When I Grow Up (Seventeen Jeonghan x CLC Seunghee)

Eighty One: When Pain Is Enough

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It's a little dark and Taehyung doesn't recognize the person yet as he falls to the ground. But with the succeeding punches, he hears his voice, reminisces with his own memories and completely loses the will to fight back.

"I dare you to fight back now!" Jeonghan utters at his face. Taking him by the collar after a couple of punches, now they can fully see each other's faces.

"Jeonghan..." he murmurs.

Jeonghan gives him a punch again that he falls on his feet.

"If I can kill you I would. And the many more like you so I can get rid of this fear. But she won't want that," Jeonghan starts, now bearing a calmer expression.

Taehyung is still lying on the ground. Looking up at the friend he betrayed whom he hasn't seen in almost a decade.

"I'm sorry," that was the only thing Taehyung says. And he knows sorry can't even turn back time and rewrite history.

"I lost eight long years Taehyung. I lost her for eight long years all because of you! And now I can't even tell her I want her back. I can't open up to her like I used to. Cuz you're there. Cuz you've proven to me that she can't only devote herself to me. Dammit!"

Jeonghan is dying inside cuz someone like Taehyung might appear again and take her away. And he's never ready to be hurt again like that. It might be the end of him.

"So you're hurting her to breakeven? What kind of resolve is that?" Taehyung stands on his feet and faces him but he has this brave look on his face.

Jeonghan madly looks back at him but he starts sharing his thoughts, "It's been eight long years and she never gave me the chance to love her like you did. To tell you the truth, I'm actually here only as a fallback, that if ever you don't come back, maybe she can finally chose me instead. I decided that myself."

Jeonghan still grits his teeth but he's tamed now. He knew they weren't dating or involved with each other for years now but he chose to doubt the truth. Every memory of Seunghee has him beside her all these years. That's why he's still keeping back. That's why he's still stuck now, where he can't even move on a single bit.

"So if you still want her, just go and get her. Cuz I'll always be behind her ready to catch her fall," Taehyung adds.

"As if I'd let you do that again. You better keep away from her. Cuz I won't forgive you the second time Taehyung."

They stare at each other for a few seconds and Taehyung sighs in defeat. He hates his guts. How can he hurt her this way and she still wants him more than anyone else? He just doesn't know what he's missing all these years. He knows he can never be above him in Seunghee's heart.

"I'll wait for that. I'll gladly wait for the time I won't live as a reserve anymore and start living my own life. So please do me a favor and get her soon."

Taehyung walks away and goes to his car. Jeonghan doesn't go after him and just stands there where he left him, recapping the things he has done. Taehyung actually wants them to be together again and it's slowly sinking in him. That's the thing he failed to see all these years.

Taehyung drives off the place peeking at Jeonghan on the front mirror. He might've just cleared his mind on every doubt he had all these years. And he's half glad that Seunghee's gonna get what she deserves. It's been a long time and they deserve to be together, always. And with that, he can let go of his regrets too, for betraying his friend and hurting the girl he loves.

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Seunghee meets Jeonghan as scheduled for the pre-debut events. It's a usual scene that Seunghee is always near Jeonghan but during the following events, almost all the staffs can notice the difference. She's not even gazing at him. She's not even going near him. And she avoids every moment she has to meet his way. Most of all, she acts as if she doesn't see him.