Drowning In Love || EXO Tao

[3] Saved By You

CHAPTER THREE_

Saved By You

I saw myself floating in infinite darkness. I was just there, not able to see anything, not able to move anything. Am I... dead? Is this really how death looks like?

"Seollie"

I heard a faint voice. I looked around if somebody else was here. None.

"Seollie!!"

The voice slowly got clearer. It was vaguely familiar. Where was it coming from? I can't see anything. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. The voice called out my name again, but it sounded a lot louder. And closer.

"Seollie! Wake up! Please wake up!!!"

My vision started to blur. Pain stabbed through my heart again, and I wanted to clutch my chest, but I still couldn't move. What is happening? I thought I was already dead. Why am I still feeling this pain?

"HAN SEOLLIE!!!!"

I jerked up and fell into a coughing fit. I felt water spurt out of my mouth, and I could finally breathe again. Colors slowly came back to my eyes again and I realized that I was actually still beside the pool. The person crouching beside me suddenly pulled me into a tight hug. I was still feeling numb, but the person was so comfortingly warm.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again, Seollie." This voice... I remember this voice...

"Tao," I could only manage a whisper. I heard him choke a laugh as he pulled back to cup my cheeks with his warm hands. I could only stare at him as he looked at every inch of my face, as if checking if I was hurt anywhere. He sniffed. Was he... crying?

"Come on, you might get a cold if you stay here." He put a hand around my waist, grabbing my hand with the other. My vision spun a little, making me stumble a little bit. Thankfully, he immediately pulled my body closer to him. "Can you walk?"

"Phone...," I said hoarsely, throat still feeling a little swollen. Tao tilted his head closer, unable to hear me clearly. "Amber's phone..."

He quickly looked around, and immediately picked it up upon spotting it. It was chipped at the side, but I was glad I didn't drop it into the water with me.

"Did you come down here just for this?"

I timidly nodded. He softly smiled and gently stroked my hair. "You're such a good friend, you know that?"

"It's more than a good friend I want to be for you, Tao."

My own voice echoed in my head, but I kept my mouth shut. We started walking back into the building while he made sure I was tightly wrapped in his arms so I wouldn't shiver much from the cold. I wasn't really paying attention to how to people looked at us or where we were heading. I was still shocked by the fact that I just died--or maybe almost died--and even more shocked that Tao appeared out of nowhere and was able to save me.

We entered a room, but I realized that it wasn't mine. It must be his, and only then did I remember that I hadn't told him my room number yet. In fact, I haven't even replied to any of his texts.

Tao let go of me for a second to grab some towels in the bathroom, and I looked around and immediately noticed the absence of his roommate, Kris. Once back, Tao grabbed my waist again to make me sit on the edge of the bed, and he proceeded to dry my hair. I didn't dare look up at his face, because I knew that I would most probably go red once I see his beautiful face in such close proximity. That still didn't do me any better, though, because as soon as my eyes landed on his body, I realized that his wet shirt was sticking to his muscles. His defined abs were very obvious through the thin wet cloth. I tried my very best to pry my eyes away, already feeling my cheeks turning warm.

"How did you find me?" I whispered.

"I looked out the window and saw someone walking around the pool. You were waving your flashlight around and I quickly recognized you just by the way you walked with small steps." I could imagine him smiling. "I rushed down so I can talk to you, but when I got there, I heard you calling out for me. Did you know I was coming after you?"

I felt my heart quicken. He caught me. He heard me calling out his name. Should I just tell him the truth? Should I just tell him now?

"I did... Just before I fell into the water..."

I felt my heart grow heavy, but I managed to keep my face straight. Han Seol, you big fat liar.

"I thought I was going to lose you forever." I looked up when his voice became a lot gentler. It was so smooth to my ear. So comforting. "I can't even imagine what I'd do if... If you..."

His brows knitted as he tried to put his words together, but eventually gave up with a sigh.

"I promise I will never let anything bad happen to you again. I will never leave your side, Seollie. I'll be here for you, I promise."

He gently stroked my hair and pulled me into a warm hug. I felt a sting in my eyes as tears welled up. There it is, another promise from Tao. Another thing for him to break together with my heart. But I believe that he can still change. No matter how many times my heart has cracked because of him, I still trust him. It's not only a second chance that I can give. No matter how many chances he needs, I will give it to him.

Yes, curse me. Call me dumb, call me stupid. I love him, and I hate myself too for it.

I wrapped my arms around him waist and closed my eyes, feeling his heart gently tapping together with mine, letting myself fall into another illusion that I, indeed, matter that much to him.

 "I'm sure you would, ZiTao. I'm sure you would."

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