The People In Our Lives [KTH] ✓

6

Chapter 6: A pact

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"Oh no, we're not using the stairs again. I had enough of that last time." Taehyung grabbed her elbow and dragged her into the elevator.

Ella could only roll her eyes. "Fine. But you're missing out on effective exercise."

"Yeah, tell that to the kids in school."

After they're memorable visit to the pub, the two decided to end the night by staring at the starry sky from the rooftop.

Familiarity hit Taehyung as he entered the chilly place. The winter air and the unusually dark sky had regret coursing through him for a split second but then he reassured himself. 

He was here with a friend. He was here at a place that meant a lot to his friend.

He could only pretend that the balcony would one day be something of meaning to him as well.

They took over their usual spots and remained busy, admiring the sparkling dots in the night sky. Those dots seemed to bring a sense of relief to both comrades more than usual that night.

"So, you can sing, you're good at photography, you can add and subtract. What can't you do?" Taehyung started their conversation.

Ella chuckled at that. 

"I'm actually pretty average. I just take whatever I'm good at and spend most of my time on that."

"Well, at least you know what you're good at. Some people can't seem to figure that out for the life of them."

Ella's eyes observed the way his shoulders sunk down in defeat. His gloomy face seemed to drain all the energy out of him.

"Maybe it's because you gave up too fast. School doesn't decide everything, you know?"

Taehyung let her words pass through one ear and out through the other. He had contemplated and analyzed it all. There was no point. He lacked passion.

He may be capable of doing something. But at the end of the day, ambition is the match to the matchbox. Without that, there would be no fire. It would all just be a waste of his time.

"I didn't give up. Whatever that has to happen will happen. I can only wait."

The inquisitive girl couldn't keep her thoughts to herself anymore.

"Is that why you always seem a bit sad?" She let out slowly, careful to not touch a nerve.

Taehyung looked at her while he debated on telling the truth. He had only seen her a couple of times. Could he trust her? 

But then again, what did he have to lose? He had bottled up everything for so long. It would be nice to let it out to someone whom he knew would care in the slightest.

With a deep breath, he spoke, "My girlfriend left me about two years ago."

Ella was never one to jump to conclusions, but at that moment she refused to believe him.

That's it? He's sad over a girl?

And as if he had read her mind, he added, "She was the love of my life."

Oh.

A tiny bit of guilt trickled down her back as she mentally scolded herself for judging too fast. That problem of his, she could understand better now.

She was deeply in love herself. If Jimin had left her, she would be in ruins as well. She couldn't imagine it and she was relieved that that nightmare hadn't come to life.

She didn't need to hear anymore from him. She understood his pain like she had experienced it herself. She had unknowingly opened a wound of his. Ella didn't want to pry anymore.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Taehyung waved his hand, signaling that it was alright. But he couldn't say so for himself. What was the guarantee that he wouldn't break down in the privacy of his room? 

Everything about her led him to tears anyway.

The two companions sat in silence after that. One forced himself not to think about the past while other one tried to recover from her trip to guilt.

"I have someone I love too. I can't even begin to think how much pain you are in." Ella spoke, noticing that there was no point in ignoring the elephant in the room.

"Just know that you've got a friend here, okay? You're not alone anymore."

Taehyung looked at her and never stopped. 

He wasn't alone anymore. He wasn't lonely anymore.

He had someone now. Someone to fall on.

Taehyung didn't know Ella for that long, but he couldn't help but feel a special bond with her. A sense of ever lasting friendship.

Mutual trust.

His shoulders relaxed and he flashed a small smile at her. His hands wanted to hold hers as a way of thanking her, but he went against it.

Instead he said, "Let's make a pact."

"A pact?" Ella spoke curiously.

"Yeah. Every time anything big happens to us, any life altering thing happens to us, we'll meet each other on this roof top."

"And then what would we do?"

"We'll share our happiness and grief with each other. We'll congratulate or comfort. In that way, we'll always be here for each other."

Ella's lips curved upwards. She would have a friend. A friend to laugh and cry with. Memories of tears and glee to be shared on the roof top, a place that had a special meaning to her. 

The rooftop was just brick and paint, but it would soon come alive with the joy of a bonding relationship. It sounded perfect.

"Okay, it's a deal."

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A/N:

I'm trying my best to pace the story well, but at the same time it's a short story. What to do??

Thanks for reading<3