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TAE'S POV
Episode 5 – "Burnt Fingers & Beating Hearts"
Chat with Shinwoo
Shinwoo:
Da hell are you?
Me:
Just dropped at home.
Shinwoo:
I'll be there in 30.
Me:
I'll be waiting.
How is he?
Shinwoo:
Cool… just a bit depressed.
Me:
How did you let it happen?
Shinwoo:
I can't control his mind, babe…
Shinwoo:
Babe?
Shinwoo:
Babe, I'm sorry…
Shinwoo:
Fine… I'll come over.
---
I didn't respond.
I was too angry to type. Angry with him. Angry with myself. Angry at the world.
But damn it—he still showed up.
He came into my room slowly, like a dog that knew it had chewed up something valuable.
"Hi," he said with a faint smile.
I didn't answer. Just lit a cigarette. I hadn't smoked all day. I needed this.
"When did you start smoking?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
I blew out a puff and turned my face. "Do I need to report everything I do to you now?"
He sat beside me, rubbing my back gently. He always knew how to calm me down—and that pissed me off more.
"Don't do this to yourself," he murmured. "You'll hurt both Kim and yourself."
And just like that, I was reminded why I'd spiraled in the first place.
I'd started drinking. Smoking. Hooking up with strangers I couldn't even kiss. I was broken—and trying so hard to look whole.
But I had to stay strong.
If Kim ever found out the mess I'd become, it would crush him.
I didn't even realize what I was doing until I pressed the burning end of the cigarette into my fingers.
"Shit—!" I hissed in pain.
Shinwoo grabbed my hand. "Are you crazy?" he snapped, trembling. He looked terrified.
He rushed to the first aid kit and silently tended to my burn. The cold ointment stung more than the fire.
And just like that—it happened.
He said the one thing I couldn't take.
"Kim misses you a lot."
And I broke.
I crumbled like a fucking house of glass.
I cried like a baby. His baby. But now, I was just a shadow of that.
"I didn't mean to offend you," Shinwoo whispered.
But it wasn't his fault. It was mine. All of it.
"Am I that unlucky?" I croaked.
He pulled me into a hug, letting me sob into his chest.
"It's not your fault, baby," he whispered, voice cracking. "I'm here. I'll always be here. So is Kim. We all love you."
I sniffled, wiping my eyes. "Yeah… I'm so lucky, huh?"
He ruffled my hair.
"You might not see it right now, but yeah—you are. Kim loves you. I love you. Mom and Dad love you. You're not alone, Tae."
I looked down at my bandaged hand.
"Tomorrow's his birthday," Shinwoo said, trying to lift the mood. "Got any plans?"
I smiled faintly.
Yeah.
So many memories.
Three years ago, we were on the island together. He was just 18. I was 19. Then 21. Now… he's about to be 22.
Time had moved. But my love hadn't.
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KIM'S POV
Tomorrow I'll be 22. But it feels like I stopped aging the moment Tae left.
I laid in bed, hugging my pillow. Every inch of this room was soaked in memories of him.
His laugh. His scent. The way he used to tuck my hair behind my ear with such care.
I touched my hair, imagining his fingers there.
Tears spilled quietly down my face.
My heart clenched painfully.
He was close.
I could feel him.
"Tae..." I whispered, smiling through the pain. My chest throbbed. I clutched it, but I didn't care.
I had to find him.
---
At the Jinsik House
The house looked the same—still peaceful, still holding a piece of him inside.
I stood at the doorstep, heart racing. My black hoodie clung to my thin frame. I'd lost weight. I looked pale. Sick. But determined.
I took a breath and walked in.
No one was in the living room.
But my heart… it hurt more.
He was here.
I was sure of it.
I turned to head up the stairs—then a hand stopped me.
"My dear… when did you arrive?" she asked gently.
She was smiling, but I could tell—she was nervous.
I forced a polite smile. "He's back, right?"
She fidgeted. "Who do you mean?"
I dropped the smile. "Taeyang. D-didn't he come back?"
Her eyes darted. "N-no… we haven't heard from him since last year."
She was lying. I could feel it.
"I know he's here. Our hearts are connected. I feel him."
My chest pounded harder. She guided me to the couch, but my eyes locked onto the stairs.
I stood, shakily, and climbed. With each step, my heart beat louder, faster. The pain was almost blinding.
She tried to stop me—but I opened the door.
And froze.
"You… what—"
I couldn't finish. My knees buckled. My chest felt like it was tearing in two.
"You betrayed me," I whispered.
I clutched my chest with one hand, my head with the other. Tears streamed freely down my face.
"Where is he?" I begged.
Silence.
"Where is he?!" I cried louder.
He looked away.
"He didn't tell me where he went…"
That broke me.
"Please…" I whispered, staggering. "I'll die if I don't—"
And then—
Everything went black.
But just before I slipped away, I heard him.
Tae.
"Kim, baby, please… open your eyes. Don't do this to me…"
With the last of my strength, I opened them.
And there he was.
I smiled, reached up, and kissed him.
Then everything faded again.
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