Façade || (707 x Female!Reader) [DISCONTINUED]

『19』Verifiable

［ unedited ］

Chapter 19 - Verifiable

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ver·i·fi·a·ble

// ˈverəfīəbl //

adjective

1. able to be checked or demonstrated to be true, accurate, or justified.

♡

❝It just isn't right. Just because you keep your head up and stay strong, you can't just fake a smile and move on.❞

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"Have you...ever considered that there were other broken people out there?" (Name) asked, sitting by the couch. She began to hug her knees as she paid all attention to his actions.

Saeyoung sat down by the sofa closest to her, and sighed. "Well, yeah. If you're wondering if you want my friends to help me, then don't. I wouldn't want them to be dragged back down to their supposed-to-be-forgotten past."

He pondered for a moment, all the while considering why (Name) would be asking such things. If it were to concern his own problems, then so be it. Besides, his other assumption would be too bizarre to be considered.

(Name) wouldn't be one of those broken people now, would she?

Saeyoung shrugged the thought off. The bubbly and optimistic young girl wouldn't dare be one of those of the depressed.

"So, I bet you wanted to talk about something." Saeyoung had said, directing his gaze towards her to listen to what she had to say.

"Well, yeah, that's one thing. The other thing is just a couple of normal questions. You know, to get to know you better after all these years of sudden separation. I'm surprised you even remember me."

"I'm surprised you remember me, (Name). Don't you have so many friends and family to remember throughout your life? You have a great memory to decide to recall my name and what I even look like."

She seemed to avert eye contact and mumbled something under her breath. Her face, filled with a look of pain, seemed to be clearly evident. As Saeyoung took notice, he resorted to worry and doubt towards her.

"(Name)? Are you alright?"

She laughed, but it didn't seem too happy. "I'd be lying if I said that I was okay, Saeyoung."

Saeyoung blinked for a moment, trying to register her statement. She immediately dismissed the topic and changed to another subject.

"I'm just d...dumb, y'know? I always thought that people can move on so easily. People have said that to me for so many years. I - I don't know why, really, but...then I saw you. Feeling miserable. Feeling alone. Just like something I know." she said to him.

Out of mere curiosity, he grasped the words into his head and whispered, "Something?"

"Is it my fault?" 

"What?"

She seemed to look dumbfounded. Maybe because of what she had said, or what he had asked. Saeyoung couldn't process the situation in his head as quickly as she could utter a response.

"Oh, haha -- I'm sorry. I was just wondering. Um, I thought that maybe it was because of me that caused your repentance."

He shook his head. All that he could understand was that she had been thinking it was her fault for this mess. Which he thought was completely untrue. Or so, he had hoped. But nonetheless, he could only deny her question. He didn't want her to feel horrible because of him. Someone like her never deserved to carry such depressing thoughts.

"Anyways, how are you feeling?" she asked him, as if now suddenly moving on to the normal questions. "I'd expect you to be munching on some Honey Buddha Chips by now."

"Ah, I haven't ate those things in a while. I ended up chowing down on some regular food."

She seemed to gasp in utter surprise. "You? Avoiding Honey Buddha Chips?"

Saeyoung couldn't help but smile at her reaction. Of course she'd do that.

But what she did next was something he didn't expect for her to do. She stood up, and waltzed out of the room. Saeyoung couldn't comprehend what was happening until she returned with a bag of Honey Buddha Chips, and threw it over to his face.

"Ow!"

"Ah, I'm so sorry!"

-=-

The majority of her visit was mainly questions and Saeyoung munching on the chips in ease. He didn't feel as if he was required to eat it in the first place, but even so, seeing (Name)'s relieved smile on her face made him a tad bit happier than usual. 

"I don't know if I've said this before, but I'm sorry." she said to him with an indescribable expression. Saeyoung only knew why she was apologizing. Nothing more.

"You really don't need to apologize," he said, trying to express a reassuring smile. But when he did, her expression was left indifferent. To make matters worse, she averted eye contact from him. So every single word she said would most likely no longer reach him.

But he held to every word she spoke.

"From now on, I'll...make sure that I will take care of you, and hope to find Saeran in the mere future." she whispered in a shaky voice. He heard how fragile and vulnerable it was, so he dared not to say anything. He felt as if she was about to cry if he said anything. And he truly didn't want that to happen.

Though she seemed to have immediately recovered the moment he decided not to reply.

"Oh!" she had uttered, beaming in an abrupt manner. "I almost forgot to give you this."

Moving around from her seat, she quickly grabbed onto something that Saeyoung completely thought wasn't there. When she handed him the item she took from the seemingly obscure place, he realized it was a bag, and unraveled its contents.

Apparently it was a simple bag of sweets. As much as Saeyoung appreciated the gift, he felt as if he was undeserving of such treats. Though he refrained from declining the offer, and said his thanks. Otherwise, (Name) would start refusing to get the gifts back, which would result in a waste of the poor sweets.

"Hey, uh, last question before I go."

"Okay." he replied, putting the bags away.

Although he paused when he heard that one question.

"What would you do if...you ever find Saeran?"