"D-Dean? You're back already? I thought you were supposed to be away for another month... It's only been five days." Taeyeon's voice trembled slightly as she nervously greeted Dean, planting a kiss on his cheek as she tried to mask the turmoil within her. She hurriedly moved to help him with his bags, placing them in a spot in the room to avoid his presence as much as possible.
She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, feeling a heavy sense of guilt that seemed to hang in the air like a weight she couldn't shake off. An undercurrent of remorse tinged her actions.
On the other hand, Dean appeared outwardly composed, but his calm facade belied the turmoil raging within him. Taeyeon couldn't see his face, couldn't gauge his expression. She was unaware of the dark storm clouding his eyes, the pain and anguish he was struggling to contain. He couldn't fathom the fact that his beloved girlfriend had cheated on him with her ex-boyfriend.
A bitter chuckle escaped his lips, tinged with a sharp sarcasm that dripped with resentment. "Yes, I'm here... After stumbling upon the most explosive news in the KPOP industry. News of my renowned girlfriend rekindling a romance with her ex-boyfriend. How utterly surprising." He struggled to hold back the tears that welled up, his resolve crumbling as they flowed unabated.
Taeyeon's anxiety skyrocketed. Her pupils dilated in a mix of pain and fear, her composure unraveling as a sense of dread took over. She was at a loss for how to handle the situation, her mind racing and her heart pounding in her chest. The reality of her actions hit her like a tidal wave, and she was left grappling for words and explanations.
"Dean, please, it's not what you think—" She finally mustered the courage to meet his gaze, only to be met with eyes brimming with hurt and betrayal. Those tears were a testament to the pain she had caused, a pain she never intended to inflict. She wanted to reach out, to touch him, to convey her regrets, but he kept his distance, avoiding her touch as he looked at her with a mixture of frustration and disappointment. In those eyes, she saw herself as the accused, and it cut deep.
He was speaking in barely audible whispers, his voice trembling with a mix of heartbreak and disbelief. "When did this start? When did you start cheating on me? Was it before I left? Was he already back in your life then? Did he visit you when I was away?" His questions hung in the air, each one a piercing stab to his own heart.
"Dean, no, you have it all wrong, please, just listen to me—" She pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion as she reached out a hand towards him. But he pulled away, cutting her off.
"No, you listen to me for once. If you were unhappy, if I wasn't enough, you should've told me. Instead, you decide to rekindle a relationship with your ex-boyfriend. Is that what I'm worth to you? Is that how little our relationship means?" His words carried a mixture of hurt and resentment, his voice low and full of pain.
The accusation in his voice cut through her heart like a knife. She loved him, she truly did, and the thought of losing him was tearing her apart. "Dean, please believe me, I'm not cheating on you, and I never wanted to hurt you. I haven't been with anyone else, and I'm not having an affair with my ex. I love only you." Her voice trembled with desperation as she tried to make him understand the truth.
His frustration boiled over, his emotions a tumultuous mix of anger, sadness, and confusion. "You had time to answer my calls, but you chose not to. Do you know how worried I was? How many sleepless nights did I spend just trying to reach you? What did I do to deserve this? What did I do to deserve this betrayal?" His voice cracked, his pain palpable.
The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place for Dean, and the picture they formed was one of heartbreak and deception. He was grappling with the sense of betrayal, his trust shattered by the news he had stumbled upon. The reality he had known was crumbling, replaced by a nightmare he never saw coming.
"Who's that girl, then? The girl whose parents were dying to meet you? Who is she?" Taeyeon asked, recalling the girl whose voice she heard through phone call.
Dean's emotions were a whirlwind of confusion, hurt, and a lingering sense of love.
"What? You think I'm the one here who's cheating? That girl is a fan of yours! And she knows that you're my girlfriend!"
Taeyeon was left puzzled, realizing her accusations were just a mere assumption. She apologized and continued to express her sincerity.
But when Dean stopped her and stepped back, his words brought a moment of clarity amidst the emotional chaos. "You know what? This is not right." His voice held a firmness that cut through the intensity of the situation.
Taeyeon's own emotions were a jumbled mess as well. She felt a rush of embarrassment and regret as she realized the extent of her actions. Looking down, she could barely meet his gaze, her cheeks flushed with a deep shade of red.
"I-i'm sorry..." Her voice was filled with genuine apology, and she wished she could take back that impulsive moment. The situation had already been tumultuous enough, and she didn't want to add further complications.
Dean let out a sigh, his emotions still raw and his heart heavy with the weight of the revelation. He reached out and gently lifted her chin, making her meet his gaze. His eyes were a mix of emotions—pain, confusion, and a hint of understanding.
"Taeyeon, I know you're hurting too. But we can't let our emotions cloud our judgment. We need to talk about this calmly and rationally." His voice was softer now, filled with a mixture of empathy and a desire to find a way through the mess they were in.
Taeyeon nodded, her throat tight with suppressed emotions. She realized that her impulsive actions had only added to the complexity of the situation. Taking a deep breath, she met Dean's gaze with a mixture of regret and determination.
"You're right. I need to explain everything. Please, just give me a chance to clarify and make you understand." Her voice wavered slightly, but her plea was genuine.
Dean's eyes softened as he looked at her, torn between the hurt he felt and the love that still remained. "Let's end this. I know it's still him in your heart." He reached out and gently held her hand, offering a small, reassuring smile.
They both knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy, that trust had been damaged, and wounds needed time to heal. But in that moment, there was a glimmer of hope that through communication and understanding, they might find a way to navigate the challenges and salvage what remained of their relationship.
"I hope everything will be right this time for the two of you. I'll give everything in exchange for your peaceful life. Be healthy and be happy." Kwon Hyuk smiled.
Walking past her and grabbing all his things until he reached the outside of the house with a house full of memories, he didn't mind to take a sight of her for one last time and left as a real sacrifice.
Taeyeon's trembling knees surrendered as her whole body felt weak, she found herself sitting on the floor with no energy left within her.
"I'm sorry, Dean," Taeyeon whispered to the empty room, her voice carrying the weight of her regret and sorrow. "I never meant for any of this to happen."
Her words hung in the air, a heartfelt apology that could never reach the ears of the person who needed to hear it the most. The room remained still, the silence punctuated only by the sound of her own breathing and the soft rustle of her clothes.
Taeyeon knew that she had a long journey ahead of her—a journey of healing, reflection, and growth. She had to find a way to forgive herself for the mistakes she had made and to carry the lessons learned from this painful experience into the future.
As the night deepened, Taeyeon finally rose from the floor, her legs feeling stiff and heavy. She walked over to the window and gazed out at the moonlit sky, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. With a heavy heart, she whispered into the quiet of the night, "Thank you, Dean, for loving me, even if it had to end this way."
And as the stars shimmered above, Taeyeon allowed herself to feel a glimmer of hope—a hope that one day, their paths might cross again, and the wounds of the past could finally heal.
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from afar | baekyeon
Fanfiction"We already parted our ways... But as I think about it, I can't forget you... so let me still look after you, watch you... From afar." -Byun Baekhyun
