toxic | nct dream

53. sing to the moon

• • •

Jisung nodded absentmindedly. It was hard to focus on her words while she spoke so animatedly about the other man.

Her fiancé.

The pit in his stomach grew with each smile that graced her lips, knowing that he wasn't the cause.

She took a long sip of her wine glass once finished with the story.

If he had accomplished anything it was getting her to relax while in his presence. The girl now sat comfortably on the couch and had an easygoing expression on her face.

"Uh, you must have... you guys must be extremely close. Since, you know, you've known each other for such a long time." Jisung tried to keep his tone calm, but in doing so he spoke almost too softly.

He didn't trust his voice in that moment.

Xia gave him one of those pretty smiles that come off as a bit sheepish. He could tell there was some color on her cheeks if only the room's lighting permitted him to see them.

"Yeah. Chenle's been my best friend for about as long as I can remember." She replied easily. "He's... perfect, honestly."

The girl meant it in two ways.

One. On the surface, Chenle was like the perfect man. Respectful, caring, and understanding. He was equal parts studious, social, athletic, and artistic. Not to forget to mention: gorgeous. And on top of all of that, he had status and wealth. He had his own unique charm that pulled people in, including Xia herself.

Two. Chenle was the perfect match for her. It wasn't just their parents and outsiders who felt that way. No one else understood her like he did. Knew what makes her happy and feel loved. If you asked Xia who cared most about her in this world she wouldn't say her parents or any other relative or friend.

She'd say Chenle.

It was a belief she held close to her heart. Even if there had been moments that made her doubt. There was no comparison.

"I couldn't ask for anything better," she concluded, wine glass shaking slightly in her hand as she brought it to her lips.

Was that doubt in her voice?

The tonal flatness of her last statement intrigued Jisung.

After all, this was supposedly the love of her life and yet she spoke about her connection with him as if it were something inescapable.

Something that reigned true beyond reason.

He would never talk about her like that. His love deserved only the sweetest of compliments and wistful adoration.

To someone else he could say that — in his heart — she was the spark of passion he would devote himself to.

Write her name on every piece of paper he got his hands on.

Sing her praises to the moon at night.

That way the whole universe would know that Liang Xia, the divinest of creatures to ever lay eyes on him, was all that he breathed, tasted, and desired.

Jisung subtly let out a heavy breath, running his hands along his forearms one at a time.

Even he could tell that the thoughts swirling around in his head were pulling him closer to the edge.

He wasn't her husband nor her boyfriend.

He wasn't even her friend.