Dear. My Darling | Gongfourz / Taehan

Chapter 40

Taesan and Leehan, miles apart, sat alone in their respective spaces. Taesan stared at his phone, Sungho's advice playing over in his mind. Leehan unfolded Taesan's letter again, Riwoo's words echoing in his ears.

Both of them, though hesitant and afraid, knew the truth: they had to face each other. Not to fight, but to understand, to say the things they'd left unsaid for too long.

The time wasn't right yet, but they both resolved to speak the truth when it came. And for the first time in days, the weight on their chests felt just a little lighter.

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The evening had settled in with a soft calmness, the city's hum muffled by the night air. Leehan lay in bed, his body still damp from the shower.

He had barely moved since then, too tired to do anything but think. The sheets wrapped around him felt like a cocoon, but the stillness only amplified the emptiness he felt inside.

Boredom lingered, his thoughts swirling in a haze of uncertainty. His gaze drifted to his phone, and the thought struck him: maybe he could text Taesan.

A simple message, something casual-maybe they could drive around, talk, maybe go to the beach. It was a small gesture, a way to reconnect without the weight of their unresolved issues.

But then doubt crept in, like a shadow lingering at the edges of his mind. What if Taesan didn't want to talk? What if he was still upset, still angry? Leehan swallowed hard, fighting with himself.

He didn't want to seem desperate, didn't want to push Taesan away even more. But he knew, deep down, he needed to reach out.

With a deep breath, Leehan unlocked his phone and typed the message, his fingers hesitant on the keys:

"Hey, want to go for a drive? Or we could head to the beach, if you're up for it."

The moment the words left his screen, a sickening feeling churned in his stomach. He immediately threw his phone to the side, as though the act of sending it was an impulse he couldn't take back.

He buried his face in his pillow, frustrated with himself, feeling both regretful and vulnerable. He had opened the door, and now all he could do was wait.

Who in the world would say something like that especially when you just got in a huge fight? He groans to himself while banging the pillow on his head.

Minutes passed, then more. His phone remained silent, untouched, and the heavy weight of anticipation grew. Maybe he didn't even see it, Leehan thought, his chest tightening. Or maybe he just doesn't care anymore.

The sting of rejection mixed with anger and embarrassment, all swirling together in a nauseating cocktail of emotions. He could feel the tears starting to rise but fought them back, unwilling to give in to the overwhelming hurt.

In the end, he simply turned over, staring at the dark ceiling, and tried to push it all out of his mind, finally giving in to sleep.

It felt like hours later when a knock on the door jerked him awake. His heart skipped a beat, the sudden sound breaking the silence of the room. His mind raced with possibilities, wondering who could possibly be knocking at this hour.

His thoughts flickered to those late-night horror movies Woonhak loved to make them watch. Even though he wasn't really scared, the idea of someone unexpectedly at the door made his skin crawl.

With cautious steps, Leehan grabbed the nearest book from his desk, gripping it tightly as though it could protect him from whatever lay beyond the door.

His pulse quickened as he approached the door, his mind still foggy from sleep.

He opened it quickly, slamming the book forward in an attempt to defend himself. The impact made a loud thud, followed by a curse that made Leehan's heart race.

"Leehan!" Taesan's voice rang out, a familiar mix of surprise and irritation.

Leehan blinked, his eyes widening as he saw Taesan crouched on the floor, one hand pressed to his head where the book had hit him. His first instinct was to rush to him, but his mouth dried up.

"Taesan! Oh my god, I'm so sorry," Leehan gasped, bending down to help him up. He felt his face heat with embarrassment, his heart sinking. "I wasn't thinking-why are you here? It's late."

Taesan groaned, sitting up slowly. "I came because you texted me," he said, rubbing the spot where the book had struck him. "And then I get hit in the head. Great timing."

Leehan's eyes widened in realization. He had completely forgotten about the text. He felt his chest tighten. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do that. I just... I sent that message, and I didn't think-"

Taesan looked up at him with a mix of exasperation and something softer in his gaze. "It's fine. It's just... didn't think I'd be getting assaulted with a book in the middle of the night."

Leehan laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "I didn't expect you to show up. Honestly, I thought you'd ignore it. I'm sorry for... well, everything." His voice faltered, as though the apology he wanted to give couldn't quite make it past his lips.

Taesan stood up, brushing off his pants. "You texted, and I'm here. That's all that matters." His words were more gentle now, though the tension still lingered between them.

Leehan looked down at the floor, unsure of what to say next. The silence stretched between them, but for the first time in days, it didn't feel as heavy. It was a small step, but it was a step forward.

"Do you still want to go for that drive?" Leehan asked quietly, his voice unsure but hopeful.

Taesan nodded, the smallest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah. I think we could both use that."