Lost & Found

Chapter Fourteen

Present Day
22-Years-Old

Yoongi had been mortified to have to ask Aera for her phone number again. He tried to explain that Sunhee had made him delete Aera's contact, but his reasoning felt insufficient. He had to admit that Sunhee had taken over his life, and it was embarrassing.

But Aera hadn't acted upset. It was almost like she understood. And perhaps she did, Yoongi reasoned. Aera, in all her vivaciousness and spunk, had always remained level headed and practical. And she had happily handed over her phone number.

Yoongi wrote it on a piece of paper in order to hide it from Sunhee. He knew he couldn't add it back into his phone, as Sunhee checked it every evening. When he returned home that day, he waited until Sunhee had fallen asleep and he hid it in Aera's old room on the top shelf of what had been her closet. Sunhee never entered that room. And even if she did, she was too short to reach the shelf.

It was just a few days later that he finally had the opportunity to call Aera. They agreed to meet for lunch the next week at Aera's apartment, as it was closest to both of their workplaces. Yoongi found himself to be extremely excited about it, and could hardly wait.

And Aera was excited as well. She felt like she was finally in the process of getting her Yoongi back. She felt comforted by this fact, and was just then realizing just how much she'd missed the comfort Yoongi had always provided.

When the day for lunch finally came, Aera waited nervously for Yoongi, who was going to bring the food. She wasn't sure what all they'd talk about, but she went over a million different scenarios in her head. She still didn't feel ready, however. She wasn't sure if she'd ever be ready for this conversation, whatever it may be.

Suddenly, a knock sounded on the door, and Aera quickly answered it. And there stood Yoongi, holding a bag of food and observing and scrutinizing his surroundings. When he finally looked at Aera, there was determination in his eyes.

"We're getting you out of here," he said matter-of-factly. "This is not a place you need or deserve to be."

Aera looked at the floor. "It's all I can aff – "

"I know," Yoongi said. "But that doesn't matter. You're going to move back in with me, and we're going to figure out finances together."

"Have you talked to Sunhee?" Aera asked as she led him to the couch. She sat down on the other side and began pulling the food from the sack Yoongi had placed on the coffee table.

"No," Yoongi admitted. "I wanted to talk to you first."

"Why?"

"To make sure we're on the same page. Sunhee is not going to take this well. I'll need your support, because I don't know what's going to happen."

"What does that mean?" Aera asked, suddenly feeling nervous.

Yoongi sighed. "I've been seeing a therapist. Behind Sunhee's back of course. And he told me that she's been abusing me. It took some time for me to accept that. But now that I have, I have a constant fear that she'll take it a step further some day and physically react. And I could see her doing that over this."

"I had no idea she was so dangerous. I'm so sorry you're going through this, Yoongs."

Yoongi shrugged. "It's my own fault."

"No it's not," Aera insisted. "You have no control over how she acts. She chose to be this way. You had nothing to do with it. You're right, she's an abuser. And if it wasn't you, it would be someone else. That's just how inherent it is."

Yoongi sighed. "I guess you're right. But I feel like I deserve everything she's dished out."

"Why's that?"

"Because of what I did to you."

Aera paused, then looked at Yoongi. "No matter what you did, you don't deserve to suffer."

Yoongi looked away. "I'm not sure I believe that."

Aera sighed. "Yoongs, if I say it, it's true. Because I'm the one you did it to. And if I can forgive you, you need to forgive yourself."

Yoongi looked back at her. "You...forgive me?"

Aera nodded. "It'll always be a terrible memory, but at least it's not a terrible reality anymore. And you're the one who made it that way. So, I forgive you. And I want to say thank you, too."

"B-But why?"

"Because like I said, you're the one who fixed it. And that's the most important thing; that it got fixed."

Yoongi couldn't help it; he began to cry. Aera's eyes widened and she quickly moved to sit beside him. He collapsed against her chest, and she wrapped her arms around him.

"It's okay, Yoongs. I still love you. I never stopped."

"Neither did I," he managed to say. "I'm so – "

"Don't say you're sorry. I've already forgiven you."

"I once told you that I'll always want and need you in my life," Yoongi choked out. "That's still true. But I made you doubt it. And I'm so sorry."

"Let's fix everything else, and then we can talk about apologies," Aera said.

"Everything else?"

"You with Sunhee. Me with Jungkook. Our futures. Let's start fixing it and do what we can to make sure everything turns out alright."

Yoongi nodded as he pulled away from her.

"You want some food?" Aera asked shoving some noodles in front of his face.

Yoongi laughed lightly. "Yes, please."

Aera grinned and handed over the container, then picked up her own. She knew which was which, because Yoongi had brought her favorite.

They ate quietly, and it wasn't long before both of them needed to return to work. "Can we do this again tomorrow?" Yoongi asked, and Aera grinned.

"Of course," she said. "I'd really like that."

Yoongi returned her smile as they walked to the front door. When it was opened, Yoongi looked around again.

"Be careful, okay?"

Aera nodded. "I always am."

"Just stay safe. I promise we'll get you out of here soon. I'll even pay to break your lease."

"You don't have – "

"Please just let me," Yoongi interrupted. "It's something I need and want to do."

Aera sighed, but finally nodded. "Okay."

Yoongi then reached out and pulled her gently toward him into a hug. "Thank you for giving me a second chance," he whispered. "I love you so much."

Aera squeezed him harder to let him know she felt the same. Then, Yoongi left. Aera stood in his wake, feeling better than she had in months.

Then, she headed to her room, pulled a box out of her closet, and lifted out the picture of her and Yoongi. She then went into the living room and quickly hung it up.