The Ardent Lovers

002

Dahyun was in her first year of high school when she first met Taehyung who at that time was in his senior year. Being the eldest child, she craved for the love of an older brother, and her partner in photography contest, Taehyung, was the one who gave her a taste of it. He took care of her in every way possible and the males in their school who were interested in Dahyun did not even stand any chance as both spent most of their time together.

When Taehyung graduated and both of them were still seeing each other frequently, somehow they knew that their love for each other grew more than that of the love of an older brother to a younger sister, or the love of a sunbae to a hoobae. It came to the point that both felt that it was beyond partnership and friendship- it was romance.

She was in her third year high school when they started dating. It was not easy; his parents did not approve of her because of the difference between their social status. She was the smart girl who had a family back in the province rooting for her to graduate and alleviate them from poverty. He was the son who was raised to take care of the family business. She still remembered how they both dreamed to be famous photographers but he studied Accountancy and Business Administration instead while she studied Economics. She still remembered how hard she worked for to get a scholarship in Taehyung's university and she succeeded in doing so. It had always been a tough road for their relationship but neither gave up.

When they were in college, they talked about the jobs they would have and the family they would build. Dahyun still remembered how Taehyung insisted for them to have five children while she on the other hand, only wished for twins, one boy and one girl because she found bearing children difficult to handle. Taehyung would surrender in the end when Dahyun would talk about how men would never know how pregnancy is like. They would then talk about their dream wedding, and the conversation will go on as they planned for the future. However, both knew that not all plans become realities and they learned it the hard way when Taehyung's family went bankrupt and he was forced into an arranged marriage.

She still remembered how she cried in the rain when Taehyung broke the news to her. She was sobbing continuously and she knew that Taehyung was crying too but he promised her that he would never leave her. He promised her that he would not let their relationship go to waste and Dahyun thought that he was lying until he proved otherwise.

It was a Sunday afternoon when Taehyung held tight of Dahyun's hand as they went into the café. They headed to the table where a girl too familiar was already sitting. Dahyun knew her as the girl who was at the same year with her but has the same course as Taehyung's. She was the girl whom Dahyun always caught stealing glances at her boyfriend.

"This is Kim Dahyun, my girlfriend," Taehyung introduced her, emphasizing his last word.

"Hi," the girl replied with a sad smile and Dahyun could only bow to her in reply.

"And this is Kim Jennie, my fiancée," he turned to Dahyun and stared at her with concern but Dahyun gave him an assuring smile because she knew that if there was a broken heart between the three of them, it was not hers.

It was a Sunday afternoon when Taehyung insisted that he could love no woman other than Dahyun and he could never give Dahyun to another man. He tried so hard to convince Jennie to break the engagement off, because it was the only way he could escape the already future his parents had prepared for him.

"But your family's business would continue its downfall when you don't marry me," Jennie said.

"But I already told you that I can't – "

"I have another suggestion," Jennie said, cutting Taehyung's words off, "Marry me. Then, divorce me after."

Jennie told them that they must at least spend three years as a married couple before they could announce that the marriage is not working so they could part ways. She said that in that way, Taehyung could save his family's business and he could still be with Dahyun at the end. It was also the best solution the three came up with in that Sunday afternoon. Dahyun would have never thought that the wicked plan would come out from Taehyung's fiancée.

However, the way Jennie looked at Taehyung told Dahyun that the girl was willing to do anything for him because like Dahyun, Kim Jennie was also in love with Kim Taehyung.

They agreed to do a three-year worth of sacrifice because they were in love and the greatest form of love was to sacrifice.

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Dahyun played with the ring in between her fingers as she lost herself in a trance. She snapped out of it when Taehyung called, "Hey! Food's ready!"

Dahyun sighed as she closed her eyes and shook her head. She came out of the bathroom and the aroma of coffee and pancakes filled her nose. She smiled seeing Taehyung in her apron and beneath it he still wore his black sando and his boxers. Some of his bed hair were still stuck up and Dahyun could only giggle to herself as she slid her arms onto his waist for a back hug.

"You're finally done?" Taehyung teased as he finished pouring syrup into Dahyun's plate because he knew how much the girl loved sweets.

She hugged Taehyung tighter but as she did so, her palm also pressed onto the ring in her hand, so she quickly broke the hug and took her seat. Taehyung looked at her sudden change in behavior as he licked some syrup off his fingers.

"Don't forget this," Dahyun put the wedding ring on top of the table, "Some people would go mad if they don't see you wearing that."

Taehyung took the ring and wore it and his expression faded into a sad smile as he looked at the ring on his finger. He glanced at her hands only to find Dahyun's pale fingers wearing none. From the silence between the two of them and Dahyun refusing to meet eye contact, he knew she was sulking.

"You have syrup on your lips," Taehyung exclaimed.

Dahyun's eyebrows furrowed as she placed her coffee down and replied, "But I haven't eaten my pancakes yet – "

Her words were cut short when Taehyung brushed his syrup-coated thumb onto her lips and chuckled.

"Hey," Dahyun complained.

But then Taehyung leaned forward towards her and his deep eyes bore into her face before he brushed his lips against hers. He tasted the syrup and he kissed her until every drop of it was clean from her lips. Both of them closed their eyes as they savored the moment.

Dahyun only fluttered her eyes open when Taehyung broke the kiss.

He gave her the same deep and loving gaze as he whispered, "I love you. Only you. Remember that."

Dahyun's gaze softened and she blamed herself for doubting him. With a small but assuring smile, she nodded.

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AN: Please don't blame me for anything that would happen in this story. We're here for the entertainment okay... hahahaha. Anyway, as I think that this would be a long ride, I decided to post updates three times a week: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday! This was supposed to be Wednesday update. Huehue