TWICE: Book Of One-Shots X Reader

SET 6: Chaeyoung x M Reader - [What We Could've Become] (CONVERTED VER.)

TYPE: Angst

GENRE: Romance, Drama, Slice Of Life

WORD COUNT: 3671

DESCRIPTION: Years after a painful divorce, two former lovers find themselves continually drawn back into each other's lives. As they spiral through moments of "what could've been," the past and present blur, forcing them to confront whether love lost can truly be found again—or if some endings are final for a reason.

NOTE: This story is inspired by 2021 TV series titled "Scenes From A Marriage" starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain and Filipino OPM song titled "Multo" by Cup Of Joe.

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-START-

String lights shine overhead around the wedding venue. Soft jazz music is played by a live trio beneath a tent of dangling flowers. Guests mingle, laughter hovers in the air like blossoms. Chaeyoung is poised and beautiful in an emerald green dress. She stands beside the bar, drinking from a champagne flute.

Her smile is gracious. Rehearsed. She's made the rounds all day.

Then her breath hitches.

Through the grass, near the edge of the dance area, YN steps into sight—wearing a somewhat rumpled suit, his hair longer than before, his usual quiet peace to his presence. He's talking in mid-sentence with someone, his soft laughter filling the air. But his eyes search the party—and find hers.

Both paused. Their stare filled with unspoken longing brought by the aftermath of their shared unfortunate memories.

"Of course he'd show up." Chaeyoung muttered under her breath, leaning away from her crosshairs before returning to view his stunned reaction.

Meanwhile, YN told the exact same thing as hers. It's natural for either of them, they can agree that it's been two and a half years since they've last seen each other. Thankfully, this time... they don't look so fragile and unpleasant to endure.

They hesitate. Neither moves. YN adjusts his jacket, takes a small breath, and starts walking toward her. Chaeyoung straightens, unreadable. She doesn't look away despite panicking inside what she should do as he approaches.

He stopped a few feet apart from her chair. Their height leveled, allowing them to deeply connect in their gaze and peek into the eyes that upheld the same experience they suffered.

"Hey." He was the first one to initiate, snapping themselves out of their senses.

"H-Hey." She took a beat.

"After all this time, you still look... exactly the same." YN smiled genuinely.

"Well for me, you don't." She contradicted.

"That bad?" His eyebrows raised at the sudden comment.

"No. Just... different. A little softer, maybe." She shrugged as she softly replied, a hint of smile appeared on her lips.

There was a pause. The silence is heavy between them, but not cold.

"I- I didn't know you'd be here." YN still manages to get the flow of their conversation going.

"It's Dahyun's wedding. Of course I'm here. She introduced us, remember?" Chaeyoung mocked him like she was surprised he didn't caught it that easily. Thinking that he may have forgotten it like it was nothing kinda scratched her heart that was supposed to be fully healed after several years and it annoys her.

"Oh, right." YN didn't deny about that, and the following had Chaeyoung proved wrong. Mentioning the pronoun 'us' not because of something random, but referring to that one particular and unforgettable memory that opened a chapter of their life altogether, beats him.

"I- I mean, she told me you might come, but I didn't let myself expect it." he elaborated to avoid making her come suspicious.

"Well... surprise, I guess." Chaeyoung answered nonchalantly. There was a long look between them again.

"Can I buy you a drink, or is this where you vanish politely?"

"I already have a drink." She wiggled her wineglass filled with ice and martini intentionally without glancing at him.