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"I still don't get why you're going." Nani peeped from my bed as she watched me rummage through my closet.

"Because," I paused and looked at her, narrowing my eyes in the process as I thought about what to say. "I already paid for the ticket." I murmured, turning back to face my closet.

"Come on," Nani sighed, "I've known you for 5 years. I can tell when you're lying." She sat up, her gaze burning through me.

"I just," I let out an exasperated sigh, not knowing how to respond to her. I didn't want her to know about Taehyung just yet. "I just don't know, okay?" I shrugged, plopping myself onto the floor as I stared at the mountain of clothes that laid in front of me due to my fickle mind.

"Is this about Jae?" She asked and I freeze.

"What?" I let out dumbly as I stared at her.

"I mean, you really loved the guy. I wouldn't be surprised if this was just a way for you to get closer to him." She said, biting onto her nails.

"What?" I repeat again, my tone getting defensive. "No," I shook my head, "God, no." I stared at my fingers that fiddled with each other.

"Really? Look, I'm not here to judge. I'm just a little confused. You haven't spoken about the breakup once." She pointed out as I faced her.

"I just don't want to remind myself of something so toxic. I'll heal, eventually. But no, this has nothing to do with Jaesun." I said firmly, picking at the clothes that laid in front of me.

"So," she trailed of lightly, raising an eyebrow. "Taehyung?" She poked and I feel my heart skip a beat.

"Can you just drop this and help me pick out something to wear?" I asked, praying she'd stop pushing. "I need to meet them in less than an hour and I'm nowhere near ready." I sighed, burying my face into the palm of my hands.

"Alright," She gave in, rolling out of my bed sluggishly as she landed on the ground in front of me. "What about this?" She picked out a plain black dress and I shook my head almost immediately. "I don't get why you buy dresses if you don't wear them." She laughed as she threw the dress at me.

"Hey, it was on sale. I couldn't help it." I retorted with a pout as I threw the dress back into my closet.

After sitting in silence for a bit, Nani spoke out. "I just have one question," she said, grasping my attention. "Do you think you're ready to face Jae?" She asked and only in that moment, the fact that I was going to see him in person sinks in me and I drop the clothes in my hands.

"Shit."

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"Hey," I walk over to Taehyung, wrapping my coat around myself more firmly as a cool breeze hits me. I fight the shiver that crawled it's way down my back as I spoke. "Where's everyone?"

"Jaesun and Aera are collecting the tickets." He said, his face expressionless as he stared at the ground.

"You okay?" I asked, lowering my head to meet his gaze.

"Hm?" He hummed, his head popping up as he met my eyes. There was a certain icy look in his eyes as they remained cold and rigid. "No, yea." He shook his head.

"Taehyung," I nudge him lightly, trying to get him to tell me what was wrong.

"I guess it didn't really hit me that I'd have hang out with Jaesun and Aera until I came here. Not exactly keen on spending time with your ex." He sighed, "or mine." He stuffed his hands in the pocket of his coat as he tried warming them up.

My head bobs into a weak nod, understanding him. We were pushed into saying yes without getting a proper chance to decide and think it through. After that night with Aera, we completely put off the topic of the carnival until, well, today.

"Why did we even agree to this?" I groan, throwing my head back.

"The Winter Carnival tickets!" The voice brings me back as she shoved the tickets in my face.

"Areum?" Jaesun looked at me from beside Aera, a little stunned, almost as though he was surprised to see me.

I freeze for a solid second, staring in his eyes and I feel something build up in me.

I've not seen him since the day he left. He didn't try contacting me or seeing me which made it easier not to think about him. But as I stood in front of him, I feel emotions stirring back in me as I feel my eyes sting.

The unresolved issues and buried hurt resurfacing as he looked deep within me.

He had grown noticeably thinner, even with the layers of clothes covering him. His skin was pale and cheeks sunken. I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried.

"I thought she wasn't coming," I hear him whisper over to Aera and she shrugs, not wanting to get into it with him.

I gulp as I continued staring, for some reason I couldn't move, couldn't think. The only thought that surged through my mind was one that chastised myself for being stupid enough to agree to this.

"Areum," Taehyung called out from beside me the moment he notices my state. "We can say something came up and leave." He said and I shook my head as I watched Aera drag Jae towards the entry.

"We already talked about this," I looked up at Taehyung. "You have to be here or else Aera would suspect." I sighed, "and I'm not leaving you alone with her so, let's go." I shake off my thoughts and emotions as I headed for the entry with Taehyung shadowing me.

"Oh! Oh!" Aera squeaks and we all turn her direction. "The Winterland ride's right here!" She pointed at the entrance of one of the rides. "Shall we take this first?" She asked as she turned to all of us.

The smile that lingered on her lips got on my nerves for some reason. I was in the midst of a war with my own mind yet she was all cheery. I guess I was partly to be blamed, but I didn't know seeing Jaesun would take such a huge toll on me.

"You guys go ahead, I want to grab something to drink." I said and without hesitation, Aera pulled against Taehyung's arm pulling him into the ride. He looks back at me and I simply shake my head, trying to tell him not to fight it.

Jaesun throws a quick glance my way and I instantly avert my gaze, walking forward.

I walked past a few booths, trying to find one that offered drinks when a hand pulls me into one.

"What the-" And then my face meets his. "Taehyung, what?" I stared at him, confused as to how he was here.

"I just want to take a photo with you, come on." He said, tapping my thigh lightly as he pressed a button. That's when I realised we were sitting in a photo booth.

"Taehyung, what if Aera sees us?" I asked, eyes focused on him and he simply stares into the camera, smiling brightly.

"I don't care." He said through his smile. I hear the beeping and instantly cover my face as the flash goes off.

"And how are you here? I thought you went on that ride." I put my hand back down as I looked at him.

"Why would I want to go on a ride with her when I can spend time with you?" He says right before sticking out his tongue, doing a funny face.

The beeping goes off again and I shielded my face from the camera. "Aera's going to start suspecting, you should go."

"You're no fun." Taehyung pouts lightly, ignoring what I said as he gets into a different position to take another picture.

"Taehyung, wait." I tugged onto him, getting his eyes to meet mine and in that second he cups my cheeks.

"No, you wait." He whispered, his hot breath fanning my lips as he remained inches from me. "I'm not going to leave my girlfriend when she's obviously not okay. At least let me try to make you feel okay, okay?" He said and my hearts starts pounding against my chest as the flash goes off.

"Girlfriend?" I repeat and his lips tug upwards as the most loving smile played on his luscious lips. We stayed silent as the timer starts counting down once more and I feel him lean in, placing his forehead on mine and the beeping sounds, the flash going off as it took a picture.

I looked into his eyes, getting lost in them. The way his coffee brown orbs swirled into a darker brown the moment it reached it's pupils captivated me.

I feel him tilt his head, leaning to kiss me. And he did, his soft lips gently pressed against mine and I feel my body go warm.

The beeping sounds for the last time, the flash going off as he still kissed me deeply, his lips moving against mine passionately and then something drags us back into reality violently.

"Taehyung!" The voice shrieked and I stared at Taehyung as anxiousness coursed through me.

"The photos!"

. . .

A/N: I've been so unsatisfied with my writing recently, ugh. I'm sorry skjsk.