Don't Forget | ✔

Twenty

Arya chuckled into her phone as she stepped out of the vast office building. Listening to her mother talk about how she had baked a perfect cake brought a smile to her face after a tiresome day.

"Are you coming for Christmas?" Her mother inquired as Arya got into a taxi. Her smile slipped a bit.

"I know you haven't had the best memories in this place. I don't want to force you, but it would delight me to see my daughter again."

"I'll try to be there, mom. You know how busy I'm."

It wasn't a lie, but a perfect excuse. Ever since the company had promoted her, workload and responsibility increased along with her pay. It was great because it distracted her from her past and helped her move forward.

"Don't just focus on work, honey. Always remember to take time out of the day and spend it on yourself." Arya smiled.

She now realised why Taehyung was hardly home during the initial days of their marriage. Drowning herself in work was unhealthy, but it was the finest remedy.

Arya ended the call when she reached her residence, which was an apartment. It wasn't lavish. The rooms were just sufficient size for her to not feel lonely.

Punching in the passcode, she heard the door unlock. As soon as she strolled inside, she heard the commotion of utensils from the kitchen.

"I thought you were going to the club tonight." Arya said walked into the living room and settled on the couch.

"Why? Were you going to invite someone in my absence?" Came out Arya's best friend's teasing, velvety voice.

"Yes. I was going to call my non-existent friends and host a party, but you ruined it all." She countered with sarcasm dripping from her tone.

Arya could imagine him rolling his eyes behind her. She knew Jimin well, and Jimin knew her thoroughly. In just eight months, they were attached at the hip.

When they first met, it was a brisk evening and Arya set out on a stroll to explore the new place solely to get lost on her way back home. It was already dark by then, and the only person she met on the deserted streets was a lean man packing up his paintings on the sidewalk.

Arya suspected him when he noticed her and asked if she needed help. Her experiences didn't let her guard down easily.

The kindness that radiated from him, a splendid smile and his complete inability to ever shut his mouth drove her to loosen up a bit.

As she gave him the address and let him lead her to her apartment, she couldn't help but feel relaxed around him. He had such a gentle and composed aura.

Soon after, they began meeting often on the streets while he made a living off his paintings and had gotten closer.

Jimin was passionate about his work. He painted flawlessly, but art didn't have a prominent position. It was challenging to grow in such fields, but Jimin never gave up.

It was admirable how he performed in every competition and exhibition, hoping to get his work noticed without ever losing faith.

Seeing him struggling to make ends meet, Arya offered him a place in her apartment. She felt it was the least she could do to help her only.

"You got this in the post today." Jimin said, sitting beside her.

It didn't have details of the sender. She tore the envelope open and inside it laid an expensive-looking card.

It was an invitation. Arya's mind was filled with the worst scenarios. For a moment, she realised Taehyung might have moved on and it could be his wedding card for all she knew. The way the thought alone affected her made her feel terrified.

It had been eight months since she left and moved to a different city. Six months since she had felt liberated, yet couldn't help but feel incomplete. Taehyung never escaped her mind. At work, she heard his name at least thrice a day. Everybody either praised him for his work ethic, or drooled over his looks.

Arya tried to shut them out, but it got to her. She missed him. She missed Amara, Taehyung's dad, and everything about that place. In the beginning, she was sure she would get over it with time.

Even after eight months of being away from him failed to get him out of her system. What more did she need to do? How long would this go on?

Letting out a frustrated sigh, she opened the invitation. An instant smile graced her face scanning the names, and she quickly grabbed her phone and made a call.

"You are getting married and how the hell did I come to know just now?!" Arya screamed in excitement. She heard an elderly familiar laugh on the other side.

"It wouldn't have been so exciting if I told you before. Not to mention, you are the first to receive the invitation."

"Well, I'm honoured." Arya muttered, smiling giant. "I'm happy for you."

"Words aren't enough." Rachel, Taehyung's father's fiance took the phone. "We both want you to be here at least two weeks ahead of the wedding date."

Arya could hear the cheerfulness in their voices. She never got to experience it. She didn't know the jitters before the wedding or the thrill of planning it. She knew what she was getting into when she married Taehyung, and it was nothing worth celebrating.

"Arya, are you there?" Taehyung's father's voice drew her out of her trance.

"Yeah." There was a moment of silence.

"Don't mind Rachel. We will understand if you choose not to attend."

Arya knew the old man wished her presence when he tied the knot. She was his daughter, even more so. He would always be guilty of the what she had suffered, even if it was not his fault.

"I will come, dad." Arya whispered, peering at her shoes. "I can't keep running away forever."

Arya bid Taehyung's dad and Rachel goodnight and looked at the blank screen of her phone.

"So I take it we are going to the wedding?" Asked Jimin with a hopeful flint in his eyes.

"For someone who never had a meaningful relationship, you sure are too much of a hopeless romantic." Arya commented to which Jimin acted offended.

"Hey! I didn't have a serious relationship because I haven't found the right person yet, but who knows, maybe attending this wedding might find me my prince charming." His voice toned down as he penetrated into his dream world.

Arya quietly walked into her room, leaving Jimin on the couch. She perched on her bed and pondered. Going back there meant she would meet him. She didn't know if she was ready for that, but how would she know without trying?

Maybe it was her chance. A chance to assess herself. She would learn if she had moved on. If not, it would be a wake up call to strive harder.

The worst thing that could happen was getting hurt all over again. She had been hurt so many times that she would cope again just how she had all those times.

But what future had in store for her, she couldn't have imagined.