The Bridesmaid

Chapter Eleven

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"Call me back, Jae. Please." I let out a frustrated sigh as I hung up the phone. It's been 3 days since the argument and since he's spoken to me. I've begun to lose hope, little by little. Our relationship falling a part so evidently, right in front of my eyes.

But a part of me was still so adamant on holding on. I didn't want to see the years we spent just go to waste. He was my first. My first kiss, my first love. The first person I ever slept with. I didn't want to have to throw away those memories, even though they were already starting to fade.

"Dear," My dad calls out, soft and cautious as he cracked the door open ajar. "Lunch is ready." He said, hoping I'd agree to go down this time.

"I'm not hungry." I let out, staring at ground, not having enough strength to bring myself to look him in the eye.

"Areum," He sighed deeply, approaching me. He sat himself on my bed, "it's been more than a day. You have to eat something." He said, reaching out to grab my hand. He caressed it as I remained unresponsive.

"Times like this make me wish for your mum to be here." He said and I finally look up to meet his gaze. A weak smile spread across his lips as the corners of his cheek crinkled. "She'd know exactly what to say to you." He blowed out a sigh, as though trying to stop himself from crying.

I hated the helpless look in his eyes, it made me feel guilty. But I still remained silent. My dad kissed my forehead, pressing his eyes shut. "I'll leave you a plate just in case you feel like eating." He said and with that, he left.

I curled back into my ball as I thought about my relationship that was diminishing bit by bit. It hurt like hell, to see something that meant so much to me slowly wither by the second and not having the power to do anything to stop it. Only able to watch it crash down in flames.

But I knew this was hopeless if Jae didn't want to put in the effort. I couldn't be the one carrying the relationship even though I gladly would if I could. Now I had to just face the truth that this was the beginning of the end.

I feel myself grow thirsty as time went by. I picked up my phone looking at the time. 8:15pm.

Time was flying by and I hadn't even realised. I got out of bed and the moment my feet hit the ground, I feel my head go light. I brushed it off, walking out my room and down the steps into the living room.

"Oh, Areum!" I hear Aera gasp the moment she sees my form. I take a swift glance at her. She was snuggled up next to Taehyung on the couch. Taehyung's head popped up, eyes darting to meet mine as he stared at me. I barely acknowledge them, dragging myself to the kitchen.

I take a glass and fill it up with water. I bring it to my lips where I took a sip but stopped the moment I feel my hands tremble. My fingers shook, unable to bare the weight of the glass of water and it slips out of my grip, dropping onto the floor. The glass shattered into tiny shards all around me and I stood there trying to keep myself conscious.

"Areum?" I hear Taehyung call out, unsure as to what was happening in the kitchen. I turn around, noticing his form approach the kitchen with Aera lurking behind him. "Are you okay?" He asked and my vision of him gets fogged up.

Soon, my own to feet weren't able to support my weight, and I fall onto the ground feeling the little shards of glass cut through my skin.

"Areum!" He yelled, charging towards me. I peered through my eyelids that were barely opened and I see Taehyung's form next to me on the ground. I feel myself getting pulled onto his lap and with one final look to his face, everything goes black.

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I wince the moment I feel my head throb. I shifted around as my eyelids fluttered open. I sat up and realised I was on my bed, in my room. "Areum!" I hear the melodic voice.

I looked out of squinted eyes as I stared at Taehyung that stood by with a glass of juice in his hand. "Here drink this," he knelt down before me as he brought the glass to my lips. I attempted to take it from his hands but he gently brought my hand into his, stopping me as he tipped the glass slowly with the other.

I sipped onto the juice and pulled away, "a little more, please." He said, eyes tainted with worry. I gulped onto it a little more and leaned back into my bed. "What happened?" I finally spoke out, trying to remember how I ended up here. He placed the glass onto my side table as his attention focused onto me.

"You passed out in the kitchen." He said and I feel his thumb glide against the back of my hand, realising his grip had not yet been released.

"How do you feel?" He asked. I took in a deep breath, "I'm fine." I said but I could tell he wasn't convinced. I pushed myself up the bed with my arm and winced the moment I felt a sting.

The moment he hears me, his grip around my hand tightened, "what's wrong?" He let out, eyes searching me to check if I was alright. I raise my arm and noticed it wrapped with a thin bandage. I looked at it in confusion and looked up at Taehyung, hoping he'd clarify my doubts.

"Right," he shook his head, "you cut yourself when you fell on the glass. It was pretty deep." He said and I simply nodded. "Where's Aera?" I asked, a little puzzled by his presence.

"She's talking to your dad," he said, rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.

As my eyes trailed up his face, I catch him looking me in the eye, his brown orbs staring deep into me. I feel his face inch closer towards me whilst his hands enveloped mine.

"You had me so worried."