Always, It's You

Chapter 27

Taehyung's POV:

I woke up with someone shaking me, "Tae, let's go, we are done."

I had drifted away for some time on the couch waiting for the guys. It was already way past noon. We didn't get any sleep last night and barely had slept the day before.

It has been so hectic these days, we didn't even get enough time to go back to the hotel or have private time. Now it was over at last. We are going back to Korea tomorrow.

Entering my room, I directly went for a shower first. Knocking on my bathroom door, Jin hyung asked what I wanted to eat as he was going to order room service.
I was zoning out even with the warm water showering over me.

I took a long time over the shower to rinse off all the tiredness and fatigue with it.

We ate lunch together. Everyone went for a much-needed nap after the late lunch.

Laying down on the bed, I took my phone and suddenly I remembered Ash.

Oh shit! I didn't reply to her text!

To be honest, she didn't come to my mind for the last two days. Not just her, literally everything around.
And it was really inappropriate to her. Especially when she was already embarrassed, my silence surely made that fact even more obvious!!

I covered my face with frustration. Guilty feelings were eating me up.

After half an hour of hesitation, I  texted her, " Hey....sorry, something came up and I was busy."

-"It's ok, I understand."

"so, can we meet today? Let's grab coffee together." I texted and waited impatiently.

-"actually Tae, I am on my way to the airport. Going back."

For some time I just felt blank. Why I  felt so hollow all of a sudden?
"Oh ok, when is your flight?"

-"In two hours."

I couldn't hold back, I called her after a debate with myself.

"Hey," Ashley's voice came from the opposite.

"Ah, hey Ash...I just wanted to hear your voice so bad," I said hesitantly.

"Here I am," she replied mildly. There was something unusual in her voice.

"Ash," I persuaded her, "are you ok?"

She was silent. I waited for her to say something, but she didn't. She was not ok. I started to feel concerned.
"Hey, it's ok, you can tell me, what happened?"

"It's nothing," she said softly, "Tae?"

"Yeah?"

-"I am sorry."

"For what?" I was puzzled.

"I am changing my number, Tae, you won't be able to reach me anymore. And I don't want you to do that."
Her voice was soft, apologetic, but I  could feel the pain behind it.

"Wait Ash, is it me? Is it because I didn't reply? "

-"No Tae, it's not you."

"Please Ash, have I done something wrong?" I was desperate, I can't lose her this sudden.

"No Tae, you are a wonderful friend. It's just me... it's all about me. I am sorry."

"Ash, please don't shut me out like this. I just found you!" I didn't know what I was saying anymore. What went down? What was it all about?

-"Tae, I know you need an explanation, but believe me, it's all about me and my complexity."

"Ash please!" I didn't know what else to say.

"I don't want to do this either Tae, but I wish you good luck."

"Ash, where are you? Tell me, I am coming."

"Please don't," Ash whispered.

I just sat there, helpless.

"Remember last time you said not to forget you? believe me, I won't! You were that friend I never had. I wish we could meet again one day when everything would be different!"

"Ash, it's not fair you know?" I tried to sound composed.

"I know. I am sorry, Bye Tae," she whispered.

I sat there still even after that call was long over.
What went wrong?
And there was this damn pain, this damn hollowness building in my chest I was trying to suppress.

Why? Why like this?

[ sorry guys... Due to some glitches, I had to re-upload these two chapters again ]