For Life - EXO x YOU

XXVIII - I Wish

Roxette x Lay

It was like olden times when Roxette calls me squealing on the phone with the words that would destroy me. "He proposed."

I did not think it was possible, which is why I never worry about it. I pretend to be happy for her, but deep in my gut I could feel remorse. She insists that I help her to get ready for her marriage.

"I'm going to be coming to the city in a few days. Want to have dinner as soon as I get back?"

"Sure," Lay agrees and glances down at her trembling hand. "Congrats babe."

High school ended a few months ago and that found people taking their leap of faith and trying different things. Kris was travelling all over the world and discovering new things. Luhan had found himself a really good job which meant she could finally pay for an amazing house. Roxette's engaged and she is happier than ever. This left Lay all alone in an incredibly huge house and he had nothing to do. His name is Sehun and he was ridiculously sweet to Roxette. He got along with all her friends and always bought her chocolate instead of flowers. Lay tried to hate him for a really long time, he was constantly rude to him and always had a frown on his face whenever he was around.

It was only when Roxette came to their condo that they shared and told Lay that she thinks she's falling in love with him. Lay knew then that he was sticking around because he really made Roxette happy. Roxette moves in with a few months after and then a year later Lay receives the news. Roxette's 20 years old, while Lay on the other hand was 21. Lay wants so badly to be happy for her, he wants to be happy that she finally found a guy who treats her well. Lay wants to be happy for her, it's like he should have been happy for her. He had no reason to be upset at Roxette which is what upset him the most.

He got into bed and thought about how Roxette would come home with a ring on her finger. Roxette hugs him too tightly when she sees Lay at the door. "I missed you," Roxette says while she was muffled into Lay's shoulder. Lay did not even ask, but Roxette shows him the ring. It was absolutely gorgeous and Roxette looks so happy: it was like Lay had never seen her like this.

They had gone to dinner that night and something in Lay told him that Roxette was slipping away. Lay helps Roxette pick out everything for her wedding, almost acting like the groom. Roxette drags Lay to help her pick out the cake because that day Sehun was getting fitted for his outfit. Lay spent a lot of his time wiping Roxette's face, and Roxette kept feeding the cake to him so he doesn't look stupid at the actual wedding. When they finally choose a cake, the owner wishes them a happy marriage, and all Lay could feel inside him was regret when Roxette laughs it off.

Later on Lay also helps her pick out a dress, and when Roxette steps out of the dressing room looking absolutely gorgeous Lay could not breathe. Lay told her that she looks beautiful and Roxette was blooming and could not help but grab Lay and start dancing with him. At this moment, Lay was yearning for a time that had already passed. Roxette spends the night at Lay's house and Lay wants to ask if it will be the last one but he stops himself.

"I still can't believe this is happening," Roxette whispers in the dark once they're in Lay's bed. There's a space between them that usually would be closed up with cuddles and Lay doesn't know what to say anymore.

"I'm glad you're happy," and he thinks he means it. Lay throws her a bachelorette party a week before the wedding, which goes completely crazy. Kris had finally let herself go and got absolutely wasted and ends up making out with Roxette's friend. Luhan was in charge of making sure that whoever was drunk was taken care of. In the end too many people were wasted so Luhan just gave up. When everything had died down at the end at around 6am, Roxette slumps herself next to Lay. Roxette was so close to Lay that she thought she imagines it. The house is so dark and they were the only ones in the room when Roxette whispers, "I'm so scared of everything changing."

Lay could not tell her that he thought it already had. Roxette asks him if he could help her with the vows and as much as Lay wants to decline he could not. Lay had to turn away when he was reading them because he didn't want Roxette to see the tears. The words that he used were so incredibly beautiful he wishes that he would have written them for her. Lay almost says it, but certainly his intuition stops him. Roxette finally turns around to look at Lay and get his feedback. It took him a while, but Lay looks at Roxette and tells her, "He's really lucky."

Lay stays up all night the day of the rehearsal dinner and he could not stop sobbing and downing a whole bottle of vodka. He realizes that Roxette is actually getting married and he was hoping that the two of them would it for each other. Lay was always scared and Roxette practically threw herself at him. Nothing ever happened between them physically, but they both knew that feelings were there. It was always more than a friendship, but less than a relationship because they could not act on their feelings. Lay knew that he should not say it, but this was his only chance. He knew it was selfish, but this was his last chance. He was driving Roxette's home the night of the rehearsal dinner and when Roxette turns around to hug him goodbye and puts a hand on the door to leave, Lay says it.

"Please don't do it." Roxette just stops her movements and does not even look at him. He is just waiting.

"Please don't marry him," Lay whispers because right now his voice is hoarse.

Roxette waits for a while and says "Please don't do this," she begs.

"You can't be doing this right now." She looks at Lay but she had to turn away because she couldn't bear the sadness on Lay's face.

"I waited for you for so long," Roxette whispers.

"I waited for you for a decade." Lay had tears dripping down his cheek.

"I didn't know-"

"You knew." Roxette accuses him while looking away.

"You're not allowed anymore to do that anymore, so don't." And Lay knew he was right, he had a decade to just grab Roxette and kiss her.

"I'm sorry," Lay says with his voice muffles by his tears. And right then Roxette just laughs, she wholeheartedly chuckles. "I thought you were it for me Lay. I was in love with you, but you were always so scared."

"So why?" Roxette questions.

"Because I don't think we're done yet," Lay explains.

"Well now we have to be," Roxette says with determination. Roxette finally turns to look at him and she thinks that she's never seen Lay so absolutely desperate. Lay folds his arms over the steering wheel and buries his face in there, and the sobs are almost painful to Roxette's ears. Roxette saw the decade go by her, looking at the man she loved for so long. Now she knew that all Lay was feeling is regret.

"I'm never going to forgive you for this," he says when Lay finally looks up, tears streams down his face.

"I never will." Roxette swallows a lump in her throat and she finally did what she has always wanted to do. She kisses him, and it's devastating and sloppy when Lay kisses back. She thinks she can taste his tears and she's pretty sure Lay can taste hers. She pulls herself back when she can't help but let out a sob. Lay ends up falling into her, burying his face in her neck.

"I love you," Roxette finally claims.

"I love you so much. But it's too late." She ends up kissing Lay on his head and finally pushes him away. Lay is too shaken up to respond when Roxette gives him a sad look and leaves the car, but he knows he doesn't have to. He knows he's lost.

–END–

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