iKON imagines

Apology: #2 Donghyuk

[The phone call you are placing is not available. Please send a voice message.][beep]

"Oppa, answer my call, please."

The phone dropped on the floor as she lost all the energy to hold it.

Staring blankly at the ceiling, she wondered, for the millionth time of the day, whether he was looking at the ceiling of his apartment like she was, feeling helpless as their relationship slipped away from their control like she was.

The phone buzzed, she jerked up, picking the call with her trembling hands, "Oppa_"

"Y/N don't call me anymore. Didn't I told you to give us a break?"

"But I miss you, I don't think I can___"

"Then bare with it, until we have something to talk about."

She was raged, wiping off the tear, she stepped outside, the wind was strong, swirling all the fallen leaves on the ground. Stomping right into the coffee shop they had always been to, she ordered a giant mug of cappuccino, his favourite, intending to take a walk. As she was about to leave, Jinhwan, a friend of them who was the barista at the cafe called her back.

"Y/N, the old Donghyuk is gone, though he was never there even. Don't try to hold him back. Here, he asked me to pass you this."

Sitting at the table at the far-end corner of the shop, she gingerly opened the box. Inside it was full of photos, goods, presents she gave him, but they looked like they were severely bombed, all a mess: their first date's receipts, the first book she gave him, photos of their graduation ceremony, photos of their anniversaries, letters from all kinds of occasion, so many things that the box can't be completely covered by its lid. She closed her eyes, that belonged to three months ago. Like any other couples, they have challenges, argument, fights to overcome, to grow together, but this is different. Every other time, they would hold hands till the end, now, he clearly hesitated.

She read through the letters, had final look at each photo, one by one, until the box was emptied, leaving a small stick-note at the bottom,

"If we ever fight to the extent of me sending this back to you, meet me under the tree where we first met in our high school. I will be waiting for you there, every night, until you come."

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[Beep][You have a voice message from an unknown number][""Oppa, answer my call, please."][Beep]

He sat up and smashed the phone on the floor. Trying to set his mind straight, he put on his winter coat and set off for a drive. Before locking the door, he turned on the light again. After about five minutes, he pulled out the box under his bed.

The drive was dreadful, the freezing breeze was blowing in his direction as if washing away all the emotions he had left. It has lasted for more than 3 years, and he suddenly felt like the whole relationship was a tasteless game of push-and-pull. Dialing her number, he planned on what to tell her. The truth? Too unreasonable. Lies? What kind? He could not think, so he just nagged at her, venting his frustration. In his eyes, she was no more than a doll, too relying to speak for herself, always scared, always following him obediently. She was something new, rather different from the girls who only fell for his looks, and he was simply curious, hence mistook her to be someone whom he could open his heart to.

He could not be more wrong. She never harmed him, but neither did she heal him.

He was guilty, of lying to both himself and her. He felt apologetic. And the final solution was to let go, as soon as possible, for both of their goods. He turned the wheel, changing the direction towards the familiar coffee shop

As he got to the cafe, he immediately demanded to meet Jinhwan. Sighing at the innocent box on the table, Jinhwan slammed on his shoulder,

"Finally made up your mind?"

"Yeah. Although she would be hurt, it's still better than dragging this any longer."

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Once she reached there, she realised that everything has changed. The tree was cut down, now what left was a naked root, lying on the ground. Donghyuk was sitting next to it, stroking it like he would with the tree, but the sparks in his eyes during those days disappeared.

Back then, she would run to him, all panting and breathless, just to hand him a cool water bottle with a bright smile on her face, the sun burning above their heads. To her, it was the coolest, most peaceful summer.

"Donghyuk oppa...", she called out to him. He stood up, as always, waiting for her to come. Some famous character in whatever cheesy novel she had read in high school had proposed his girlfriend "If there are 1000 steps between us, all you have to do is to take one step forward, and I would cover the rest of the 99 steps towards you."

What could she do? When 10 steps to Donghyuk felt like billions of miles away?

She managed to keep a straight face and approached him,

"I have missed you."

"Let's break up."

"I called and called and called, but you never picked up."

"We should stop here."

"I thought maybe we could sort this out."

"I prefer being alone now."

"We promised to walk together till the end."

"I think you should walk your own route."

"You promised to protect me."

"It was a lie."

"But...", all the words she intended to say escaped.

"Stop being a fool and believing me!", Donghyuk snapped at her, his eyes full of disgust. They were just there, watching each other as his wall built up, her world collapsed.

She inhaled, making her last step to him. The slap was hard, it echoed in the night.

"You never let me in, always turned your back to me!"

"Sorry. I hope you'd live well without me.", he muttered.

She shouted at his face, "You are a jerk!!!"

And she left. The box full of what used to be the most precious to them lying on the ground, everything scattered around, like their hearts.

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"Don't trust me like a fool. When I said I would protect you, they're lies, lies."