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I gulped the moment I faced Aera. Her brows twitch as she frowned slightly but not as much as Jae who stood next to her. Taehyung moves fast and strategically, taking the photos in his hand.

Aera stared at the both of us in silence for a few seconds, her suspicion obviously growing by the second.

"Oh, can I see the photos?" Aera asked, sticking her hand out as she reached for the photos in Taehyung's hand.

"No," I quickly state, snatching the pictures from Taehyung's hand as I crumpled them in my fist. "They turned out bad." I shook my head, stuffing the photos into the pocket of my coat and I catch Jae staring intently at me.

"So," I breathed out trying to change the subject, "what's next?" I said and Aera skips to my side, closer to Taehyung.

"I was thinking we could go for the ferris wheel." She said and all of us simply agreed, wanting to get over with the day as soon as possible.

The man lifts up the rope barrier, allowing us to enter but the moment Aera and Taehyung entered, I was stopped. "2 per cabin," the male draped in the red uniform croaked.

"Oh," I let out frantically, feeling Jaesun behind me as Taehyung walked ahead of us with Aera. I see Taehyung enter the cabin, looking back with the same look as me splashed over his face.

His mouth remained agape and eyes wide the moment he realised that it was only going to be him and Aera in the cabin but it was already too late to leave. His cabin starts moving as the next one came in front of us. Jaesun enters but I looked around, planning to move back but there was already a line behind me.

"Shit, shit, shit." I cussed under my breath as the young male in front of me spoke up.

"Miss, you're holding up the line." He said as I feel my heart banging against my chest. Jaesun simply looked at me from the cabin and with a sigh, I entered.

I sat next to him and we start moving forward.

"So, Taehyung huh?" He lets out almost immediately and I choke on my breath.

All I could do was look at him, wondering how he knew. "I see the way he looks at you." He let out as though he read my thoughts, looking out the window as we moved higher up. I remained silent, not knowing how to tackle the situation.

I looked away, allowing the silence to eat us up as I gazed at the black velvety canvass that was dotted with myriad stars the twinkled against the black nothingness, creating the most beautiful contrast.

"Areum," He called out and I took in a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves that were jumping around, almost like the thought of Aera and Taehyung alone together didn't leave me anxious enough.

"I still love you." He said and my eyes instantly dart his way, meeting his brown orbs that were stained with sadness and I feel a part of me break.

"I messed up, I know." He started rambling and I feel my breath shorten, not being able to take in the current situation. I couldn't believe we were having this talk. "But haven't you always believed in second chances?" He lets out, his breath getting caught in his throat as tears welled up in his eyes.

I sat there, speechless. I've never seen this side of him in the 3 years of our relationship. He had never shown me his raw and vulnerable side so I was at a loss for words. I feel my eyes sting at the sight of him hurting, forgetting everything he had done to me over those years.

"Jaesun," and then we come to a stop before I could finish, the door opening before us. "Next," the brunette said as he waited for us to get down so that someone else could hop in.

I looked ahead of me and noticed Taehyung waiting with Aera under a sheltered area. I quickly walked ahead of him, towards Taehyung. My mind was raging with thoughts yet it was empty at the same moment. I couldn't bring myself to think about it without breaking.

"Hey, you okay?" Taehyung looks down at me and I simply nod, not daring to meet his gaze.

The moment Aera notices my form close to Taehyung, she grabs his arm. "Taehyung look!" She pointed above their heads and I followed their eyes only to see a mistletoe.

My mind still overwhelmed with Jae, I didn't have time to process what was going on until I see Aera pressing her lips against Taehyung's. I stood there, mouth dropping slightly as she tried to wrap her arms around him. But before she could, Taehyung pulls away.

"Aera," He gasped while she was giddy with joy. "What the hell?" He looked at her right before glancing at me, noticing my shocked state.

In that moment, I felt something break. Not in me, but between us. The split second that we held each other's gaze communicated so many feelings that words never could. It was like a sudden awakening.

We knew, in that moment, that we could never just be us. That there would always be something holding us back from being together. It was as if we were ill fated.

I averted my gaze and feel a dull pain linger at the back of my throat, trying to hold back my emotions from pouring out. My mind was a mess at that point and the only thing I could do was walk away, chest heaving as my eyes were flooded with tears.

And then I feel a hand on my shoulder, "Areum." I turn around to see Jaesun. I looked behind him only to see Taehyung and Aera in a heated conversation.

"Can we talk, please?" He pleaded.

I shook my head, pressing my eyes shut, "I can't Jaesun. Not right now. I can't do this." I choked up on my words as I feel a tear squeeze its way out of my eye. He reaches out, wiping the stray tear with his finger and I flinch at his touch. "Please don't do this."

"Areum, I'm sorry." He breathed out, "I just need one more chance, I'll show you."

"I can't Jaesun!" I'm close to yelling at this point. "When I look at you, I see myself." I feel my body growing weak, "I see how I failed, how I couldn't keep you. How I wasn't enough for you."

"Areum," He calls out my name softly, reaching for me.

"Fucking pathetic," I bury my face in my hands, "that all I hear. That's what I tell myself whenever I think of you, Jae." I coughed out a sob and I feel his arms hold me as I fall into him, not being able to control the cries that tore through my chest.

Emotions that built up in me for too long finally pouring out of me.

"It wasn't about you," He said trying to get me to look at him, "it was never about you lacking. It was me, I was messed up." He tried getting me to understand but everything he said fell on deaf ears.

His arms wrapped around my waist as he pulled me into his embrace and even though this feeling was alien to me, I let myself drown in it. His comfort made me feel at peace for some reason, my entire body going still as I simply laid in his embrace.

"I love you, Areum." He breathes out, stroking my head. "and I'm so fucking sorry."

. . .

A/N: oof, recalling that day I realised how everything was such a mess and so stupid, gosh. well, there's going to be more dumb decisions though so happy reading & don't give up on me pls thanks.

also I'm updating too much. somebody stop me.