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But Do Kyungsoo couldn't even think of standing on that stage singing to the hundreds attending Im Juhyun's anticipated wedding. He stood backstage of the venue with sweaty palms, a really uncomfortable black suit and his dark hair slicked back to show more of his panicking face. All he wanted right now more than ever was Ara consoling him but she didn't speak to him ever since yesterday.

"Kyungsoo."

His eyes casted up to see Junmyeon looking equally scared to his shock. The former moved to pat Kyungsoo on the arm gently with a genuine smile. Wow, the last time he's seen Junmyeon smile that wasn't fake was back in High School.

"You'll do great," he continued, Kyungsoo's eyes widened by the second upon hearing such positive words when Juhyun wasn't there to supervise. "Honestly. You're the best singer I know and you don't even have to try!"

For a second, the shorter was lost for words. But he quickly composed his confused self to utter out a response. "Thank you, seriously. You haven't been this kind since we were lab partners in Chemistry!"

Junmyeon let out an uneasy chuckle. "I know...but I realized today's my wedding and here I am picking fights with people I should be hugging and thanking every single day. So I'm giving you my sincere apologies. For everything."

"Maybe it just took a wedding to get your mind straight," Kyungsoo responded, feeling himself calm down by the second although he was still extremely bummed that the one person he needed more than ever wasn't there. "I forgive you. Juhyun and I were never meant to be and I accept that."

Junmyeon let out a sigh. "I was jealous. You've always been the person everyone loved, respected and appreciated. You have a beautiful daughter that adores you, and even Juhyun who worries about you all the time."

"We all make mistakes. But hey, you're married! Proves you did something right."

When Chanyeol peeped out to instruct the pair that it was their time to sing, Junmyeon swiftly hugged Kyungsoo before disappearing through the black curtains separating the main and backstage.

Chanyeol's face was very amusing at that moment. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly as his head turned side to side to comprehend what had just occured a second ago. "Um! You're going to sit with me and explain later on! Now fill my ears with your beautiful singing."

Pushing Kyungsoo through the curtains also, Chanyeol grinned from the sidelines. "Oh, they grow so fast..." he whispered as the song began.

Face to face with probably the population of Seoul at that moment, Kyungsoo let out a deep breath, closed his eyes and began singing. All of his problems seemed to ebb away slowly as he concentrated solely on not forgetting the lyrics and his voice not cracking embarrassingly. Ara sat in the audience beside Taeyeon, clad in her new dress and freshly dyed wavy hair, enchanted. His voice was even better than she'd expected and found herself not even tearing her eyes away once. Taeyeon watched in amusement.

After the singing finished, Juhyun ran backstage with her beautiful wedding dress and stunning makeup, hugging the pair. "That was so amazing! I actually cried away my mascara."

"Thank you," Kyungsoo replied humbly. He was smiling from ear to ear at his actually decent singing and was relieved nothing humiliating happened. "Junmyeon, you did really well."

"Not as well as you, but thanks," he responded before walking away with his new wife. It was tough for Do Kyungsoo to see his ex–wife do the exact same thing they did once upon a time, but he didn't care anymore. He moved on.

Sitting on one of the pristine circular tables with Taeyeon, Ara sipped onto some expensive wine. "Wow...I'm shocked still."

"Yup," Taeyeon laughed at Ara's still gaped open mouth. "Kyungsoo's vocals are one of a kind. Instead of being stubborn, go backstage and congratulate him!"

"I don't know...what if he's mad at me too?"

With a playful shove and a roll of her eyes, Taeyeon sighed sharply. "Go!"

Ara jerked out of her seat in the speed of light after Taeyeon's urge, clunking down the aisle with her high heels to backstage where she spotted Kyungsoo in a discussion with Baekhyun. Their eyes both turned to her before Baekhyun grinned and sauntered off. Kyungsoo stayed still with his doe eyes as wide as saucepans.

"H—hey," Ara began awkwardly, her eyes moving around the room to everywhere but his.

"Hi," he replied as emotionless as possible.

She fumbled with her fingers wishing she was everywhere but here, but at the same time happy that this is where she was. "You sung really well."

"Practice makes perfect, I guess."

When the tension filled situation got too overbearing for Jung Ara, she exhaled loudly. "Can we just pretend yesterday didn't happen?"

Shrugging casually but dying inside, Kyungsoo tilted his head. "Then that would mean I never told you how I really felt."

She probably looked half dead with how her eyes glazed over, mouth half open and limbs unmoved. When her senses returned after what seemed like decades, she raised a brow.

"Ah," was all she uttered at the start, clear eye contact with the person making her stomach turn with butterflies. "I see."

Her attempt to play his words off was cringey. Even Kyungsoo was very much aware of her lack of enthusiasm, instead casting his eyes down to the black flooring and placing his hands in his pockets.

They stood there without words before he decided to exit the premises, the awkwardness becoming too suffocating. Ara stood around, regretting what she'd done and feeling a tinge of remorse towards him. She decided to follow behind — not before waiting a minute or so.

Whilst leaving, something caught her eye. It might've been the worst time to interrupt a moment. Ara found herself in front of a couple making out; a very pretty girl with brown hair and a maroon dress, and a guy. She didn't recognize either. Until they turned their heads to see who's heels were clicking close to them.

Choi Yuna. And definitely not Kim Jongdae.

The eyes of the guy immediately was one that she'd seen everyday. Upon seeing Ara frozen in shock, they'd widened.

"A—Ara—" he began, voice trembling.

"What is going on? Baekhyun?"

Yuna's face was of regret yet not guilt. More like she was cursing in her head that she'd gotten caught, and as Ara stood still, she used this as an opportunity to disappear from backstage. Leaving the two to stay watching each other, eyes not wandering anywhere.

"How could you do this?" Ara struggled to even utter out without the urge to pull him by his hair and drag his cheating self to Taeyeon for her to find out. "Taeyeon trusts you!"

Baekhyun frowned, eyes slightly misty with tears. Though she didn't feel an ounce of remorse towards him. "Please, Ara. Don't tell her. It was a mistake...I love Taeyeon. I'm begging you."

He stepped closer to the disgusted girl with pleading eyes, hoping she'd relent to his begging. "Baekhyun, you're begging to the wrong person. It's Taeyeon you should be talking to."

Before scolding him more, Juhyun emerged backstage with a glass of chilled wine in her hand and the biggest smile on her face. It seemed she didn't decipher the looks on their faces as she continued beaming. "Hey guys! What are you waiting for? We're all having so much fun!"

She interlinked her free arm with Ara, surprisingly since yesterday the bride was shrieking at her, and dragged her through to the main venue where the tables were dragged to the side and people were dancing. Even Ara's Mom took off her heels to join in the fun. When she spotted her daughter, she literally pulled her to the middle.

"Where were you?" She questioned loudly over the music.

With a plastered smile, Ara held onto her Mom's soft hands. "Doesn't matter."

The dancing was so far the best part of the wedding where everyone, literally even the elder guests, stood up and danced a little bit. It was absolutely great, even though Ara's family were pretty much embarrassing themselves. It was so heartwarming for her to finally see her Mom and sister smile geniunely since her Dad died. To finally let go, enjoy what life they had left.

Sehun appeared randomly to Ara's side, taking both her hands and spinning the two in a circle of laughter and dizziness. The university student was drowsy and felt like her heel had broken under the weight of jumping up and down, but who cares? She was having the time of her life and that's the only thing that mattered.

She spotted Taeyeon dancing with her older sister, an unmistakeable grin on her face. Seeing Taeyeon so happy was something Ara wanted to hold onto today. Just for today. She really didn't want to ruin Juhyun's special day.

Juhyun suddenly stood beside Ara, making the latter jump.

"Oh, God!" She exclaimed once Juhyun giggled at her uneasy state. "You freaking scared me."

Juhyun bared her perfect rows of teeth in a glamorous smile. "You couldn't hear my footsteps with the loud music Chanyeol put on."

"Yup," Ara's eyes cast to the hyper guy on the DJ booth, spinning some records and looking extremely focused yet having a blast. It seemed Park Chanyeol was a man of many talents. If only he could lend one of them to her...

"I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me. With the wedding, looking after Kyungri and just being a good friend," Juhyun began in a serious tone which startled Ara slightly. "I've been an absolute cow to you and I feel absolutely terrible for treating you like crap."

The recipient of this heartfelt speech placed a gentle hand on Juhyun's exposed shoulder. "Honestly, it's fine."

"No it's not. I shouted at you in public for something I did to Kyungsoo. My jealousy took over me and I—I guess I just buckled under the pressure."

"We all get stressed sometimes," Ara responded cooly. "Yesterday hurt me, for sure, but it's a one–off. I can definitely move on. Don't sweat it, enjoy your wedding."

"I can't..." Juhyun trailed off, her voice cracking. "I've hurt you so much. I've embarrassed myself, you, Kyungsoo. You don't deserve this and I'll completely understand if you don't like me. I don't even like myself at this point."

Ara bit her lip. She was surprised to say the least at the bride actually owning up to her actions and repenting. "Juhyun, I'm not going to lie. You've done a lot of — pardon my language — fucked up things to me. But guess what? I don't really care. You've done them out of spite because you haven't really gotten over Kyungsoo. I know you don't have a personal vendetta against me so I'm willing to move on. Stop crying!"

It was a shocking sight to see Juhyun tear up under Ara's stare, the kindness and warmth the younger was providing her bearing too much to handle. She felt absolutely guilty for every singe wrong doing she inflicted on Ara — she hadn't even done anything wrong except be there for Kyungsoo and Kyungri when Juhyun failed to.

Pulling Ara into a well deserved hug, Juhyun squeezed her tightly as tears softly dropped down her powdered cheeks. "You're such a great individual, someone Kyungsoo deserves. I never deserved him, and your existence proves so. Please take care of him for me."

For the first time, an objection wasn't at the forefront of Ara's mind. Standing back to bask in Juhyun's radiance, she nodded her head sweetly. "I will."

—

"Shouldn't you be partying with the others?"

Kyungsoo's head turned up to see Ara's figure advance towards him. He sat by himself backstage on one of the seats just thinking. About himself and what the future held for him and Kyungri, and the pesky, blood boiling, beautiful Jung Ara. She took a silent seat beside him on the cold, metal chairs.

"I'm not drunk enough," he joked as she laughed. "Ah, I don't know. Just thinking."

"What are you thinking about?"

"You," he looked up to see her now blushing face, her eyes averting to anywhere but him.

Ara shuddered. "I—Is it hot in here or is it just me? I'm going to try and see if there's an AC around here..."

Before she could stupidly hurry away like she'd done earlier, a hand gripped her wrist firmly. Kyungsoo gave her a hardened look filled with tiredness and slight irritation. He let out an exhale. "Instead of running away from the elephant in the room, can we just talk?"

Ara wanted to be in her bed right now. Away from all of this. But she bit her lip and nodded her head. That's something she did owe him. His explanation. "Y—yeah."

Both proceeded to return to the cold seats facing each other, individually having a lot to say. But Kyungsoo began.

"I never wanted this to happen," he started, his voice strained and sad. "You're the absolute last person I'd ever want to lose right now. And it seems I have a knack of losing the people closest to me."

Acting on impulse, Ara reached out to enclose his hand in hers, squeezing it. By the look of his face, it seemed he was hurting for a long time. And she felt like she'd let him down so much.

"Ever since the divorce, I haven't quite been myself. Oddly, it's been satisfying hiding my true self to people in order to stop getting hurt. Like I did with Juhyun. I've managed to hold onto this, until I met you."

His visibly shaking hands grasped tighter onto Ara's, the doe eyes reflecting pure nothingness.

"I let my guard down with you almost immediately. And now that I've lost your trust, I can't seem to get it back up. I don't ever want to lose you," he found himself pleading even when she'd assured him earlier. He found his eyes glassing up with tears. "I'm a lost cause, and you've found me."

Ara would be lying if she said her mouth wasn't cooperating with her brain. What Kyungsoo had just done was open up to her, and she needed to prove to him that she wouldn't be like Juhyun. Yet she didn't know if his words were just candy coated to please her; realizing that he'd messed up big time and was trying to satisfy his guilt by begging for forgiveness.

"I've never once been in a healthy relationship, Kyungsoo," Ara retorted. "I don't know how it is to be loved and cared for from a guy other than my father. I'm not sure if I'm able to pour my heart into someone for it to get shattered in the end. Because you know what they say; everything that falls gets broken."

It was kind of a mindblow to hear Ara's been hurt from guys before. The pair haven't really spoken about past relationships, and knowing that there were actual living, respiring, godforsaken men roaming the streets knowing Ara's heartbreak was in their conscience sickened Kyungsoo to say the least.

"I can't promise you anything," he started, a sting deep in his chest seeing the anguish on Jung Ara's expectant face. She retracted her hands from him, safely placing them on her lap. They were shaking.

"I'm going to find my sister or something..." She whispered as her voice had disappeared in pure humiliation and irritation. If there was somehow a way to transport her bed here, she would do in a heartbeat. Then jump under her covers and probably grovel until her death.

He sighed upon acknowledging his stupidity. Kyungsoo should really learn to speak faster as people assume things. "That's why I want you to give me a chance. To prove that you're not destined for heartbreak. That the two of us, people who's hearts have not yet mended from previous relationships, deserve love as much as everyone else. Will you give me a chance?"

Ara's expression softened and she quickly once–overed him to see if there was any sort of amusement present. In her relief, it was all seriousness. It seemed he was definitely ready to commit to his words. Maybe she really just needed to follow her heart instead of her brain.

She let out an exhale that was probably lingering in her lungs for the whole time. "If you're willing to stay true to your words, lead the way Do Kyungsoo."

Hearing the words that could mend the rip in his heart was so satisfying for him. Clasping her other hand, he gave her a geniune soft smile which captured her heart and made her lips swipe up to return a breathtaking beam. "You honestly don't know how happy I am to hear that...I've been planning this in my head for the past hour or so."

She let out a laugh, his widened eyes switching from her sparkling eyes to her pink lipstick covered lips, squeezing her soft and small hands tighter and leaning in as their faces were mere millimeters from each other.

"Guys, we're taking photos — holy shit!" Kim Taeyeon dropped the cupcake she was eating as she interrupted whatever was going on. Her mouth was open, her eyes moving to and from both of them as she stood speechless.

"I knew this would happen! It was just a matter of time! Uh— I mean, we're taking photographs right now," she began after what seemed like years of speechlessness. "If you want to come, be our guest. But you don't have to, of course! Stay whatever you're doing, pretend I never came!"

She ran straight out as soon as she uttered the last word, leaving the couple to laugh harmoniously at her shocked state. Their eyes automatically met each other's, both still chuckling.

"Agh, she's a character," Kyungsoo smirked. "Shall we go take photos now? Before Taeyeon tells everyone and they tease us."

"I think that's a great idea."

She contemplated on whether she should tell Kyungsoo what she had witnessed earlier, but he was already walking towards the main venue. The pair stood at the centre of the stage where it was intricately designed with white roses decorating the stage, a glass sofa furnished with leather white cushions that looked more expensive than Ara's three year university tuition and a professional photographer taking photos of the elegant Juhyun and her perfect husband as they sat together linking arms and smiling.

When Juhyun spotted the two, she stood up and beckoned them over. "Come, come! I'm taking photos with my close friends now."

Taeyeon grabbed Ara's arm. "You've got to tell me everything. I want nothing less than everything."

"Ah, I'm sure you don't want to hear that," Ara whispered under her breath. Luckily Taeyeon was too drunk to realize. Looking at her careless state, maybe right now wasn't the best time to tell her the news.

They climbed up onto the stage to join the newly wed couple, the guys appearing from the other side. Standing demurely behind the sofa with Taeyeon and Kyungsoo either side of her, Ara grinned to the camera as the flash temporarily blinded her. Everyone looked pretty happy which was quite cute — even the small, adorable Kyungri was sitting in between her Mom and new husband, actually doing something other than staying poker faced.