AUTHOR's POV

His touch had a memory.

Jae Ra found myself indulging in it, exploring every tits and bits that she could derive from replying to his kiss.

Greedy or selfish, she learnt their true meanings then. In the greed for finding any potential trace of the fragments of her memory, Jae Ra became selfish. Just enough to jump right into the nastiest chasm, breaching fast every sensible argument that her conscience tried to reason out.

* * *

??? : (-looking deep into my soul-) I missed you Kimchi~

She could only see his eyes. They had tears and hurt in them corresponding to the blurry vision of hers. He cupped her face gently in his palms.

??? : Don't ever dare to leave me again like this.

Jae Ra nodded with tears, cascading down her cheeks. He leaned in and smoothly landed his lips on hers. She kissed him back no seconds later and felt his tear drop, sliding down from his face to hers.

* * *

She was snapped back to reality, as a similar awakening sensation was received against her skin from his warm tears.

Her eyes shot open as Ji hae's smiling face flashed in her mind. Jae Ra pushed Taehyung a little, breaking the long and passionate kiss. Breathing heavily, now she cursed at herself for this unforgivable move on him.

JAE RA : What are you doing?

He let go of her and stepped back. Instant regret was transparent from his stunned face, as he wiped his eyes off the tears. He avoided any eye-contact.

TH : I am sorr-

Before he could finish, Jae Ra grabbed her bag quickly, and rushed out without a second thought.

With the slow reception of the soothing soft voice of Ji hae singing, the bar of guilt and resent filled her up from every corner.

Reaching the gather, Jae Ra saw her on the little podium with wet eyes. They were highly resolved to her senses—profounding her lament and regret even more.

JI HAE : (-sings-) "I hope you won't get tired day by day"

How Jae Ra wished she could rue the mishap from a while ago, digging further into the quagmire of her iniquity.

Jae Ra was mentally freaking out but maintained a composed facade outside.

As Ji Hae finished her song, claps traveled around. Jae Ra was so lost in her thoughts that she, for a moment, wondered why the gravity on her left so strong. That, it was literally pulling her coat to the ground.

Curiously, she looked down on her left only to find it to be Jae Hyung.

Jae Ra knelt down with a smile, seeing him struggle bending his neck upwards.

JAE RA : What happened?

JAE HYUNG : Please sing a song for me.

His adorable demeanor almost had her melt down in awe.

JAE RA : But, I don't know how to sing.

She mimicked the typical children's pout.

JI HAE : Come on, you have a sweet voice.

Jae Ra snapped to her right, as Ji Hae casually walked to them, with her ever so sweet smile. And stood beside her as Jae Ra unfolded to her height.

JAE HYUNG : Please Emo!

Ji Hae chuckled softly at the little one's persistent whines.

JI HAE : He is insisting so much, Jae Ra-ssi.

Jae Ra nodded defeated not in a state to rebel against her. With a sweet smile to Jae hyung, she climbed up the stage holding a mic.

The guitarist tuned his instrument as Jae Ra asked him of the note she wanted. She decided with the song that she has been lately listening to : Someone like you by Adele.

To stabilize her heartbeat, she cut her view off from the audience as she began to sing.

JAE RA : "I'll remember you said,
'Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

S

he opened her eyes as the claps echoed her ears. She smiled seeing Jae hyung clap with his cute little hands beside his mother, who also cheered with a bright smile.

Jae Ra's eyes roamed about, only to stop at Taehyung as climbed down the stage. Finding him already staring at her, she looked away immediately.

It was not just a stare, but the emotion of longings and remorse that always glistened in them, brimmed those sad orbs.

However, she found it intriguing and mystic. His wet eyes with a hint of hurt, whenever Jae Ra was around him. Or did he carry himself the same even in her absense—either way, her questions were never answered.

He stranely gave the vibes that he knew something she didn't, or shouldn't knowledge herself about.

Soon it was time for the cake cutting. Everyone encircled the table and Jae hyung instructed her to stand right next to his Dad, who held him in front of the cake.

On his right profile was Ji Hae, standing with her unwavering smile. Though she felt a little out of her place to be positioned there, Ji hae's insistence won over hers.

Jae Hyung blew the candles off with his Dad, who helped him get to the candles' height— holding him securely. Claps and birthday song played in sync, as Jae Hyung cut through the rich chocolate cake with his Dad again.

Sometimes, the unexplained pain and tears filling her heart and sight, flustered her so much. To the point, Jae Ra started to believe that she had no voluntarism on them or at least on the latter.

Clearing her blurred vision, Jae Ra's eyes drew towards Ji hae, who being the mother, had no role in her son's birthday. She seemed simple cater the guests and enjoy the party like one herself.

Jae Ra tried to distract herself, calling her thoughts too nosy and instinctual. Maybe things were just the opposite, to what she was constantly trying to pick fault on.

The birthday boy fed the cake to his parents sportingly, with his Dad being the first one.

Jae Ra smiled, seeing another piece coming to privilege her.

She gladly took a small bite as Jae hyung leaned in from his Dad's embrace to reach her.

Taking a small portion from his hand, I fed him after nudging a little cream on his nose tip. He giggled adorably, resting his head against his Dad's cheeks making everyone chuckle at his cuteness.

JI HAE : Come, let's go wash hands Jae hyung-ah.

He nodded to Ji Hae and got in her embrace, directly from his father's. Slowly, the gather scattered around and finding it the right opportunity, she decided to leave.

Although she wanted to wait for Ji Hae to return, it was starting to get uncomfortable staying in the premise. She grew further jittery when she noticed him coming towards her direction. Her heartbeat increased with the decreasing distance.

He was a few steps away from her when she quickly bowed to him, pressing her phone against her ear. And paced ahead towards the gate.

JAE RA : Yes, Ryan? (-slight pause-) Yeah, I am on my way. (-passing by Taehyung-) Sure, see you..

Jae Ra could feel his eyes, following her. Nonetheless, she continued marching away without a bother, faking to be on the call so that he doesn't try to stop her.

Locating her car parked at a distance, she quickly roared off to her workplace with it.

Soon as she reached there, she went to her cabin straight. And found the person she was expecting for—to meet around that time.

JAE RA : (-smiles-) Oh! You are here already.

____________

Will she ever open to Taehyung? :(

Song credits :
1. Day by day by Park Ji Yeon
2. Someone like you by Adele