R [Angst, fluff]
Warnings: bisexuality, depression, self-harm, suicide, character death
In which Taemin turns out to be less of an angel than he makes himself out to be.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yeah, great excuse, Taemin." Aimee rolled her eyes. "You weren't drunk, you fucker. I saw you."
"Well, she was," Taemin protested. "She was clinging to me, following me around. I couldn't get rid of her."
"So you kissed her," Aimee snorted. "No, wait. If I may correct myself, you were dry-humping her in public."
She started to shut the door on her boyfriend, but Taemin held it open. "I'm sorry, Aimee." He put on an adorable, innocent, teary-eyed expression that called to mind unicorns flying over rainbows, farting puppies and bubbles.
Aimee sighed. Her heart tugged at her, telling her to give him one more chance. "Fine. One more chance, Tae."
He hugged her, smiling happily. "I'll never hurt you again, Aimee, I promise."
. . .
Aimee slid into the booth across from her friend Amber.
"Hey!" Amber smiled and hugged her. "How are you doing?"
"I hate my day job." Aimee rolled her eyes comically, biting into a breadstick.
Amber chuckled. "Is your boss still a pervert?"
"Perverted Boss is still a perverted boss," Aimee confirmed.
"Always glad to hear," Amber said. "How are you and Taemin working out?" She had heard about Taemin and Aimee's little fall-out.
"We're doing fine," Aimee said vaguely. "He's sweet....and nice." She smiled.
Amber lowered her voice. "Well, those thoughts might be thrown out the window."
Aimee frowned. "Why?"
"Look." Amber pointed to a corner booth. A girl was sitting there, laughing and talking with....Taemin. No doubt, it was Taemin. No one could compare to his sweet, innocent looks, not even a puppy.
Aimee swore under her breath. "That's the girl I saw him sucking the face of at Sulli's party last week."
"No way." Amber's eyes grew round.
"Yes way," Aimee said, swearing some more.
"Go talk to him! Tell him that he better be fucking sorry." Amber nudged Aimee.
"No way!" Aimee said, her eyes fearful. "I don't want to cause a scene! I'll talk to him about this at home." As tough as Aimee acted, she was shy and introverted, preferring to company of no one to everyone.
Amber snorted. "I'll talk to him myself if you want."
"No, I'll do it," Aimee sighed, inwardly cringing at the thought of what could happened if she let Amber talk.
Aimee slid out of her seat and walked over to Taemin.
"Hey," Aimee said, putting in a polite smile. "I didn't know that you were here."
Taemin jumped and looked up at her. "A-Aimee!" Taemin stuttered. "I-I didn't know that y-you would be h-here, either!"
The girl glared at Aimee. "I'm his girlfriend. Stay the fuck away from Taemin."
Aimee smirked. "Well, how's this for a change: I'm Taemin's girlfriend, too."
The girl snorted, unabashed. "Why would he pick you to be his girlfriend?"
"Because I don't look like a whore."
The girl pursed her lips together and shut up. Taemin watched the entire thing in a fearful fascination.
"Well, Taemin," Aimee said, sitting down across from them. "I figured that your explanation for this might be a lengthy one, but I'd very much like to hear it out."
Taemin hesitated, scared. "Well, I met Nicki before I met you. She was an exchange student from the US, and I fell in love with her. We started dating. After a year, we broke up."
That was when I met you. I fell in love with you at first sight. I asked you out, and you said yes. We started dating. We even moved in together. And than Nicki wormed her way back into my life. She asked me to take her back."
I was caught there. I loved you, but I also loved Nicki. I couldn't choose. So, I said yes to Nicki, and I flitted from bed to bed, because I loved you both and I couldn't make up my mind." Taemin ended his story and stared shamefully at the table.
"Well," Aimee said, breaking the silence. "I'll make the decision easier." She took off the bracelet that Taemin had given her for Christmas and placed it on the table in front of him. Aimee stood up, tears starting to blur her vision. "I'm going back home to pack up my things."
. . .
Taemin knocked hesitantly on the door of Aimee's new house. Nicki had broken up with him, and he still missed Aimee, even though she'd broken up with him a year ago. He still loved her, maybe even more than Nicki.
She didn't answer. Taemin knocked again, waited for fifteen minutes, then tried again. Where was she? Her motorcycle was still parked in the driveway, and Aimee never, ever went walking or jogging or running.
Taemin tried the knob. Surprisingly, the door opened. Taemin thought nothing of it. As organized as Aimee was, she could be somewhat scatterbrained.
The house was silent, all the rooms empty. Taemin reached the master bedroom and opened the door. Aimee's figure was lying on the bed.
So she was asleep. Figured. Taemin sighed and walked over. "Aimee!" he yelled. "Aimee!" No response. He placed a hand on her to try and shake her awake. Her body was cold to the touch. Slightly panicked, Taemin placed a hand on her chest. No movement to signify her breathing. He put a finger to all of her pulse points: her wrist, heart, neck, etc. Nothing.
"Aimee!" Taemin yelled, shaking her. There was a rattling. Taemin looked down. A bottle of pills were grasped tightly in her hand, most of its contents emptied out onto the floor.
His hands shaking, Taemin pried the bottle from her fingers. Sleeping pills, which Taemin knew were prescribed for her insomnia.
"Aimee!" Taemin called, shaking her roughly while tears blurred his vision.
He noticed a yellow Post-It note on the bedside table. Taemin picked it up, his tears darkening the yellow paper.
I'm sorry.
