Don't Forget | ✔

Thirteen

It wasn't the pleasant sound of birds chirping or the warm sun rays falling on her face that woke her up.

It was the dampness on her forehead and the freezing cold that made Arya shot up from her sleep. Her eyes flew towards the window to find it still dark.

She looked around the unknown, dimly lit room, puzzled before pulling the sheets off her and wobbled to the mirror.

A loose, black, button-up shirt hung on her body. She frowned trying to trace back to what happened and when the images of Jaden trying to violate her surfaced, Arya froze.

"It wasn't a nightmare..."  She mumbled to herself as panic took over again. Gripping the wall, she slid down to the floor as tears dropped by one by one. Her body began to shake as the images flashed before her eyes again and again.

Pulling her knees closer to her chest, she hugged herself, pushing back into the wall. If she was still in that room, she didn't want to stay anymore. She didn't want to face the monster.

All of a sudden, Arya heard foot steps nearing the room. She flinched and buried her head in her knees as whimpers of fear left her lips.

She squeezed her eyes shut and with the sound of a click, the door opened. Hurried foot steps reached her and she didn't dare to look up. She just wanted to disappear.

Arya flinched violently when she felt a hand on her arm.

"G-go away, please." Came out her broken voice.

In the midst of her fright and misery, she heard him.

"It's me." He whispered, softly. Arya froze at the familiar deep voice before slowly raising her head.

Taehyung kneeled in front of Arya. She looked at him for a few seconds making sure he was real and it was not her imagination. A fresh set of tears pooled in her eyes, this time, out of relief.

"Taehyung..." Her words trailed off in a whisper. She couldn't continue anymore. As heart wrenching sobs left her lips, she felt his arms wrap around her.

"Shh... it's alright. You are safe now." Him whispering sweet nothings made Arya cry harder. If felt overwhelming to feel safe after so much fear and helplessness.

Taehyung held her silently while it took Arya hours to calm down. After a lot of rocking and reassurance, her breath came back to normal as she laid on his chest unmoving.

"He drugged me." Arya finally spoke with a hoarse voice. "I wanted to fight, scream for help but I couldn't...I was so helpless..." Her throat began closing up as she let a lone tear fall again.

"It was so...so scary, Taehyung. I thought that was it. I never imagined it happening to me. H...he touched me everywhere..." Arya felt Taehyung's hand rubbing her back gently and it helped her keep calm.

"I still feel it...I feel so dirty..."

"He won't come near you again. I'll make sure of it." He whispered along with comforting words into her ear, suppressing the anger bubbling within him.

"It will be stuck with me. I wonder how long I have to be scared of that nightmare."

It was then Taehyung realized, he could be there for Arya, physically, but emotionally he was nowhere near and it irked him.

He wanted Arya to seek comfort and protection in him just like how Arya wanted Taehyung to seek strength and healing from her. Both of them got nowhere.

"I'll protect you, Arya." Taehyung whispered a silent promise, hugging her closer. "I know it sounds ridiculous. You don't have to trust me but just know that I'm always here." 

Taehyung had been enjoying Arya's company a little too much he nearly forgot about the divorce. He didn't feel as pleased anymore. He was yet to process the divorce papers but he was delaying it. Something in him was telling him to wait.

Arya's eyes landed on Taehyung's bandaged knuckles.

"How did you find me?" Arya asked pulling away.

"I was there to discuss business with Jaden's father. I saw him carrying you into a room and I knew he was upto no good."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone there-"

"Don't apologise. You have done nothing wrong."

A comfortable silence fell in between them. As Arya stared at the stars through the window, she realised that her wish had come to true. She was in his lap, his arms wrapped around her as they both watched the midnight sky.

"Are you hungry?" Taehyung asked and Arya shook her head.

"Where are we?"

"My apartment. I didn't think you would want to go home to dad and Amara in that situation."

"Thank you."

When Arya finally fell asleep, the sun was rising up. Taehyung gently placed her on the bed and tucked her in. He sat on the couch in the living room and sighed.

It was the apartment he brought for him and Mia to live in. It was cozy. Every thing was set to her taste. The walls, furniture even the flower vases. He dreamt of moving in with Mia, after they got married.

He hadn't visited the place after she left and he never imagined he would step in with Arya.

Taehyung couldn't get Arya out of his head. The way she clutched onto him as if he would disappear into thin air if she let go. Tears stained her cheek and it was the first time Taehyung saw her without her strong facade on.

The Arya behind the mask craved for love but he deprived her of it. He was sure there was no chance he would falling in love again because Mia occupied all of his heart and without falling out of love there was no way of falling in love again.

Taehyung's phone rang breaking the silence. He quickly picked it up.

"Flush that phone down the toilet, you idiot! Why haven't you been picking up my calls?! You didn't come home last night. Arya hasn't too! She's not picking up her phone either! I'm so worried!"

"Dad, calm down. Arya's with me. She's fine. There's no need to worry."

Taehyung heard his father sigh in relief.

"Wait why are you whispering? Are you hiding something from me? What are you both doing together?"

"I'll tell you later. Did Amara trouble you?" 

"Amara is the only that doesn't worry me at all. You both are more of children than she is." He scolded and Taehyung smiled.

"We'll be there in the morning, dad. Sleep now."

Taehyung cut the call and the wallpaper displayed a picture of his grandma when she was alive and as healthy as a horse.

He felt instant guilt. He had promised his grandma many things. He promised her he would try to move on, that he would keep Arya happy and make their marriage work. He broke all of it the moment she left the world.