Don't Forget | ✔

four

“Here.” The lady handed a wet mop to young Arya. “Clean this studio first and then proceed on to the second floor.”

The lady left, leaving Arya to her job. It was her first day as a part-time worker after school. It was tough balancing senior year and work, but she had no other option. Her mother’s pay was not enough to afford the bills. She would often reach home, exhausted and forced herself to stay awake late at nights, studying.

Arya sighed, looking at the wide room. It was already clean. She didn’t understand why she needed to mop it again. She put on her headphones and blasted music on full volume as she put the mop on the floor before wiping every inch.

She was halfway through when a figured appeared at door frame, watching her, amused at the way she twirled around and the way the mop slipped from her hands while she danced away.

He let out a chuckle as she ran from one end to other end with the mop against the floor and slipped on the wet floor. He rushed to Arya as she groaned at the pain in her ankle.

“Are you okay? That was a pretty terrible fall.” He asked, kneeling down to her level. Arya looked up, startled by the unfamiliar presence in the room. She was left speechless by his looks.

He raised his eyebrows when she didn’t reply and instead stared at him like she had seen the sun for the first time.

“Are you there?” He waved his hand in front her eyes making her startle.

“Y-yeah...yeah.” Arya replied, blinking. As soon as she snapped out of her daze, pain struck her ankle again. She shut her eyes, praying for the pain to go away. She felt his hand run at the spot.

“It doesn’t look like it’s sprained.” He said examining it. “You will be fine. Are you the new cleaner here?”

Arya nodded, grinning.

“I’m Arya. Hope we get acquainted.”

She put her hand out for him to take and all while she could not turn her gaze away from his boxy smile. She had never seen a more perfect human.

His hand met her’s, and he gave it a little shake.

“I’m Taehyung.”

In that moment, Arya knew, working at the place would not be bad at all. That boxy smile would give her the strength to make it through.

*  *  *

“I hope you are happy.” Taehyung’s dad sat in Taehyung’s office.

He seethed in anger, disappointed by his son. Seeing his dear daughter-in-law hurt by the actions of his own son, he was losing the will to not intervene in between the couple. Although Arya told him not to worry about anything and that she would handle Taehyung, he knew she could only hold on for so long.

Taehyung paid no attention to his father, as his eyes never moved away from the document he was reading.

“You are ought to be content with yourself after hurting her for so long.”

Taehyung was still on the document, he turned pages infuriating his father.

“Why can’t you have a little empathy towards people who care for you?”

“Dad,” Taehyung said, looking up at his old man. “If you are here to nag me all day, I’m sorry I can’t give you my time. I have a meeting to attend.”

Taehyung stood up from his chair and put on his coat. Grabbing the files from the table, he made his way towards the door.

“How can you walk away from me? I’m older than you! Where are your manners Kim Taehyung?!”

Taehyung was already out of the office, walking towards his private elevator. All of his dad’s words fell on deaf ears. Taehyung couldn't care less about what his father had to say about his personal life. He had been in love with only one person most of his life, and it wasn’t Arya. It would never be Arya. Nobody else possessed a place in his heart other than Mia.

His Mia. Taehyung's last memory of her was a tearful face and pained eyes. Her lips quivered as she held onto Taehyung’s sleeve, not wanting to let go.

Taehyung vowed to protect his love at all costs. He promised he would be by her side at all times. Their love was intense, unlike anything he had ever felt in his existence. Just being with her brought him a sense of Euphoria, and he missed the feeling of contentment terribly.

Most of all, he missed her. He missed her little giggles and annoying teases. She never failed to make him smile on his darkest days, and now Taehyung forgot how to smile. He couldn’t remember the last time his lips stretched into the happy curve.

Taehyung didn’t have any personal hatred towards Arya. He saw her as a naive girl, blinded by love. He did detest her for rudely barging into his life and making it extra hard for him. He refused to let her into his mind, let alone his heart. If it wasn’t for his grandmother, Arya wouldn’t wouldn’t have taken Mia’s place as his wife.

Taehyung loved and respected his grandmother more than anything. He practically grew up with his grandparents on their farm. He had the best memories as a child, despite the grief of his mother passing away. It was because of that, he agreed to marry Arya.

* * *

The guests clapped in celebration as the newly wedded couple sealed their vows with a kiss. It was the first last time Arya and Taehyung had touched each other and even that one time; it wasn’t out of love or affection. Taehyung wished it was Mia instead. Arya knew what Taehyung was thinking.

The marriage was a need. It was for Suni to leave the world happy and as she sat among the guests, tearing up, Taehyung knew her grandmother’s wish was fulfilled.

“Are you happy?” Taehyung asked, kneeling down to her grandmother during reception. Arya kneeled beside him, smiling.

Suni brought up both her hands and caressed their cheeks.

“Very.” She whispered, smiling through her tears. “I know you both might have differences but remember, sweethearts, nothing is unbeatable in this world. It always should be you both against the world, never against each other.”

* * *

What Taehyung and Arya had between them were not just differences. It was the past dividing them and the past was there to stay.