When the stars align

Beyond distance

“I’m fine, but how come you messaged me, how do you know me?” She hesitated to press the send button, unsure if she should ask. Her mind was racing with thousands of thoughts.

Taehyung’s response came almost instantly.

“I couldn’t stay silent, San. I tried, but I just couldn’t ignore what you said. Reading your message, I realized that I can’t stand by anymore, not when you are hurting. I know I’m far away, but I need you to know you are not alone, San. No matter what, I’m with you...”

San’s heart ached at his words but a glimmer of warmth spread across her heart as she read every word again, she could feel Taehyung’s presence even though the words.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she typed

“Thank you, Tae. You don’t know how much this means to me. I feel like I’ve been drowning... but hearing from you. I feel light now.”

“San.” He typed and then there was a pause, as if he was carefully choosing his words. “I know I may not have a right but you can rely on me. If you want to be free and want someone who can hear you, you can tell me. I just wish things were different, I wish I could do more than just send messages.”

San could feel the desperation to help her in his words, for a moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like if she could reach out and be with him. But reality quickly snapped back, heavy and cold. No, it’s his nobility that he even messaged which was not necessary for him. He could have just neglected those messages.

“I wish it too but… it’s too complicated” she replied “You know how my family is. They want this for me. It’s all they talk about now- this marriage and what they think is best for me. I don’t know how to convince them to reject the proposal, It’s early for me.”

Her phone buzzed again and Taehyung’s message appeared:

“But what about breaking yourself, San? Your dream, your happiness… don’t they matter? I know your family wants the best for you but you don’t have to choose between your dreams and your family's wants there has to be another way. Try to calm down and thin. First, try to convince your mom and tell her why you don’t want it now. Maybe she understands...”

She stared at the words, her chest tightening. She knew he was right, but the thought of standing up to her family felt insurmountable. they had never controlled the course of her life and San had always decided and did what she wanted in life . now too she want to choose what she wants in her life. this was a life-changing decision that she needed to make for herself not her parents.

“I know you are strong enough to find your way San and if it means anything, I’ll be here. If you need me to talk, listen, or just be on the other end of your message. I’m here. San.”

At that moment, something shifted within her. Tae’s word. His unwavering support filled a void he hadn’t known how to mend.

Her finger moved across the screen as she typed.

“Thank you, Tae. I’m going to try to convince my mom first.  I don’t know how yet, but…I’ll try again. I want you to. Just... stay with me. I need you by my side, even if it’s just like this.”

He replied immediately “I’ll be here, San every step of the way.”
The heaviness she had carried alone for long began to lift and she felt the smallest spark of hope.

“Thank you, Tae. you know it means a lot.” San typed.

He typed “It’s ok San.”

She was about to type when something hit her mind ‘Pihu’s awful conversation with him’ Made her regret to allow Pihu use her phone.

She typed and said “Tae, I am sorry about those messages in the starting and that video call. It was my sister and she talked too much. Am sorry”

“Oh, is that so?” he typed “I thought it was you, well tell her she is cute.”

Pihu felt her cheeks flush as San typed. “Oo…ok” she replied and said “It’s late now, you should take a rest. Thank you again for reaching out to me.”

He messaged and said, “It’s ok San.”

San watched her phone screen, her heart slowly calming as she read Taehyung’s final message. It felt surreal knowing that someone as kind and understanding as him was out there for you.

Turning off the light. San lay on her bed, clutching her phone as if it were the only anchor she had in the story that she has in her life.

Taehyung’s word echoes in her mind “There has to be another way. those words, so simple yet full of faith. for so long, she had resigned herself to for her families wishes. convinced herself that surrendering herself is the best option.

But Taehyung’s confidence in her felt like a spark, triggering something deep inside her hat she had almost forgotten.

But as she looked at her phone, reality began to creep back in the words of her parents, the expectations. They had piled upon her, the weight of her upcoming marriage. Se wondered how they could even understand if she tried.

Still, Taehyung’s words lingered “If you want to be free, you can tell me.”

Taehyung’s pov

As Taehyung put his phone down, he took a deep breath, leaning against the wall. A flood of emotions washed over him…relief that he finally reached out for her. he hadn’t realized just how much San’s messages had an impact on him until he saw her words tonight.

The thought of her feeling trapped tore at him and for the first time, he felt afraid of what might happen if he stayed silent.

He knew he was a thousand miles away from her and there was so little he could offer her from this distance. But every message they shared felt like a lifeline, a connection between his and her world – a world he wished he could break into to protect her from.

Just sitting in that silent room, the memories of their silent conversation floated back to him. They had started so simple he’d seen her joyful message. Her struggles, and the silent pain. Each time, he wants nothing more than to cross that distance and be there with her.

He ran his hand through his hair, how many times he had considered replying, even before tonight. How many typed out but deleted it fearing what if he only added problems in her life? But now he couldn’t hold back and finally took the risk.

Risk of merging two different worlds, Who were never meant but were tied by fate….