Seventeen Imagines III

#04 "Musn't let you go"

Dokyeom

"Take care of the kids okay? Always eat in time and have enough sleep. Honey, I love you so much."

My husband and I had a harmonious family. We have two kids Dokyou and Seokha, they are as energetic as their father. Dokyeom loves me so much the way I can't imagine myself living without him. But struggles came when my mother kept on gibing my husband. She said that his salary is too low to support our bills and our kids' education. That's why, Dokyeom decided to go overseas for work.

His income was huge. We enrolled our kids to private schools, renovate our house and bought cars. It's been years since I and my kids were enjoying luxuries but as time passes by, I regret my decision of letting him go.

"I'm sorry honey. I worked too much per my boss' favor so I couldn't call you as much as possible," Dokyeom sighed. We were talking through video call via Zoom.

"Were you busy? Or you have another woman in there," I complained.

Brushing his face with his palm, Dokyeom defended, "No. I'm not cheating you. You know I can't do that."

Years of being away from him, makes me paranoid sometimes. The long distance married relationship was destroying the trust I had before, which made me guilty and hopeless. I just want to hug him when I wanted, or kiss him just like our old times.

"How's our kids by the way?" he changed the topic.

"Dokyou is sleeping, while Seokha is playing with the Ipod you gave to her. She always stayed late because of it."

Dokyeom gave me a smile – the smile that took all of my worries away. It was beautiful. "Can I talk with Seokha? I miss her so much."

I took off my headphone, stood up and went to Seokha's room. She's grade 4 already. Just what I thought, Seokha was playing with her iPod. "Seokha. Come out. Your daddy wants to talk to you."

"Argh. Just let me finish this. Dad can call anytime," she complained and even rolled her eyes.

I can't blame her actually. Before, our kids were so excited to talk with their dad. But because he wasn't here for years, they are starting to forget what it feels to have a father. Maybe, they just saw him as source of money for us to live.

I went back in front of my laptop with grimace.

"What? Seokha is sleeping?" he asked.

Of course, I won't tell him that his daughter doesn't want to talk to him. Instead, I said, "Dokyeom. Can you just... go home?"

His smile faded away.

"We saved a lot. Let's just run a business here. Hmmm?"

He heaved a sigh, followed by a little puffing of his cheeks. "Well, let's talk about this tomorrow. I'm so tired that my mind is frenzy right now. Is it okay dear?"

I smiled at him and replied, "Okay honey. I love you."

"I love you too."

Dokyeom and I decided that he should go home next month, for good. However...

[The suspect for killing the oil company owner in Dubai was captured]

I dropped the glass I was holding when I heard the news from TV.

Dokyeom was accused for killing his boss overseas.

He was framed up for the crime he didn't do. Families, friends and neighbors whom received support from us before were actually those who point fingers on us. Even the government of our country couldn't do anything to help my husband.

Dokyeom was sentenced for death penalty.

Grates in front. Between Dokyeom and I was rail. I kept on asking why a man like him, a lovable husband and a good father must stand before me, wearing blue clothes with red numbers printed on it.

"Take care of the kids okay? Always eat in time and have enough sleep. Honey, I love you so much," he said with a kind of smile he had the first time we've met.

Today is the day when my husband will receive his death punishment. And this would be our last meeting.

"Hey, where is my I love you too?" he pouted. "This is the first time I saw your face after years. So don't play hard to get."

Right. After he worked so hard for many years, we've finally saw each other – the day when he'll leave me, forever.

There's no way I could hold back these tears. It flows continuously, as I gripped my chest to catch some air. "D-Dokyeom," I gasped. "I can't live without you. I just can't."

There's tears in the corner of his eyes but he kept on smiling in front of me. "Geez. Just think that I'll go overseas for another work again. But there's no wifi there so I cannot call you or chat you even if I miss you so bad. And about our kids? I'm sure they will get used to it since I'm not always by their..." He stopped. Dokyeom bit his lower lip as he continued, "S-Side," his voice croaked. Tears fell down from his eyes.

I clutched the rails. Crying so hard, I couldn't think of anything, say anything; my world just collapsed.

"(y/n)," Dokyeom whispered under his wails. "Why is this happening to me?" He looked into my eyes. Sobbing so hard, he murmured, "I did my best to be a good father, husband, everything. So why?"

I held his hand, tightly. We cried together until there's no voice can come out from our lips.

"Sir, you need to go," the police announced.

"Wait! Sir, please, give me one more minute. Please!" Dokyeom begged. He held my hand very tight. "I'm begging you, please!"

"Dokyeom!" I shouted.

He looked at me and begged, "(Y/n)! (Y/n) I'm scared! (Y/n), I want to live! Help me please! (Y/n) Help me!"

As much as I don't want to let him go for the second time and for forever... he was pulled away from hand.

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