⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Droplets of water land onto my face and I wake up, jolting up from the couch, almost hitting my sister's head with mine in the process. She had sprinkled a little water on my face to get me to wake up.

"You okay?" She looked at me but the only thought in my mind now was the ring. I stared at the ring that wrapped around her ring finger and I feel myself go cold. "Areum!" She shoved me a little, trying to get my attention and I snap out of my thoughts. "You okay?" She repeated herself.

"Yea," I let out, eyes wide as I stared at her. I was completely lost at that point. Too many emotions swarmed through me in that moment to the point I felt nothing. I couldn't wrap my head around it.

She looked at me glancing at her ring and plopped herself next to me on the couch. "Isn't it beautiful?" She gawked at the diamond as she flaunted her ring.

"Y-yea," I paused, taking in a deep breath. "Don't you think it's a little too soon though?" I questioned.

"Not really," she shrugged a little. "We talked about our future a lot when we were together. These six months that we've been a part have just been a period for us to think, I guess." Aera said, still staring at the ring.

The next moment, someone walked down the steps and into the living, coming to a halt the moment their eyes found mine.

He stood there, shirtless with love marks littered around his neck and chest. At this point, I feel my eyes sting as tears threatened to drip down my cheeks. But I tried not to let it show.

"Baby!" Aera chimed, skipping her way to Taehyung who was slightly disoriented, his eyes still glued to mine. She goes in to kiss his lips and it takes him slightly aback. "I made you breakfast." She said, grabbing his hands.

He finally breaks eye contact, his gaze floating over to the ring. "You're wearing the ring?" He whispered down to Aera, his brows furrowing.

"Why wouldn't I?" She giggled tugging onto his arm as she dragged him to the couch where I was.

My stare still focused on him and him alone as I looked at him blankly. His eyes meet mine once more and I couldn't do it. "You proposed." My voice barely reaching a whisper.

Taehyung's eyes enlarged as he stared at me, probably confused as to how I knew.

"He sure did." Aera coiled herself around Taehyung. He remained silent, his eyes still staring into mine and at that point, I couldn't stay in the same room with him.

"I'm sorry, I have to go." I muttered, my eyes now glued to the ground and I rushed out, slamming the door behind me as I fell against it. I broke down right there at the porch not being able to suppress my emotions any longer.

With trembling hands, I cover my face, trying my best to muffle my cries. After a few moments, I took in a deep breath, realising I couldn't stay here knowing that Taehyung and Aera were inside. So I got in my car and started driving, no destination in mind.

"Aera," I pulled my arm away from hers, getting her to look at me. My throbbing head made forming a sentence that much more difficult. "Where'd you get the ring?" I asked, looking at her ring finger with narrowed eyes.

"It was in here when I wore your shirt in the morning." She beamed as she pointed at the pocket of my dress shirt.

"So you told Areum that I proposed to you?" I scoffed, disbelief washing over me.

"Weren't you going to?" She asked, pouting a little as she held onto my hand and I don't respond, eyes fixed to the door hoping Areum would walk back in. "Why else would you bring a ring here?"

A sigh escaped Aera's lips as she untangled her fingers from mine the moment she realised my attention wasn't on her. "I said this last night and I'm saying it again today. Areum's back together with Jaesun. You've lost her." She said and the accusatory tone in her voice caught me off guard.

"Lost her?" I looked at her as my brows knitted together.

"Yea, your friend. You lost her. You knew how she was when she was with Jaesun." She cleared her throat, walking into the kitchen.

The moment I hear those words, I feel myself break all over again. It's been 4 days since we've broken up and she had already gotten back together with Jae. The thoughts in my head pierced through my temple with an excruciating pain following it and I fell onto the couch.

"Your hangover must be bad, here." Aera handed me a cup of water but I simply stared at the ground, memories from the night before crashing against me.

Last night

"Areum!" I banged against the door, holding the ring in my hand. My mind was blurred with whiskey, not thinking through my rash decisions. But she has to know that I'm here for her and that she's the only thing I want.

"Taehyung?" The door swung open and I frowned the moment I realise it wasn't Areum. I closed the box, stuffing the ring into my pocket as I tried stabilising myself.

"Where's Areum?" I slurred, trying to balance myself, the high from the alcohol surging through my veins. But I still had my head set straight, the only thing on my mind being Areum.

"Areum?" She questioned, looking at my form a little confused. After a long pause, she sighed. "She's with Jaesun." Aera shook her head and I feel my world stop, the high fading as I tried digesting what she said. "She just drove to his place." She sighed once more with disapproval.

My arms drop limp to my side as my mind goes blank. I guess I wasn't the only thing she wanted.

"Do you want to come in?" Aera asked, tugging onto my arm a little and I finally look in her eyes.

I feel rage build up in me, not really sure what or who I was angry with.

Was it Jaesun? The thought of them even near each other, touching— and then I feel Aera's lips on mine, all the thoughts in my head coming to an abrupt halt. She pulled away, looking at me with nervousness but I lean in, kissing her back. I needed to stop thinking.

I needed to forget.

Present

"You okay?" Aera asked and I breathed out a sigh.

"I'm fine." I tried stretching my lips into the widest smile I could possibly master, trying to forget everything wrong. I walked towards her, wrapping my arms around her as I placed my chin on her head. She buried her self in my chest, wrapping herself around me instantly.

Maybe I had it all wrong. Maybe my only chance of settling down and having a family was with Aera.

"Let's get married." I said, eyes welling up with tears as the words slipped out of my lips.

. . .

A/N: if you don't get it, basically Aera lied about where Areum was that night.