5 months later
Graduation day

"You look good babe. Stop thinking that." I say hugging her from behind. I hated it when she said she didn't look good. "Whose gonna take care of the baby?" She asks. I chuckle.

"After five months, you still call that thing a baby." I say. She frowns. "She is too our baby." She says. "The gold fish.", "Yes." She says. I laugh. "Oh my gosh Val." I kiss her cheek. "You won her for me. So she's important." My heart skips a beat. "Along with all twenty stuffed animals you won for me." I look at her bed that had a lot of different stuffed animals on her bed. I smile. "Come on love birds! We'll be late." Sam say from under Ivan's arm.

Sam and Val were wearing yellow cap and gowns because of their major. I was wearing black and Ivan was wearing dark green. This college liked to have different majors graduate together if they fell on the same year of graduation. We all walked out of the building. There was a lot of people who were wearing cap and gowns. Many people crying. Val and Sam have a week to move out of their dorm. So do Ivan and I. Turns out Sam and Ivan are moving in together.

I was going to ask Valerie if she wanted to move in with me, and we can get jobs and.. Maybe I was dreaming too big. I watch as Sam clings to Ivan. I smile at the thought of Val being mine always.

"Are you happy to be graduating?" Val asks. I shrug. "I'll miss everyone." I confess. She smiles. "Yeah. But we'll see each other.. Right?" She asks, looking a bit concerned as if I'd say no. "Of course we-", "Taehyung?" I slowly look to my left. My heart stops, my eyes water.

**
Valerie's POV

"Of course we-". "Taehyung?" I hear a woman's voice. I still look at him. His face seemed to drop, and his eyes watered. "Taehyung.. What's wrong?" I ask. He falls to his knees. "Woh! Tae!" I fall to my knees. Sam and Ivan had turned to my scream. The lady walks over. She touch's Tae's face. I look at her weird.

Who was this lady? Why was she touching Taehyung? Why was he crying?

She's speaking another language. Possibly Korean. Though we've been together for a year and five months, he's only told me little things about his family. Could this be his mom??

**
Taehyung's POV

I fall to my knees. "Woh! Tae!" I hear Valerie. My mom kneels down in front of me, this has to be a dream. I haven't seen her in three years. How did she find me? Her hands caress my face. They're warm, and soft.. Her familiar purfume filled my senses. And it felt as if I was back home, in Korea. (In Korean) "My son.. I've missed you." She says, her eyes watering. "Eomma.. What are you doing here?" I asked. "I've been looking for you." She explains as her tears run down her rosy cheeks.

"Where's Appa?" I asked. "He's back in Korea. He's become very sick since you've left, he wants you to come back home." She says. It caused me to cry more. "Is it because of me?" I ask. She bites her lip, she didn't have to finish. I knew. I've caused my family pain because I had left without telling anyone. My hyungs didn't even know. And the only time that I had seen them since was during the two months I wasn't with Val. I had seen them at Jin Hyungs wedding.

They were all so different. Like the horrible break up never happened. We were close, but not like before. We were normal people.

She wipes my tears with her thumbs. "Don't cry my son.. I'm here." She whispers. She wraps her arms around me, and I hug her back. I cry into her shoulder, her hand running up and down my back. "I'm sorry to interrupt.. But.. We're almost late to the ceremony." I hear Val. I nod. "Eomma. I have to go. I'll talk to you after." I tell her in Korean, while I start to get up.

"Ah. No. Stay here." She pulls me back down. "Sam and I will see you after then." Ivan says. I wave them off. I see Val follow them, she looks at me concerned. I wave to her so that she knows its okay. She slightly nods and walks with them. "Eomma. I really have to go. This is important to me." I say. I'm surprised when she slightly pushes me.

"More important than telling us you were leaving!? Causing your father to become sick!? And all just for that band." Her nostrils flare. "I thought you were proud of me." I say. "I was. But I should have known nothing lasts forever, like how this won't last forever. And the little pretty girl you had under your arm, she won't stay around for long. I'm your mother. And I know best." I frown to her words.

"Eomma. Right now. I'm doing what's best for me. Not you." I help her to her feet as I stand up. I kiss her cheek. "I promise I'll come back, just let me do this for myself." She looks really upset, but I run off anyways. Luckily I had gotten in line just in time, though a lot of people were dogging me because I was so late.

My eyes wandered around, looking for Valerie. I'm sure she was confused than ever. I had a lot of explaining to do.

**

"We are already adults, shall you all live the rest of your life in peace with the choices that you've made hers on our campus. Class of 2028, we congratulate you on your accomplishments." The head of the 2028 committee says. We all cheer and throw up our caps in the air. Everyone dispersed, many going with their families. Others going off with friends.

"Taehyung." I turn. A small smile pulls on my lips. "Valerie." I say. "Was that your mom?" She asks. My smile goes away. "Y-Yeah.." I say. "How'd you figure?" I ask. She chuckles and walks up to me. "You look like her." She explains. I grin. "Were you scared to tell me?" She tilts her head as she looks up at me. "A little yeah.. Because I know I haven't told you much about my family."

"Its okay baby.. Hopefully I can meet her now." She grins back. I nod. "I'd like that." I whisper. With our diploma's in hand she hugs and kisses me. I kiss her back, I hoped I wouldn't have to lose her.

**

"I made a reservation at the Korean barbeque you work at." Ivan says as we all walk back together to our dorm. "Oh! Yeah. Mr. Ryu was very happy to know that you were finally going to eat there." Sam adds. I smile. I can see my mom sitting in the front of the building. She looks up at sees me, she shoots up. "Are you sure you want to meet her?" I ask Val. She smiles widely. But I can see the nervousness in her eyes.

"Of course! She's your mother." She says. "I just want to warn you, she doesn't know English." I let her know. She kisses my cheek, "Its okay." She whispers. I let out a breath. Here we go.

**
Valerie's POV

I walk up to this woman, under Taehyung's arm. She's up to us. She looks Taehyung up and down, as if waiting for an explanation. He tells her something in Korean. His voice was actually very hot in Korean.

**
Taehyung's POV

She looks at me, smiling then at Val. I'm a hit surprised. "Annyeonghaseyo." My mom says. Val looks up at me. "She's saying hello." I whisper. Val smiles and look back at my mom. They shake hands. "She is very pretty Taehyung." My mom looks up at me. I blush. "Yes. She is." I add. Val looks at me. "What'd she say?" She asks. I smile. "Just that you're very pretty." Her face heats up.

"Tell her I said 'thank you'." She says. I translate to my mom. For the next hour I translated for everyone. My mom was very interested into what the people I was hanging out with, was like. She was fond of them. We had went to the dorm Ivan and I shared for more than a year. Ivan's things were in boxes, my belongings were close to being packed.

My mom was very fascinated by the campus, much like a small child learning to walk. It was funny when we were trying to her to learn words. Turns out she was staying at an apartment for two months already, searching for me.

She had actually taken a bus to get here, on campus. So I decided to drive her to her apartment. At first it was quiet. (In Korean) "Son." She starts. "Yes Eomma?" I ask. "I need you to come back to Korea." My heart stops.

**
Valerie's POV

I help Sam pack up her stuff. "Are you excited to move in with Ivan?" I ask. She blushes as we sat on the floor of our dorm room. "I really love him." She says. I smile. "I know you do. I can see it in both of your eyes." I say. She lightly chuckles. "Aha. Really?" She asks. I nod. "Yes. Its obvious." And it was. Even a complete stranger would see it.

It was like listening to a song that's played everyday on the radio, and its easy to know whose the artist and the name of the song. Everyone knew it.

"So how was it meeting Taehyung's mom?" Sam asks, cutting into my thoughts. I smile. "It was great. A good experience. But the weird feeling that I'm getting in my stomach, is that I won't be seeing her again.." She looks at me odd. "Why do you say that?" I couldn't put my finger on it. "Just.. Before the ceremony the way they were talking." I explain. Her eyebrows knit. "But you don't understand what they were saying."

I nod. "I know. But it was in their tone." The side of her lip goes up then down. "It could be bad?" She asks. I nod. "Its just a feeling I have." And my heart began to pound. And we continued to pack Sam's belongings, then started packing my stuff. I hope my feeling wasn't right.

**
Taehyung's POV

I sit on the small chair that sat in her living room. (In Korean) "So what you're telling my is.. That I have to back to Korea." She looks at me upset. "Yes." She says simply. "And what? Leave all this behind? Leave my friends? Valerie?" I ask. She kneels down in front of me. "Taehyung. Listen to me." She starts.

My jaw clinches. "Are you listening?" She asks. I let out a breath. "Yes." She stand up and walks over to her purse. Pulling out an envelope. She walks up to me again, opening the envelope and pulling out two plane tickets.

"These tickets are for Sunday, tomorrow. Pack your things, say your good byes. You're going back to Korea." I bite my tongue. "And if I don't want to go?" I find the strength to ask, you never talk back to your parents. Her cheeks turn red. "Your father is sick." She says slowly, her voice was on the peak of sounding angry. "And if it was your Grandmother?" My eyes instantly water. "Huh? What if your father dies? And I'm here to take you back to him." My tears fall.

She kneels down in front of me. "Son.. This is the time in your life where you have to make a decision. You're a grown man. But just remember that you left with out telling us anything." I began to feel horrible. You left us Taehyung." She begins to cry. I'm unable to hold back my tears. "But I love her eomma." I cry. She frowns through her tears. "She's more important than your family?" She asks. "I know its hard. But you have a life back in Korea." Her hands caress my face.

"Taehyung.. Please make the right decision and come back home. Aren't you home sick?" She asks. I was. I missed the smells, the sights, the feeling, the tastes, the faces. "Yes.. I am home sick.. Very." I confess. "So you'll come." It was a lot to think about.

**

My mother had told me a lot, it was a lot to think about. I pull into my parking space on campus. What would I tell Valerie? What was going to be my decision? My father was horribly ill and it was because of me. It was all true. All my thoughts. It wasn't right for me to leave without an explanation. The more I thought about it, it made me realize that I must have worried my family.

I decided that I'd stay up late tonight, to pack my things in case I made a decision. But every time I thought about leaving, Valerie was the next thing on my mind. Words can't describe how much in love with her I am. My mind was split in two. I was unsure what I'd do.

I finally get out of my car. Walking back to my dorm. I practically run into someone when I get to the door. Its Ivan. "Oh. Hey Tae. You're finally back." He smiles patting my back. I didn't even need to ask, I knew where he was. "Yeah.." I chuckle. We walk into the building. "Aye.. Um. Taehyung. Can you keep a secret?" Ivan asks. My heart began to pound for some reason.

I unlock the door. I look at him a bit scared. "What kind of secret?" He looks uneasy, we walk into the dorm room. "Don't tell Sam." I stop in my tracks. "Ivan.. You're scaring me." I say. "No.. I'm scared. What if this ruins everything with Sam? What if I went too far?" He asks. I face him fully. "Ivan. What did you do?" I ask. He takes off his glasses and cleans them with his shirt. His hands are shaking. I was becoming shakey myself.

"Ivan." I say. He puts back on his glasses. "I'm scared." He confesses. "Ivan! What did you do!?" I scream. In seconds he was showing me a small black box.

"I feel stupid." He says opening the box and looking over the engagement ring. "Why? Why would you feel stupid?" I ask. "I feel like she'd say no." He says. I catch myself laughing. "Samantha? Say no to you?!" His eyebrows knit. "Ivan. I promise you, she'll say yes." I say. His face lights up. "Really?" He asks. I chuckle and nod. "Yes." I say.

He smiles and looks down at the ring in the box. It was nice actually, the ring. At least a carrot sat on that little silver ring. "How'd you get the money for it anyways?" I asked. He chuckles. "When I was 9, I started saving up money to buy a mustang car." He looks deep down into the ring, as if it had eyes and their eyes were locked. "But since I've met Samantha.. I've wanted this more than some car." He explains.

I had become silent, I needed to tell Valerie.. Now. No time could be wasted. "Aye. I'm happy for you Ivan. I really am.. I'll be right back." I say. He looks at ms concerned. "Is everything okay?" He asks. "I need to talk to Val. But.. I'll tell you after." I don't give him the chance to answer back, I pat his shoulder running out of the dorm room, and out of the building.

I didn't stop running, I ran until I made it to Sam's and Val's dorm room door. I knock out of breath, wow.. I'm out of shape. The door opens. My heart stops. "Taehyung. You're back." She smiles sweetly, unknowing of what I was going to tell her. "Baby. Can you come out for a moment.. I need to tell you something." Her face drops.

**
Valerie's POV

My heart was pounding in my ears. I didn't think I'd have to hear him say those words. I nod slightly, walking out of the dorm room and closing the door behind me. He looked out of breath. "Did you run here?" I ask. He nods, but that's it. "You know I love you right?" He asks, finally. I nod slightly, of course I knew that. "My mother told me that my father has become extremely ill.." My eyebrows knit. "I'm so sorry." I run my hand down his arms and smoothen his shirt.

He didn't look like he was done, and I become worried. "And..?" I ask. "My mother wants me to go to Korea." He says. My heart is pounding. "To see him right.. And you'll come back." I wasn't believing my own words. I knew it wasn't just that. His mother came out of her way, left her home country to come find Tae. It wasn't just for him to go and visit. "Baby.." His eyes water. My arms drop and I found myself on the verge of tears.

He uses both hands to caress my face. "She wants me to move back to Korea... Permanently." He says through sobs. My legs become weak. I shut my eyes. "I love you so much Valerie. I don't want to leave you." He cries. His forehead pressed against mine. "I love you baby." He whispers. I couldn't breathe, I was chocking on my own tears. "Look at me baby." He pleads. I shake my head. "Baby, please." He cries.

I slowly open my eyes, his face blurred by my uncontrollable tears. "I love you Taehyung.. With all my heart.." I cry. He shuts his eyes, tight. "But.. I think you should go back to Korea." I say through sobs. His red puffy eyes shoot open. "What?" He asks, his arms falling to his sides limply. "You have to go beck to your life in Korea." I say, wiping his tears. He shakes his head. "No. I can't leave you." He says. "You have to Taehyung."

I pull his face against mine, our lips locking. His grip on my body was tight, he didn't want to let me go.. But he knew that he had to. We sobbed against each others lips, knowing this would be our last long kiss. This was the end of us. There was no other way for them go be together, the distance. I clung to him, my arms were shaking. My legs were ready to collapse.

I never wanted to let him go, but I had to. I pull away from his lips. I'd miss his taste. I pull him against me. I'd miss his warmth. I bury my face in his shirt. I'd miss his smell. I can hear his heart, I'd miss that the most. How our hearts would be at the same rate, when his skin was against mine. I'd miss his smile. His voice. His eyes. Him.

I lightly push him away. I was barely able to breathe through my nose. He looks down at me, his eyes still red, and watering. "You should go and finish packing your things." I say walking backwards towards my dorm door. "Valerie." He whimpers like a wounded dog, he takes a step towards me.

"Taehyung. No." I blink back tears. "Make this easier for the both of us." I manage to say. He stops in his tracks. He gives me one last long look, I push against the door, knowing I'd fall to my knees any minute. "I know asking you to come with me.. Is out of the question. You have a life here. We're just from two different worlds." He explains. I bite on my lip. "I'm glad my world collided with yours, Taehyung. No matter the time, everything was motionless with you." I say.

My words seemed to get him hard, his tears started to run down his pink again. I shut my eyes and drop my head, I couldn't look at him. "I hope your father gets better. Have a great life.. And a safe flight. Good bye Taehyung." I say, not looking at him. I turn and enter my dorm room, falling to my knees. It felt as if my lungs were pulled out of my body. Like my heart was being put in a blender and the machine was set on high. There was nothing left of it.

And I knew that there was no such thing as Taehyung and I.

**
Taehyung's POV
Next morning
Time of departure

I look up at the dotted letters that read: Flight To South Korea → Now Boarding

I had left early this morning, from campus. Everything was hard to walk away from. I cried an hour in my car before I actually left. I had given Ivan money to ship my belongings, they'd be arriving in two weeks. I have him my prayers and he said that if Sam said 'yes' to his proposal I'd be his best man. I felt honored, and I asked him to watch Val for me. And then I left.

(In Korean) "Are you ready son?" My mother asks. I look down at her, I had no expression. No tears could be shed, my tear ducts were dried out. It felt as if I was a zombie. I had no feeling. "Yes, Eomma." I say, my hand gripping my duffle bag. Her hand caresses my face. "I'm sorry." She apologizes. She shouldn't be apologizing, there was nothing for her to apologize for.

"No. Eomma. Everything will be fine." I say, though I didn't believe it. She frowns. "We should go." I say walking towards the gates to the flight for South Korea. For some stupid reason, my eyes kept looking back. Los Angeles was a great part of my journey, finding out who I was. And I'd miss it, a lot. Not only that, but I was hoping that Valerie would come and give me one last good bye.

Like in those romantic American movies I've seen with her. But she never came. I let out a shakey breath and walk up to the lady at the gates. I give her my ticket and show her my passport. My mom and I enter the plane and the woman closes the gates. I pack my duffle bag and my moms luggage into the top cargo area. We sit in our seats, it didn't take long until we were in the air.My mom had fallen asleep in her seat. I think she was finally able to sleep since we were going home.

I couldn't stop thinking about her. And I felt myself drifting away from her. I'd never see her again. But I was grateful for what I had with her, she was my first true love.

"Excuse me sir?" I look up to a voice in front of me. "Yes?" I ask. A head pops up, my heart began to pound. "How long exactly is a plane ride to Korea?" She asked. My throat became dry. A smile grew on her face as she looked at my shock expression. "What? Thought I'd let you go that easily?" She asks. "Sometimes you have to make huge sacrifices for people you love." A small smile grows on my face. "I thought.." I stop, I chuckle slightly. Her eyes light up.

"It's gonna be a long flight to South Korea, Valerie."