Soulmates in Disguise

The Airport Chase

The clock ticked slowly in Tae’s room, the silence growing unbearable with each passing second. He had tried to sleep, but his thoughts kept circling back to Ria, the fight they had, and the lingering tension between them. The distance between them felt like a vast chasm that he couldn’t cross, no matter how much he wished to.

Unable to hold back any longer, he grabbed his phone, his thumb hovering over Ria’s contact. He knew they had fought earlier, knew that the distance was making things worse. But he couldn’t ignore the gnawing need to hear her voice. With a deep breath, he pressed the call button.

Ria, who was in her hotel room still processing their earlier argument, felt her phone vibrate. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Tae’s name on the screen. She hesitated for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions—anger, sadness, and love. But before she could second-guess herself, she answered.

“Tae?” Her voice was soft, tentative.

“Ria…” His voice was filled with relief, like hearing her had already calmed something deep inside him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to end the night like this.”

She let out a soft sigh, her chest tightening at the sound of his voice. “I didn’t either. I hated how we left things.”

“I’ve been going crazy,” Tae admitted, his voice raw with emotion. “Thinking about everything, about you, about how far away you are. I couldn’t sleep, not with how things ended.”

“Tae, I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me too.” Ria’s voice softened, the edge from their earlier argument fading. “I’m doing my best, but this distance… it’s killing me too.”

“I miss you, Ria. I miss you so much it hurts,” Tae’s voice cracked slightly, his vulnerability seeping through. “Every night, all I think about is you. I keep worrying… worrying about Jungkook, about everything that could happen when I’m not there.”

Ria closed her eyes, feeling the intensity of his words. “I’m handling it, Tae. You know I can. I told you before, Jungkook’s trying, but I won’t let him cross the line. You don’t need to worry.”

“I trust you, Ria,” Tae replied quickly, wanting to reassure her. “I really do. But I hate that I’m not there to see it for myself, to be the one protecting you. The thought of someone else being close to you, especially him… it makes me feel useless.”

“You’re not useless,” she said gently. “You’re the one I love, Tae. No one can replace that.”

There was a pause on the other end, and then Tae spoke again, his voice filled with longing. “I wish you were here with me. I wish I could hold you, see your face. This distance is killing me, babe. I don’t know how much longer I can stand it.”

Her heart ached at his words. She felt the same, every bit of it. The distance, the responsibilities, everything felt like it was pulling them apart. “I wish I could be there too,” she whispered. “I hate being away from you.”

“I need you, babe,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “More than anything. I don’t care about anything else. I just want you with me.”

Tears welled up in Ria’s eyes as she listened to him. Every word he said resonated with her, stirring something deep inside. She wanted nothing more than to drop everything and be with him. Her responsibilities, her work—none of it mattered compared to the love she had for Tae.

But she couldn’t say it. She couldn’t tell him that she was ready to leave everything behind for him. Not yet.

“I know, Tae,” she replied softly, her voice breaking slightly. “I need you too. More than you know.”