfish actions have hurt so many people. If only he was strong enough to endure this stupid love problem then maybe he would have not hurt so many people. It was not in his nature to think about himself before everyone else and just when he did it resulted in so much hurt.

He looked up with guilty eyes and kneeled down in front of everyone. All gasped at his action and Jisoo ran to his side and kneeled down beside him to give him support. Dokyeom glanced at him again looked at everyone present in the room and voiced out his apologies with utmost honesty, " I can't imagine the pain I have put you through all and I'm really sorry for my selfish actions. I just want to say that there is nothing wrong in our friendship and it was not anyone's fault. It was me who was unable to face you all and took a selfish decision. Please don't yourself, you can just beat me up if you want. I will try my best to take hits from you all, but just be a little gentle while doing it." his voice got small at the end of the sentence and everyone including his mom chuckled at his offer.
"It's okay. We forgive you, everyone makes mistakes and what is important is that you know what you did wrong. That's all we want." Jeonghan, the second eldest replied with his sweet and angelic tone. Dokyeom smiled at him and went in for a group hug.

Jisoo POV
I was so happy after seeing my friends united once again after so many years. It was impossible to express my happiness through words. Tears welled up in my eyes before the scene which was unfolding in front of me. Every time they gathered, there was always a missing part in it and everyone knew but no one pointed it out because it will only bring out unwanted questions and pain. Aunt Lee suddenly came towards me and wiped away my tears with her soft hands. " I know all these years were hard for everyone and especially for you. But everything is falling there places now. You don't have to worry about anything and just enjoy your time with them. Let loose for once and share your feelings with them. I know you try to keep them hidden and never speak about them but this is the time you finally open up again with them, especially with Dokyeom. He has returned after so many years, trying to mend the crack which has raised due to time." She reminded me gently and with one last pat on my shoulder, she went away to her room to check up on uncle Lee.

Among all of us Dokyeom was the one with whom I shared everything. He knew each and every event which took place in life and he was the greatest support system whenever I needed him. After he left, I was devastated. I never knew he meant so much to me and till the time I realised he was far away from me and all of us. I didn't have the time to miss him as many unexpected and dreadful events started occurring in my life. From my parents death to my relationship problems, everything was so overwhelming and at that time all I wanted was Dokyeom but he was not there. I was so lost without him and I was so angry at him for leaving, leaving me to deal with this alone but as time passed I realised how selfish I was sounding for keeping Dokyeom for abandoning his dreams just for his sake.

It took me two long years to get back to his self and start his career in interior designing. After so many hardships my life was finally getting on the track and after Dokyeom's arrival, I started seeing his life with more positivity. I never knew I needed the younger one until he went away, leaving me with an empty heart.

I didn't realise I was staring at him until jeonghan moved his palm in front of my eyes. I got out of my thoughts and looked at him. " You're staring." he said, amusement clearly visible in his eyes. " I was not." I tried defending myself but he being my best friend clearly understood I was lying and just laughed at my response. " Whatever helps you sleep at night." he exclaimed with a hint of tease in his tone and left.
"Whatever" I muttered under my breath and went away in the kitchen to continue with the lunch preparation as more uninvited guests appeared out of nowhere.

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