DESTINED LOVE

Chapter 55

Kook spent the entire evening in their room, waiting for Tae. He didn’t step outside… not even once. He got ready slowly, carefully—fixing his shirt, brushing his hair just the way Tae liked… hoping, maybe today Tae will notice.

It was already 7 p.m.

Mr. Kim had said Tae left the company early. So Kook sat there, heart full of quiet hope, thinking maybe he’d walk in any moment.

But…

7 turned into 8.

Then… 9.

10…

And now it was 11.

He was still sitting in the same place on the bed. He hadn’t moved. Not even once. His hands resting on his lap, his phone beside him, untouched.

The room felt cold. Quiet. Heavy. Then—finally, he heard the sound of the front door opening. But he didn’t flinch. He didn’t rush to greet him, like he used to.

He just sat there. Staring at the floor. Tae walked in, flipping on the lights. And then he froze. Kook was still sitting on the bed, fully dressed. Waiting.

Tae’s heart twisted.

He remembered.

"Shall we go outside?" That one line he had thrown carelessly in the morning. And now… Kook was still waiting for that moment. Like it mattered. Like he mattered. He cursed himself silently.

He walked closer, voice barely above a whisper. “Little moon…” Kook slowly looked up, eyes tired, lips soft with disappointment.

“I want to eat ice cream,” he said quietly. “Can we go outside?” Tae’s heart shattered in slow motion.

“Baby… it’s already really late,” he said gently, “but if you want to go, then let’s go. We’ll go now.”

Kook didn’t respond. That silence cut deeper than any words. Tae’s eyes moved to his outfit—Kook had dressed up. Just for him.

And he… didn’t show up.

He let him wait.

Alone.

Without a word, Kook stood up and walked toward the door. Tae followed behind like a shadow weighed down by guilt.

They got into the car—Kook in the passenger seat. He quietly buckled his seatbelt and turned his face away, looking out the window.

No words.

Just silence.

Tae sat in the driver’s seat, his hands trembling slightly on the wheel, wondering how he ever let the one who loved him most… feel like the one who mattered least.

And in that silence, the only thing Tae wanted now… was to make Kook smile again.

After 30 minutes, they reached the ice cream shop—the same one where Kook had gotten into the accident. Tae remembered it clearly. This was the place where Kook had said he wanted to eat ice cream.

"Shall we go?" Tae asked softly after stopping the car. "I’ll wait here," Kook replied, not meeting his eyes.

But Tae didn’t want to take that risk. Not again. Not after everything that happened. The memory of those messages… the accident… it still haunted him.

"No, let’s go," Tae said gently but firmly. Kook sighed and slowly got out of the car. He didn’t argue. He didn’t say anything else.

They both walked quietly into the shop, side by side, the silence between them louder than any words.