+ this chapter is quite confusing and long but I hope you'll understand it. i'm rly rly sorry for the delay cuz school just started, that's why. Oh, There'll be a lot of scenery switch and take note of the times . also! read until the last page!
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are we meant to be?
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05:00 pm
JEONGGUK had an unexpected guest.
Eyes lingering and fixated on the blue box, lips quivering and heart hammering inside his ribcage, the boy never thought that he too would visit him in this horrendous place. Never once in his stay in the prison had it crossed his mind that choi hyunsik would ever step in the place to breathe the same air of the man who murdered her daughter.
"long time no see, jeon jeongguk" the tone of the father's voice was cold and unwelcoming. Jeongguk felt the chills run down on his spine, he was clearly terrified. Hyunsik's tone was far more different from his welcoming and warm tone when they first had their formal talk and greetings.
I would be lying if I said that he didn't felt like a prey watched by his predator, cause he sure did.
"you might be wondering why I'm here" hyunsik spoke, resting his elbows on the wooden frame in business like form to look straight at jeongguk, his voice tinged with threat.
Jeongguk was terrified, he didn't know what to respond to the older. The last time he had talked with the man was the day before he killed his daughter and tainted his hands with her nasty blood.
Jeongguk kept his head low and was silent, he didn't have the courage to face the man that was eunha's father. He knew that he must ask for forgiveness since he killed his other daughter but, he'd rather be hated than ask for repentance.
Hyunsik was beyond expectant today but all of it came crashing down when he saw jeongguk's current state.
Hyunsik's eyes lingered on the boy infront of him, he noticed the change after almost six months of not seeing him. hyunsik observed the change – jeongguk had become thin, his prominent and youthful face were full of stress and most of all his will . . . hyunsik saw the tiredness and loneliness in his eyes.
He was clearly not amused.
"aren't you going to say something?!" hyunsik blew up, both hands slapping the glass between them, unable to contain his feelings — the father felt mad, confused and most of all regret. He had so many questions and he clearly wanted answers.
hyunsik wanted to know why the boy kept pushing away his daughter - he wanted to know why jeongguk kept pushing haine even if he truly loves her so much. he wanted to know why the boy was making a fool of himself, why must jeongguk always decide things on his own and most of all . . . why must he always chose the wrong thing to do.
"why are you so naïve!" the man flipped, face turning red as he stood up while anger was in his veins. Hyunsik was angry, he couldn't think of any reasonable explanation of the dumb actions of the boy infront of him.
Jeongguk on the other hand could only flinch and hung his head low, tight. He had wanted to voice out his thoughts, no, he wanted to scream them – I am not naïve! I only wanted to protect her! I want her to be happy. I want her to have a happy life and she could be happy in taehyung's arms! I can never give her everything and only taehyung can do that!
"tell me, tell me why the fuck are you a fool? Why the fuck are you running away, why –" jeongguk's eyes widened as he heard the word running away. the words clearly pissed him off and before he knew it, his voice came out of his mouth as his legs stood up.
"I am not fucking running away! I fucking let haine go for her own good! You tell me I am running away when all I've been doing in my entire life is to let go of the things I love the most!" the boy burst out, tears spilling in his eyes as he is completely maddened.
a sob escaped. "Ever since I was a child I've always been alone! I let my mom go because she was dead. I let my happiness go because even if haine is my life. I'd rather be not selfish and let her marry a guy that wasn't me! I let the very woman I've loved in my entire life go because I want her to be happy ! I want he to—"
"you never made haine happy at all! You and you're twisted decisions is something I can never understand!"
"what the fuck do you know, you were gone for a long time and–"
Hyunsik cut jeongguk. "yeah! true, I am fucking away when my daughter needed me the most, I was fucking not by her side but putang ina, I know when I should step in to make you realize that everything you did right now is something that never made my daughter happy! true, you got my crazy daughter named eunha out of the picture, but look what was the aftermath?! You are here! You are here at this goddamn place when you're supposed to be taking care of my daughter and her twins!"
Jeongguk's heart almost stopped beating as his brown orbs widened at the mention of the, "t—twins?" Jeongguk stuttered as his eyes immediately became glossy, lips founding no words to speak and mind into turmoil. "you didn't knew" hyunsik spoke as a matter of fact, regaining his composure as he saw jeongguk's knees betray him and he fell on his chair.
She's pregnant with my baby, she is . . . she is bearing my child. Thats why, that's why she weighed heavy in my arms.
"haine always wanted to tell you about it . . . everytime—" hyunsik paused finding it hard to speak as he was starting to break, "everytime my daughter pays a visit, all she ever wanted is to let you know. She wanted you to know because she believes, she believes that if you knew you would stay. You would not let go of her and the babies she has . . . my daughter—"
Hyunsik let the tears drop, "all my daughter ever wanted is to be with you" the older man whispered as he wiped his own tears.
"but I – "
"I'm here to help you, jeongguk" at the mention of those words, was the same way that a couple of uniformed men entered jeongguk's room and uncuffed his chained hands and the glass beneath them started to shrink. no barrier was holding them in, anymore. "I am giving you this once in a lifetime chance, jeongguk. If you let this slip away, you're going to regret it forever"
I'm given another chance. I—I'll be able to see haine once again and we –
Jeongguk's lips couldn't formulate words as he couldn't believe what was happening, jeongguk's heart was starting to do somersaults of happiness. "you have to think this through, you have six hours. You only have six hours to stop my daughter's wedding"
"w—wedding?" Jeongguk's inner celebration came crashing down as he heard the words slip from the man's lips. He had wanted to ask again but hyunsik's face turned serious once more and it shut him off, "this is the location of the wedding and invitation"
The two men's eyes met and jeongguk could see the unreadable glint in hyunsik's eyes. "I also return you this box that you knew too well what contained"
06:30pm
HAINE was getting prepped up.
A minimal make up was painted on the girl's face, her glorious brownish hair was curled at the ends and she looked stunningly beautiful even if she hadn't worn the wedding dress.
it was more than five hours before midnight and the brown haired girl was already preparing for her wedding. she could hear the noise from the outside, a couple of people and her friends were getting ready to make sure that everything in the extravagant event would go smoothly.
"are you okay?" a faint voice inquired at her, she felt a hand on her shoulder as her eyes met with the familiar gray locks of the man. In the span of two months, jimin had his hair dyed into the color of ash. Haine saw the worry in the man's feature and she couldn't help but lift her lips into a forced smile.
The smile that always fooled everyone, besides him.
I'm not okay, I want this to stop. I want to run away.
She had wanted to scream the words, her tears on the brim of falling but, kept everything inside as she dragged the painful words for almost the hundredth time. "I'm okay, I'm just nervous" I'm scared. she had wanted the whole world to know how badly she wants to let the ground eat her up and just . . . be gone.
Haine saw a smile slowly paint jimin's lips and he dismissed his worry.
"don't be. everything is going to be okay and—" jimin wanted to reassure haine but his voice was cut short when the make-up artist wanted him to go out for a while.
"I'll see you later!" haine could only nod as she saw the makeup artist and her assistants pull up a couple of ointments to retouch her makeup and pull up the wedding dress to help her wear it.
08:00pm
BEAUTIFUL and elegant. Haine looked at her reflection in the mirror and she couldn't help but admire herself, she looked breathtaking as her wedding dress fit perfectly to make her baby bump appear small. her noticeable curves were highlighted and she looked so ethereal.
"you look so –" her eyes snapped to the deep, warm and husky voice she wished to love, truly – taehyung.
"you look so beautiful" the man muttered as his eyes glowed in excitement as he adored the girl. taehyung's smile shone bright in the dim lightings of the room as a tinge of pink painted his cheeks. He marched closer to haine and held her hand, the girl find herself weaken as she still couldn't help but feel scared. "are you excited, jagi?"
I don't want this. Save me
Taehyung smiled and haine was yet again forced to give her trademark fake smile. she wanted to cry so bad. she wanted to run from this situation so bad and she hoped that somebody, that he would miraculously appear out of nowhere.
pulling all the guts inside her, she struggled but managed to flash a smile on her red lips.
"I'm okay, taehyung"
11pm
JEONGGUK is hesitant.
after what seemed like an eternity, the boy returned to his home and here he was, staring blankly at the two rings that shone brightly in the dim room. He wanted to stop the wedding, he'd rather die than see haine be wedded on another man but . . . but he was scared.
he was scared of breaking her once more.
What if she doesn't want me anymore? What if she already moved on? I made her agree to taehyung's proposal, she must've given up on me. What must I do? will she still welcome me with open arms?
countless of foolish thoughts rummaged his mind, preventing him to take action. the clock was ticking and he only have less than an hour left before the wedding.
I'm not good enough for haine.
Another ridiculous thought, how foolish can this boy be.
"all my daughter ever wanted is to be with you"
hyunsik's voice echoed in his head. jeongguk remembered the way the older begged him and build up his will by paying off his fine in killing his very own daughter.
i killed eunha and yet he let me free. Am i really worth it?
"save me, jeongguk"
Haine's fragile voice pulled him in another trance. Jeongguk remembered the way haine begged him to promise her to be her husband but he refused. He refused and let the girl's heart be broken after so many times.
haine wanted him and he also loved her dearly and yet, why? why are you heasitating jeon jeongguk?
Boi, why won't you just man up, pick up those damn balls and pull yourself together. I am getting tired of your foolishness, you're such an idiot boy for leaving your woman.
Jeongguk's eyes vividly trailed on the wedding rings, seeing the edged and sculpted letters inside made him vulnerable.
forever and always #ainekook
such an absurd ship name for a dorky couple, a dry chuckle emerged in his lips but it soon faded into desperate cries when memories flashed inside his mind –
"will you be my fiance and be mine?"
"i—yes"
he remembered how he felt so happy that day, how ecstatic his heart was. how glorious and delighted he was for being blessed to have haine and claim her as his fiance. jeongguk was so happy, he could not ask for more when haine agreed on his proposal and yet now . . .
Why do i hesitate?
"i love you so much, jeongguk"
His eyes, pooled with even more tears as her voice resounded in his ears. His lips, letting out a heart piercing cry with so much pain. he loves the girl and would do anything for her, just to see her happy and yet he feels not deserving.
I don't deserve you, haine
"in your arms my daughter find happiness and security"
I've had enough.
The boy was tired of this pain, so tired of being the only one left alone, so tired of losing everything he loves — even haine.
you're mine and i'm yours
11:30 pm
HYUNSIK was expectant.
come, please come jeongguk
the inner voice of the old man was going into turmoil, he had his hawk eyes scanning the people who would come and enter the church. he had been standing for almost two hours at the entrance, wishing for the familiar blonde locks to appear indicating the boy's arrival.
i beg of you, please come for my daughter.
the only person he wanted for haine was jeongguk.
The time was ticking and he only had barely half an hour to stop the impending misery of choi haine and right now, hyunsik was losing all his hopes.
Please come for my daughter.
The man spoke inside his head, wanting to just see jeongguk even a shadow of him.
I believe in you, please don't let me down. i want you, i want you to save my daughter.
"in about 5 minutes, the wedding will start"
Hyunsik was alarmed, hearing the master of ceremony speak, he wanted to run and find the boy as his mind was going to turmoil.
Where the fuck are you?
He mentaly screamed profanities as he carefully glanced at his clock, wishing that the time would somehow stop but . . . it read 11:45pm.
Shit! Only fifteen minutes left.
Tears were brimming in the corner of his eyes, unable to find the only ray of hope he has been wanting to appear.
"ladies and gentlemen, please settle down, the wedding is about to start"
11:48pm
JEONGGUK was in a run and it so happens that he came about with MIN YOONGI
Heart drumming inside his chest, he wished for a miracle to happen, he wished that magically, he would grow feathers in his back to fly towards the location of the wedding.
Luckily he met the blue haired min yoongi.
Jeongguk was sure hesitant before but now, he is deternined. he is determined to get haine for whatever it takes.
Jeongguk was caught up in the traffic earlier and now here he was – riding a bike given by yoongi, cheeks painted red, heart beating like it's about to burst in his ribcage, beads of sweat in his forehead while pedaling into maximum speed – not caring of the way his legs were feeling numb and painful.
Min yoongi have given him his bicycle as he coincidentically met him while he decided to run for it.
"save me jeongguk"
Tears were almost about to drop on his cheeks as he remembered haine's voice as it echoed in his head. He felt himself lose all sanity, he wanted to get there fast even if it seemed like an impossible thing to happen.
11: 50pm
HAINE was in the brim of tears.
The woman clad in a beautiful white gown, cheeks painted with a minimal make up and was surely looking like a princess had a fake smile painted on her lips as she tried so hard not to shed a tear.
The wedding was starting.
11:51pm
TAEHYUNG stood at the altar looking mighty and handsome as he was also clad in his own suit, a lip-tearing smile that almost reached his ears were plastered on his handsome face. his eyes were fixated on haine as he saw the woman he loves walk through the isle while the wedding hymn was played.
Haine was walking beside her father, hyunsik's face had an unreadable expression edged in the his features.
Hyunsik lost his hope.
In every step that both hyunsik and haine took, deep inside a silent prayer was spoken. they both wanted a miracle, a miracle that even if its already impossible – would happen and come true.
Jeongguk, i believe in you
Thoughts becoming one, all they ever wanted to see was a blonde haired boy but he was of no trace.
I beg of you
11:55pm
FIVE minutes till midnight.
haine reached the altar and as much as hyunsik didn't want to let go of his daughter's hand, he had no choice. taehyung stretched his arms, meeting the soft and fragile hands of haine.
11:56pm
The wedding ceremony is starting.
The priest was jimin's niece, taecyeon. for a brief moment, the priest was able to get close with the girl and he had known haine. He knew that haine didn't want to get married and tried talking to hyunsik about it.
He was an accomplice.
11:57pm
Hyunsik and taecyeon both wanted for the best and as you can already hint off, the priest was an accomplice of hyunsik.
"i would do my best to buy you time but . . . if the boy doesn't come, we have nothing to do"
11:58pm
"we will now tie the vows"
It was already the wedding vows portion and still jeongguk was nowhere to be found.
Hyunsik's composure was at the brim of erupting like a volcano. His eyes would always trail at the door chambers, to his clock and back at taecyeon. He was going insane, he had wanted to see jeongguk.
But where was he? Where was jeongguk when he is badly needed?
"do you, kim taehyung take choi haine as your beloved wife, in all eternity, in sickness and in health. for richer or for poorer, till death do you part?"
Taehyung smiled, briefly looking at the beaitiful girl beside him, "i do"
Taecyeon wanted to scream.
"do you, choi haine take kim taehyung as your beloved man? in all eternity, in sickness and in health. for richer or for poorer, till death do you part?"
"i—"
Taecyeon couldn't stand this.
"are there any man or woman who is not in favor for the wedding? Speak now or forever shall hold the pain of–"
12:00
MINDNIGHT.
jeongguk was infront of the church, tears pooling in his eyes, legs wobbling in pain but heart still determined to take what is supposed to be his.
Wiping and composing himself and fixing his bow and tie, he fished out the blue box in his pocket. Smiling, he tightly clutched the wedding box in his hand as he made way to the entrance and sprinted towards it.
Silence.
Heart hammering inside his heart, eyes trailing upfront, the silence that surrounded the place was soon filled with cheers and jeongguk's heart shattered into two.
"i now pronounce you as husband and wife!"
Eyes widening and tears soaking his eyes in a split second, his heart beated into maximum speed when the words rang in his ears.
H–husband and wife?
Countless of thoughts rummaged inside his head and dreams, images and fantasies of being together with haine slowly shattered into pieces like a piece of glass.
Cheering crowd and a glorious scene unfolded in his eyes as people threw various of flower's petals on the couple right across him.
12:01
(jeongguk's perspective)
He was too late.
A minute late.
Jeongguk's eyes trailed on haine's figure.
you're so beautiful, my love
His breathe was caught up imside his throat as he found the words to speak.
you're so breathtaking.
jeongguk was speechless, seeing the girl he loves all dressed in white, cheeks painted with minimal make up and looking so beautiful. He can see the way haine shined like a diamond – so precious and elegant.
She was the diamond he tried so hard to get but . . . she could no longer be his.
I'm too late.
knees wobbling, jeongguk's legs betrayed him as he fell on the floor all feeling vulnerable.
she's never going to be mine.
jeongguk could only look from afar as he knew he let her slip away because of his foolishness. The box he held on his hand slowly rolled on the ground as the contents inside gleamed in the dark.
The two rings.
His eyes slowly trailed upfront again and he felt his heart stop.
Haine and jeongguk's eyes met.
A tear escaped in haine's glass eyes and jeongguk could only mouth the words,
"sorry, my love"
we were meant to happen but that doesn't mean we were meant to be.
12:01
(haine's perspective)
"i now pronounce you husband and wife"
The crowd cheered and haine trembled deep inside her heart. Haine forced an even brighter smile on her face, hiding the agony she felt deep inside.
you never came, you—
Haine's train of thoughts were cut once her eyes trailed on the man who seemed to be standing at the far end of the church, she knew the figure all too well when it weakly descended on the ground.
Eyes widening, a tear slipped in her eyes as she finally realized that it was jeongguk.
No, why. Why—
Her breathe hitched, their eyes met and for the hundredth time, she wished to the all powerful to help her.
Please, i want you to be mine.
She saw the way jeongguk's lips mouthed a phrase and it made her feel even more vulnerable than she already was.
right when i thought i'm not prince's cinderella, everything shattered at exactly 12:00.
+this ain't the last, there's still an epilogue but i can only post it on weekends cuz i'm quite busy (; - ;)