Wishlist [txtzy#1]

Wishlist-24(reconnecting)

"Kai, your timing is the worst," Taehyun muttered, frowning as he grabbed his phone off the table. He squinted at the caller ID, almost as if hoping he'd read it wrong.

"'Jisung'? Why is this guy calling me?" he mumbled to himself, feeling a pang of annoyance. What could he possibly want? They weren't exactly close, and a random call like this made Taehyun's guard go up. Still, he tapped the answer button and brought the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" Taehyun said, his voice edged with impatience.

"Let's meet." Jisung's voice was calm but direct, almost like he'd already anticipated Taehyun's resistance.

"No, thank you. I have no interest—" Taehyun started, ready to cut the call and forget this interruption even happened.

"It's about Chaeryeong."

Those words were like a trigger. Every ounce of reluctance disappeared, replaced with a mix of apprehension and curiosity that sent his heart racing. Chaeryeong? Why would Jisung be calling him about her? What could he possibly know that Taehyun didn't?

His grip on the phone tightened. "Where do we have to meet?"

"The HYBE building, at 4 this afternoon," Jisung said, his tone leaving no room for debate.

A few hours later, Taehyun found himself pacing in the lobby, his mind racing with questions. Why was Jisung acting so secretive? And what did this have to do with Chaeryeong? He barely noticed when Jisung walked in, holding a small folded note in his hand.

"Here," Jisung said, handing over the note.

Taehyun took it, a look of confusion written across his face. "What is this?"

"Just open it," Jisung replied, his expression unreadable.

With a cautious glance, Taehyun unfolded the note, his eyes scanning the words hastily scribbled in Chaeryeong's familiar handwriting. The note wasn't long, but every word hit him like a storm. He felt a whirlpool of emotions,confusion, happiness, anger, excitement all tangled together. She'd poured out something raw, something he wasn't expecting to hear, something that hinted at regrets, at apologies left unsaid.

He looked up, his voice low and intense. "How did you get this?"

Jisung shrugged, almost nonchalantly. "Chaeryeong gave it to me, obviously."

In a fit of frustration, Taehyun shot to his feet, his eyes blazing. "Where is she?"

Jisung raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed by Taehyun's reaction. "I would've told you...but she specifically told me not to."

Taehyun clenched his fists, feeling trapped, unsure whether to be furious or devastated. His mind spun with questions he couldn't voice, and for the first time, he felt powerless.

"Just... tell me how she's doing," Taehyun said, his voice barely above a whisper. The frustration had melted into something softer, a raw concern he couldn't hide.

Jisung's expression shifted, a hint of sympathy breaking through his usual composure. "She's... doing okay," he started, choosing his words carefully. "She's having a hard time coping, but she's... better. A little stronger each day."

Taehyun's jaw clenched as he absorbed those words. The image of Chaeryeong struggling, even behind closed doors where no one could see, tore at him. She was always the one who tried to keep things together, to stay strong. The idea of her struggling alone made his heart ache.

"Is she really okay, Jisung?" he asked, his voice cracking despite himself.

Jisung nodded slowly. "Yeah. She's getting there. She's working on herself. She just... needs time."