CAGES OF LOVE || KIM TAEHYUNG FF

119. Fragments of lost memories

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FLASHBACK

The surrounding was quiet as Y/n stepped on the porch. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed the doorbell and waited, but no footsteps followed. She waited for a few seconds but no one came.

She gulped slowly, her fingers wrapping around the doorknob, only to find it locked.

A soft gust of wind brushed against her skin, and she closed her eyes to avoid the dust. She looked up and noticed the weather was turning gloomy all of a sudden. The dark gray clouds were enveloping the soft blue sky. The wind was blowing aggressively, and the sun was nowhere to be seen.

She turned her head slightly, glancing back at the car parked outside while tucking her swaying stray strand behind her ear.

Taehyung was still in the driver's seat, his fingers resting loosely on the steering wheel, gaze locked ahead. He wasn't watching her. But he wasn't leaving either.

She forced her gaze away from him before her resolve could crumble. Taking a deep breath, she reached for the keypad beside the door and entered the passcode.

A soft beep followed by the click of the lock disengaging, and the door creaked open.

She stepped inside and shut the door behind her, without looking back at him. She rested against it for a second, head tilting back as she closed her eyes, letting out a long, unsteady breath.

Her hands trembled behind her, still stained with the warmth of his touch. His kiss lingered on her lips, but instead of comfort, it left a hollow ache deep in her chest.

'Twenty-four hours. That's all.'

'I won't hear any of your bullshit tomorrow. No matter how much you plead or beg... My answer will be the same.'

'I..... won't change my answer as well. No matter what you do..'

She wouldn't change her answer. She told him. But why did her heart feel so unsure now?

Maybe because even she was too afraid... too afraid to die... afraid to be apart from him... afraid to give up on this life.. this happiness.. the dreams they saw .. to live.. to see the world with him.. to grow old with him..

Was she selfish?

Her heart ached as she forced her red-rimmed eyes open and looked inside. The air inside the house was terrifyingly still.

The living room was dim. The somber light coming from windows illuminated the place, but not enough, as the weather had turned gloomy and gray. And the house felt different. Not how her father usually kept it.

Jaedan's belongings were scattered across the space. His laptop bag was left half-open on the couch, a few books lay on the coffee table, their pages fluttering with the wind. A hoodie was draped carelessly over the edge of the sofa, a pair of red and white sneakers kicked aside. The dining table had used plates and a single glass of water half-full, as if someone had eaten in a hurry and hadn't had time to clean up.

She could tell her father wasn't home. And Jaedan must have left in a hurry for uni.

She remained leaning against the door, taking a moment to collect herself. Her head was still throbbing from the near-accident, from Taehyung's words, from the way he had held her, kissed her one last time like she was the only thing keeping him alive. Keeping his heart beating.

She exhaled shakily as her body felt drained not just physically but emotionally too. Her chest ached from holding in too much, too many emotions, too many thoughts. Her lashes were damp, her eyes blank, but she didn't want to cry. Not now.